Disown tribal chiefs, says Lungu
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has challenged the House of Chiefs to disown some chiefs that are encouraging tribalism.
And President Lungu has urged Zambians not to give space to power- hungry politicians who were inciting tribal war for political expediency.
The President made the remarks yesterday shortly after he landed at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola.
He said he was disappointed with the fracas between the
Lundazi and
Luvale people of North-
Western province over delimitation exercise in Zambezi District.
He said it was a shame that some chiefs were in the forefront encouraging tribalism.
“I never thought tribalism can be there with public hate in North-Western Province of all the places in this country where the Lundas and Luvale want to go to war. What is happening is unacceptable and it is because some power-hungry politicians are given space.
“A Luvale and a Lunda killing each other because some woman want to become an MP again is a shame,” President Lungu said.
He then challenged members of the House of Chiefs to disown the chiefs involved.
“So I am challenging the people in the House of the Chiefs to disown those encouraging tribalism. chiefs must stand up and tell us (politicians) to behave,” he said.
President Lungu said chiefs who were encouraging tribalism are not fit to be in the office. He said he could not send police officers or soldiers to go and stop the fracas between the two tribes as that should be done by traditional leaders.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has congratulated the new deputy mayors and deputy chairpersons for emerging victorious in yesterday’s elections held in local authorities across the country.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Isaac Chipampe said President Lungu had urged the new office bearers not to compromise on service delivery but ensure the people of Zambia were provided with quality services.
“The President expects that the new deputy mayors and deputy chairpersons in respective local authorities will work closely with their mayors and chairpersons to foster development,” Mr Chipampe said.