Council of Paramount Chiefs proposed

FOUR Paramount chiefs have proposed the need to include a clause in the Bill 10 that will recognise the establishment of a council of Paramount chiefs.

The four are Litunga of the Lozi speaking people, Kalonga Gwawa Undi and Mpezeni of Ngoni speaking people and Chitimukulu of Bemba speaking people. In a statement issued yesterday, Paramount chief Chitimukulu said the council shall consist of the Litunga, Kalonga Gawa Undi, NkosiyamaNkosi Mpezeni and himself. The members of the Council of Paramount chiefs shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson every five years from among themselves, he said.

The traditional leader said the functions of the council of Paramount chiefs were to provide advice to the President and the House of Chiefs as prescribed. Paramount chief Chitimukulu had challenged the United Party for National Development (UPND) Members of Parliament from Western Province to support the Bill 10 to honour the Litunga who had proposed for the establishment of the council.

“The challenge here lies among UPND Members of Parliament from Western Province, who according to their party’s directive are opposing Bill 10 and have been instructed to immediately walk out of Parliament whenever the Bill is tabled.

“In this respect, every Honorable Member of Parliament will have to decide whether to be loyal or show allegiance to politics or tradition in essence, this actually means, they have to choose to be loyal either to Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the UPND President or to His Majesty King of Barotseland, the Litunga.