Work with Lungu, chiefs advised

CHIEF Chipepo of the Tonga people of Southern Province has urged his fellow traditional leaders to work with President Edgar Lungu and the ruling party to ensure development in their areas.

Chief Chipepo said it was important for traditional leaders to put aside partisan interests and work with the Government for the benefit of the people.

He added that traditional leaders should always embrace whoever is in government and work with them.

“As traditional leaders, we need to work with the government of the day, because not doing so, may be denying our people development. We can only bring development to our areas if we join hands with the people in power,”

Chief Chipepo however, pointed out that this does not mean that those in opposition become their enemies.

“The opposition political leaders should not see us as enemies for choosing to work with the party in power, instead they should understand that this decision is in the interest of our people and also to foster development in our chiefdoms,” Chief Chipepo said.

Chief Chipepo has since vowed that he would continue to work with President Lungu and his Government regardless of what others think because it was for the benefit of his subjects.

He said he did not understand why some people had a tendency of labelling anyone seen to work with Government as a politician and that development must not be politicized.

“As for me, I don’t see anything wrong with joining hands with the Government of the day when I know that my people will benefit, I would be so cruel, if I denied them development simply because I don’t like the people in power and so I can’t work with them,” he said.