By CHUSA SICHONE in Chama District –

.President Lungu

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he would want to rule Zambia beyond 2021.
Mr Lungu, however, said he risked not achieving that goal if his appointees continued with their inertia towards work.
President Lungu said this at Chama Boarding Secondary School when he met Chama District traditional leaders on Monday.
“I don’t want to be kicked out because of inertia of these people in 2021, I want to come back, but I can only come back if my colleagues are doing the work,” he said.
President Lungu said it was imperative those that delegated work ensured that they verified if work was being done and that was why he had embarked on a countrywide inspection of Government projects.
He noted that anyone who delegated work but did not supervise it was bound to fail adding that he did not want to fail.
President Lungu summoned Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya, Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone, his Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota to respond to some of the concerns raised by the traditional leaders.
The questions ranged from the construction of health posts, upgrading of the road network to those bordering on the education sector.
Among the traditional leaders present were chiefs Chibale, Chikwa, Mulilo, Chifunda and senior chief Kambombo.
President Lungu challenged Mr Mushota to ‘camp’ in the Minister of Finance Felix Mutati’s office if possible for money meant for certain incomplete projects to be released.
He also assured the traditional rulers that he would engage Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale on their appeal to create two more districts in the area.
The President then addressed Patriotic Front officials in the school hall and urged them not to wait for the elections for them to start mobilising the party if it was to continue ruling beyond.
Earlier, President Lungu expressed shock to learn that Chama Boarding Secondary School had been relying on firewood to cook food because power was insufficient to ignite the electric pots.
He said cutting down trees for firewood was primitive and defeating the fight against climate change.
Mr Lungu pledged to mobilise resources to enable the school pay Zesco for the company to boost power supply and in turn ensure that the electric pots, which had been dormant for five years, were reactivated.
Later, President Lungu brought business to a halt in the Chama Central Business District where he addressed a public meeting.
He assured the gathering of delivering development as per campaign pledges as a way of thanking the people for the overwhelming support during elections.