SATA

President Michael Sata has directed the Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Ministry to finalise the identification of sites to start construction of chiefs’ palaces across the country.
Deputy Minister Susan Kawandami said President Sata’s administration viewed traditional ceremonies as platforms of promoting social cohesion and national development among Zambians.
Meanwhile, Chieftainess Shikabeta of the Soli speaking people of Rufunsa District in Lusaka Province has praised Government for taking development to the area.
Ms Kawandami disclosed that President Sata wanted to see initial construction works of chiefs’ palaces begin as soon as logistical challenges were addressed.
She said this during the Nkombalyanga traditional ceremony of the Soli speaking people of Chieftainess Shikabeta of Rufunsa District in Lusaka Province yesterday.
Ms Kawandami said Government would soon start with the initial construction of three palaces in each of the 10 provinces before rolling out the programme to all the districts.
And Ms Kawandami said Government viewed traditional ceremonies as platforms of promoting social cohesion and development among Zambians.
Ms Kawandami pledged to continue supporting traditional ceremonies as a way of promoting and enhancing the preservation of Zambia’s rich cultural heritage.
She said the policy of the Government was to ensure that traditional leaders contributed meaningfully in building peace and stability across the country.
Meanwhile, Chieftainess Shikabeta praised Government for taking development to her chiefdom.
Speaking through a representative Agness Kalonga, Chieftainess Shikabeta said her chiefdom was receiving its fair share of development from Government.
Chieftainess Shikabeta said unlike previous governments that concentrated development along the line of rail, the PF Government has shown commitment in sharing the national cake equally.
At the same ceremony, Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Wamunyima Muwana said the creation of Rufunsa as a district would boost development in the area.
He said Government was opening up the area for food production and other agricultural activities local people’s better lives.-ZANIS