By CHILA NAMAIKO –

•MAZABUKA residents give President Edgar Lungu a thunderous welcome as his motorcade drives through the ‘sweet-town’. This was when he visited various districts in Southern Province. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has challenged the House of Chiefs to use its influence to foster unity in the country and denounce power-hungry politicians using tribalism and regional politics to ascend to power. Mr Lungu is disturbed that the hate speech being championed by some political players had the potential to discourage the spirit of togetherness which Zambians had enjoyed since independence. The President urged the chiefs to play a prime role in ensuring that Zambians were not divided, but remained united under the motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’. “What I am seeing is worrisome. Politics is not about insults, tribal talk or the use of hate speeches. I want to urge traditional leaders through the House of Chiefs to help foster more unity and peace in the country. “The issue of saying this one is a Nsenga, Tonga or Bemba shouldn’t be the case. We are Zambians, one people and we should love one another,” he said. Mr Lungu said this at Leons Hotel in Choma yesterday when he met with Chief Chikanta of Kalomo, Chief Singani and his Mapanza counterpart of Choma, and Chief Sinazongwe. The Head of State was concerned that tribal talk was becoming a danger to development, a vice which was unheard of during the reign of first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda. “I am appealing to you (chiefs) to help us get back to the days of KK (Dr Kaunda) when we didn’t have these tribal talks and hate speeches,” he said. Mr Lungu implored the media to remain a key partner in fostering national unity and development, and refrain from issues bordering on character assassination. Meanwhile, the Head of State said the Government would provide more agricultural incentives and relief food to hunger-stricken areas in the wake of drought in some parts of the country. The President said the drought experienced in some areas was not of his own making and called on Zambians to remain prayerful to God for good rainfall. Chief Chikanta, who spoke on behalf of his counterparts, described Mr Lungu as a humble leader and praised him for the ongoing massive implementation of infrastructure projects in the province. The chiefs showered Mr Lungu with praises for fulfilling most of his campaign promises, and cited the delivery of a people-driven Constitution recently. “As chiefs, we are impressed that you (Mr Lungu) are such a humble leader committed to improving people’s welfare and you have our support,” Chief Chikanta said. He urged the President to remain focused and not to get derailed by critics in his quest to develop Zambia. Meanwhile, Mr Lungu said the Government was mobilising more resources in addition to increasing chiefs’ allowances and upgrading feeder roads. The President, who was accompanied by Provincial Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu and Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene, later toured the provincial offices and proceeded to inspect the K31 million six-storey new provincial complex. He also inspected the more than 60 housing units ranging from low-cost to high-cost. Mr Siamunene, who is United Party for National Development (UPND) Sinazongwe member of Parliament, said he was ready to contest the parliamentary seat on the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket in this year’s tripartite elections. Mr Siamunene told journalists in Choma yesterday that he had worked well with the ruling party and that he could contest the parliamentary seat under PF if adopted.