By RABECCA CHIPANTA
and KASONDE KASONDE  –

. MALEMBEKA

TRADITIONAL rulers have praised President Edgar Lungu for pledging to make an upward adjustment from the current K4,000 to K15,000, of their subsidies.
The chiefs expressed gratitude in separate interviews over the announcement made during a meeting between President Lungu and traditional leaders in Itezhi-tezhi District at the weekend.
Mr Lungu said Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda was expected to announce the new changes soon.
Chieftainess Malembeka of the Lima people of Mpongwe, on the Copperbelt, praised the President for pledging to look into the welfare of the traditional leaders.
She praised Government for prioritising affairs affecting chiefs.
“We are grateful to the President for listening to us. Having a President who listens and is considerate is something positive. Since the Patriotic Front came into power, we have seen a lot of positive development like the creation of the Ministry of Chiefs Affairs and now he has pledged to adjust our subsidies. I can only thank the President for this gesture,” she said.
Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni in Eastern Province described the proposed adjustment as something that had been long overdue.
Chief Madzimawe thanked President Lungu for being considerate towards the needs of the traditional leaders.
“It is good that the President is thinking of us traditional leaders. Sometimes people in authority tend to forget about us and I am happy that the President is the one talking about the issue of increasing our subsidy. Most times, when people are talking about the welfare of traditional leaders people always tend to politicise the issue which shouldn’t be the case,” he said.
Chief Madzimawe said there was need for Government to work with traditional leaders in the issues of development.
The President’s announcement was also hailed by Chief Chiwala of the Lamba people of Masaiti.
He said the decision had been outstanding for a long time and it was good that Mr Lungu had now looked into the matter.
Chief Mukobela of the Ila in Namwala, Southern Province, also praised the President for the proposed adjustment.
Chief Mukobela said traditional leaders were crucial partners in national development and thanked Government for understanding the value of traditional rulers.
The Youth in Action for Sustainable Development (YASD) added their support over the proposed subsidy adjustment.
YASD programme manager Zebedy Lukwesa said the move by Mr Lungu was welcome as it would enhance the role traditional leaders play in national development.