By REBECCA MUSHOTA in Chifunabuli  –
CHIEFS in Luapula Province have resolved to ensure that President Edgar Lungu continues as the Head of State at the first ballot.
The chiefs believe that President Lungu has proved beyond doubt that he is a capable leader.
Chief Chitambo of Chifunabuli District said traditional leaders in the province had resolved to call a meeting scheduled for next week at which they would discuss the modialities of how they want to ensure victory for President Lungu in the first round.
Chief Chitambo was speaking when he and other chiefs met with President Lungu in Chifunabuli yesterday.
The other chiefs in attendance were Senior Chief Mwewa, chiefs Mwansakombe, Mulongwe, Mbulu and Kalasamukoso.
“You have given Zambia hope. We shall see to it that you get 100 per cent votes in Luapula Province,” Chief Chitambo said.
Similarly, chiefs in Mansa assured Mr Lungu of their support in the August elections.
Chief Matanda said, on behalf of the other chiefs that met with the President in Mansa on Tuesday evening, that traditional leaders in the district were happy with Mr Lungu’s work and he should, therefore, continue in office.
The chiefs were Kalasa Lukangaba, Sokontwe, Chimese, Mibenge, Mabumba and Kalaba.
“Mansa chiefs are 100 per cent behind you. We are grateful for your work,” Chief Matanda said.
He said the President had delivered on the PF’s promises like roads, but that there was still work to be done.
The chief said he was grateful that President Lungu had increased the maize floor price to K85 and had increased the chiefs’ allowances.
Chief Matanda urged the Government to complete Luapula University, whose construction has stalled, and to speed up the construction of chiefs’ palaces.
Chief Kalasa Lukangaba said the chiefs were happy with the calibre of aspiring parliamentarians the Patriotic Front (PF) had adopted in Mansa.
The PF has adopted Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba for Bahati and Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya for Mansa Central Constituency.
They are both immediate past area members of Parliament.
President Lungu said he would consult on what had led to the stalling of the construction of the university.
The Head of State said the building of chiefs’ palaces was on-going.
He said the ministry of Chiefs had started with the palaces for female traditional leaders.
“I have intervened in some cases like in the case of Chief Shimumbi who lives in a shack. I felt like crying and so I gave a directive that the palace should be constructed immediately,” Mr Lungu said.
Had funds been available, Mr Lungu said, all palaces would be done at once.
The Government has devised a plan to ensure that all the chiefs’ palaces are done.
President Lungu said while he was aware that chiefs were happy with the increment in allowances, he also knew that some had expressed displeasure.
Meanwhile, President Lungu said he held discussions with Paramount chiefs Gawa Undi, Mpezeni, Chitimukulu and the Litunga on the need to find a mechanism to recognise chiefs.
This is because the revised Constitution no longer requires a President to issue a gazette notice to recognise a chief, but the House of Chiefs will now recognise a chief.
Mr Lungu said without a reliable mechanism, there would be conflicts.