IN the famous words of the 35th President of the United States John F Kennedy, ‘ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’
That is the reason we stand with Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people of the Northern Province when he took a brave stance by calling out his subjects on the tendency to play the victim for underdevelopment in some parts of the province.
The traditional leader did not mince his words and laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of his subjects who look to their Lusaka counterparts to come up with the developmental agenda.
This was during the post 2017 Budget forum in Kasama over the weekend that was attended by the Finance Minister Felix Mutati.
It is safe to say that it was not just Northern Province where people feel their areas lag behind in terms of development and it would be wise for them to heed the advice of the Paramount chief. People residing in these areas should stop playing victim and decide to take the initiative of doing it for themselves.
Of course we are not saying the Government should stand by and watch, but will come in to make it easy for locals to undertake these projects and provide the necessary backing in terms of finance and logistics.
It is also gratifying to note that the minister of Finance assured that despite the hardships, the country endured in 2016, the 2017 Budget will endeavor to distribute the resources of the country that will project next year as equitable as possible.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu is of the view that local problems need to be tackled with local solutions, hence he called on the people of Northern Province to find their own solution to the problems to the underdevelopment.
Everybody has been talking about the abundant resources of water, about abundant natural resources, but why are we poor? That question should not be thrown to people in Lusaka, this is our baby. Why have we not developed the water resources and the natural resources which we talk about? Asked Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, indicating that as a people, we should all join efforts to develop all corners of the country.
The traditional ruler said it was everyone’s responsibility in Northern Province to ensure that the natural resources in the area were fully utilised in the region to derive benefits.
As a country with abundant natural resources, it is paramount to be having these honest and candid conversations especially as the Finance Minister mentioned that President Edgar Lungu has instructed his ministers to be truthful to the people.
This will help our citizenry to appreciate the situation and help find local sustainable solutions to local problems like the Lubemba Investments intend to do.