The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development, FDD, is demanding that Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs should be scrapped off as it was largely the source of rising conflicts between traditional leaders and President Michael Sata.
Below is a statement
We urge President Michael Sata to scrap off the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs as it is not adding any value to issues affecting our Chiefs and Traditional Leaders.
This Ministry is simply a drain on national coffers as it is merely duplicating the work of the House of Chiefs. In fact, the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs has become a source of conflict and disunity between government and our chiefs.
The classic example is the current impasse between the PF Government and The Bemba Royal Establishment over the contested installation of Mr. Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people.
Articles 130 and 131 of The Republican Constitution have sufficiently mandated The House of Chiefs as the body to deal with traditional, customary and such related issues.
The House of Chiefs is the constitutionally elected body that should act as an advisory board to government in traditional and customary matters hence there is no need to have a Ministry to do the job that the House of Chiefs is already doing.
In the same vein, we wish to implore President Sata and his government to stop interfering in traditional matters but rather use appropriate platforms such as The House of Chiefs to resolve their differences with our Traditional Leaders.
Let the President stay clear of the installation of Mr. Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Chitimukulu.
Prepared and issued by:
Antonio Mwanza
FDD Spokesperson
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