HH Holds Talks with Traditional Leaders
By Mark Ziligone
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA says the proposed Constitutional amendments will NOT be complete without the participation of traditional leaders.
President HICHILEMA says input from traditional leaders, who are the custodians of culture, tradition and land is very important.
The President says the proposed amendment process is not driven by any malice as suggested by some sections of society.
He says the process does NOT involve any extension of his term of office or any of the claims made by certain political players.
President HICHILEMA was speaking when 38 traditional leaders from the House of Chiefs called on him at State House today.
On the proposed delimitation, President HICHILEMA noted that chiefs hold vast tracts of land under customary law, which is closely tied to the political structure of constituencies.
He stressed the importance of careful coordination with traditional leaders as the government undertakes the delimitation of proposed electoral boundaries.
And House of Chiefs Chairperson Chief CHOONGO requested that traditional leaders be allowed to make their own submissions toward the constitution amendment process.
He said that while traditional leaders support the process, they also wish to contribute meaningfully and be widely consulted.
Chief CHOONGO further appealed to the President to ensure that succession wrangles in chiefdoms are addressed outside the courts of law.
He said this would preserve traditional dispute resolution mechanisms and reduce prolonged conflicts.
President HICHILEMA also addressed the persistent issue of succession disputes in Chiefdoms which he said have long destabilized communities and delayed development.
He said Government will work with the House of Chiefs to find traditional and legal mechanisms to resolve the disputes without them ending up in the courts of law.
