SCOTT

By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA-
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has said Government will soon embark on a campaign to document information on all traditional ceremonies in order to preserve Zambia’s traditional heritage.
Dr Scott said Government decided to document traditional information to preserve the information for future generations.
The Vice-President said this on Saturday during the Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony of the soli people held at Senior Chief Nkomensya Mukamambo II’s palace in Chongwe.
Dr Scott said Government regarded traditional leaders in the country as the custodians of peace and stability.
The Vice-President was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife Charlotte, Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde, Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Luckson Kazabu, Chongwe Member of Parliament Silvia Masebo and other Government leaders.
The ceremony was also attended by MMD President Never Mumba, National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo Jr, United Party for National Development vice-president Canisius  Banda and former Justice Minister and PF secretary General Wynter Kabimba.
Dr Scott also said Government was committed to sustaining the Framers Input Support Program (FSIP) and that a total of 17,770 farmers would this year benefit from the programme in the area.
He also told the gathering that braved the scorching heat at the ceremony that Government was committed to taking development to all areas in the country.
“In fact we have continued to building schools, universities and health centers and we are committed to continue to do so,” he said.
Government had procured an ambulance for Chongwe and Levy Mwanawasa general hospitals.
He also called on the chieftainess to continue fighting child marriages in her area and warned that child marriages deprived the girl child of many opportunities in life.
“I am happy that the chief has been in the forefront to fighting child marriages in this area and I can only call on her to continue,” Dr Scott said.
Dr Scott called on all Zambians to celebrate the once in a life time celebration to mark the country’s 50 years of independence.
Speaking earlier through his representative headman Mauma, Chieftainess Nkomeshya called for national unity and co existence in the country.
The chief also thanked the Government for the continued developmental projects in her area.
She stated that chiefs had a duty to support Government projects because their subjects benefited from the countrywide developmental projects.
The traditional leader also called on the Government to speed up payments to farmers that sold aize to Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
She lamented that the scourge of child marriages was depriving girls of opportunity to get educated.