By JULIUS PHIRI – THE Government has assured traditional leaders that it will continue to support the preservation of tradition and culture in all chiefdoms in the country. Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo said yesterday when he graced a one day Chiefs’ Council held at Crystal Springs Hotel in Chipata that Government would continue supporting the well-being of tradition and culture of all chiefdoms in the province and the country as a whole. “We realise that the traditional leadership is the oldest leadership that has ever existed,” Mr Kasolo said. The permanent secretary who was represented by Eastern Province assistant secretary Beenzu Chikuba said Government would also continue involving traditional leaders in the governance of the country. He said Government was fully aware that peace in the nation had not emerged from without but to a large extent, because of traditional leaders’ influence on the grassroots which enhanced the promotion of unity. He said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government had started implementing the decentralisation policy which involved the governance system under district councils to include traditional authorities in public governance. Mr Kasolo said the policy would ensure that communities in chiefdoms retained power to plan for themselves on their needs at local level. He said in order for the House of Chiefs to fully realise its goals, there was need for members to put aside their personal interests and work for the common good of the people. Mr Kasolo said Government would not interfere in the selection of chiefs to represent the province in the House of Chiefs. The chiefs’ council was attended by all chiefs in Eastern Province and was expected to elect five representatives to the House of Chiefs. The PS hailed Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni and Chief Mbang’ombe of the Chewa people for their hard work and remarkable representation during their tenure in office. The council also observed a moment of silence in honour of late Chief Jumbe of the Kunda people who died on April 1, last year and was also one of the representatives to the house of chiefs.