By CHUSA SICHONE in Itezhi-Tezhi –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has announced that subsidies for traditional leaders will be adjusted upwards from the current K4,000.
President Lungu said when he met traditional leaders in Itezhi-Tezhi District on Saturday evening that Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda is expected to announce the new adjustment soon.
This follows a request by traditional leaders to the President to review the subsidies, which they said were not adequate.
In October last year, more than 30 traditional rulers from Central Province, during a meeting with President Lungu implored the Head of State to facilitate the upward adjustment of the subsidies to K15,000.
The traditional leaders’ request prompted President Lungu to direct the ministries of Finance and Chiefs to look into the matter.
Addressing journalists after President Lungu and six Itezhi-Tezhi traditional rulers led by Chief Shimbizyi concluded a closed-door meeting, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said the meeting ended on a cordial note.
“The Minister of Finance will soon be adjusting the chiefs’ subsidies, he has already agreed so the President announced to the traditional leaders, during the meeting,” he said.
President Lungu also assured the traditional rulers that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit would continue distributing relief food to all hunger-stricken areas as there were enough supplies to cater for all affected places.
President Lungu would also ensure that Itezhi-Tezhi District benefited from the power, which would be generated from the Itezhi-Tezhi hydro power station.
The Head of State further told the traditional leaders that Government through the Ministry of General Education would look into their concern of the area having one high school only instead of more.
The Itezhi-Tezhi traditional rulers pledged their continued support of the Government of the day and appealed to President Lungu to take decisive action against political violence.