•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu shakes hands with Chief Ishindi Kazanda III as the latter welcomed the Head of State to the Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony in Zambezi yesterday. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS

By REBECCA MUSHOTA in  Zambezi –
PRESIDENT EDGAR Lungu has given the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs a one month ultimatum to resolve the dispute between Chiefs Ndungu and Inshindi.
The President said the Ministry should expedite by constituting a committee to conduct an inquiry in the dispute between Lundas and Luvales.
President Lungu said this when he graced the Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony of the Lunda people in Zambezi East yesterday.
He said the Government would make a decision in a month’s time on how the boundary dispute between senior chiefs Inshindi of Zambezi East and Ndungu of Zambezi West would be dealt with.
He said the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs should quickly constitute a committee to investigate the differences.
“If all fails, I’ll take up the matter myself and set up a commission of Inquiry as provided by law,” President Lungu said.
He said he would not tolerate tribalism in Zambia because it was counterproductive.
The President urged chiefs Inshindi and Ndungu to dialogue and end the longstanding boundary dispute and, subsequently, foster development.
President Lungu said he had earlier referred the matter to the House of Chiefs but certain chiefs seemed to have interest in the issue and were not effectively dealing with it.
As custodians of cultural development, traditional leaders had a huge responsibility to ensure that traditional practices such as inheritance of widows, sexual cleansing, gender-based violence and early marriages were discontinued.
Chief Inshindi said through his spokesperson Kenneth Kankinza that education was important and building a university would help improve education standards.
He also appealed for a new hospital as the one in the district has obsolete equipment and urged the Government to accelerate the implementation of laws that gave chiefs more powers to effectively contribute to national development.
The Luba Lubanza organising committee chairperson said it was important to  preserve cultural norms for the benefit of future generations.
The association was working with chiefs in order to enhance this call.
He said the association was grateful that President Lungu was taking development to previously neglected areas and, therefore, promoting a united Zambia.
The Government plans to divide the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the proposal would be taken to Parliament next month.
President Lungu was accompanied by Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene, Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda, his Lands counterpart Christabel Ngimbu and PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri.