•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday held a meeting with more than 30 traditional leaders from Luapula Province at State House. Above is the President (right) with his guests while on the left is Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

By JAMES KUNDA –
THIRTY traditional leaders from Luapula Province have endorsed President Edgar Lungu’s development agenda for the country and have pledged to support him in ensuring that development projects are executed to benefit the people.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has thanked traditional chiefs countrywide for embracing the development vision of the country which he has affirmed will be fulfilled as promised.
Chief Nsamba of the Uunga people in Lunga District said chiefs in Luapula were happy with the unprecedented development seen under President Lungu as the livelihood of the people was improving daily.
The traditional leader dispelled reports that the chiefs in the province were against Mr Lungu’s administration and the style of leadership.
Chief Nsamba said this after President Lungu met 30 chiefs and two chieftainesses from Luapula Province at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
“I must state that as chiefs in Luapula Province, we are very happy with the development projects being undertaken by his Excellency the President Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
“Let me also state that reports that chiefs in Luapula are not happy with the PF Government are just the views of one person and not the people of the province as a whole. Luapula is still a stronghold of the PF,” Chief Nsamba said.
Chief Nsamba highlighted the Link Zambia 8000, a major project that had transformed the province into a hub of economic activity.
He said the traditional leaders interacted well with the President with whom various issues related to national development were discussed.
Chief Nsamba said the chiefs proposed that President Lungu woos more investors to explore possibilities of establishing hydro-electricity power plants.
“Luapula has abundant water resources and there is need for the Government to identify investors who can draw power from this water by setting up hydropower plants.
“We are grateful that his Excellency has bought this idea and has resolved to ensure that investors are found as soon as possible,” he said.
Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda-speaking people of Luapula was not part of the meeting but spoke to President Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda via mobile endorsing the presence of the chiefs at State House.
Those who attended the meeting were chiefs Nsamba, Puta, Chisunka, Mununga, Mwewa, Mushota, Matanda, Mabumba, Kalasamukoso, Kalimankonde, Milambo, Chitembo, Mwansabombwe and Bangweulu.
Others were chiefs, Bwalya Mponda, Kasomalunga, Kanyembo, Kalasalukangaba, Mibenge, Mulundu, Kambwali, Nshimba, Munkanta, Chama, Mutipula, Kashiba, Lubunda and Kasoma Lwela.
The chieftainesses were Lambwe Chomba and Mwenda.
Mr Chanda said President Lungu was grateful with the support shown to him by chiefs countrywide.
“His Excellency wishes to place on record that chiefs remain a critical component of the governance process and he is grateful for their support towards his agenda for developing the country.
“The President also wishes to dispel falsehoods in some newspapers that the road projects will not yield any meaningful development because a good road network opens up an area to development,” he said.
Mr Chanda said President Lungu was confident that the provincial and district administrations in Luapula would professionally preside over the execution of development programmes in the region.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali, who accompanied Mr Chanda to the media briefing, said the chiefs were elated to work with the PF Government in developing the region.
President Lungu later had lunch with the chiefs in the presence of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Joseph Katema and PF members of Parliament (MPs) from Luapula Province.