By CHILA NAMAIKO –
CHIEFS from Luapula Province have urged politicians that will lose this year’s general elections to peacefully accept defeat.
The chiefs have also challenged politicians to conduct issue-based campaigns.
Senior Chief Nsamba of the Unga people of Lunga District said at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the elections should not bring divisions at the expense of unity and peace in the nation.
Chief Nsamba, who was flanked by Chieftainess Kanyembo, Senior Chief Kalimankonde and Chief Mwewa, said losers should gracefully accept the results.
The chiefs said political leaders should respect each other and avoid carrying out politics of character assassination which had potential to cause anarchy.
He said that Zambians regardless of political affiliations, were one people and that divergent views on national matters should not cause hate speech and divisions.
The chiefs’ desire was to see that peace and unity continued to prevail in the country as it was cardinal for national development.
Meanwhile, the chiefs have praised First Lady Esther Lungu for her continued charity works from which a number of underprivileged persons had benefited from her different programmes.
Ms Lungu has been invited by chiefs from Luapula Province to be the guest of honour during a fundraising dinner dance of their Musubilwa Mpemba traditional ceremony at Intercontinental Hotel today at 19:00 hours.
The ceremony would be held on June 25, this year, in Lunga District and President Edgar Lungu is expected to officiate.
Chief Nsamba said Ms Lungu was instrumental in promoting the welfare of many vulnerable people and that her works should be supported.
He hailed Ms Lungu for accepting to attend the dinner dance in which tickets were sold for K500 and K1,000 to support the traditional ceremony, whose total budget was K500, 000.