IT IS often said that traditional leaders and Government are partners in development because they have a great deal of power and influence in communities.
Chiefs have jurisdiction over vast swaths of customary land and resources, and they control everything from land use and access to inheritance rights.
In Zambia, chiefs perform a variety of important functions regulated by customary law, including dispute settlement, natural resource management, local development, and traditional religious tasks, among others.
Traditional leaders have a crucial role to play owing to their authority and proximity to people and their primary mandate to preserve customs and traditions derived from the Constitution.
Chiefs occupy strategic positions in their communities; they can use their privileged positions and influence to help bring about development.
Rural communities hold traditional leaders in high esteem and consider chiefdoms as institutions that are closer to their development window.
Traditional leaders are respected, listened to, and generally their views and actions have a huge impact on their subjects.
One of their principal duties is to work for the progress of communities. The material progress of a community and the maintenance of its peace and unity are seen as the main responsibilities of a chief.
This is embodied, where a community is united, in the chief’s role as a symbolic leader and patron of development.
However, despite the innumerable vital functions traditional leaders perform, most of them do not seem to be accorded the decency they so much deserve.
They live in shelters that fall far short of being classified as decent accommodation such that some of their houses even fall apart when it rains cats and dogs.
Fortunately, Government has not been oblivious of the indecency which our chiefs have been exposed to for several decades.
Government is embarking on an ambitious project to build palaces for chiefs across the country to ensure that they live in habitable accommodation.
Yesterday, Government and Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) signed a K311 million contract to construct 81 palaces for chiefs in seven provinces of the country.
Under the six-month contract, the ZCS directorate of infrastructure will build 81 palaces each comprising a four-bedroom house, two low-cost houses for chiefs’ retainers, a conference room, and water reticulation system.
According to Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Administration Maambo Haamaundu, some private sector players will also be engaged to build more palaces and complete those under construction.
“We are in a hurry to see to it that we introduce some level of decency amongst their royal highnesses by constructing for them decent housing units,” Mr Haamandu stated.
This is a progressive move for which Government should be commended because chiefs have been calling for decent accommodation for many years.
It is pleasing that at long last, there is a well thought out programme of building palaces for chiefs so that they live in dignity and get motivated to continue performing their roles diligently.
Building palaces for chiefs is one way of strengthening of the institution of chieftaincy, which complements the efforts of Government in fostering peace and national development.
We also welcome the choice of ZCS as the contractor in that the money which will be spent on the project will remain within the government system.
We have no grain of doubt that ZCS will be equal to the task of delivering quality works because our chiefs deserve well-built palaces.
Chiefs deserve better palaces
IT IS often said that traditional leaders and Government are partners in development because they have a great deal of power and influence in communities.
Chiefs have jurisdiction over vast swaths of customary land and resources, and they control everything from land use and access to inheritance rights.
In Zambia, chiefs perform a variety of important functions regulated by customary law, including dispute settlement, natural resource management, local development, and traditional religious tasks, among others.
Traditional leaders have a crucial role to play owing to their authority and proximity to people and their primary mandate to preserve customs and traditions derived from the Constitution.
Chiefs occupy strategic positions in their communities; they can use their privileged positions and influence to help bring about development.
Rural communities hold traditional leaders in high esteem and consider chiefdoms as institutions that are closer to their development window.
Traditional leaders are respected, listened to, and generally their views and actions have a huge impact on their subjects.
One of their principal duties is to work for the progress of communities. The material progress of a community and the maintenance of its peace and unity are seen as the main responsibilities of a chief.
This is embodied, where a community is united, in the chief’s role as a symbolic leader and patron of development.
However, despite the innumerable vital functions traditional leaders perform, most of them do not seem to be accorded the decency they so much deserve.
They live in shelters that fall far short of being classified as decent accommodation such that some of their houses even fall apart when it rains cats and dogs.
Fortunately, Government has not been oblivious of the indecency which our chiefs have been exposed to for several decades.
Government is embarking on an ambitious project to build palaces for chiefs across the country to ensure that they live in habitable accommodation.
Yesterday, Government and Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) signed a K311 million contract to construct 81 palaces for chiefs in seven provinces of the country.
Under the six-month contract, the ZCS directorate of infrastructure will build 81 palaces each comprising a four-bedroom house, two low-cost houses for chiefs’ retainers, a conference room, and water reticulation system.
According to Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Administration Maambo Haamaundu, some private sector players will also be engaged to build more palaces and complete those under construction.
“We are in a hurry to see to it that we introduce some level of decency amongst their royal highnesses by constructing for them decent housing units,” Mr Haamandu stated.
This is a progressive move for which Government should be commended because chiefs have been calling for decent accommodation for many years.
It is pleasing that at long last, there is a well thought out programme of building palaces for chiefs so that they live in dignity and get motivated to continue performing their roles diligently.
Building palaces for chiefs is one way of strengthening of the institution of chieftaincy, which complements the efforts of Government in fostering peace and national development.
We also welcome the choice of ZCS as the contractor in that the money which will be spent on the project will remain within the government system.
We have no grain of doubt that ZCS will be equal to the task of delivering quality works because our chiefs deserve well-built palaces.