“HOUSE OF CHIEFS SHOULD SETTLE DISPUTES”
By Lupindula Mwewa
Forum for African Traditional Authorities of Zambia -FATAZA- has appealed to the new government to come up with a legal framework which will mandate the House of Chiefs to resolve traditional conflicts.
FATAZA General Secretary, Chief ISHIMA SANKENI the Sixth of the Lunda people in Zambezi district says the house of Chiefs in its current form is toothless and a white elephant.
Chief ISHIMA says the House of Chiefs has not been able to settle land disputes and succession wrangles because there is no legal framework to support its decisions.
Speaking in a telephone interview with ZNBC News in Solwezi, Chief ISHIMA said most Chiefdoms are rocked with land disputes and succession wrangles which the House of Chiefs could have helped to address if it had legal backing.
Chief ISHIMA has urged the incoming United Party for National Development – UPND government under President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA to give power to the House of Chiefs to settle traditional matters.
He has also advised the new government to work with all Chiefs to ensure inclusive development especially in rural areas.
Chief ISHIMA has appealed to the incoming government to prioritize working on feeder roads leading to chief’s palaces and farming blocks.
He also wants the new government to build more schools and health facilities in rural areas to reduce rural-urban drift once such facilities are taken closer to the communities.