Maravi

Chiefs urged to help change working culture in Northern Province

Chiefs urged to help change working culture in Northern Province
November 23, 2008

Government has urged traditional leaders in Northern Province to help change their subjects’ work culture to attain meaningful development.

Newly appointed Northern Province Minister Charlse shawa made the appeal in Kasama, Saturday, when he paid a courtesy call on senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba speaking people at his palace.

The Minister who was flanked by Acting Permanent Secretary Gabriel Kaunda said the MMD government regarded chiefs as partners in development hence the need for the two parties to work together to transforming people’s negative attitude towards work.

He said the province was endowed with abundant natural resources which should be exploited in order to improve people’s living standards.

Mr Shawa observed that the province had good agricultural soils which could be used to produce enough food for the whole country and abundant tourism potential.

He said, Government was committed to transform the province into an economic zone.

The Minister also cautioned Civil servants not to look down on the local people just because they do not have degrees.

Mr Shawa was reacting to the senior chief’s complaint that some civil servants were partly to blame for the negative attitude toward works as they were fond of looking down on the local people.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Mwamba has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Shawa as Provincial Minister for Northern Province.

The Senior Chief pledged to work together with the new Minister to enhance development.

The senior Chief however, appealed to President Rupiah Banda to consider appointing people who have worked in the province to the position of permanent secretary as they were familiar with problems affecting the local people.

Mr. Shawa was until his appointment Eastern Province Minister. He has taken over from Mpulungu Member of Parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo who has moved to the Ministry of Energy as deputy Minister.

ZANIS/HM/ENDS/MM

Labels: CHIEFS

posted by MrK @ 8:30 PM