Politicians manipulate chiefs, says Ndake

Politicians manipulate chiefs, says Ndake
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday, January 01, 2009 7:54:16 AM

CHIEF Ndake of the Nsenga people in Nyimba district yesterday said most chiefs in Eastern Province have been manipulated by politicians instead of being educated on good governance.

Speaking during the Eastern Province chiefs’ conference sponsored by Caritas Zambia in Chipata, Chief Ndake said chiefs were supposed to be sensitised so that they become amicable players in good governance.

“I wish to state that I find it hard to say that even though government facilitates donor funding to non-governmental organisations here in our country, it has lamentably directly and effectively failed to assemble chiefs for the purpose of training them so that they effectively and efficiently play their role in the field of good governance.

I do realise Mr Chairman that in politics, manipulation does produce desired goals; I don’t know whether it is in most cases but it would appear so. It’s sad to note that that is what a majority of political leaders have managed to do to chiefs here in the Eastern Province, manipulation instead of sensitisation, educating us so that we become effective amicable players in the field of governance,” said Chief Ndake.

And Eastern Province royal foundation chairperson senior chief Nzamane who opened the meeting called for unity among the people of the province.

He also took time to remind the chiefs of what was resolved during their 2005 conference that was held at Luangwa House.

Senior chief Nzamane said God ordained all nature of leadership, therefore chiefs, government leaders and Christians must all protect and provide for the communities fairly and free from corruption.

And senior chief Nzamane urged chiefs in the country to involve the church and the government in resolving their problems.

He said it had been realised that chiefs were leaving out the church and the government in resolving their problems.

“In trying to resolve our problems that we face, we have always left out the church and this is the reason why we have difficulties in getting around the problems that we are faced with. I think from now on, we should invite the church when we are facing problems, let’s invite government, we are partners in development,” said senior chief Nzamane.

He observed that the majority of the population was in the rural areas where government departments were lacking.

And Bishop George Lungu, who is also Zambia Episcopal Conference president, said the church loves chiefs who love their people.

“We love the chiefs who love their people who ensure that their people are comfortable with them, we also appreciate the fact that some of you are God-fearing people in your own churches. But I’m also aware that there are some of our chiefs, I’m sorry to say this, they seem to be blocking development. They see the church as anti traditional leader, they see the church as people coming in to disturb the peace of the people and so forth. I feel sorry about that because we always come to you in trying to help you look after your own people,” said Bishop Lungu.