Maravi

Gap between traditional, political govt is too wide - chief Chibesakunda

COMMENT - The reason benefits are not trickling down to the rural areas where most people live, is because all the money is spent on the ministerial level, instead of the local government level. Pay 50% of national revenues directly to local government, and you are going to have the basis for a very different country and economy.

Gap between traditional, political govt is too wide - chief Chibesakunda
By Mutale Kapekele
Thu 31 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

CHIEF Chibesakunda of Chinsali has said the deficit between traditional and political governance should be addressed for the country to attain meaningful development.

In an interview yesterday, Chibesakunda said the gap between traditional and political government was too wide and needed to be filled.

“Our rural areas in this country are not developed because of the problem of governance,” chief Chibesakunda said.

“We have the traditional system, where most of the poor and vulnerable are, operating without budgetary support and the state governance whose benefits do not trickle down to the lowest member of society. We need to address this deficit in governance for this country to see meaningful development.”

He said the government should clearly define the position of traditional leadership in the country's governance structure.

“Our governance structure is such that as chiefs we don't even know if we are below the members of parliament or councillors, where do we fall?” chief Chibesakunda asked. “Infumu mwashibika pesa (where do you place the chiefs)? We need to define the fusion point for the two governance systems so that we find a way of delivering services to our people.”

He wondered how the government expected chiefs to provide services to their people without any form of funding.

“In my chiefdom, I have 385, 000 people living in 700 villages with no police post or court,” chief Chibesakunda said. “That means that I have to be the police and the court. It is difficult without funding.”
Chief Chibesakunda also urged Zambians living in cities to develop their home areas through paying some form of tax.

“During the colonial era the chiefs collected tax from all the residents in the village and even those who left for towns sent something home every month,” he said. “The chief was allowed to retain part of that tax to develop his area. That is why most of the roads we have in the rural areas were constructed during the colonial time. So this sort of tax is nothing new and it can work out if it is seriously implemented.”

He said it was the responsibility of everyone to address poverty in rural Zambia where most of the country's population were based.
“It is sad that people forget where they are coming from when they get to cities,” chief Chibesakunda said.

“We should all invest in our home areas so that we address the issue of poverty which is serious in most of our remote areas, if not all. Investment or development should start at the household level, the village and then the towns and cities. If we did that, this country see a better life for most of our people.”

Labels: CHIEF CHIBESAKUNDA, POLITICS

posted by MrK @ 7:25 AM