Maravi

Remember the poor if you form govt, chief advises PF

Remember the poor if you form govt, chief advises PF
By Misheck Wangwe in Mufumbwe
Tue 26 July 2011, 13:59 CAT

CHIEF Mubambe Mushima of the Kaonde people says the PF should not forget about the chronic poverty facing people in rural areas if it forms government.

Speaking when Patriotic Front (PF) vice-president Dr Guy Scott paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mufumbwe district, chief Mushima who is one of the senior chiefs in the Kaonde establishment said people in his chiefdom and the surrounding areas have never seen meaningful development.

He said the hope of many poor people was to have a government that would one day restore dignity in their lives by creating tangible empowerment opportunities.

Chief Mushima said the people in his area felt isolated because they were not benefiting anything from the national wealth.

“We want leaders that will push the agenda of development in our area. Just look at my palace and how dilapidated it is! We wanted to expand it years back but due to lack of resources it is still at the foundation level. My vehicle is on the rocks and nobody has been willing to help. There is nothing here. Our leaders in Lusaka should not just enjoy and get fat alone. They should look into our problems because that’s why they were elected,” chief Mushima said.

And Dr Scott said the vision of the PF in its governance system was to devolve power so that chiefs could have enough resources to take care of their chiefdoms and the subordinates.

Dr Scott said it was sad that the MMD had taken away the respect and customary privileges and powers of chiefs in the country.

“Our chiefs are supposed to take an upper hand in the process of development. That’s why we are in full support of the Barotseland Agreement. As PF we will make sure that our traditional leaders together with the people in their chiefdoms live dignified lives. It’s sad that the MMD has reduced them to nothing. If we can have a Barotseland Agreement, I see no reason why we should not have the Kaondeland agreement because these agreements are all about giving back resources to the people,” Dr Scott said.

Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, CHIEFS, GUY SCOTT, PF

posted by MrK @ 4:36 PM