President Lungu graces 2017 Kufukwila Ceremony

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SPEECH BY, HIS EXCELLENCY MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES

AT THE KUFUKWILA TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF SENIOR CHIEF MUKUMBI OF THE KAONDE SPEAKING PEOPLE OF KALUMBILA DISTRICT IN NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE

SATURDAY, 20TH MAY 2017

• YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, SENIOR CHIEF MUKUMBI OF THE KAONDE PEOPLE;
• YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRESENT;
• HON. RICHARD KAPITA, MP, MINISTER FOR NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE;
• HON. LAWRENCE SICHALWE, MP. MINISTER OF CHIEFS AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS;
• CABINET MINISTERS PRESENT;

             THE PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF);

             LEADERS OF OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES PRESENT;

             CHAIRMAN OF THE KALUMBILA DISTRICT COUNCIL;

             LEADERS OF OTHER  POLITICAL PARTIES PRESENT;

             THE KUFUKWILA ORGANISING COMMITTEE;

             MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;

             DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

I am greatly humbled for your invitation to me to grace the 2017 KUFUKWILA TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF THE KAONDE SPEAKING PEOPLE OF KALUMBILA DISTRICT.

 

GOVERNMENT attaches great importance to traditional ceremonies because they play a significant role in promoting our cultural heritage.

Your Royal Highness, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Government will continue to partner with traditional leaders to foster national development in respective chiefdoms.

Zambia is acclaimed as a beacon of peace hence it is imperative that we maintain this record by promoting traditional establishments which will help the country to continue living in peace.

From time immemorial, chiefs have governed society long before the creation of modern government systems. The peace, stability and harmony that we enjoy today can be attributed to the good leadership of our traditional leaders among other factors.

Your Royal Highness,  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

The Kufukwikila traditional ceremony we are celebrating today is not only a platform which brings us together for a joyful celebration, but it also reminds us of who we are as a people.

Your Royal Highness,  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Government is addressing the prevailing socio-economic challenges our country is facing especially in rural areas.

We are doing this by implementing the decentralisation policy, massive rural infrastructure development, job creation and social protection measures among others.

In the massive infrstructure development programme, north western province has not been left out. Government is undertaking rehabilitation, maintenance and upgrading of some roads in the province.

Your Royal Highnesses,  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

In the education sector, a number of transformations have taken place.  Education is the best equaliser and as such, our objective is to provide quality, affordable and accessible education for all at both general and higher education levels.

In this regard, the government is expanding the education infrastructure throughout the country including northwestern province where eight boarding secondary schools are currently under construction and are at different levels of completion.

In addition to all these projects, government is also upgrading 22 primary schools to secondary level.

Your Royal Highnesses,  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

In the energy sector, government is undertaking massive power connection to the national grid which will be extended to all districts in the province.

So far, Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe, Manyinga and Kabompo districts are connected and connection of Chavuma and Zambezi districts are ongoing. These two districts will be connected to the national grid by July, 2017.

Your Royal Highness,Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to note that north western province has massive potential in the economic sectors, such as mining, tourism and agriculture.

In the agriculture sector for example, there is plenty of arable land, good rainfall, plenty of water resources for investments in the production of cash crops, livestock and fisheries.

Government will continue to provide an enabling environment to enable the local people to realise their potential to exploit untapped natural resources through value addition.

In this regard, i wish to make a clarion call to all line ministries and other stakeholders to work closely with all the royal establishments in the districts and province to ensure that the youths engage themselves in active and meaningful economic activities.

Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

One of the many challenges faced by chiefdoms in Zambia is early child marriages with the girl child being the most affected. The government, through all line ministries, is committed to reducing vulnerabilities associated with child marriage.

Your royal highnesses, May i take this opportunity to salute all your royal highnesses, for the initiative taken to convene at the North -Western Province Council of Chiefs ‘Indaba’ 2017.

Indeed, such meetings are encouraged as they promote an inter-face between government and traditional leaders for a common purpose; which is, to collectively achieve, holistic development both at within the institution of chieftaincy   and national levels.

In conclusion, i would like to wish you your royal highness, good health and continued wisdom as you continue presiding over the affairs of your people. Once more, congratulations for successfully holding this important and coulorful Kufukwila Traditional Ceremony for 2017.

May god bless you all. I thank you. Issued by Cecilia Lubumbashi Mulenga (Mrs)

Chief Analyst-Press and Public Relations FOR/SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT

(PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS) STATE HOUSE