Chief Kathumba of the Chewa people of Katete and Sinda Districts has appreciated the government for creating an enabling environment that allows for a flourishing cordial relationship between the government and the traditional leadership.
Citing the medal of meritorious achievement bestowed on him by President Hakainde Hichilema early this year, Chief Kathumba says the recognition has given him the impetus to do even more.
He said this when Acting Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Lewis Mwape, toured his tomato plantation in his chiefdom.
“The greatest honour I received was the time I was recognised with a medal by President Hakainde Hichilema and because of that, I am grateful to the government. Yes I have strength but I got more strengthened when the government recognised and appreciated me,” Chief Kathumba said.
And during the tour of his plantation, the Chief hinted that he had been supplementing the government’s efforts in the midst of the hunger situation by donating more than 1000 buckets of tomatoes to his subjects.
“On the 2nd and 10th of September this year, we took tomatoes to headmen where we gave 750 and 672 buckets respectively, so that they can distribute it to the people to exchange it with a mealie meal because of the hunger situation we are experiencing,” he said.
Chief Kathumba said he understood that the government was doing everything it could but in a dire situation like the country was experiencing, it could not do more.
He however highlighted that the charity was a yearly tradition which in many instances, focused on the aged but due to the prevailing hunger situation, he extended the coverage to everyone.
“We do this every year even when there is no hunger, we give to the elderly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mwape appreciated the efforts the traditional leader was making in supplementing the government’s efforts to provide for its people.
“We appreciate this good gesture, many chiefs and their subjects are waiting to receive something from the government but this is the opposite.
You have given to over 1400 individuals, it is a good gesture and as the government we salute you. This is a contribution to poverty reduction; it is a contribution to food security,” he said.
Dr Mwape also observed the chief’s efforts to contribute towards the food basket of the country.
He appealed to the public to emulate what the traditional leader was doing.
“I just want to thank his Royal Highness Chief Kathumba for the contribution he is making towards food security in this country. You can see his target for the winter maize is about 1000 by 50 kg bags of white maize.
So, if we have 50 or 100 people doing this, Eastern Province will remain and maintain its status as a food basket.
We are proud of you because this maize is not going to be sold anywhere else but you will sell it to our national food bank, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA),” he said.
The chief’s plantation called Neria’s plantation has 20 boreholes with two solar pumps installed on each borehole.
Currently, despite the drought situation induced by the El-Nino phenomenon, the 20 boreholes still had more than enough water to irrigate the plantation.
