PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says peace and unity remain an important aspect of development that must be nurtured by all Zambians. 

President Hichilema said development is anchored on a strong family unity that translates into a united nation.

Speaking when he met the 60 Chiefs that attended the Chuundu Lwindi Traditional ceremony of Senior Chief Sekute of Kazungula district, President Hichilema urged the traditional leaders to support the government’s development agenda.

He said government recognizes traditional leaders as partners in development because the UPND would not have been in office had it not been voted by the subjects of different chiefdoms who supported the party’s development agenda.

“Government is committed to taking development to all parts of this country, but to do that efficiently we need the support of chiefs, we must work together to bring unity, we must work together to develop our chiefdoms,” he said.

He expressed happiness to have successfully attended a number of traditional ceremonies in the country but called for the development of a well organised calendar for all traditional ceremonies in the country to enable him to attend more in 2025.

“I would want to visit as many traditional ceremonies as possible but the timings or calendars of these ceremonies made it impossible for me to do so, going forward let’s have a well organised calendar that will address colliding dates, but those whose timings are tied to a particular season like the Kombouka, and  it’s understood,” he emphasized. 

And house of Chiefs  chairperson,  Chief  Nkambo commended President Hichilema for attending a number of traditional ceremonies across the country that have not only fostered unity among the chiefs but also brought unity in the country.

“The coming together of Chiefs from different regions, through these traditional ceremonies has facilitated cultural exchange, brought unity among us as chiefs and our people,” he said.

Earlier, President Hichilema also met the host chief, Senior chief Sekute who commended the government for the various developmental projects being implemented in his chiefdom.

Senior Chief Sekute also pledged to work with the government in ensuring the government projects are implemented successfully. 

ZANIS reports that the Chuundu Lwindi Traditional ceremony of Senior Chief Sekute becomes the last ceremony to be celebrated in Southern Province for the year 2024.