Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa, has said government has high expectations that chiefs who are being elevated will continue initiating development projects in their respective areas.
The Minister made the remarks at Kambwiri primary school in Salima last week during the elevation ceremony of Sub T/A Bibi Salima, whose real name, Meliya Chazama Chibwe, to full Traditional Authority.
He advised chiefs to continue working with government if their respective areas are to be developed saying a wise chief works with the ruling government.
Speaking at the function, Nankhumwa advised chiefs in the country to refrain from corruption in the course of discharging their duties saying corruption retards development.
Nankhumwa also called on all chiefs to be accountable to their subjects for projects to be implemented in the interest of all.
He said chiefs are elevated in accordance with the Chiefs Act adding that Bibi Salima was elevated last year in November and was waiting for an official day of crowning her Traditional Authority.
The Minister trashed down reports that government is elevating chiefs during this period of campaigning to woe them to vote for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party saying government and chieftainships are two different things.
The chieftainship of Bibi Salima is for women only.
Meliya Chazama Chibwe was made chief in 2007, in 2016, she later became Sub T/A and was elevated as Traditional Authority on 28th November, 2018 waiting for the crowning ceremony.
