Mafinga, August 26, 2024, ZANIS—Government says it is inspired by the routine sensitisation programmes that traditional leaders have continued to carry out in their chiefdoms to address gender inequalities, human rights and child marriages.

Muchinga Deputy Permanent Secretary Mathews Chikekwa said this yesterday in Mafinga district when he graced this year’s Vankhakanimba ceremony of the Tumbuka people under Chief Muyombe

Rev Chilekwa said the government is also grateful that Chief Muyombe has been helping in addressing the social ills such as early marriages and encouraging young people to go back to school.

“You royal highness, I encourage you not to get tired in the frantic efforts you have been making in promoting the rights and welfare of the women,” he said.

Rev Chilekwa said the government has remained focused to increasing access to education for everyone.

He said this can be attested by the introduction of free education to accommodate all children even the less privileged that lack resources.

He said the United Party for National Development has a preoccupation to promote education because that is the only to make citizens relevant to national development and ending generational poverty.

“The introduction of CDF has seen many children being sponsored under secondary school bursaries and skills development bursary schemes,” he said.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary said the government is also ensuring that every school has enough desks using CDF so that no child sits on the floor.

Meanwhile, Rev Chilekwa has urged people in Mafinga not to be afraid of who they are, but be proud and leverage their special cultural diversity for the creative good and development of the country.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary also assured Chief Muyombe and several chiefs who attended the ceremony that President Hakainde Hichilema is committed to taking development to all parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Chief Muyombe expressed gratitude to the President and the new dawn government for its impressive development record achieved in the area.

Chief Muyombe, who spoke through his representative Frank Muwowo, noted several development initiatives.

He mentioned CDF, social cash transfer and swift response to the drought situation as commendable achievements of the UPND since coming into office three years ago.

“The first one is quick response to droughts that affected the 2023/2024 farming season. The government acted swiftly and proactively by providing farmers with farming inputs for winter farming and cash as start-up capital,” Chief Muyombe said.

He noted that this move has not just mitigated the immediate effects of the drought but also ensured resilience for a sustainable future

The traditional ruler mentioned that the increased social transfer has been a lifeline for many people, especially in Muyombe which is a rural community.

“The tangible impact of this initiative is the testament of the government’s commitment in ensuring the wellbeing of its citizens,” he said

The Vinkhakanimba Ceremony also celebrates the history of the Tumbuka people’s migration from Ujiji in Tanzania and honours the exemplary leadership Chief Vinkhakanimba led the Tumbuka people into Muyombe.

This year’s ceremony was celebrated under the theme “Building Foundations of Unity Through Culture” and was attended by Paramount Chief Chikula-Mayembe of theTumbuka people from Malawi.

Others in attendance were Senior Chief Mpamba of Lundazi, Chief Kafwimbi of Isoka, Chiefs Mwenewisi and Mwenechifungwe of Mafinga district.

ZANIS/