MAFINGA DISTRICT – Muchinga Provincial Minister Hon. Njavwa Simutowe has underscored the critical role of traditional ceremonies in preserving national culture and identity, while outlining a comprehensive development agenda for the Mafinga area.
The Minister was speaking as the Guest of Honour at the annual Chambo Chalutanga traditional ceremony of the Fungwe-speaking people under His Royal Highness Chief Mwenechifungwe in Mafinga District.
The Minister described traditional ceremonies as the “filament through which culture is transferred from one generation to the next.”
“In this dynamic and fast-changing world, where values and beliefs are often swayed by external influences, there is a critical need to document, inventory, and safeguard our rites, songs, dances, cuisine, and all that defines our culture for posterity,” the Minister stated.
He urged citizens not to be afraid of their identity but to leverage Zambia’s unique cultural diversity for the greater good and development of the nation.
The Minister detailed significant government investments in the chiefdom, particularly through the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has risen from K30.6 million to K36.1 million, and government has further proposed to increase to 40 million in 2026.
“This increased CDF has facilitated the construction of several classroom blocks and provided sponsorships for numerous pupils under the secondary school bursary scheme in your chiefdom,” he announced. He added that a government directive ensures no child sits on the floor, with CDF being used to provide sufficient desks.
In the health sector, the Minister revealed that the chiefdom now houses one of only two modern hospitals in Mafinga District, equipped with a mini-surgery department. This has eliminated the need for residents to travel to Isoka or Malawi for medical care. The area has also benefited from the over 11,000 health workers recently employed by the government.
A major announcement came in the road sector, with the Minister declaring that the long-awaited Isoka-Muyombe road will see work commence this year.
“Tarring will extend from the current end of the tarmac up to Muyombe,” he said, a development expected to boost accessibility and reduce the cost of doing business. He also noted the construction of feeder roads, crossing points, and the first-ever street lights in Mafinga through CDF.
The Minister concluded by calling on Chief Mwenechifungwe and his subjects to support the government’s poverty alleviation efforts, monitor CDF projects for quality, and work towards achieving household and national
