NKOYAS CRY FOR THE 11TH PROVINCE

THE Nkoya Royal Establishment (NRE) has called for the creation of an 11^th province in western Province to improve the delivery of services since it was too big.

NRE member David Tamboka in an interview said it was prudent for the New Dawn Government to consider creating a new province in the western part of Zambia because it was too big and it was difficult to administer certain things.

He said that they had the campaign during the Mwanawasa regime and that the then president was considering but that this changed due to the regime change.

He said that even the previous regime of former president Edgar Lungu was tabling the matter and even reached an advanced stage but that things changed with the coming of the United Party for National Development (UPND) into power.

“As you are aware, Western Province is a very big province. It is therefore very difficult to administer due to the bureaucracy involved but it would be better if another province is created,” Mr. Tamboka said.

He said he was sure that President Hakainde Hichilema would consider their plight because it was very difficult for the administrators to ensure that certain areas received development.

He however maintained that President Hichilema should not entertain individuals that were calling for the seceding of Western Province under the auspices of Barotseland.

He said Zambia was a sovereign and unitary country and that all those that were trying to fan confusion should not be entertained in any way.

“We, the Nkoya speaking people, have rejected the call for Western Province to be given to the Barotse activists because they are a number of other tribal groupings in the province,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that certain selfish individuals were pushing an agenda that they thought suited them at the expense of the majority Zambians, adding that the issue was serious and the Government must not entertain it.