Chiefs not beggars, Banda tells President Hichilema 

By NATION REPORTER PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema insulted traditional leaders in Muchinga Province by claiming that they are sad because his Government is not giving them tusaka twandalama (handouts), says Petauke Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Banda.Mr Banda blamed President Hichilema’s handlers who he accused of failing to advise him regarding what he said to people.He said the traditional leaders were not sad because they do not receive free gifts from the ruling UPND, but because of the pressure they were receiving from their subjects pertaining to the high cost of living.“Chiefs are not beggars whatever they do they do it for their subjects, we cannot the president to be calling them beggars, the chiefs never used to receive tusaka twandalama from the previous Governments they just had a good working relationship,” he said.Mr Banda said just like the offices of Members of Parliament, the office of chiefs was overwhelmed with complaints from their subjects.He said people were knocking on their doors everyday asking for help from numerous problem they were facing that require money.“Life is hard now in Zambia, because of the high prices of energy, businesses have collapsed and prices of commodities have gone up beyond the reach of majority of Zambians, hence them exerting pressure on their local leaders with different problems,” he said.Mr Banda said when people through their leaders like a Chief complain about the hardships that the country was facing and the Chiefs pass them to Government, it does not mean the chiefs were begging on their own behalf.