Ngoni chief, Mpezeni, sings praises of President Hichilema, calls for dialogue over constitutional amendments

In apparent show of solidarity with President Hakainde Hichilema,Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people has urged the Church and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to engage in meaningful dialogue with government over the proposed constitutional amendments rather than resorting to street protests.

He encouraged the Church to consult Senior Traditional Leaders across the country if all avenues of dialogue with government had been exhausted.

Speaking at a press briefing in Chipata on Thursday, Paramount Chief Mpezeni reminded Zambians that the President was human and capable of making mistakes like anyone else.

The traditional leader urged the public to maintain realistic expectations while supporting national development efforts. He further advised the Church and government to agree on a practical and balanced roadmap that addresses concerns on both sides.

“Peaceful engagement was more productive than public demonstrations. Delimitation remains an urgent matter, as some constituencies are significantly larger than others,” Paramount Chief Mpezeni said.

He appealed to Zambians to give President Hichilema more time to deliver on his commitments, adding that the ongoing electricity challenges were not new. He expressed confidence that the current administration was doing everything possible to address the problem through proper planning rather than blame-shifting.

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In a show of solidarity, Chief Mpezeni also endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, praising the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which he described as a blessing to communities.

“The fund has enabled many constituencies to acquire graders, police vehicles, ambulances, and other essential assets,” he said.

He also thanked the President for the free education policy, saying it had resulted in a notable rise in school enrolment.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni further applauded the decentralisation agenda, noting that it had expanded the number of beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer programme—an initiative he said was helping alleviate rural poverty.

Commenting on the opposition Patriotic Front (PF), Chief Mpezeni criticised the internal leadership disputes rocking the party.

“National leadership requires order and unity, not a situation where numerous individuals claim authority at the same time,” he said.

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