Post by Edwin Mwiba

Recently the Gender Division, Cabinet Office - Luapula Province, in collaboration with the Chiefs Affairs Department facilitated for a 2026 - 2030 Strategic Planning Meeting of the Luapula Province Chiefs Council. In its 2026 - 2030 Strategic Planning, the Chiefs Council also discussed the progress and challenges encountered during its 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan. It was worth noting that the Strategic Plan was deliberately aligned to the 8th National Development Plan. The alignment demonstrated foresight and ensured that the aspirations of the traditional leadership in Luapula Province complement the broader national development agenda. In complementing Government effort, the Luapula Province Council of Chiefs established and approved harmonised customary by-laws in order to promote development, gender equality and eradicate harmful traditional practices such as child marriages and gender based violence. All the foregoing collective efforts provide a comprehensive approach to preventing and responding to societal inequalities, demonstrating commitment to upholding human rights, particularly women’s rights. Societal inequalities are best addressed when multiple sectors and organisations work together to create and implement unified prevention and response strategies. In this regard, the Provincial Administration commended the Germany Cooperation for International Development (GIZ), under its Food and Nutrition Security, Enhancing Resilience Plus (FANSER +) Project, for coming on board to support the validation, distribution, and sensitisation of the traditional by-laws in their catchment districts. The achievements recorded by the Luapula Province Chiefs Council 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan are not merely achievements of the Province Council of Chiefs. They are achievements of Government as well, achievements of communities, and indeed achievements of the people of Zambia. It was also noted that lessons learned during implementation contribute significantly to improving future development planning and execution. In conclusion, the Guest of Honour, the Provincial Permanent Secretary, stated that as Government transitions from the 8th National Development Plan, the Chiefs’ Council should continue aligning its future strategies and programmes with national priorities. Such alignment strengthens coordination, enhances resource mobilisation, and maximises the impact of development interventions.