COPPERBELT Permanent Secretary, Villie lombanya has said President Rupiah Banda is not under pressure to meet Lamba chiefs.

Mr Lombanya also said Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister, Gabriel Namulambe and former Defence minister, George Mpombo, who are both Lambas, will not be part of the meeting's agenda on Tuesday next week.

In an interview in Ndola yesterday, Mr Lombanya said there was nothing extraordinary with the president's meeting with the Lamba chiefs.

He said the meeting was expected to be held early this year but it could not be accommodated due to the president's busy working schedule.

Mr Lombanya refuted the story published in yesterday's edition of The Post newspaper suggesting that President Banda's intention to meet the chiefs from the Copperbelt was aimed at ironing out perceived differences between the Government and the traditional rulers.

"President Banda will meet the chiefs after commissioning the newly-opened Chinese-owned Luanshya Copper Mine on Tuesday.

"He will meet the chiefs just like he has done in other provinces and not because of Namulambe or Mpombo," he said.

Mr Lombanya said the president wanted to meet the chiefs with the aim of exchanging views about development issues and challenges they were experiencing.

He said the president met chiefs wherever he went because they were part and parcel of his administration.

"It is wrong to create an impression that there is fire burning in Lamba land and the president has been put under pressure.

"People should not underestimate the president's executive powers because he is not vulnerable," he said.