IT is our sincere hope that our traditional leaders will listen to the voice of reason coming from Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe and try the simple method of keeping records of their family lineage to avoid the embarrassing succession wrangles that have scarred our chiefdoms.

Disputes over who should take over as chief who has passed on have become almost predictable, as royal families engage in heated arguments and multiple claims are made on the throne.

What has become a source of concern is that some arguments have boiled over and turned bloody.

We have published countless stories about foul-mouthed and at times axe-wielding members of some royal families who have failed to agree on who should ascend to a throne after the death of a sitting chief.

And of course some cases are still in court, after negotiated settlements of some disputes failed.

The consequences of these differences have been many and varied, but like Dr Kawimbe pointed out during the installation ceremony of Chieftainess Mwenda of the Chishinga people of Mwense District, development in an area lacking established leadership is negatively affected.

The minister's advice was sound and was shared at the right time because the Mwenda chiefdom was torn apart by similar problems.

Until the Government endorsed the new traditional leader in January this year, the chiefdom in Luapula Province was without a leader since the death of the last chief in 2002 due to succession wrangles.

We shudder to imagine how much has been lost by the subjects who obviously have been on the receiving end of these differences.

We concur with Dr Kawimbe who said the family lineage should not be a hard matter to resolve.

What is important is to make sure the line of succession is transparent and devoid of any deceptions.

That way, our chiefdoms will be guaranteed of the honour that befits them.