Prime Minister (PM) Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Saturday expressed concern over the negative trend of disputes among traditional authorities in the country. While addressing the Masubia 2019 Annual Cultural Festival in Bukalo in the Zambezi Region, the premier said the situation distracts the attention of traditional communities from constructive issues that advance the interest of traditional communities and of the country in general. She continued saying that it further diverts the meagre resources from community development activities to finance legal battles that have become the common approach to dealing with differences amongst traditional communities. She therefore called on traditional authorities and communities to make use of the traditional methods of resolving disputes between and amongst them instead of resorting to courts. “The Council of Traditional Leaders can also facilitate resolution of these disputes and should be made use of in this regard,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila advised. The PM highlighted that other issues of significance on which traditional authorities and government need to cooperate on include the implementation of the current drought relief programme, combating crime, especially violence against women and children and drug and alcohol abuse which have become rampant, and curbing teenage pregnancy and school dropouts. She further said that combating mismanagement and promoting sustainable management of environmental resources, including both forestry and wildlife resources and promoting sustainable land management and agricultural production also form part of the issues that need cooperation between the two parties. “This region especially has a great potential to become the food basket and one of the tourism hubs in our country and the government will work relentlessly to help making this a reality,” she said.