Letters - Chiefs

Masebo's threats to chiefs
By Concerned citizen
Saturday June 21, 2008 [04:00]

I am equally disappointed with Sylvia Masebo for her lack of respect for chiefs. How can a minister, on behalf of the government, threaten to dissolve a chiefdom. Does she really understand what she is talking about?

When people were calling for the government’s intervention in the disputed land between chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya, they were requesting the government to mediate diplomatically, respectifully and professionally so as to help resolve the issue amicably.

Alas the ‘almighty’ minister parades herself at the market, responds to the media about the dispute in, what I would term, a disrespectful and authoritative tone to the chiefs.

May I remind the minister that chiefdoms are not chiefs but the Soli and Sala people. So then, how do you dissolve people?

May I further remind her that chiefdoms are not city or municipal councils that she, a politician, can wake up one morning and decide to dissolve. In as much as the two chiefs are wrong by insulting and threatening peace, she is equally wrong by demeaning them.

Honourable minister, mind how you use the authority given to you by the Constitution; it might work against you. Do you know why the Constitution recognises the fact that there is traditional land in this country? It is because from the onset, if that was not there, we might not have been talking about peace in this country.

Remember that inter-tribe war is so complex to resolve that even the much trusted Zambia Police cannot manage to contain it, just the Kenyans. When the Constitution says land is vested in the President, it does not mean land belongs to the President and his ministers, no!

This applies to chiefs as well. It is not their land but the people’s. Please involve also the Church leaders (EFZ, CCZ and the ECZ) in this land wrangle.



Chieftainess Nkhomeshya must be checked
By J. Thole
Saturday June 21, 2008 [04:00]

Allow me to deliver my grievances over the chieftainess Nkhomeshya versus chief Shakumbila land wrangles. While chief Shakumbila has apologised, it saddens me that senior people in the government allowed this problem to reach that extent without quickly moving in.

Chieftainess Nkhomeshya started by attacking the surveyor general and called for his resignation. Where were the authorities?

As PF leader, Michael Sata put it, why should it be chieftainess Nkhomeshya to fight Chiyawa, Mungule and now, Shakumbila?
She must be watched and leaders should be brave enough to come out in the open and state facts.

Why is the chieftainess causing so much trouble?
Now, Michael Sata has given credence to the 1958 map and government leaders should come out in the open instead of saying the maps lack narrations.

There is the office of the Surveyor General which must be respected.
This issue must be handled with care, especially considering the relationship of the local government minister to the chieftainess in question.

We should not start disrespecting maps which have existed for a long time now.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=43055

Shakumbila, Nkomeshya dispute
By Dr Emmanuel Malabo Makasa
Saturday June 21, 2008 [04:00]

The dispute between their Royal Highnesses Shakumbila and Nkomeshya is a sad development, especially when we look at the manner in which they have handled themselves in public. It’s shameful and unbecoming of royalty to conduct themselves in such a manner.

Where is the diplomacy that we, as Africans, used to practice? Why are we washing our dirty linen in public? Surely, we have not exhausted all means of communications, have we? Why are we becoming like politicians?

Why are we even fighting considering that our boundaries were put in place even before the white man came to form the boundaries of the country we now call Zambia? We made our peace on boundaries centuries ago.

I suggest that you should both consult your council of elders, who will remind you where your boundaries end and how to conduct yourself. Please spare us the shame. You are our last hope of dignity in leadership as a people.

As for the threats coming from the Masebo, please, mind your language. Chiefs were in place even before this country was demarcated as Zambia.

Your threats to dissolve that which was in place before you came to be is scary and a none starter.

This is not how you should resolve such disputes. There are many such disputes in the country and it’s high time you two started doing your work properly to ensure peace between neighbouring chiefdoms rather than playing politics and issuing empty threats. We pay you a lot as minister from our taxes. Do your work properly and don’t wait till its this late. We do not need to remind you of your mediatory role in such disputes and do not wait for Levy to tell you to do so.

That is why he appointed you as ministers; he trusted that you would at least settle such matters.

Common on now!



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=43089

Masebo responds
By Sylvia Masebo
Sunday June 22, 2008 [04:00]

In reaction to several letters from concerned citizens arising from my last press briefing, I want to state that I know the difference between deregistering a chief and a chiefdom.

I said at the briefing that in the past, some chiefs and chiefdoms were abolished by the colonial government because of tribal violence and therefore, I would not hesitate to recommend to the President the deregistration of any chief who wants to take us back to tribal wars by inciting his or her people to fight and shed blood.

There is, therefore, nothing disrespectful about stating a fact in the course of performing my duty as minister in charge of chiefs’ affairs for now.

And by the way, I don’t use empty threats nor do I politicise my job. So my timely warning should be taken seriously because nobody is above the law, chiefs included.