Stay out of politics, Kapiji warns chief Muchinka

Stay out of politics, Kapiji warns chief Muchinka
Written by Staff Reporter
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:00:41 PM

MMD member Judith Kapijimpanga has cautioned chief Muchinka against engaging in partisan politics and demanded a retraction of the statements attributed to the chief in the Saturday Post.

Kapijimpanga, who is MMD national executive committee (NEC) member, said she had been forced to go and see chief Muchinka of the Lala people of Central Province after reading the story in the Saturday Post where the traditional leader was quoted as having said that the ruling party would not bribe their way to victory in the forthcoming Chitambo by-election.

Trouble started when Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata's entourage bumped into Kapijimpanga's entourage at the chief's palace in Serenje.

Kapijimpanga appeared hesitant to take a photo with Sata, saying she was scared that her party might fire her.

However, after some persuasion, Kapijimpanga finally gave in and posed for a picture with Sata's entourage.

A few minutes after Sata and his entourage had left, Kapijimpanga called Post journalist Patson Chilemba, saying the chief had denied the story he had authored.

"...the chief says that, that story you wrote, which has come out in today's [last Saturday's] Post is not true. He is demanding a retraction. Please retract that story," Kapijimpanga said.

But Chilemba told Kapijimpanga that every word attributed to chief Muchinka was correct.

As the telephone conversation continued, Kapijimpanga asked chief Muchinka to speak to Chilemba to deny the statements he had earlier issued.

"What about this I'm hearing about the statements alluded to me?" chief Muchinka asked, as Chilemba responded: "It is the interview you gave me on Thursday last week."

However, chief Muchinka said he wanted a retraction of the statements he had earlier issued.

Chilemba then read the story to chief Muchinka and challenged him to deny any sentence in the story if his demands were genuine.

In response, chief Muchinka only said: "But does that [statements he issued in the Saturday Post] mean corruption?" before the phone-line cut.

A few minutes later, Kapijimpanga called and asked Chilemba to retract the story but the reporter refused to do so, insisting that the story was accurate.

After a few hours, Kapijimpanga called Chilemba and said she had cautioned chief Muchinka against involving himself in partisan politics.

"I also came here to talk to the chief on the prospects of campaigning for the MMD. We came to lobby for the MMD from the chief," she said.

On the Nansanga farming block, Kapijimpanga said chief Chitambo had given a go-ahead when she was lands minister to sell the land in question.

Last Thursday, chief Muchinka said desperate last-minute developmental efforts in the area would not help the MMD because people were now clever.

"They started working on Chansa Road when they heard that the Vice-President would be coming. We chiefs and subjects complain. The vehicles never used to move freely on that road because it was full of stones. But they started working on it when they heard that the Vice-President [George Kunda] would be coming," chief Muchinka said. "[But] that won't help them because people are clever that they have done this because of elections. Why didn't they do this before the votes?"

Chief Muchinka also said the traditional leaders in the area were not consulted by government over the Nansanga Farming block.

"How can they sell my land? That land belongs to the chiefs. We have got the House of Chiefs, it is just that there is no say [in the House of Chiefs]. They don't do anything. They ask us to send submissions, but nothing happens," said chief Muchinka.