Maravi

Mukuni’s appeal for recognition as paramount chief saddens Nalubamba

Mukuni’s appeal for recognition as paramount chief saddens Nalubamba
Written by George Zulu in Monze
Saturday, July 18, 2009 9:25:07 PM

THE Royal Foundation of Zambia Southern Province committee says it will not allow chief Mukuni to divide the province.

Provincial committee chairperson senior chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala said the appeal by chief Mukuni made to President Rupiah Banda during the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Livingstone - to have the province divided into two parts and have him recognised as paramount chief of the province - made sad readings as it undermined the essence of existence of the Bantu Botatwe.

Namwala said this after a closed-door consultative meeting with chief Moonze on the division of the province into two parts of the Tonga people of Monze yesterday.

"The proposed division of the province into two makes sad reading. In the first place and out of respect Mukuni should have discussed it with his royal highness paramount chief Moonze of the Tonga people of Southern Province. Secondly, the provincial royal foundation for which I am chairperson and Mukuni is a member should have been given an opportunity to deliberate on the matter and provide a way forward," he said.

Nalubamba wondered how chief Mukuni went ahead and requested the head of state to take a unilateral position on what he called a sensitive and critical matter when government organs below the President were not adequately informed.

"How does Mukuni request the President to recognise him paramount chief and to have the province divided into two parts? I don't think that the provincial administration is aware about this move. We, the traditional leaders, should have been briefed about the matter at the Choma meeting. Considering the gravity of the issue at hand, I call upon the provincial minister to call for an urgent meeting for intervention on the proposed division of the province," he said.

Chief Nalubamba said chief Mukuni was going too far in his burning desire to become paramount chief of the Tonga speaking people.

He said chief Mukuni used the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to call for a meeting in Monze and resources were used for what turned out to be a fruitless meeting.

"His desires to become paramount chief of the Bantu Botatwe have taken a wrong path because he is now demanding for the division of the people in the province which is dangerous to the security of the nation and the peace we have enjoyed since independence. He and government called for a meeting which was held in Monze where former minister of local government Mama Masebo, senior chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II graced the occasion which turned up to be a very useless gathering, " he said.

Chief Nalubamba said chief Mukuni had exposed the traditional leadership into ridicule because of his desires which he said were regrettable and warned President Rupiah Banda against accepting chief Mukuni's proposals.

"We shall not allow a person who hails from Congo-DRC or any other country to come and destabilise the peace and unity we have enjoyed. The fact that his grandfather trekked through to Livingstone from Kola to marry a beautiful Toka-leya girl; with some royal blood is not the basis on which he should claim recognition as paramount chief of the valley. After all, the people of the valley have been subordinate to His Royal Highness chief Musokotwane who was related to paramount chief Moonze," he said.

Chief Nalubamba said the Royal Foundation of Zambia in the province had realised that chief Mukuni's move to change Lwiindi Livingstone from December to July was to inconvenience the Lwiindi Gonde ceremony of Monze.

He said it was extremely unfortunate that all the efforts and attempts to separate and divide the people of Southern Province were going on with the blessings of those in government.

Senior chief Nalubamba met chief Moonze to discuss the matter, which they said was critical to the unity and sustainable development of the province.

Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, CHIEFS, SOUTHERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 8:17 PM