Maravi

Lubinda accuses Mukuni of campaigning for MMD

Lubinda accuses Mukuni of campaigning for MMD
Written by Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Monday, October 12, 2009 7:44:44 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has accused chief Mukuni of Kazungula district of campaigning for an MMD candidate in the Kasiya ward by-election. In an interview, Lubinda said chief Mukuni’s behaviour was detrimental to democracy and that he was a shame to traditional leaders.

The UPND-PF pact campaign team in Kasiya ward confirmed having stumbled on chief Mukuni campaigning for the MMD candidate, Mary Kashishi Chiwisha, in the company of his wife and newly appointed Kazungula district commissioner and former MMD provincial chairlady, Mary Mukwiza.

Lubinda noted that it was some chiefs’ undemocratic behaviour which was now making the National Constitutional Commission (NCC) members to start advocating for the abolition of traditional leadership.

“We have always known he [chief Mukuni] is an MMD cadre and not worth being a neutral chief when it comes to politics. He is a cadre who is not grateful to the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who has done a lot for him by making him be a board member of Sun International Hotels and also sit on many tourism boards,” he said.

Lubinda added that chief Mukuni, just like Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe, were hungry politicians who were only interested in serving their own interests and not those of the people.

“He the Munokalya or whatever his names are is just interested to eat...he did that in 2008, he is just like his brother Munkombwe who also just wants to eat and not serve. It is traditional leaders like chief Mukuni who are now making the NCC start debating on scrapping the issue of traditional leadership. Let him and others who are in this habit change; it is detrimental to democracy. It is shameful,” Lubinda said.

He said the chiefs’ behaviour put the neutrality of traditional leaders in the quest for good governance at question.

“The relevance of traditional leaders is that they should be seen to be neutral because they are leaders of subjects who are from different political parties. Chief Mukun’s behaviour is dividing his own chiefdom. Chiefs are supposed to be parents who should not take sides with their children. If a parent takes sides with one child in terms of preference before others, he is not fit to be called a good parent,” he said.

Lubinda said he knew chief Mukuni to be a wise man but he should also know that wisdom could come from an anthill.

“Let him know that wisdom can also come from a small anthill. We like him that is why we want him to change and be a good traditional leader,” said Lubinda.

Chief Mukuni was not available for comment by press time as his mobile phone was switched off.

The council seat fell vacant following the appointment of Mukwiza, who was Kasiya ward councillor, as Kazungula district commissioner two months ago.

Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, GIVEN LUBINDA, MMD

posted by MrK @ 6:44 AM