Maravi

Chief Zombe in a political twist and turn

Chief Zombe in a political twist and turn
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 09 May 2011, 04:01 CAT

CHIEF Zombe of the Lungu people in Mbala district last Sunday denounced area member of parliament Gaston Sichilima when Dr Mbita Chitala paid a courtesy call on him at his palace.

The traditional leader earlier appeared on ZNBC evening news on Friday claiming that he chased Dr Chitala because he was not supporting the latter’s idea to rally behind the opposition Patriotic Front.

But chief Zombe also supported Dr Chitala’s call for a change of government when the two met for about an hour and half in the morning of the day at his palace.

Chief Zombe who spoke most of the time during the meeting, constantly assured Dr Chitala that he could not stand in the way when his subjects wanted a change of government.

“It’s true there is no development in Mbala, especially that our area member of parliament has neglected us. And the signs are clear that people want change, so I can’t stop anyone calling for that. I’m a chief for everyone and I must support what is good for my people. And the people want change because they are not seeing development,” chief Zombe said.

“Gaston and I do not get along; each time we meet we quarrel. And because of his personal hatred for me he shifted a clinic project which was supposed to be built here, close to the community at Nsangu turn-off. This is the area which the people chose as a central place. But Gaston, without consulting me, connived with other people and moved the project to Kaseshya border. The clinic is now being used more by Tanzanians than Zambians.”

He said his relationship with Sichilima was bad to the extent that the two had been fighting each time they met.

“I tell you, Gaston and I cannot meet eye to eye because we are always fighting. Alantukafye, nshaishiba ico namucita (He insults me; I don’t know what I’ve done to him). At one time we fought in town, nalefwaya ukumuma nomba bandeseshefye ba OP (I wanted to beat him up but I was stopped by officers from the intelligence service),” he said.

Chief Zombe said Sichilima was a selfish person who had fallen out of favour even with the Mbala MMD district executive.

“Bushe namumona ifyo acingilila ku ntanshi ya Lake Chila kwati ewapangile? Alibika waya konse abantu balekana nokunwamo amenshi yantu balenwa kale. Fyonse filya filelanga fintu aitemwa Gaston. (Have you seen the way he has fenced off the front at Lake Chila as if he created the lake? He has put a wire fence everywhere such that people can’t drink water from the lake as they used to . That shows how selfish Gaston is,” said Chief Zombe.

“Whenever Gaston comes here, he does not meet anyone, not even his party members because they don’t want him. And it’s because of his behaviour that the President’s name is being tarnished. Once he hears that you people were here, he will also come to shout at me. I’m told he is in the area, obviously he will come here.”

Labels: CHIEFS, GASTON SICHILIMA, MBITA CHITALA, PF

posted by MrK @ 4:49 PM