Maravi

Luapula chiefs ‘endorse’ Rupiah

Luapula chiefs ‘endorse’ Rupiah
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 30 June 2011, 04:01 CAT

CONFUSION characterised yesterday’s endorsement of President Rupiah Banda’s candidature by some Luapula chiefs in this year’s election. The briefing which was supposed to start at 07:30 hours only started at about 08:17 hours at Lusaka's Longacres Lodge.

Earlier, upon noticing that time was running out, convener of the briefing who was also the speaker, chief Nsamba of the Unga people in the Bangweulu swamps of Samfya district was busy calling other chiefs on his mobile phone to come and attend.

When chief Nsamba finally sat and called other chiefs to sit with him, some of them expressed surprise at the event as they dragged their feet.

Chief Lukwesa was the first to openly express surprise when he was invited by chief Nsamba to sit with him in front of cameras.

"Efinshi ifi? Finshi filecitika? Tamwacitwebako, ifi fintu ine nshififwaya [What is this? What is happening? You did not tell us anything about this, I do not like these things cameras]," chief Lukwesa said.

Chieftainess Kanyembo and chieftainess Kasomalwela were equally surprised, as they reluctantly tagged along with chief Lukwesa to take their seats, about two meters away from chief Nsamba.

Chief Nsamba finally managed to persuade chiefs Kasomalwela and Lubunda to sit on his right hand side after constantly begging them to sit.

When journalists demanded for a group photograph from all the chiefs after the briefing, some of them refused and walked away.

Among those who refused were chief Lukwesa, chieftainess Kanyembo and chieftainess Kasomalwela.

Later, chieftainess Kasomalwela went and sat at the reception where she complained that she did not like the arrangement.

“Ine nacibeba ba chief Nsamba ati ifi fikatuletelela ku bantu ngabatamba pa TV. Bakamona kwati ubuteko nabutulipila ama K20 million (I told chief Nsamba that this arrangement would put us in trouble with the people when they see it on TV. They will think that the government has paid us K20 million each for endorsing President Banda).” chief Kasomalwela said.

And addressing the media earlier, chief Nsamba thanked the government and all Zambians for mourning late second Republican president Frederick Chiluba.

Chief Nsamba said the gesture he saw from all the people showed their appreciation of Chiluba’s contribution to the nation.

During question time, Times of Zambia reporter Patson Phiri asked chief Nsamba for a comment on Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s alleged shunning of Chiluba’s funeral.

In response, chief Nsamba, who did not even realise that Sata mourned Chiluba on Sunday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where the latter’s body lay in state for two days, said it was an unfortunate thing.

Phiri also asked for chief Nsamba’s message to the people of Luapula Province following Sata’s alleged shunning of Chiluba’s funeral.

At this point, chief Nsamba who spoke ill of Sata, finally endorsed President Banda's candidature.

He said he had seen a lot of development from the MMD government and it would not be right to call for change.

Chief Nsamba referred to the Ugandan experience where people wanted change from Milton Obote’s rule, but ended up having a dictator in the name of General Idi Amin.

When reminded that the example he gave was wrong since Amin never underwent an election but assumed power through a military coup, chief Nsamba who was visibly unsettled by the question, maintained his example.

“But that is the only example I have,” he said.

Asked if his position to endorse President Banda represented that of all the chiefs in Luapula Province, chief Nsamba could not give a categorical answer.

“There are 39 chiefs in Luapula, and there are eight of us who attended the funeral,” said chief Nsamba.

Labels: CHIEFS, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:42 PM