Ngoni chiefs complain over MMD adoptions

Ngoni chiefs complain over MMD adoptions
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Wed 27 July 2011, 13:59 CAT

THE Ngoni Royal Establishment says the MMD has not consulted them adequately on the adoption of parliamentary candidates in the Ngoni strongholds. Briefing the media after a consultative meeting that lasted over four hours at Chipata’s Protea Hotel yesterday, chief Mnukwa who read a statement on behalf of the other chiefs stated that the chiefs have decided that they immediately engage the MMD on the adoption issue.

“The royal establishment has also indicated to all other parties that are participating in the forthcoming elections to look at the concerns of the Ngoni Royal Establishment by trying by all means to field Ngoni candidates in Ngoni strongholds just like it happened in other areas,” chief Mnukwa stated.

And answering questions from journalists, chief Mnukwa said the establishment knew that the MMD had their own rules and regulations that they followed and as such would engage the party privately over the concerns on the adoptions.

“We are saying we are going to engage the MMD and it cannot be for public consumption. These are consultations, you have to discuss with the individual parties especially the MMD who have got their own rules and regulation that they have to follow and we cannot ignore that. So they must be given chance to explain and we must also be given chance to explain and then overall conclusions will come out based on common understanding and resolutions,” chief Mnukwa said.

Chief Madzimawe cited Chipata which has four constituencies yet the only Ngoni adopted by the MMD was Angela Cifire for Luangeni.

“We don’t want to be tribal but we just want to balance things,” chief Madzimawe, who is also House of Chiefs chairperson said.

Senior chief Nzamane said the establishment could not formulate the regulations of candidates in MMD or any other political party.

“These various parties have always been saying that they consult stakeholders and we are stakeholders in terms of development, now if we don’t have any representation in Parliament do you think development will come to our areas? We won’t have it, so this is the imbalance that we want to remove,” senior chief Nzamane said.

And commenting on the ongoing endorsements made by other chiefs in the country, senior chief Nzamane said the people at the grassroots were the ones who determined who they wanted to rule them.

“But we have to choose people that are going to represent us, that’s the common notion everywhere,” senior chief Nzamane said.

He said other political parties had not yet picked their candidates but that they were guiding them beforehand that if they wanted the establishment’s sympathy, they should come up with candidates that would be selected after consulting them.

In Chipata district the MMD has adopted Mtolo Phiri in Chipata Central, Victoria Kalima in Kasenengwa and Vincent Mwale in Chipangali.

The consultative meeting was attended by Paramount Chief Mpezeni, senior chief Nzamane, chief Madzimawe, chief Mnukwa, chief Mishoro, chief Maguya, chief Chinyaku, chief Kapatamoyo and chief Sairi.