Nalubamba defends Nkomenshya

Nalubamba defends Nkomenshya
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 07 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

President Rupiah Banda's threat to dethrone chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II is an invitation for more people in Chongwe to vote against him on September 20, according to senior chief Bright Nalubamba.

In an interview, chief Nalubamba of the Ila people in Southern Province, said President Banda's unwarranted threats against chieftainess Nkomeshya had not hurt the people of Chongwe alone but many other traditional leaders in Zambia.

Addressing a rally in Chongwe on Saturday, President Banda accused chieftainess Nkomeshya of intimidating sub-chiefs and village headmen, and threatened to retire her if he wins the September 20 presidential election.

"That threat alone may cost him votes (in Chongwe) because many people would rather vote to protect her. There will definitely be a protest vote to defend their chief," chief Nalubamba said, adding that President Banda had hurt more people than he thought.

Chief Nalubamba said President Banda's misdirected threats were an expression of his disregard for the entire traditional leadership.

"His attack on the chieftainess indicates the beginning of the destruction of traditional leadership in the country," he said.

"It sets a bad precedence for future leaders and that is a big challenge for us. It's a threat to shut us up so that we don't raise concerns against the party in power. To me that is not the way to run or govern a country, where you feel that because you are in power, you do not want to listen to any voice with divergent views."

Chief Nalubamba backed chieftainess Nkomeshya for remaining firm in advocating development in her area, which government had shunned.