Rupiah's threats against Nkomeshya perplex Nawaitwika

Rupiah's threats against Nkomeshya perplex Nawaitwika
By Patson Chilemba in Nakonde
Tue 13 Sep. 2011, 13:59 CAT

SENIOR chieftainess Nawaitwika has wondered how President Rupiah Banda could threaten to dethrone chieftainess Nkomeshya when chiefdoms existed before politics. Chieftainess Nawaitwika made the remarks when Colonel Panji Kaunda, Bob Sichinga, Mbita Chitala and other PF members paid a courtesy call on her at her palace in Northern Province.

Col Panji told chieftainess Nawaitwika that President Banda threatened to dethrone chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II of the Soli people of Chongwe district for asking for development in the event that he won the elections.

Col Panji told chiefainess Nawaitwika that President Banda addressed a rally last week where he threatened to dethrone chieftainess Nkomeshya for refusing to meet him.

He said the attacks on chieftainess Nkomeshya were directed towards all the chiefs who wanted to speak boldly for the development of their people.

"And Nkomeshya didn't say ‘I am PF'. She said ‘there is no development in my chiefdom, so I need you to help me'. But he said ‘no you are wrong'. So we are explaining to the people that whenever someone says this, they should be free to speak on things which are happening," Col Panji said as chieftainess Nawaitwika listened attentively.

"Because if you remove a chief, the people in that chiefdom will rise against you and that can bring war in the country. We don't want that. What we want is to give respect to the chiefs. Our fear is that our friends are now losing direction…we need to respect chiefs. This is our policy in PF."

In response chieftainess Nawaitwika said she was grateful for the remarks.
She wondered how a politician could dethrone a chief because chiefdoms existed before politics.

"Ninga nomba umuntu kuti alanda shani ifyo (how could a person say such a thing)? Chieftainess Nawaitwika wondered. "Awe umuntu ngalanda ifyo ninshi kwena katwishi."

Nawaitwika also had a word for traditional leaders who engaged in partisan politics.

"Limbi mulyamwine emomuli aisalusa, umbi apita kuti chaba shani what would you do if the candidate you are supporting loses, and the one you didn't support wins?" asked chieftainess Nawaitwika.

"Awe ine ndelolelafye, ukateka uyowine emwana wandi eotukalabomba nankwe. Efyo chifwile ukuba. I won't take sides. I will wait for the winner, that's the one I am going to work with."