Maravi

Solis defend Nkomeshya

Solis defend Nkomeshya
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 08 Sep. 2011, 14:02 CAT

THE Soli Cultural Association yesterday said it should not be shocking that the Solis have withdrawn their support from President Rupiah Banda's administration because the government has failed to develop the rural parts of Lusaka Province.

SOCA secretary general ambassador Adrian Bauleni said senior chieftainess Nkomeshya of the Soli people had never had problems with any of the first three Republican presidents and wondered why she should face such threats from President Banda.

He was commenting on President Banda's threats to dethrone chieftainess Nkomeshya should he win presidential elections this month. Bauleni explained that the Soli From front page Cultural Association is a mouthpiece that represents all the Soli people across the five chiefdoms whom he was speaking for.

"Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya is held in very high esteem as one of the most distinguished, stable and respected traditional rulers of all times in our country, Zambia. She is a law-abiding citizen with no record of having been involved in corrupt activities at all," Bauleni stated.

"Over and above, Her Royal Highness has never experienced problems of this magnitude before with the first three heads of state except the current President. Hence, there must be something terribly wrong with President Rupiah Banda regarding the manner in which he relates himself to people at large and the handling of national issues respectively."

Bauleni said his association knew that President Banda did not like chieftainess Nkomeshya's complaint about the lack of development in her chiefdom in April this year.

He said since then, all Solis were aware of the government's attacks on chieftainess Nkomeshya through hired agents "with mercenary inclination to deliberately distort the facts and discredit Her Royal Highness with all sorts of machinations and innuendoes at their disposal". He said it was regrettable that President Banda chose to attack chieftainess Nkomeshya instead of attempting to resolve issues with her.

Bauleni stated that all of chieftainess Nkomeshya's subjects, therefore, fully endorsed her refusal to allow President Banda to pay a courtesy call on her last Saturday when he visited Chongwe to address an MMD rally. He said President Banda, through his emissaries, did not show seriousness because they sought to meet with the chieftainess a day before the rally.

Bauleni said this was especially regretted because chieftainess Nkomeshya had on July 18, 2009 written to President Banda seeking audience with him for her to bring to his attention the issues and resolutions on the question of development in her chiefdom as discussed at a special meeting by all traditional leaders in Lusaka Province held on July 11, 2009. He said President Banda has not yet addressed or responded to the communiqué, which was sent to him through chieftainess Nkomeshya.

In the communiqué, issues to do with road infrastructure, rural lectrification, education, health, Kafue Nitrogen Chemicals, among others were discussed.

Bauleni said when chieftainess Nkomeshya in April this year complained about lack of development in her chiefdom, it was from this background that she complained on behalf of her subjects and all traditional leaders in Lusaka Province.

Bauleni said President Banda should have just addressed problems raised by the chieftainess instead of constantly attacking her and later threatening her with dethronement.

"It was further made abundantly clear in the referred to communiqué that any future collaboration and support for any government would depend upon how the issues of concern were to be handled," Bauleni stated.

"However, to date, nothing has been addressed by the government of the day as expected. Consequently, the outcome is obvious and that is to withdraw the support of the government of the day because it has failed to deliver by way of developing the rural sector of Lusaka Province."

Bauleni said all the Solis were united and resolved on this issue and pledged to standby the chieftainess.

"We pledge to stand by her side in times of trouble as her people because she is the beacon of our tribal identity and existence. She should not be used as a sacrificial lamb for the government's own failure to deliver in our area as expected," stated Bauleni. "Her Royal Highness has the fundamental right as our traditional ruler to articulate the aspirations of her subjects. This is without prejudice. We can only expect a progressive, persuasive and reconciliatory approach which should be devoid of threats."

Addressing a public rally in Chongwe last Saturday, President Banda threatened to ‘retire' chieftainess Nkomeshya if he won this year's election.
That was barely a day after chieftainess Nkomeshya refused to accept a courtesy call from President Banda.

The chieftainess also refused to receive a ‘gift' on Friday, from President Banda's emissaries special adviser for political affairs Dr Francis Chigunta and Zesco managing director Ernest Mupwaya.

But Bauleni said that his association took great exception and concern of President Banda's threats on chieftainess Nkomeshya.

"This is unacceptable to all Solis and other well-meaning Zambians because it would be ultra-vires and contrary to our cultural and traditional norms as a people," Bauleni stated.

"It must be realised that Her Royal Highness is a symbol of the cornerstone of our very existence as a tribe and the dignity that we have continued to enjoy close to four decades upon her accession to the thrown is owned to her."

Labels: CHIEFS, CHIEFTIANESS NKOMESHYA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:43 PM