Maravi

Zambia needs change - chief Kopa

Zambia needs change - chief Kopa
By Patson Chilemba in Mpika
Sat 10 Sep. 2011, 13:59 CAT

THE country needs a change of government so that the people can experience Michael Sata's leadership, says senior chief Kopa of the Bisa people. And chief Kopa said he thought the votes towards the PF were previously not too favourable in the Mambwe and Namwanga areas probably because Tanzanians participated in the country's voting.

Speaking when Col Panji Kaunda, Dr Mbita Chitala and Robert Sichinga paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at Mpika's Chinamanongo area on Thursday, chief Kopa said it would be difficult for any party to undo the work the PF had done in the area because the party's message had itself captured the attention of the people.

"It's good you have come because your coming is like putting icing on the cake because even the time is short, thus no one will undo the work you have already done. It's just that, as they say, you don't take things for granted but this area together with my relative Sata, work has already been done," chief Kopa said.

"I thank you for coming to push the work here so that whatever your friends have planted in the people should be uprooted because they will listen from you senior people."

Chief Kopa said Sata should be given the opportunity to rule, saying politics was not like a marriage where people could not exchange spouses, but it was about service.

He said people could not be ruled by one party for a long time as if it was a monarchy or chiefdom. Chief Kopa described Col Panji, Chitala's and Sichinga's visit as a mere formality.

"… what people should focus on is that (1) there should be change of government. We also want to see how our relative Sata will work. We also want our child PF parliamentary candidate Davies Mwango to exploit his skill," he said.

And Chitala said he and his delegation had been sent by Sata to pass through the area. He said the PF could not have won previously because the turnout in PF strongholds like Mpika was only 46 per cent.

"The corruption which went down under late president Levy Mwanawasa is now back in full swing under Rupiah Banda," said Chitala as chief Kopa agreed with him saying: "Sanafye yes, indeed."

Chitala said Zambia would be worse off if President Banda continues in office.

Col Panji said no politician had the power to dethrone a chief, but President Banda was now threatening chieftainess NKomeshya Mukamambo II of the Soli people of Chongwe district with dethronement.

"What he started with chieftainess Nkomeshya is directed at all the chiefs in the country," said Col Panji as chief Kopa responded: "Chachine It's true."

When Sichinga mentioned that they would also touch the Northern stretch of Northern Province, chief Kopa said: "Maybe those from Tanzania are the ones who bring confusion because I don't imagine how people there could not see how much suffering is going on in the country."

Chief Kopa said people in the area loved the PF, but there was need to do more sensitisation so that they could turn up in numbers to vote.

He said even during the registration of voters, he literally had to ask people to register.

"People are many but they have not yet appreciated the importance of voting," said chief Kopa.

Labels: CHIEFS, MBITA CHITALA, MICHAEL SATA, PANJI KAUNDA, ROBERT SICHINGA

posted by MrK @ 5:40 PM