M'membe joins chief Chisunka's defence
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 26 Apr. 2012, 08:20 CAT
CHIEF Chisunka of Luapula Province says Rupiah Banda's libel suit will afford the nation an opportunity to know who stole from them. Former president Banda has sued chief Chisunka, claiming damages for defamation and libel over two articles that were published in The Post alleging that he had stolen a lot of money.
In an interview, Chisunka confirmed receiving the summons from former president Banda's lawyers Messrs Central Chambers saying he had handed over the case to his lawyers Nchito and Nchito. Chief Chisunka also thanked Post editor-in-chief Fred M'membe for joining his defence team.
"I am very grateful that Mr Fred M'membe has decided to join my subjects as defence lawyer," said chief Chisunka.
Chief Chisunka said tradition didn't allow chiefs to appear in court and would therefore let his subjects fight for him.
"Where we come from, chiefs don't fight with their subjects. I don't know where ba Rupiah comes from, maybe they do that. So I have also now handed over the matter to my subjects. Those are the ones who are going to deal with it. We also have people where we come from, and I; as a chief, cannot go and start standing with somebody in court. So I have handed over the matter to my subjects Nchito and Nchito, my subjects who are also lawyers," chief Chisunka said.
"These people (lawyers) are from my land. Maybe Rupiah where he comes from, they fight with chiefs but where we come from we don't fight with chiefs so I have told my subjects to represent me."
He said Banda's lawyers should henceforth address all the correspondence to his subjects and not him.
Chief Chisunka said he was a traditional leader who had the mandate of his subject to improve their livelihood and not a politician who would desert the people.
"Rupiah hates me because I refused to distribute the corruptly obtained maize to my subjects just days before the September 20 general election, that's all. I told him I can't do that. If you want to distribute the maize, wait until after the elections so that's why he hates me," said chief Chisunka.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, FRED M'MEMBE
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Rupiah sues chief Chisunka
By Namatama Mundia
Mon 02 Apr. 2012, 13:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda has sued chief Chisunka, claiming damages for defamation and libel over two articles that were published in The Post alleging that he had stolen a lot of money.
According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Banda is also seeking an injunction to restrain the defendants either jointly or individually from further publishing or causing or authorising to be published the same or similar libellous statements.
Banda sued chief Chisunka Justin Chilufya Haakamwaya following an interview he gave to The Post, which the articles were published both electronically and by hard copy on November 10, 2011 and January 1, 2012 under the headline ‘Rupiah Banda has stolen a lot' and ‘Rupiah Banda was like a monkey in a maize field', respectively.
Banda, through his lawyers Messrs Central Chambers, stated that The Post on the material dates published, printed and distributed false and malicious stories following an interview which chief Chisunka gave them.
He added that the defamatory and false newspaper articles were widely circulated throughout Zambia and the world.
"The words printed and published of the defendant chief Chisunka were false and uttered with malice and reckless disregard for truth," Banda said.
"The natural and ordinary meaning of the words in the article is that the plaintiff is a criminal connected to illegal and corrupt deals. The plaintiff is preparing to cheat the Zambian people of their wealth.''
Banda further stated that the words also meant he was not fit to be a political leader and should not hold any political office.
He also stated that words meant that he had been part of an orchestrated scheme to commit fraud and was a tribalist.
Banda added that the defamatory words complained of carried the sting that he was a criminal involved in corruption and illegal dealings which are of very serious nature.
He further stated that the publication of the libellous and slanderous statements have caused immense damage to his reputation and considerate distress to him and his family.
Banda added that he had been subjected to abuse and ridicule in the public as a consequence of the defamatory words complained of.
He stated that chief Chisunka had his telephone number but chose not to get clarification before causing the publication of the articles.
Banda, however, said none of the allegations were true, adding that he had suffered loss and was entitled to damages.
Banda is also claiming aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages and wants interest on any award that may be given at the current ruling bank rate from the date of the writ until payment for costs.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, DEFAMATION, LIBEL, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah was like a monkey in a maize field - Chisunka
By Roy Habaalu
Sun 01 Jan. 2012, 13:58 CAT
RUPIAH Banda was like a monkey in a maize field, says chief Chisunka. Commenting on revelations that the corruption of Frederick Chiluba's 10-year-rule was a joke when compared with the theft of public resources in just three years of Banda's government, chief Chisunka of Luapula province said former president Banda was intoxicated with corruption.
"It was like a monkey in a maize field. As traditional leaders we were not seeing what was happening until the minister revealed, but
this is what I said; that he (Banda) must be prosecuted and explain the source of his corruptly-obtained money," said chief Chisunka.
He said former ministers that were close to Banda must be investigated for stealing from the poor.
He said suffering in rural areas under the MMD had reached unbelievable levels because leaders had stolen money meant for development.
"He (Banda) never imagined he would be president. After getting him from the farm, it was free for all. He thought even if he stole he would continue as president. As chiefs and subjects, there was nothing we got but look at the money they spent on foreign trips, K40 billion! What type of president was ba Rupiah?" he wondered.
He said members of parliament that denounced traditional leaders should reconcile with them and work together.
Chief Chisunka said in 2012, parliamentarians should find time to plan with traditional leaders on how they would deliver development in various areas.
"There are a lot of things happening on the ground, let them not just stay in Lusaka like was the case during MMD where MPs where dictating the use of CDF (Constituency Development Fund)," said Chisunka.
Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni recently said the corruption in Frederick Chiluba's 10-year-rule was just a joke when compared to the theft of public resources in just three years of Rupiah Banda's government.
Sakeni said everything in Banda's administration stinks and Banda was free for now because of his immunity from prosecution.
President Banda had promised take a robust anti-corruption stance when he came into power but many see him as having faltered in that regard.
Several former leaders in Banda's regime are being investigated for various corruption-related offences.
The Drug-Enforcement Commission is also investigating to establish the source of the US $1 million (about K5 billion) held in a commercial bank account by Mpundu Trust, which is linked to Banda.
There are also investigations involving Banda's acquisition of luxury villas located on Leopards Hill Road, his role in the acquisition of scanners for the Zambia Revenue Authority and the sale of gold among others.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Prosecute Rupiah - Chief Chisunka
By Roy Habaalu
Tue 20 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda must be prosecuted so that he reveals the people he stole with, says chief Chisunka of Mansa.
Commenting on chief Mwanachingwala's revelation that former president Banda phoned him last week and complained of harassment and threats by the PF government to send him to jail, chief Chisunka, who is the chairman for the Luapula Royal Establishment, said Banda must reveal the people that benefited from his corrupt regime before going to jail. He warned chiefs against being used by politicians.
"Those are the chiefs I warned not to become cadres and it's good that he (chief Mwanachingwala) has come out in the open. I warned last time that ba Banda and his corrupt officials must be investigated," he said.
Chief Chisunka said chief Mwanachingwala was not a lawyer and therefore Banda should just own up.
He said Banda should not complain of retribution because he pioneered the corruption among traditional leaders. Chief Chisunka complained that a few individuals benefited under Banda. He said those that benefited from president Banda should accompany him to jail.
"That's what we want. Let the authorities investigate him Banda so that all those who stole with him should reveal themselves like what happened to Chiluba. And even if they don't reach a conclusion they should also look at people with big bellies...It's better they are investigated so that they are known," he said.
Chief Chisunka said the investigations should not only end with Banda but everyone that might have benefited from the previous government and chiefs inclusive.
He said Banda was lonely now because some of the corrupt people that looted in the previous government had deserted him.
On Friday, chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka said Banda phoned him to complain of harassment and threats by PF government to send him to jail.
Chief Mwanachingwala, who was Banda's supporter and President Michael Sata's critic, said he openly told the former president that while he sympathised with the problems he was going through, he could not assist him in any way.
And Banda's administrative secretary Mikatazo Wakumelo yesterday referred queries related to government's suspension of disbursement of entitlements and benefits for Banda to the MMD.
The government on Sunday suspended the disbursement following the announcement by the MMD national executive committee that they had maintained Banda as the party's interim president, which is in breach of the Benefits of Former President's Act.
Information minister Given Lubinda said Banda was disqualified from receiving any emoluments due to a former president because he was still in active politics.
But Wakumelo said it was only the MMD's Major Richard Kachingwe who could comment on the matter since it was MMD that made the decision.
When contacted, Major Kachingwe said he was in a meeting.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA, GIVEN LUBINDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Chief Chisunka questions govt's development achievement
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 02 May 2011, 04:03 CAT
THE people in Luapula Province are not seeing the developmental achievements President Rupiah Banda’s government claims to be delivering, says chief Chisunka.
And chief Chisunka has said the people of Luapula have no members of parliament to speak for them and blamed the recent disturbances in Mansa to high unemployment and lack of development.
In an interview, chief Chisunka said people were just hearing about the development but had not seen it.
"When they bring development people should be employed. Right now there is nothing. It is just some private investors who are operating what we may term as illegal mines. Let them government put up one mining plant here in Luapula. There are many precious metals like Manganese but people are not processing anything because of lack of electricity,” chief Chisunka said.
He challenged those in government to point at any developmental achievement in Luapula as they were claiming.
"What can they point to for them to claim that they are bringing development in the country? What development are they talking about? We are talking about the development where our people will be employed,” chief Chisunka said. “I count people here in Mansa, they don’t have anywhere they can find jobs. So what development is happening here? Nothing! Yes, they are building schools, but where will our children be employed even when they get the education?”
Chief Chisunka said one just needed to look at the huge queues when the government announced the recruitment of police officers to understand the dire unemployment levels in the area.
“I want my subjects to get employed, not just saying ‘we are delivering development’. We are not seeing the development…even those who are constructing the roads are Chinese. They are the ones working. What are our people benefiting?” chief Chisunka asked. “That is why people are complaining to me that ‘we don’t have people to speak for us. We don’t have jobs, we don’t have anywhere to go yet they are claiming that they have brought development’. The people are asking ‘what development’? I have also failed to point at any.”
And chief Chisunka has said the recent spate of violence in Mansa could have been caused by the anger in people’s hearts over the high unemployment levels. He said people had nowhere to go since Mansa Batteries, Kawambwa Tea Scheme and the Munushi Banana project were closed.
“Many are just loitering or gallivanting. They used to rely on catching fish from the rivers and lakes we have in the province, but the fish stocks are depleted. So all the people are just doing is gallivanting so that is what may be causing anger. They don’t have people to speak for them. The MPs we are sending to Parliament are not speaking for the people,” chief Chisunka said. “We have PHD holders, but they have been reduced to being engaged in “ifiliba” (hunting using traps) in villages because of lack of jobs.”
He said Luapula had more water resources than those on the Copperbelt but the latter’s resources were more developed.
“But they have even failed to develop just one falls to attract investors. The investors I have talked to say they can’t invest in things like mines because electricity is inadequate here,” chief Chisunka said. “Nakulabaleka abantu nomba kuti batampe ukulacita ifintu ifyalubana kumulandu wakubula inchito I will just let my subjects do as they wish because of lack of jobs.”
Chief Chisunka said Dr Kenneth Kaunda tried because there was no province in the country which did not have an industry during his time. He said he went to Chipata last year where he witnessed new private projects like opening of Spar Shopping Centre and the Protea Hotel commissioned by President Rupiah Banda.
"But what do our MPs do in Parliament? Why can’t they speak for us so that those things could be brought to us also…let me warn my subjects, the time we are getting into is very crucial, if we don’t choose our representatives properly we shall remain behind,” said chief Chisunka. “We want people who have a heart for our people. We want people to speak for us. In Mansa people don’t have people to speak for them. How does development get to other areas when they sit in the same Parliament?"
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Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, DEVELOPMENT, RUPIAH BANDA, UNEMPLOYMENT
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Chief Chisunka is leading the way, let’s follow
By The Post
Thu 03 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT
“This is an election year and it is very important for the whole country. We, as traditional leaders, are encouraging the people to think carefully before elections. Our subjects will not be cheated because you buy them tujilijili and Shake Shake.
We will insist that politicians come up with good manifestos on which they will deliver. The people of Luapula Province will not be deceived by politicians who try to entice them with money to win their votes.
The electorate in Luapula Province will ensure that they usher into office political leaders who will show the ability to deliver on election campaign promises. Traditional leaders in Luapula Province are sensitising their subjects not to be lured into electing leaders based on gifts.
We don’t want divisions in the country. We are One Zambia, One Nation and we should do everything possible to discourage tribal differences. The country needs to get back to the core of the One Zambia, One Nation slogan which had united the country for a long time since independence. Political leaders should dwell on issue-based campaigns and desist from politics of insults.”
These are the views of chief Chisunka of the Ushi people of Luapula Province. It is said that “a skilled craftsman is admired for the things he makes, a leader’s wisdom is proved by his words” (Sirach 9:17).
And “show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people. Show me a wicked ruler and I will show you a miserable people” (Proverbs 29:2); “When the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country” (Proverbs 29:4).
And truly, as we have stated before, the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles, standards, common aims and values.
We shouldn’t cheat ourselves that democracy is an easy form of government.
It isn’t.
Democracy is a demanding form of government, and neither leaders nor common citizens are naturally prepared for it.
A long process of moral and civic education is required in order to understand and implement a real participatory democracy.
And it is pleasing to listen to traditional rulers like chief Chisunka giving moral and civic education to his people, to all our people.
This is what good leadership entails.
These are the ethics our leaders, traditional or otherwise, should be inculcating in our people instead of corrupting them with money, tujilijili, Shake Shake, chitenge materials, mealie-meal and sugar, bicycles and so on and so forth. Ethics must begin at the top of our society. It is a leadership issue and our leaders must set the example.
A leader of real character is consistently courageous and imbued with a basic integrity and a firm sense of principle.
Good leaders motivate and inspire their people to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.
One can’t lead anyone else further than oneself has gone.
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision.
You can’t play an uncertain trumpet. And it is said that those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.
And we shouldn’t cheat ourselves that having multiparty elections every five years guarantees us anything.
Multi-partism can indeed further democracy but cannot always guarantee it.
Democracy, like any other human institution, is vulnerable and fragile.
Authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law and on the basis of correct conception of the human person.
A fundamental condition of democracy is, therefore, the recognition of the rights of the person and social groups, be it children or adults, men or women, rich or poor, without any social, tribal or racial discrimination.
A real democracy has to be built on the basis of justice and moral values and has to look to the common good.
And this common good is not simply the addition of particular individual interests; rather it involves an assessment and integration of those interests on the basis of a balanced hierarchy of values; it ultimately demands a correct understanding of the dignity and rights of a person.
The advice of chief Chisunka needs to be heeded because good elections require the intelligent and responsible participation of all.
You can’t have intelligent and responsible elections where votes are being exchanged for money and where tribal politics dominate.
Ours is a nation where we may freely choose those who will represent us, where we may now review the performance of our present representatives, weigh them in the balance of truth, justice and unselfish service, and if we find them wanting, reject and elect others in their place. This is our inalienable right.
But this gives rise to another issue, namely, the character of the candidates themselves.
Our vote can help eliminate the unworthy and improve the quality of political leadership in our country.
Once every five years, the law puts this power in our hands.
Let us use it wisely and bravely and in line with the values and standards chief Chisunka is advocating.
Our vote is a powerful weapon for unity, an instrument of liberty, justice and peace. For this reason, our vote should never be exchanged for money, tujilijili, Shake Shake, mealie-meal, sugar, chitenge materials, bicycles, fertilisers and so on and so forth.
Our vote should never be given to anyone on the basis of their tribe, region of origin but solely by consideration of which of the conflicting issues for candidates is better for the community, for the nation.
We should select our candidates strictly according to the good we think they can do. The interests of the political parties should be kept subordinate to the public good.
As chief Chisunka has advised, let’s not allow character assassination and insults to dominate our election campaigns.
Campaigns must be carried out in a peaceful and honest way, devoid of any violence and slander of other opponents.
We must all be guided by the truth, integrity and justice which are anchored on God’s commandments.
We shouldn’t forget that the primary purpose of our votes is not the political survival of any individual or political party but the good of all our people and our country.
Candidates must be evaluated on the basis of their political parties’ manifestos and their own personal vision.
Those who offer themselves for re-election ought to be evaluated against the record of what they have or have not achieved.
As chief Chisunka has correctly put it, we should ask ourselves: did they fulfil their promises? Did they offer quality service to all our people and not only those who voted for them into power?
Were they available to listen to the concerns of the people and were they selfless in responding to the needs of all, especially the poor?
Those who have not yet held office should be evaluated in terms of their competence and their reputation for honesty and self-dedication of the common good, courage to speak out the truth, disposition to use power for service, especially service of the poor and underprivileged, openness to dialogue, good moral standing, transparency and accountability to the electorate.
No one should be voted for on the basis of the money they dish out, of the gifts they give out. Doing so will be a serious crime and betrayal of our country.
We say this because it is the duty of every voting citizen to choose leaders who will serve the country with justice towards all.
We should be conscious of the crucial role which each individual citizen should play in choosing the leaders who will create the Zambia we want to live in.
We therefore urge all our traditional leaders and other civic leaders to educate our people on the lines being advocated by chief Chisunka so that we can have good elections.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, VOTERIGGING
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Luapula votes are not for sale - chief Chisunka
By Florence Bupe
Thu 03 Feb. 2011, 03:59 CAT
THE people of Luapula Province will not be deceived by politicians who will try to entice them with money to win their votes, says chief Chisunka of the Ushi people.
In an interview, chief Chisunka said the electorate in Luapula Province would ensure that they ushered into office political leaders who would show the ability to deliver on election campaign promises. He said traditional leaders in the province were sensitising their subjects not to be lured into electing leaders based on gifts.
"This is an election year and it is very important for the whole country. We, as traditional leaders, are encouraging the people voters to think carefully before the elections," chief Chisunka said. "Our subjects will not be cheated just because you buy them 'tujilijili' and Shake Shake a local opaque beer. We will insist that politicians come up with good manifestos on which they will deliver."
Chief Chisunka reiterated calls for political leaders to dwell on issue-based campaigns and desist from politics of insults, which he said had the potential to divide the nation.
He said there was need for the electorate to embrace politics of unity and peace.
Chief Chisunka denounced tribal politics and said the country needed to get back to the core of the 'One Zambia, One Nation' slogan which had united the country since independence.
He said ascension to political leadership positions should not be based on tribal inclinations.
"We don't want divisions in the country. We are One Zambia, One Nation, and we should do everything possible to discourage tribal differences," said chief Chisunka.
And chief Chisunka said the government should improve the implementation of the farmer input support programme if it had to impact meaningfully on the productivity of the agriculture sector.
He said although the support programme was a good initiative, its unsatisfactory implementation hindered the targeted growth in the agricultural sector.
Chief Chisunka cited the late distribution of farming inputs as a challenge that had not been addressed over the years.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, VOTERIGGING
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Chiefs never endorsed Rupiah – Chisunka
By George Chellah
Thu 20 May 2010, 04:02 CAT
LUAPULA Royal Foundation (LRF) chairperson chief Chisunka yesterday said the chiefs never endorsed President Rupiah Banda during the ‘developmental’ meeting held last weekend.
Reacting to yesterday’s Post lead story in which some chief from Luapula Province complained over Chiluba’s meeting, chief Chisunka confirmed that most of the chiefs he spoke to raised the same complaints with him as well.
“I called my fellow chiefs, abengi bashamfumu ifyo balelanda nifyo fine efyo balelanda uko. Tabatemenwe iyo it is true, a number of chiefs were not happy at all. They even came to me complaining that ‘ba chief Chisunka you are the one who has taken a lot of money’. Myself I didn’t take a lot of money. I even showed them the envelope saying that ‘look at the money I have been given. It’s just the same amount they gave us K1 million’,” chief Chisunka said.
“Maybe the senior chiefs, but even the senior chiefs I didn’t see them for me to confirm that they were given so much. But my fellow chiefs whom I was with at the guesthouse, I even showed them the money… that the same money they were given is what I was given too. And I am sure they can testify that I wasn’t given K5 million. Yes, they complained but even if people complain, there is nothing I can do.”
Chief Chisunka also confirmed that other chiefs had a different view over the issue of sidelining the opposition in chiefs’ places.
“You know, ba opposition they are our children just like they chiefs are saying,” said chief Chisunka in apparent reference to yesterday’s story. “They are our children. They can also come so that we hear their views as well and the developmental programmes which they have. They can come and tell us.”
Chief Chisunka said the chiefs did not endorse President Banda.
“I can confirm that in the private meeting twakwete twalandile ati ba Banda teti tutampe uku sapota. Ba Banda pali kano kashita pantu tabalaya ku convention. Kuti twa sapota shani limbi kulya limbi abenga winner bena Magande, limbi bena Mpombo elyo tutampe ukula sapota ebo tatulaishiba? Abashaya naku convention kuti twaba sapota, tukabasapote ngabafuma ku convention. E meeting twakwete, ndecita confirm ukwebati bashamfumu abengi abo natumine ama phone yesterday elyo naumfwile ifyo otherwise bonse balelandafye cimochinefye.
“During the private meeting we held, we said it was difficult for us to support Mr Banda because the MMD had not gone to the convention. How can we support a candidate that we are yet to know? What if Magande or Mpombo emerge victorious? We will support him after the convention. That’s the meeting we had and I am confirming that many chiefs I phoned yesterday held the same view,” chief Chisunka said.
“Just like they have said, there are very few chiefs I didn’t manage to call yesterday because of the poor network. But the majority they are just giving the same views that they were not happy including ba Kapaso chiefs’ retainers. They rose against me that ‘ba Chisunka maybe he is the one they have given many things’. But there is no one who gave me a lot of things. Teti tu sapote ba Banda pantu tabalaya ku convention. Tatwishibe ukapita. [We can’t support Mr Banda because they haven’t gone for the convention and we don’t know who will be elected!”
Chief Chisunka confirmed that the majority of the chiefs objected to the sentiments raised against the opposition parties.
“I can say the truth that ba Sata, ba Sata and Hakainde and other oppositions that will be born now… Ba Sata bana besu. Ba Sata nabakwata nabena insambu ishyakwebati kuti bafika. Tatwishibe limbi ba Sata balibakumanya ba mfumu abo balelanda ati balibatukile ifwe tatufishibe. Nabakwata insambu ishakwisa tandala nabena, bakatwebe nabena ifyo bakacita kuntashi ngacakwebati eba keminina, ukweba ati ‘efyo tukacita nifi’ than ukweba ati tutampe ukulabakanya tatukwete insambu ifwe ishakukanya umuntu ifwe iyo. Elyo teifwe tu vota.
Fwebashamfumu ifwe tutungililafye nga twamona ati uyu muntu nakwata amatontonkanyo ayasuma aya kutungulula ichalo. Noti uku kanya umuntu ukwebati ekesa mukutandala kufipango awe, cena ico cakana. Tefyo twalanshenye after twapwisha ama resolutions yalya twalikana ifyamusango ifyo iyo. Ndecita confirm ilyo twakwete meeting.
“[Mr Sata is also our child and he has a right to visit our palaces. We don’t know, maybe Mr Sata met the chief Chitimukulu whom they said he insulted. Mr Sata has a right to visit our palaces so that he can tell us what he will do in future in the event that he contests. We don’t have those rights to stop a person, no. And we are not the voters, we just give guidance. That’s not what we discussed. After we finished those resolutions, we refused things like that. I can confirm when we had a meeting]. The majority refused that, that kind of speaking wasn’t well at all.”
On demands that Sata apologises to the Mwata, Chitimukulu and senior chief Puta, chief Chisunka dismissed the demands saying Sata’s alleged differences with Chitimukulu had nothing to do with chiefs in Luapula Province.
“Ba Sata ifyo ifyakweba ati bakayecita apologise kuli ba Chitimukulu isho ninsambu shabo ba Sata. Te nsambu shesu ishakwebati kuti twa forcing’a umuntu ati kabiye kacite apologise. Abene nga bapusene uko ninshi tabapusene naifwe fwebashamfumu ku Luapula iyo. Tatwaishibe ama context balandilemo Ba Sata. Tatwaishibe nga balituka nangu batukile mumusangonshi imfumu, ifwe tatwafyumfwile ifya musango ifyo iyo.
Even Mwata tatwaumfwile ifyo bamutukile. Ifyo balelanda ati iyo Mwata balimutuka, tatufishibe ifyamusango ifyo iyo. The decision for Sata to apologise is entirely his. We have no right over that and we cannot force him. If Sata differed with Chitimukulu, he hasn’t differed with Luapula chiefs.
Besides we don’t know the context in which the statements were made, whether or not he insulted. We have not even heard Sata insult Mwata as we are told. We don’t know that,” chief Chisunka said.
“As chiefs whether one is mad, is sane or whatever they are, all of them are our children. The lame, any kind of person, we are not supposed to stop people, no! If we start choosing, then where is the leadership? Anyone can come to the palaces. I am clearing myself because my friends confronted me that ‘you have taken a lot of money because you are chairperson’.
“I denied and I showed them but they really looked angry. Even the chiefs’ retainers approached me saying that ‘tell those people that they should give us something’. There is nothing they gave them. I also forgot to say that there was nothing the Vice-President George Kunda brought to give the chiefs. Ba Chiluba there was no money he brought to give the chiefs.”
Chief Chisunka said most chiefs also accused him of chasing them after they were asked to check out from their rooms as soon as the meeting ended on Sunday.
“It was very, very embarrassing because many of the chiefs complained to me that I am the one who had chased them in their rooms at such an awkward time around 16:00 hours for them to go back to their palaces. It wasn’t me. After the meeting, they were told to vacate the rooms because the organisers didn’t have money,” chief Chisunka said. “The organisers told the District Commissioners that ‘take them back to their palaces’. But the chiefs came to me complaining that ‘ba Chisunka you have chased us from our rooms this time. We wanted to sleep over so that we can buy some groceries like soap and other things before going back to our palaces’.
“They came complaining to me because most of them thought I was the one who chased them from those rooms, no it wasn’t me! Others actually just paid for the lodging themselves. Then I received a call from the PS permanent secretary saying that ‘ba chairman tell the chiefs that they should not go. Those who don’t have money we will pay’. But when I tried to contact the chiefs, some of them had already started going and others even said they had reached their palaces. There were few chiefs who remained and I told them that ‘don’t go, the PS will pay’. But a number of them went. But please tell them that the Vice-President didn’t give me any money. Even ba Chiluba, he didn’t give me any money.”
On Tuesday when contacted for comment, chief Chisunka promised to give a comprehensive reaction to the complaints raised by Luapula chiefs against him as well as their concerns over the ‘developmental’ meeting.
This followed complaints from some chiefs that they were not happy with the developmental meeting addressed by Chiluba because they felt used and treated like children.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, CHIEFS, RUPIAH BANDA
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Chief Chisunka complains over fertiliser distribution in Luapula
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Mon 02 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
CHIEF Chisunka has complained about the way the fertiliser distribution is being handled in Luapula Province.
Chief Chisunka of the Aushi people of Mansa complained that the 5,400 metric tonnes of fertiliser for the whole province was like a drop in the ocean.
Chief Chisunka asked agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo to explain why the whole province had been given only 5400 tonnes of fertiliser?
"What does he think of the Luapula people?" he asked.
Chief Chisunka said people of Luapula wanted a reasonable tonnage of fertilizer.
Chief Chisunka said Mansa alone which has about 8370 farmers, had been given 1,674, and Nchelenge was talking of 162 metric tonnes, which was not enough.
"What does the minister think of our farmers and how are they going to share?” he asked.
He said chiefs in the province were not happy with the way the government was handling the input distribution exercise.
Chief Chisunka has also challenged Dr Chituwo to explain the method used in distribution of fertiliser.
He said Chipata alone had received 6,448 metric tonnes and the whole Eastern Province had received 20,800 metric tonnes of fertiliser.
“Is the minister telling us that Chipata town has more farmers than Luapula Province?” asked Chisunka.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, FSP, LUAPULA PROVINCE
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Increase power supply to Luapula, chief Chisunka implores govt
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:33:59 AM
CHIEF Chisunka of Mansa has urged the government to increase power supply to Luapula Province in order to accelerate mining activities in the area.
In an interview, chief Chisunka who is also Luapula Province chiefs' council chairperson, disclosed that Tycoon Mining Investments from China had promised to invest US $208 million into the manganese mining project in Mansa and that the project needed sufficient power supply to succeed. Chief Chisunka said Luapula had numerous waterfalls that the government could use for power supply.
He said he was impressed with Tycoon Mining Investments because they appeared to be genuine investors that were not just interested in reaping profits, but also uplifting local people's living standards.
"They (Tycoon Investments) have been given a large-scale manganese prospecting license ... but before they start mining, they first want to build about 120 houses for their workers," chief Chisunka said.
"Machines are already on site to explore the quantity of minerals on site and they have told us that they will tell us if they find other minerals apart from manganese."
He said it was for this reason that the province and the district in particular needed enough power supply because the prospective investor also wanted to set up a factory for purposes of value addition instead of exporting raw mineral.
Chief Chisunka said about 5,000 jobs were expected to be created once the project comes to fruition.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, ENERGY, LUAPULA PROVINCE
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Chisunka urges fellow chiefs to rehabilitate their own palaces
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:13:44 AM
LUAPULA Royal Foundation (LRF) secretary chief Chisunka has urged fellow chiefs in the province to strive to improve their own palaces instead of solely depending on the government to do it for them.
In an interview yesterday, chief Chisunka observed that solely depending on the government to do everything somehow compromised traditional leaders.
He advised that traditional leaders work hand-in-hand with their subjects in renovating or building houses in their respective palaces.
"God has given us subjects and we can use what we call our royal establishments to open small accounts so that our subjects can make small contributions," he said.
"For example, we can say 'chief Chisunka's people, make contributions towards the building of a house for the chief'. When someone deposits money into that account, a copy can be kept to ensure transparency."
Chief Chisunka said by so doing, chiefs could lessen their dependence on the government.
He said although the government may assist, they could only come in where chiefs had failed.
"For example, we can use our subjects from one village to mould bricks while others from another village can burn them, others can start the building and we would just move in to buy roofing sheets and other things using money from the account that I talked about and then government can only come in where we fail," said chief Chisunka.
He said even subjects that lived in urban areas would contribute to chiefs’ welfare because they would feel embarrassed to visit a chief living in a dilapidated house.
And chief Chisunka appealed to the government to work on feeder roads in his chiefdom.
He said although most farmers received their inputs in good time, it would be difficult to take their produce to the market given the current state of roads.
Chief Chisunka also said an expectant mother in his chiefdom died a fortnight ago because she had to be carried on a bicycle for a distance of 35 kilometers for her to access the nearest clinic.
Chief Chisunka also said the poor state of the road also contributed to the death.
Recently during a tour by Luapula Province minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe, a number of chiefs complained to the government over the deplorable state of houses in their respective palaces and appealed for help.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, LUAPULA PROVINCE
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