Re-connect with nature through tree planting, says Mukuni
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sat 07 July 2012, 13:22 CAT
CHIEF Mukuni of Kazungula district says there is need to re-connect people with nature by promoting tree planting.
Speaking during a tree-planting exercise in Songwe Village by Greenpop, a social enterprise dedicated to tree planting, chief Mukuni said there was need to uplift the lives of the underprivileged by planting trees in deforested areas.
"We need to encourage the Greenpop initiative which is dedicated to tree planting and setting up creative ways of sustaining trees. We need to also re-connect people with nature and highlight some of the challenges of climate change and inspire a greener future," he said.
Chief Mukuni said he was delighted that the Greenpop which started in 2010 has since planted 17,000 trees in over 170 schools, community centres, orphanages and deforested areas.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, TREES
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Sata is not my enemy - Mukuni
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Wed 04 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
SOUTHERN Province chiefs are to meet President Michael Sata at an undisclosed time and agenda. And chief Mukuni says it is not true that he is an enemy of President Sata as many people had asserted but that as a traditional leader, his role was to work with the government of the day.
Chief Mukuni, who welcomed President Sata at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport on Monday and also later joined him at Villa Grounds at a rally to drum up support for the party's candidate Joseph Akafumba, advised the PF to be accommodative.
"To the PF, please don't chase anybody who intends to join you. If you do, you will be blocking yourselves. The President has already taken the provincial headquarters to Choma and I have talked to him that we need to grow the tourism sector and he has agreed to look at all problems. I also told the President that we as chiefs in Southern Province want to meet him and he has agreed, so as traditional leaders we shall soon be meeting President Sata," chief Mukuni said.
He reiterated the sentiments when he addressed Livingstone residents at Villa Grounds during the rally.
"It is not true as many people have been saying that I'm an enemy of the President. Others have been saying I insult the President, it is not true. I will work with the government of the day for the benefit of my subjects," chief Mukuni said.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, MICHAEL SATA
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Anti-realignment activists flood Mazabuka with fliers
By Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka and Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Thu 23 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT
A youth group calling itself "Mazabuka Youth Entrepreneurs" opposed to President Michael Sata's realignment of Chirundu and Itezhi-tezhi districts yesterday distributed over 3,000 fliers in strategic places in readiness for today's demonstration which has been cancelled by police.
Mazabuka Police has cancelled the demonstration on grounds that the organisation the youths are purported to be representing is fake and not registered.
Mazabuka district officer commanding Lizzy Machina warned the demonstrators against breaking the law but instead follow procedure to avoid prosecution.
But youth coordinator, Grovies Mushibwe and his group distributed the fliers carrying messages which stated: "Say no to dictatorship" and "Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmarks".
The youths through the fliers have also warned that not even an inch of the land belonging to Southern Province would be removed by the head of state.
And Mushibwe said police yesterday summoned him to explain why the permit was not granted, but was however quick to point out that his group was advised to re-apply and a fresh application was re-submitted the same day (yesterday).
Mushibwe, who is also MMD Mazabuka constituency youth chairman, is organising the demonstration with his UPND counterpart Mwendabai Pelekelo and nine others, some believed to be Tonga fundamentalists.
Citizens Forum Mazabuka chairperson, Mussolini Buumba, who is the elder brother of Mazabuka Mayor Lloyd Buumba is among the organisers.
The youths had invited MMD presidential aspirant, Nevers Mumba and UPND Mazabuka member of parliament, Garry Nkombo to take part in the demonstrations and according to organisers, the two leaders were just waiting for confirmation with regards to police granting the youths a permit.
According to the organisers of the demonstrations, youths from other districts would join the other demonstrations set for February 29.
But Mazabuka District Commissioner Eugine Munyama warned the demonstrators not to test the wrath of the law.
He said the demonstration was illegal because Mazabuka was not Chirundu or Itezhi-tezhi.
"Yes, I can confirm receipt of the letter from the youths informing me of the demonstration to be held today. However, I will not involve myself in illegal activities aimed at frustrating government efforts," said Munyama.
Munyama wondered why the MMD and UPND were inciting youths to demonstrate when people in the affected districts were quiet and happy with the realignment of the districts by the head of state.
He wondered why politicians found pleasure in creating disturbances in Mazabuka when people in other districts were going about their economic activities despite the pronouncements.
And Southern Province members of parliament, chiefs, councillors, women and youth groupings will meet in Choma on March 12 to come up with a common resolve over Chirundu and Itezhi-tezhi.
In an interview yesterday, Chief Mukuni said the Choma meetings would be held at three different venues with each group meeting separately so that no group influences the other.
"We have resolved as chiefs that we hold a meeting on March 12 at Mahogany while the other stakeholders such as the area members of parliament in the province, councilors, women and youth groupings will hold theirs at separate venues. However, we shall all gather later at the Central Sports Club to have the resolutions of all the groups integrated into one," he said.
Chief Mukuni said the meetings had been organised as a reaction to the government request through Southern Province minister Miles Sampa who on February 17 wrote to chief Mukuni requesting that stakeholders meetings be held and resolutions be given to him for onward transformation to President Sata.
Chief Mukuni, who is also chairperson of the Southern Royal Foundation, said he was opposed to the realigning of Chirundu and Itezhi-tezhi because it takes away human cultural identity of the people of the two districts.
Chief Mukuni said he was opposed to the realigning on grounds that the move would now entail the teaching of Nyanja and Bemba to school children as is the case in Central and Lusaka provinces.
"The best way to destroy a human being is to destroy his identity, make him feel ashamed of his new identity," he said.
Chief Mukuni said Southern Province chiefs felt short changed over the creation of Muchinga Province when they had also proposed to State House under former president Rupiah Banda to have Southern Province divided into two provinces namely Southern and Zambezi Valley.
"We feel it is difficult for us to believe that the alienation of Chirundu and Itezhi-tezhi is based on developmental issues as the office of district commissioners have gone back to politicians," he said.
Chief Mukuni accused the PF government of taking away Chirundu and Itezhi-tezhi in light of decentralisation so as to take away the high revenues being earned and the anticipated revenue from the Kafue Hydro Power Station in Itezhi-tezhi.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, MAZABUKA DISTRICT
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Musokotwane subjects jeer at chief Mukuni
By Henry Chibulu in Kazungula
Mon 24 Oct. 2011, 08:30 CAT
MEMBERS of the Musokotwane Royal Establishment of Kazungula on Saturday jeered at and insulted chief Mukuni as he attempted to introduce Matthews Musokotwane as their new chief. Chief Mukuni (right) and his entourage had to be sent back by armed police officers deployed to quell any possible violence at the palace.
Chief Mukuni and former Livingstone district commissioner David Siansundi, who is also a village headman, drove to Musokotwane palace to introduce the new chief to the people.
Village headmen and subjects gave chief Mukuni and the new chief a cold shoulder, jeering and hurling insults at him before armed state security officers asked them to leave.
The members of the royal family ordered chief Mukuni to return to his palace as his actions were illegal and in contravention of their norms.
The irate senior members warned chief Mukuni to stop interfering in the selection of a new chief.
Royal establishment spokesperson Robson Kagutwe said chief Mukuni deserved the treatment because of using underhand methods to impose a chief on the people of Musokotwane.
Kagutwe said angry members of the royal family and village headmen opposed to Mathews Musokotwane as new chief also razed a structure erected on instructions by chief Mukuni.
He wondered why chief Mukuni ignored a court injunction which was granted to one of the candidates, restraining the new chief to take over office until the matter was determined.
"This matter is still active in the court of law but we wonder where chief Mukuni is getting the courage to disrespect the court decision.
How could he bring somebody who has been rejected by the royal establishment, village headmen and their subjects? The new chief, who was hand-picked has no blessings from the royal establishment because he has never been a candidate," said Kagutwe.
He praised the armed police officers for exercising professionalism during the disturbances.
But chief Mukuni's prime minister Jairos Kayama condemned the behaviour of some members of the royal family as disrespectful of chief Mukuni.
Kayama said chief Mukuni did not deserve the abusive language which was used by some village headmen and members of the royal family. He said the chief was forced to abandon the function at Musokotwane palace because his life and that of the new chief were in danger because of the violent behaviour.
Siansundi refused to comment on the matter. The Musokotwane Royal Establishment has vowed not to recognise Mathews Musokotwane as new chief because the royal establishment did not choose him.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, CHIEFS
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Zambia is an expensive tourist destination , says Chief Mukuni
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Tue 12 July 2011, 18:50 CAT
CHIEF Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of Kazungula and Livingstone says Zambia is an expensive tourist destination.
In an interview, chief Mukuni said Zambia was offering expensive services to tourists than most of the countries in the region. He said there was need for tour operators in the country to improve on service delivery in order to match their high fees and attract more tourists.
“It is true that the cost of doing business in Zambia is higher than other countries in the region. This has resulted in some operators charging high rates to visitors.
Tourists prefer going to visit neighboring countries like Botswana or Zimbabwe because it is affordable there. Zambia is an expensive destination for tourists because the rates are very high,” he said.
Chief Mukuni noted that most tour operators were paying local workers good salaries but offered tourists poor services.
“What the operators are paying the Zambians is very good but that is not enough as they have to improve on the services,” he said.
He also advised operators to take advantage of the season when the country experienced high numbers of visits to market the country.
Some operators in the country have said the high cost of doing business in Zambia was behind the costly services being offered in the sector.
But chief Mukuni said tourism had low and high seasons, adding that operators should not expect to make a lot of money throughout the year.
“During low season, operators complain of the high cost of doing business in the country because there are very few tourists but during the high season when a lot of tourists visit the country the operators make a lot of money and they don’t complain about the high cost of doing business,” he said.
Chief Mukuni further said there was need to promote domestic tourism so that local people appreciate the importance of the sector.
“It’s a pity that our local people don’t know how most of the attractions look like but someone from Britain knows. Now that we have changed the theme to ‘Zambia, let’s explore’, there is need to allow local people to explore their own country,” said chief Mukuni.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, TOURISM
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Nalubamba, Macha deny endorsing Rupiah
By Edwin Mbulo in Choma
Tue 26 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT
CHIEFS of Southern Province did not meet to endorse President Rupiah Banda at the Mazabuka April 19 chiefs' meeting, says chief Bright Nalubamba. Chief Nalubamba of the Ila people of Namwala district said chief Mukuni should not deepen the misunderstanding between chiefs and the government in Southern Province.
“The story in the Daily Mail of Saturday is very unfortunate because the meeting of the Royal Foundation of Zambia was a consultative meeting. There is no way the chairman chief Mukuni could issue a press statement in Livingstone over what was not resolved,” chief Nalubamba said.
He said attempts to convene a meeting for all the chiefs through chief Macha the night before the consultative meeting was not held as the chiefs could not trace chief Mukuni's whereabouts.
“We tried to call him on the 18th but it seems he was busy with other things. During the meeting, the permanent secretary invited chief Mukuni to give opening remarks and uttered words we were not in support of and on the agenda there was an item of a closed door meeting and as chiefs we had planned to question chief Mukuni in the presence of the President over what he had said, but that was not to be,” chief Nalubamba said.
He said chief Mukuni said what he said without shame because that was not the resolve of all of the chiefs but his personal views.
“My advice is that let chief Mukuni stop reducing the President in the eyes of the chiefs. Our meeting in Mazabuka was full of nonsense and we were not offered an opportunity to meet the President as stated on the agenda,” chief Nalubamba said.
He said attempts to meet chief Mukuni on the morning of 19th April could not yield anything as he was reportedly busy having documents typed.
“He came in a few minutes before the President. He should not deepen the misunderstanding between chiefs and the government,” chief Nalubamba said “Why meet at the residence of the Permanent Secretary [where the press statement was issued? What is going on? If we had met as chiefs and it was resolved that we endorse President Banda, I would be telling you that we did as there would be nothing to hide.”
Chief Nalubamba said in 2008, chiefs in Southern Province endorsed President Banda on the premise that the MMD’s mandate should not be disturbed due to the untimely death of President Levy Mwanawasa.
“This should not be linked to our resolve for the 2008 elections as we wanted to save taxpayers' money. This year’s elections are tripartite and we should allow all political parties to seek mandate from the people,” said chief Nalubamba.
And chief Macha of Choma district said at no time did the 41 chiefs from Southern Province ever meet to discuss the endorsement of President Banda.
Chief Macha said the chiefs' meeting was at the invitation of the government but the chiefs got surprised when it was said that they had requested for the conference.
“At no time did we ever meet to discuss the endorsement of President Rupiah Banda. There were three or four chiefs who were coming up with suggestions but we said that we should wait until we all gathered so that we could agree or disagree, and that was never held,” said chief Macha.
He said it would be unfair for the chiefs to take a political stance by endorsing a political party as the traditional leaders were supposed to be non-partisan.
“It was not a question of endorsement. Chief Mukuni is the man who got the documents typed in his capacity as chairperson of the Royal Foundation of Chiefs but we did not meet to discuss the issue,” he said.
Chief Macha said during the conference, chief Mwanachingwala gave a vote of thanks and said that the 2008 resolutions still stood.
“We were in a conference and chief Mwanachingwala said that in his vote of thanks. Because we were in his chiefdom and we could not start arguing, he said what he said in his personal capacity and not as a resolution. Chief Mukuni spoke and said what he said but who told him? I was there. And if you ask any other chief, you will be told that there was no meeting to discuss the endorsement of RB,” chief Macha said.
He said chiefs were supposed to be principled and should speak exactly what was said. Chief Macha said there was no assurance that all the chiefs in the province belonged to one particular political.
“It is very unfair to the other political parties. We are supposed to be non-partisan. So take it from me that at no time did the 41 chiefs meet to discuss the endorsement, those who spoke highlighted the developments that are taking place in their areas,” chief Macha said.
And Southern Province PF chairman Joseph Akafumba said the stance taken by the provincial permanent secretary Gladys Kristafor to turn a government house into an MMD command centre should be condemned.
“She is a civil servant but we have seen that of late she is an MMD cadre who was even distributing MMD chitenge material in Mazabuka. She has now even turned a government house into a command centre where chief Mukuni endorsed President Banda,” Akafumba said.
He asked what chief Mukuni would do when President Banda lost this year’s elections.
“The man is going out of office and what will the chief do? It is lowering the chiefs' integrity if the chiefs did what chief Mukuni is saying,” Akafumba said.
Chief Mukuni was quoted in Friday’s Daily Mail as saying that chiefs in Southern Province, at the April 19 2011 chiefs' conference in Mazabuka, upheld their 2008 resolutions to support President Banda for the forthcoming tripartite elections.
Labels: BRIGHT NALUBAMBA, CHIEF MACHA, CHIEF MUKUNI
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COMMENT - Question: Why does the FRA not pay farmers as soon as they receive their crops? Cash on delivery? What is so difficult about that?
Chief Mukuni Ng’ombe complains about FRA’s failure to pay farmers
By Ernest Chanda in Chibombo
Tue 05 Oct. 2010, 04:01 CAT
SENIOR chief Mukuni Ng’ombe of the Lenje people in Chibombo district has complained to President Rupiah Banda that farmers in his chiefdom had not been paid by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for their maize.
In a speech read for him by Lenje royal establishment national chairman Boniface Luswanga at this year’s Kulamba Kubwalo traditional ceremony, senior chief Mukuni said farmers were left in the dark after the FRA collected maize a few months ago.
“We have several challenges in this area. One of them is that the Food Reserve Agency has not yet paid farmers for their maize. It has been months now and the farmers are still waiting for payments. We hope that your government will look into this mater,” appealed senior chief Mukuni Ng’ombe.
And later, President Rupiah Banda who was guest of honour pledged to ensure that there are peaceful elections in the country next year.
He also asked traditional leaders to help promote unity in the country.
President Banda who abandoned his written speech and spoke off the cuff throughout said he could not be leader of a nation where people hated each other.
“2011 is a particularly important year for the people of Zambia. The Zambian people will have a chance again to give a new mandate to the leadership that they want to rule this country. And we pray that you chiefs will help promote peaceful elections. Let us face this coming year, 2011 in unity and peace,” President Banda pleaded. “I as President of this country, I will ensure peaceful elections. I will not be a leader of a people who hate one another; I will ensure that peace prevails.”
President Banda constantly pleaded for unity in the nation and asking people not to allow anyone to divide them.
He passionately recounted that Zambians were one despite the varying traditional ceremonies.
“I had a long speech but I will not continue because we did not come for that. We came here to enjoy. Where I come from we have Kulamba, and here you call your ceremony Kulamba Kubwalo. This shows that we are all one, no matter the difference in ceremonies. My Mother was Ngoni and they came from the South. But before that they came from the North, they came from Kola in Angola. So you can see that we are all the same people, and don’t allow anyone to cheat you,”
President Banda further thanked the Lenjes for fathering late President Levy Mwanawasa who later appointed him Republican vice-president.
“I am the successor to the great leader that we had, president Mwanwasa who appointed me his vice-president. Unfortunately he died before he could finish his good programmes for this country. As fate would have it, I’m standing here as his successor and will forever be grateful to you his Lenje parents for giving us that great leader,” said President Banda.
He later presented gifts to senior chief Mukuni Ng’ombe of Chibombo, among them 16 ploughs and a plasma TV.
Labels: BONIFACE LUSWANGA, CHIEF MUKUNI, FRA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah, Mtharika to grace Bene Mukuni ceremony in L/stone
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Wed 21 July 2010, 04:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda and his Malawian counterpart Bingu wa Mtharika are expected to grace the Bene Mukuni traditional ceremony to be held on 2nd August in Livingstone. And the Mukuni Royal Establishment has decided to remove the word Lwiindi from its annual traditional ceremonies beginning this year.
In an interview, chief Mukuni of the Toka people of Southern Province said the ceremony would begin on July 30, and the official ceremony takes place on August 2 at the ceremony square.
Chief Mukuni said among the invited guests were King of the Kwandebele, Mabena, Paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people, Chitimukulu of the Bemba and Gawa Undi.
“Also expected to attend is King of the Xhosa, Mazha Mandela, who is the nephew of former South African President Nelson Mandela, King from Congo, all Mukunis of Kabwe, chieftainess Nyanje and chief Sandwe of Petauke district. Three chiefs from Zimbabwe, who include senior chief Hwange and chief Shana,” he said.
Chief Mukuni said the establishment had decided to drop the word Lwiindi starting this year.
“We are the first to do Lwiindi from long ago, but now all chiefs came up using the word Lwiindi which means ceremony. Now we (Royal Establishment) are dropping it. In December, we have a ceremony for the rains; we have Lwiindi Basilombelombe, so it will just be Basilombelombe. We are trying to run away from the confusion,” said Mukuni.
Meanwhile chief Mukuni said no politics would be allowed during the ceremony.
Labels: BENE MUKUNI ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, CHIEF MUKUNI, LIVINGSTONE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Lubinda accuses Mukuni of campaigning for MMD
Written by Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Monday, October 12, 2009 7:44:44 AM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has accused chief Mukuni of Kazungula district of campaigning for an MMD candidate in the Kasiya ward by-election. In an interview, Lubinda said chief Mukuni’s behaviour was detrimental to democracy and that he was a shame to traditional leaders.
The UPND-PF pact campaign team in Kasiya ward confirmed having stumbled on chief Mukuni campaigning for the MMD candidate, Mary Kashishi Chiwisha, in the company of his wife and newly appointed Kazungula district commissioner and former MMD provincial chairlady, Mary Mukwiza.
Lubinda noted that it was some chiefs’ undemocratic behaviour which was now making the National Constitutional Commission (NCC) members to start advocating for the abolition of traditional leadership.
“We have always known he [chief Mukuni] is an MMD cadre and not worth being a neutral chief when it comes to politics. He is a cadre who is not grateful to the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who has done a lot for him by making him be a board member of Sun International Hotels and also sit on many tourism boards,” he said.
Lubinda added that chief Mukuni, just like Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe, were hungry politicians who were only interested in serving their own interests and not those of the people.
“He the Munokalya or whatever his names are is just interested to eat...he did that in 2008, he is just like his brother Munkombwe who also just wants to eat and not serve. It is traditional leaders like chief Mukuni who are now making the NCC start debating on scrapping the issue of traditional leadership. Let him and others who are in this habit change; it is detrimental to democracy. It is shameful,” Lubinda said.
He said the chiefs’ behaviour put the neutrality of traditional leaders in the quest for good governance at question.
“The relevance of traditional leaders is that they should be seen to be neutral because they are leaders of subjects who are from different political parties. Chief Mukun’s behaviour is dividing his own chiefdom. Chiefs are supposed to be parents who should not take sides with their children. If a parent takes sides with one child in terms of preference before others, he is not fit to be called a good parent,” he said.
Lubinda said he knew chief Mukuni to be a wise man but he should also know that wisdom could come from an anthill.
“Let him know that wisdom can also come from a small anthill. We like him that is why we want him to change and be a good traditional leader,” said Lubinda.
Chief Mukuni was not available for comment by press time as his mobile phone was switched off.
The council seat fell vacant following the appointment of Mukwiza, who was Kasiya ward councillor, as Kazungula district commissioner two months ago.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, GIVEN LUBINDA, MMD
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‘Chiefs are an endangered species at NCC’
Written by Justin Katilungu in Chibombo
Sunday, October 04, 2009 4:55:10 PM
CHIEFS are becoming endangered species in the deliberations of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in as far as the protection of their rights are concerned, senior chief Munokalya Mukuni of the Toka Leya people in Livingstone has said.
Chief Mukuni said this on behalf of other chiefs during a meeting with Vice-President George Kunda at Chibombo district council chamber yesterday.
"As chiefs we are worried with the current course the NCC is taking on the protection of the welfare and rights of chiefs. We need to address these concerns quickly. As chiefs we feel as being endangered species in the NCC," said chief Mukuni.
In response Vice-President Kunda assured the chiefs that the government would ensure that their rights remained protected.
He said that there were 18 chiefs taking part at NCC and the idea was to ensure that interests of traditional leaders were protected and safeguarded.
"Under the current Constitution, the institution of chiefs and their interests are well protected and in the Mung'omba Draft Constitution such an undertaking has been made too," he said.
Vice-President Kunda said there was no need for chiefs to fear because their interests would be protected.
He explained that the idea to revise the constitution was meant to improve its provisions and ensure that accrued rights were guarded and protected.
"I have taken note of the concerns raised and as a government we shall seek the best ways of addressing them especially when we deal with the subject on local government in the NCC deliberations," he said.
Vice-President Kunda said that the NNC was a consultative body willing to take on board positive suggestions chiefs would make.
Earlier, the Vice-President asked chiefs to work with the government in fostering national development.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, CHIEFS, NCC
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Chief Mukuni receives elephants from Mugabe
Written by Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:17:45 PM
A ride on an elephant always comes with an exhilarating feeling, especially if it is the first time and on Monday September 7, 2009, chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people of Kazungula was not far away from this fleeting feeling when his anticipation for the much-awaited elephants from Zimbabwe arrived in his chiefdom.
On this day, Chief Mukuni rode on an elephant together with his wife Veronica and his co-ruler Anna Siloka Bedyango XVIII.
The elephants are from neighbouring Zimbabwe and that country’s President Robert Mugabe has promised to speed up the process of making the elephants available for tourism purposes to the Mukuni kingdom.
It was an elated Chief Mukuni who received elephants just before a trip to China with commerce minister Felix Mutati.
"It was on 7th July when we had the Lwiindi Lo Kuzyola Mukuni N'gombe that President Robert Mugabe promised that the elephants would be here, today is 7th September and at exactly 07.00 hours the seven elephants had already crossed the Victoria Falls Bridge en-route to the Mukuni Big Five lodge, which has so far received lions and cheetahs from Zimbabwe. When President Mugabe came here, he was accompanied by President Rupiah Banda and Mugabe promised that the elephants would be here soon. Today (Monday), is the seventh of September and I have received seven elephants. I love the number seven," Chief Mukuni said.
There was drama at the Victoria Falls Bridge, where the elephants caused a traffic jam as they were made to stop by their handlers to face the Victoria Falls and performed a saluting performance after one of the aids shouted 'Elephants salute, I,2,3 salute.
At the Zambian border there was one more salutation taken after the immigration, security and customs officers temporarily abandoned there desks to touch and pose for pictures with the tamed elephants.
A third salutation was held at the Sun Hotels resort entrance before the elephants proceeded to the baobab look-out tree where chief Mukuni disembarked and headed for the international airport to fly out to China to join the Zambian delegation that was being led by Felix Mutati.
Chief Mukuni chose to ride on one of the elephants known as Donna and said that he was proud to have been honoured by President Mugabe.
In an interview just after experiencing his first ever elephant ride, chief Mukuni, who was accompanied by his wife Veronica and his co-ruler the Bedyango who also rode on other elephants, said the elephants would be an added incentive to the people of Mukuni Village .
"Annually we hold the Lwiindi in three phases, the July one is to trace the movement of Chief Mukuni N'gombe while the one held in August is to thank our ancestors who must pass on the same thanks giving to God for the good harvest and the December ceremony known as Lwiindi Lwa Basilombelombe is a rain making ceremony at which we ask our ancestors to pass on our request to God for good rains," Chief Mukuni said.
The elephants will be used for elephant rides and animal encounters by school children at Chief Mukuni's Big Five Lodge, where chief Mukuni plans to open up a veterinary training centre buffalos.
"We want to invest in human resources as there is lack of qualified human resource in the village. Mukuni Big Five Safari on farm 9012 has already received lions aged between 13 and 16 months from Zimbabwe and we will also have a veterinary school and a regional centre so that those pursuing degree courses can come for research. We have applied to Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to allow us to train elephants so they can be in turn sent to all other game parks in the nation. At the moment Zimbabwean elephants are the ones that are in Zambia and South Africa because Zimbabwe had the human resource to train these animals," he said.
He added that intentions to create all these tourism activities is aimed at expanding the scope of Mukuni Village as a tourist destination and also expand the curio business.
"Mukuni Big Five will have elephants, cheetah, buffalo and leopards with walking safaris being only for cheetah and lions while at the village the research centre will have foot and mouth free buffalos. This idea is to conserve all the types of game so that we can stop tourists visiting from going to Botswana 's Chobe National Park," chief Mukuni said.
The lions at chief Mukuni’s Big Five lodge are Muchelewa and Musaka, who are both 18 months old, and Chema and Kakoya both 13 months old. Walking with these kings of the jungle costs US$120; an amount which is inclusive of pick ups in Livingstone and some snacks
He further said that he is still holding consultation talks with Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to see how best he could train some more Zambian elephants for distribution throughout the country for elephant rides and encounters.
"I'm still discussing with ZAWA to try and see how best we can train more Zambian elephants and Zambian elephant handlers to train these beasts so that we can distribute them to other tourism spots such as Kafue and Luangwa National parks for tourism purposes in elephant rides and encounters. My immediate project is to train about 10 Zambians to do this," he said.
He bragged that while the Litunga of the Western Province has a decoration of an elephant on top of his royal boat, the Nalikwanda, he would be riding on some at his village and would be making a grand entry on the beasts during any Lwiindi ceremony.
"We celebrate Lwiindi in three phases so every time we have Lwiindi in July, August and December I shall make a grand entry into the main arena on an elephant, it's an additional asset to the ceremony. We shall be riding on them here in Livingstone and this shall boost our tourism potential. As for the Lozis who have one on top of there boat, us we have live ones which we shall ride on,' he said.
And Sondelani Ranch chief executive officer Basil Steyn who brought the elephants into Zambia said the beasts were orphaned when he took them on his ranch 100 kilometres north of Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe .
"The oldest elephant is 35 and some were actually born at my ranch where I have an additional 45 remaining there, we did not want them to be killed so we took them in to our ranch as orphans," he said.
He said the seven elephants being received by chief Mukuni were named Donna, Marajata, Tata, Boniface, Sondelani, Bertha and Tongwe.
He added that his association with chief Mukuni is a protracted one, as he has also provided cheetahs and lions to the chief before.
"This programme to have elephant rides would be an added tourism experience and also for educational purposes as the school children can come here and have a close encounter with the beasts of the jungle," he said.
And Sun International Hotels public relations and marketing manager Stella Mulala said that it was awesome to see elephants stop at the Victoria Falls Bridge and salute to the Victoria Falls.
And Chief Mukuni has set aside 80,000 hectares of land near Livingstone for a conservative wilderness in which he intends to introduce wild animals such as lions and cheetahs.
Chief Mukuni says the wild animals which he is keeping at the lodge would be released into the wild once they grow old.
"We are keeping the animals here for tourism purposes but once they grow old such as the lions which are being used for Lion Safari walks and the cheetahs which can be visited in the enclosure would be released in to the conservative, the conservative was still under construction and would be designed in such a manner that the lions and cheetahs would be separated to avoid competition in hunting for food," he said.
During the July Lwiindi Lo Kuzyola Mukuni N'gombe held at Simukale shrine, President Mugabe said that it was his first visit to the village and praised the chief for his zeal of transforming the village into a tourism oriented place.
"I did not know anything about chief Mukuni. When President Rupiah Banda called me on the phone, he said that he had been requested by the chief to allow some elephants to be loaned or given to him so that he could use them here at this centre for the purposes of tourism. I called my Minister of Environment and tourism and he said that he did know about the request and chief Mukuni. And I said that if he had discussed with him he was the best person to handle the matter. But since I came here, I have not seen any elephants, not even one, perhaps they are still to be introduced here. It is important that our chiefs must learn to use tourism for the development of our people here," President Mugabe said.
He said chief Mukuni’s initiative should be emulated by all chiefs.
"Chiefs are custodians of our culture. Surely, there are not many chiefs of this calibre as chief Mukuni. The way he does his initiative, here we are as presidents and politicians and his subjects at this ceremony I think I would not regard you as chief but chief of chiefs. The initiative which has transformed this place is a wonder; if all chiefs are able to do this in their areas, development shall be easier for our people. As for the other chiefs, if you want to know how to operate, go to chief Mukuni across the river there, he has shown how as chiefs and their communities should operate in a chapter of his book," said President Mugabe.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, ELEPHANTS, GAME PARKS, MUGABE
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Mukuni’s appeal for recognition as paramount chief saddens Nalubamba
Written by George Zulu in Monze
Saturday, July 18, 2009 9:25:07 PM
THE Royal Foundation of Zambia Southern Province committee says it will not allow chief Mukuni to divide the province.
Provincial committee chairperson senior chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala said the appeal by chief Mukuni made to President Rupiah Banda during the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Livingstone - to have the province divided into two parts and have him recognised as paramount chief of the province - made sad readings as it undermined the essence of existence of the Bantu Botatwe.
Namwala said this after a closed-door consultative meeting with chief Moonze on the division of the province into two parts of the Tonga people of Monze yesterday.
"The proposed division of the province into two makes sad reading. In the first place and out of respect Mukuni should have discussed it with his royal highness paramount chief Moonze of the Tonga people of Southern Province. Secondly, the provincial royal foundation for which I am chairperson and Mukuni is a member should have been given an opportunity to deliberate on the matter and provide a way forward," he said.
Nalubamba wondered how chief Mukuni went ahead and requested the head of state to take a unilateral position on what he called a sensitive and critical matter when government organs below the President were not adequately informed.
"How does Mukuni request the President to recognise him paramount chief and to have the province divided into two parts? I don't think that the provincial administration is aware about this move. We, the traditional leaders, should have been briefed about the matter at the Choma meeting. Considering the gravity of the issue at hand, I call upon the provincial minister to call for an urgent meeting for intervention on the proposed division of the province," he said.
Chief Nalubamba said chief Mukuni was going too far in his burning desire to become paramount chief of the Tonga speaking people.
He said chief Mukuni used the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to call for a meeting in Monze and resources were used for what turned out to be a fruitless meeting.
"His desires to become paramount chief of the Bantu Botatwe have taken a wrong path because he is now demanding for the division of the people in the province which is dangerous to the security of the nation and the peace we have enjoyed since independence. He and government called for a meeting which was held in Monze where former minister of local government Mama Masebo, senior chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II graced the occasion which turned up to be a very useless gathering, " he said.
Chief Nalubamba said chief Mukuni had exposed the traditional leadership into ridicule because of his desires which he said were regrettable and warned President Rupiah Banda against accepting chief Mukuni's proposals.
"We shall not allow a person who hails from Congo-DRC or any other country to come and destabilise the peace and unity we have enjoyed. The fact that his grandfather trekked through to Livingstone from Kola to marry a beautiful Toka-leya girl; with some royal blood is not the basis on which he should claim recognition as paramount chief of the valley. After all, the people of the valley have been subordinate to His Royal Highness chief Musokotwane who was related to paramount chief Moonze," he said.
Chief Nalubamba said the Royal Foundation of Zambia in the province had realised that chief Mukuni's move to change Lwiindi Livingstone from December to July was to inconvenience the Lwiindi Gonde ceremony of Monze.
He said it was extremely unfortunate that all the efforts and attempts to separate and divide the people of Southern Province were going on with the blessings of those in government.
Senior chief Nalubamba met chief Moonze to discuss the matter, which they said was critical to the unity and sustainable development of the province.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, CHIEFS, SOUTHERN PROVINCE
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Lwiindi Kuzyola Mukuni Ng'ombe traditional ceremony elaborated
Written by Edwin Mbulo Livingstone and pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza
Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:51:35 PM
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe last Tuesday bestowed a new title on chief Mukuni as a Chief of Chiefs during the Lwiindi Kuzyola Mukuni Ng'ombe traditional ceremony of the Leya people of Kazungula district at Simukale Shrine about seven kilometers east of the Victoria Falls.
The ceremony held annually in July to trace the movement of chief Mukuni Ng'ombe silenced the thunder and roaring of the Mighty Victoria Falls because the pomp and splendour which characterised the arrival of President Robert Mugabe amid tight security. Any way, President Mugabe always travels big.
True to Mukuni village's tourism agenda, the ceremony attracted a lot of tourists while some female foreign tourists who could not gain access in to the main arena opted to climb trees to get a vintage view of the proceedings also graced by President Rupiah Banda.
The Mukuni Royal Establishment representative Malumo Sianga who was also the masters of ceremonies gave a narrative history of the ceremony which was to highlight movements of chief Mukuni from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The bene Mukuni at the Victoria Falls originates from the statesman, diplomat, conqueror, pacifier, possessor of supernatural powers and empire builder called Mukuni N'gombe who originated from Kola present day Democratic republic of Congo. He was the son of King Mulopwe of the Bayeke Empire in present day DRC and forced to migrate to escape the turbulence that engulfed the Lunda-Luba Empire in the 17th century," said Sianga.
He said that after enthroning his relative along his journeys, Mukuni Ng'ombe ended up in Zimbabwe.
"After planting his sisters, sons and daughters along the trek that saw him pass through present day Central and Southern provinces of Zambia where he allowed his sister to get married to Gawa Undi of the Chewa people in Easthern Province where you now find Nyanje and Sandwe. He ended up in Northern Zimbabwe but due to the raging battles influenced by Shaka Zulu in that part of the country, Mukuni Ng'ombe decided to settle by the Victoria Falls at a place known as Gundu which was under a female ruler the Bedyango," he said.
Sianga explained that the whole meeting and his decision to settle in Gundu was partly due to Mukuni's falling in love with the beauty of the land around the Victoria Falls and the Bedyango.
"Partly awed by this natural wonder of the world and partly for romantic reasons, he married the reigning female ruler who was a descendant of the defunct Rozwi Empire. Their first meeting was here at Simukale shrine and a prduim had to be erected as the Bedyango and her people did not trust the stranger and had to meet on a podium in order to be seen by all. The porduim currently has steps bearing 18 names of the past chiefs and 17 names of the past female rulers," said Sianga.
And the Bedyango Ann Siloka XVIII in an interview later said that the two married and entered into an agreement that they would all not lose there leadership powers as they were kings and the Bedyango had to stripe off the title of Ng'ombe from Mukuni and bestowed him a title of Munokalya Muchelwa meaning the Lion King as the title Ng'ombe was of a lesser animal.
"The lovers struck a deal whereby they would create a dual monarchy with the female ruler having an exclusive powers over agriculture, land, culture, birth and death rites and assumes all powers in the absence of the chief and during a transitional period. This is during the death of one king which we refer to as Bwe Yanduka (The stone has broken) because during the installation of a king, we induce a special stone called Nkecheyo. Even at the palaces, we have two palaces one being Lumpasa - the Lions Den and Nanjina the Bedyangos' palace as she is a mother of all. As for the male ruler, he is in charge of all political, economic, defence and judiciary matters," she said.
The Bedyango added that with time, the system had to be devised so that the dual system is protected.
"After the death of the first Mukuni a system which required that all daughters of chief Mukuni born in the palace assume the role of the Bedyango and sons of the chief also born in the palace assume the role of the Munokalya. One has to be born in the palace because a chief is not made or trained but born as one. I'm lucky to rule with the chief because he is my elder and is the 19th while I'm the 18th on the throne," she said.
She named the past chiefs as being Mukuni Siamachoka II, Siloka II, Sianyemba , Siloka I, Mupotola, Mujimaiza, Siankondo, Sinyemba, Nchobe, Nyemba and Sichichele. Others were Chimowa, Bambebambwe, Siandele, Mushiba, Mumba and Siamachoka I.
The female rulers were Muzamba, Mukachinga, Mukamwila, Musumbo, Chintuma, Ngonya, Makamamu, Muchimba, Muchindu, Nanyemba and Mukamufu.
Others were Mukalinga, Muyoba, Muzamia, Muleya and Muyane.
And President Mugabe said that it was his first visit to the village and praised the chief for his zeal to transform the village into a tourism-oriented place.
"I did not know anything about chief Mukuni when President Rupiah Banda called me on the phone. He said that he had been requested by the chief to allow some elephants to be handed to him or given to him so that he could use them here at this centre for the purposes of tourism. I called my minister of environment and tourism and he said that he did, and I said that if he had discussed with him he was the best person to handle the matter. But when I came here, I have not seen any elephants not seen one perhaps they are still to be introduced here. It is important that our chiefs must learn to use tourism for the development of our people here," he said.
He said that the initiative of chief Mukuni should be emulated by all chiefs.
"Chiefs are custodians of our culture, surely they are not many chiefs of this calibre as chief Mukuni. The way he does his initiative here we are as presidents and politicians and his subjects at this ceremony...I think I would not regard you as chief but chief of chiefs. The initiative which has this place transformed is a wonder. If all chiefs are able to do this in their areas, development shall be easier for our people. As for the other chiefs if you want to know how to operate, go to chief Mukuni across the river there. He has shown how as chiefs and their communities should operate in a chapter of his book," said President Mugabe.
The ceremony was attended by King Mwenda Musuli from the DRC, chiefs from Hwange in Zimbabwe and paramount chiefs Mpezeni of the Ngoni people and Chitimukulu of the Bemba.
Other chiefs included Chobombo, Nyanje of Petauke, Mwemba, Momba, Chikanta, Liteta, Mungule , Chamuka, Mwata Kazembe,Nyawa and Ishindi.
Labels: CEREMONIES, CHIEF MUKUNI, LWIINDI, MUGABE
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‘Mukuni’s attempts to become paramount chief will divide Southern Province’
Written by George Zulu in Monze
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:39:17 AM
THE Tonga Traditional Association (TTA) has warned that attempts by chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of Livingstone and Kazungula to become paramount chief of the Bantu Botatwe will divide Southern Province and the Bantu Botatwe across the country.
And TTA has asked the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources, and Local Government and Housing to quickly consider revising the laws on royalties, alleging that some traditional leaders have become more powerful than others.
In an interview on Saturday, TTA president Dickson Namanza said attempts by chief Mukuni to become a paramount Chief of the Bantu Botatwe was disregarding what the colonial ‘masters’ had put in place before Zambia got independence.
Namanza said the government was aware of the attempts by chief Mukuni because he [Mukuni] had applied to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
He said the move was questionable and retrogressive because there was another issue of chief Moonze which government was still resolving.
“It is really sad that even government is aware about these attempts by chief Mukuni because he applied through the former Minister of Local Government and Housing Sylvia Masebo to be a paramount chief. Let government not to delay anymore to resolve the issue of paramount chief of the Bantu Botatwe, Chief Moonze has been paramount chief for Bantu Botatwe not only for Monze or Southern Province but up to Ndola rural, so what we are saying as TTA is that Chief Moonze should be re-gazetted because at no time was he de-gazetted as paramount chief,” he said.
And Namanza said royalties paid to traditional leaders need to be shared equally.
“This issue of paying royalties to an individual chief has made some traditional leaders to be powerful such that some are disregarded, these royalties should be shared equally by all traditional leaders in a particular area, because they do not belong to an individual. These should be taken as provincial royalties not chiefdom,” he said.
He said failure by the government to regulate the laws on royalties would bring problems to the country especially with the future generation, adding that lack of regulation on issues of royalties had created artificial poverty among chiefdoms.
“If there is an investor paying royalty it should embrace all the chiefs in the province such that the social aspect of life of the people can improve,” he said.
He also appealed to the National Constitutional Conference delegates not to allow any chief in the country to embrace natural resources for their personal gains.
“Let NCC also enact a law forthwith to stop the trend, people in these chiefdoms are becoming poor and poorer while individual chiefs are becoming richer through royalties, it is not supposed to be like that, it is a problem we are creating on our own. If they cannot see it then I have seen it and am now telling government that can we bring such to an end,” said Namanza.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, SOUTHERN PROVINCE, TTA
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Mukuni approves of Rupiah’s holiday
Written by Constance Matongo
Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:17:30 AM
SENIOR chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people in Southern Province has said it is medicinal for President Rupiah Banda to have taken a break from office after facing challenges.In an interview, chief Mukuni said it was okay for President Banda to have taken a break with a large number of his family members despite the country’s economic challenges.
He said since President Banda had been under pressure, the laughter he would have with his family would act as medicine.
“I sympathise with this new government because it has found bad luck, the global financial crisis has hit us and the new government has to find ways of addressing the crisis,” he said. “But since it’s global, let’s hope by the time the whole world gets out of it, we too would come out of it. So it is important that President Banda took a break with his family members.”
President Banda had gone on a 10-day holiday in Mfuwe with his wife Thandiwe, older children – Nenani and James, with their spouses and children. However, the older children and their spouses returned just after Christmas following public pressure.
And chief Mukuni has described Zimbabweans as docile people, saying they had themselves to blame for bringing down their economy.
He said Zimbabweans had nobody but themselves to blame for allowing an individual to mess up their country.
“You see, there is an adage that says, silence means satisfaction. Since the Zimbabweans are not saying anything, President Robert Mugabe thinks all is well. That is the message he is getting from the silence,” Chief Mukuni said.
He said Zimbabweans could make a change if they wished because their “docility” was costing them.
“Their docility is costing them so much, their economy has gone down and cholera crisis has taken the lives of so many Zimbabweans,” chief Mukuni said. “When I compare the Zimbabwe then and what it is now, in particular Harare, it is regrettable the city that was a masterpiece has turned out to be a sorry site.”
Chief Mukuni said the problems Zimbabweans were facing now could only be solved by local people as opposed to western military intervention.
“We saw what happened in Iraq; Saddam was said to have killed millions of people but when western countries intervened, they killed more people than the ones Saddam was said to have killed. In short, military solution is never the answer,” said chief Mukuni.
“Zambians should continue being nice to Zimbabweans and guard the peace enjoyed in Zambia jealously because the country can easily get into a crisis.”
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, RUPIAH BANDA
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Chiefs in S/Province shun Rupiah's meeting
By Mutale Kapekele, Edwin Mbulo and Bivan Saluseki in Livingsto
Tuesday October 07, 2008 [04:00]
SENIOR chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people of Kazungula has distanced himself from the decision by Southern Province chiefs to support Vice-President Rupiah Banda in the forthcoming presidential election.
And chiefs from Livingstone and Kazungula districts were conspicuously missing from a meeting they were scheduled to hold with Vice-President Banda on Sunday evening, even though the programme indicated so.
Meanwhile, some people that had been ferried to Livingstone International Airport to receive Vice-President Banda started trooping out of the airport immediately he arrived, to board hired buses, with some saying they merely wanted to see him, while others made catcalls of 'HH' under their breath.
Vice-President Banda's campaign team is using two Zambia Air Force planes and the presidential helicopter during its campaign in Southern Province.
According to Vice-President Banda's campaign programme for Southern Province, he was supposed to have a closed-door meeting with chiefs from Livingstone and surrounding areas but only chief Mukuni turned up.
Those who did not attend included chiefs Moomba, Sekute, Sipatunyana and a representative from Musokotwane where there is no chief yet.
There was panic among provincial administration officials as they tried to frantically organise some more chiefs.
Some were seen pacing back and forth the corridors of Protea Hotel Livingstone, the venue for the meeting, making frantic calls on their mobile phones.
The programme read: "18:00 hours: His Excellency the Acting President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Banda departs Royal Livingstone for Protea to meet the chiefs and later business community."
Since chief Mukuni was alone, the meeting did not take too long before the Vice-President met the business community.
In an interview after the meeting, chief Mukuni - who was visibly upset - said the other chiefs were missing because he was representing them.
Chief Mukuni also said chiefs in Southern Province would support Vice-President Banda in the forthcoming presidential lection but distanced himself from the decision.
"Yes, it's true that the chiefs in the province are behind Rupiah Banda because the other two candidates Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema have not approached them," chief Mukuni said. "But that was the decision of most chiefs in the province, not mine.
And I must mention that the other candidates did not approach the chiefs for support.
That is why they settled for Rupiah Banda. But we would have loved a situation where no elections were held like it was done in South Africa because this election is a waste of resources."
And when asked what they had discussed in a closed-door meeting with Vice-President Banda, chief Mukuni said no politics were discussed but business issues affecting the business community.
"I raised issues of the visa fees and the need to expand Livingstone and we also discussed the Legacy Hotel project," chief Mukuni said.
Earlier at the airport, MMD provincial chairman Solomon Muzyamba said from the last one week, traditional leaders who were the 'stronghold of UPND' in Southern Province were instead going to support Vice-President Banda.
"The chiefs of this province that they UPND relied upon as their base have denied them their support. All that remains right now is to ensure that in the next three years, we reach every village so that we dislodge the UPND from this province," he said.
Muzyamba said other political parties PF and Heritage were non-existent in the area.
"The only cause for concern is UPND and UPND is on its way out," said Muzyamba.
Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe said Vice-President Banda was the common denominator that Zambia needed.
"After the demise of the last president, you are the next one. You were chosen by him. I know there can be other pretenders who are saying 'I was the chosen one', there are so many people who are saying so.
‘But he did not give me the vice-presidency’. If you were not given the vice-presidency, please do not come anywhere nearer," he said.
Munkombwe said boys like Cain Mweemba wanted to climb the ladder of leadership early but added that he was happy that he was supporting Vice-President Banda.
Munkombwe asked Vice-President Banda to have Mweemba in 'his box' to which the Vice-President replied: "Oh yes!"
Munkombwe said there should be nobody to label Tonga people as tribalists. He said all those giving Tongas a tribalism tag were enemies.
"If someone starts saying that, I react. I do not want that word. It stinks to me. It boils my back," said Munkombwe.
ULP president Sakwiba Sikota, who is travelling with Vice-President Banda, said his party and MMD were forming government.
And Vice-President Banda said most Zambians were poor because the citizens who had money did not care for them.
Addressing the business community in Livingstone, Vice-President Banda said Zambians were poor because the citizens who had money did not help them.
"When a Zambian starts up an orphanage, they will ask for foreigners to fund it when we have a lot of rich people in the country," Vice-President Banda said.
"The problem we have in this country is that those who make a bit of money want to buy the biggest houses and cars and they forget that they live in a country with very poor people. And most of those people feel that donating to charity is a waste of time."
He also said the government was very "uncomfortable" with the level of poverty in the country.
"Yes, poverty levels are very high and it makes us very uncomfortable to think that just a few minutes' drive from our towns, we have people who are in adverse poverty," Vice-President Banda said.
"The biggest problem we have is that most of our women are the poorest of the poor and I don't have an immediate answer of how to overcome that but the government is aware of this problem.
This was also a source of worry for our late president Levy Mwanawasa who wanted to see money in the pockets of the poor in our country."
He said the government had put up the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) because it was worried about the plight of the poor.
"We put money in that project (CEEC) to protect the vulnerable in society but we know that that is not enough," he said.
"But I would like to urge all Zambians to be outspoken and talk about this to ensure that politicians understand this problem. Ask those who want to be leaders what they have done for the poor and if they have worked without getting paid or if they have just amassed wealth for themselves."
Vice-President Banda said for poverty to be fought effectively, the government would increase funding to infrastructure development in the rural areas for more employment opportunities to be created.
He also said Zambians needed to change their work culture and ethics to contribute effectively to economic development.
"A Zambian is one of the most difficult worker you could ever hire. Even when you employ a maid, you have to lock up all the food in the house," Vice- President Banda said. "We have to change and respect our jobs as a people. How many of us are proud of what we are doing?"
And commenting on the multimillion-dollar Legacy Holdings hotel project in Livingstone, Vice-President Banda said the government had not rejected the project but that the project was halted by local politics.
"The Legacy project is still being considered by the government but we are happy that they did not follow the original plan because now concerns that were raised will be put into consideration and a better arrangement will be reached," said Vice-President Banda.
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, RUPIAH BANDA, SOUTHERN PROVINCE
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No chief's meeting was held to endorse Rupiah - Mukuni
By Patson Chilemba, Mutuna Chanda, Mwila Chansa and Abigail Cha
Tuesday September 02, 2008 [07:55]
Senior chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people of Southern Province yesterday asked chief Mwanachingwala to stop misleading Vice-President Rupiah Banda that chiefs in the province had endorsed his candidature for the MMD presidency.
Reacting to chief Mwanachingwala who on Monday said traditional leaders in the province met in Livingstone on the day of the late President Mwanawasa's body viewing procession and decided to endorse Vice-President Banda for the MMD presidency, chief Mukuni said it was not true that Southern Province chiefs met and endorsed the Vice-President's candidature.
Chief Mukuni said he had spoken to National Royal Foundation of Zambia chairperson senior chief Bright Nalubamba who told him that there was no meeting which discussed Vice-President Banda's endorsement. Chief Mukuni said traditional leaders were supposed to meet on August 29, 2008 but that endorsing Vice-President Banda was not on the agenda.
He said some items on the agenda included thanking late President Mwanawasa for having appointed Daniel Munkombwe as minister for Southern Province and strategising on how to avoid taking sides over the candidates. "We want to apologise to the rest of the institution of chieftainship because by so doing endorsing Vice-President Banda, it's like the chiefs of Southern Province had entered the domain of party cadres. We are not party cadres. We as chiefs we love all our political leaders," chief Mukuni said.
"Now what I am saying is 'let's not mislead the office of the Vice-President by giving him a false impression'." Asked if he was referring to chief Mwanachingwala not to mislead Vice-President Banda, chief Mukuni responded: "Exactly." "Let us report what has been said, not what should have been," he said. Chief Mukuni refused to endorse any of the aspiring MMD candidates because doing so was not a domain for chiefs but political cadres. He said the domain of the chiefs was to work with the government of the day. "But if the government of the day misdirects itself on a constitutional issue, we come in. We take issue with that government," said chief Mukuni.
And senior chief Chikanta of the Tonga people of Kalomo district said it was not correct for chief Mwanachingwala to bring in other chiefs to support his personal stance. "I think you recall that not long ago, chief Mwanachingwala issued an individual statement which was supporting RB and that he was urging Magande to wait until 2011," he said.
Chief Chikanta said it was wrong for chiefs to take sides because all the aspiring candidates were entitled to stand. "Even if we did that, we are not the MMD NEC. Suppose we said we endorse Rupiah and the NEC picks Brian Chituwo Minister of Health, what would happen? We'll look foolish in the eyes of the Zambian public," said chief Chikanta. But former Nchanga MMD member of parliament Richard Kazala urged the MMD national executive committee (NEC) to respect late President Mwanawasa's preference by electing finance minister Ng'andu Magande as party presidential candidate.
Commenting on first lady Maureen Mwanawasa's statement that President Mwanawasa preferred Magande to succeed him, Kazala urged the NEC to honour President Mwanawasa's wish by adopting Magande.
He said electing Magande would be one way of showing love to late President Mwanawasa. Kazala said Maureen had no hidden motive by disclosing that Magande was the preferred candidate because if she wanted, she would have claimed that she was the anointed one. "NEC members should respect that statement. Of course they should also take into account the MMD constitution which says that a member can only apply for a position after serving for three years. It's not good to vote for a person who is nominated because he is not known on the ground," Kazala said.
"They must honour late President Mwanawasa by trusting the comments of the first lady." Kazala said conscience should prevail over Vice-President Banda by withdrawing from the race because at no time did President Mwanawasa indicate that he should be the successor. "I'm sure where President Mwanawasa is, he's not happy that his number two has done that contesting the presidency knowing that his wife has revealed what his intentions are," said Kazala.
But former Zambian ambassador to Switzerland Love Mtesa said MMD risked losing the mandate of ruling until 2011 if it did not adopt Vice-President Banda as its candidate. Mtesa said the MMD risked emerging divided if acting-President Banda was not adopted. "This is an emergency and in an emergency what is required is unity and the only one who can guarantee that is the acting-President," said Mtesa. "...We are not privy to what was discussed in private. We acknowledge that President Mwanawasa could have had a preferred candidate but that was for the year 2011. In this case, the only one who can ensure that the MMD completes its mandate without being divided is the Acting-President."
MMD Kalulushi district youth information and publicity secretary Charles Kabubi said the youths' endorsement of Vice-President Banda to succeed President Mwanawasa would not be a betrayal of the late leader because they were not there to believe Maureen revelation that Magande was the President's preferred candidate. He said leadership was not just about good education but it was also about wisdom and how one related with people.
Meanwhile, a source in Vice-President Banda's campaign team yesterday complained that ministerial jobs have already been allocated without considering some of the more experienced people in the group. "VJ is bouncing back as foreign affairs minister," the source said.
"Mbita Chitala has been promised a top position while Benny Tetamashimba will be the new minister for local government and housing. Bwalya Chiti will be the Republican Vice-President. This is according to the list which they have dubbed as the Dream Ticket."
Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA, CHIEFS, MMD, PRESIDENCY, RUPIAH BANDA
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