Maravi

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Hakainde and racism
By Editor
Tue 04 Feb. 2014, 14:00 CAT

The remark by Hakainde Hichilema that Vice-President Dr Guy Scott is the only remaining colonialist in Zambia should not be tolerated because it is racist and goes against the spirit of our Constitution.

This country is a nation of many migrants who have come in from different parts of this continent and of this world. Most of the people who make up a greater part of our population arrived in this country in the 1800s.

And together, we have formed a nation called Zambia. This great nation of ours comprises people of different tribes and races. And all have made their contribution to the building up of this homeland of ours. To resort to tribalism and racism when we have differences with each other is barbaric.

Addressing a rally in Chifubu, Ndola on January 17, 1965, the founder of our Republic Dr Kenneth Kaunda made it very clear that "our society in Zambia shall be non-tribal, non-racial, and that our society in Zambia shall only judge each and every individual according to his behaviour".
Given this teaching, why is Hakainde so inclined to clinging to ethnicity, racism and regionalism in his politics?
We detest racialism, because we regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black person or a white person. This is so because racism pollutes the atmosphere of human relations and poisons the minds of the backward, the bigoted and the prejudiced.
As we enter the 50th year of our independence, it is intolerable and unacceptable that the cancer of racism is still eating away the flesh and souls of some of our political leaders like Hakainde.
It is the duty of all patriots and progressive citizens to ensure that colour, race and tribe become only a God-given gift to each one of us and not an indelible mark or attribute that accords a special status to any.
Racism is a blight on the human conscience. And we should never allow our country to play host to racism. Nor shall our voices be stifled if we see that another is a victim of racial discrimination in our homeland or indeed anywhere in the world.
Racism must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated.
And again, we should follow the teachings of the founder of our Republic on this score: "The cause of non-racialism is the cause of mankind. It gives us the opportunity to classify man not by his colour, which is beyond his control, but by his action which, of course, is within his control. We should never be part and parcel of that type of society that will condemn people wholesale. That is an old and tired thinking completely unsuitable for a revolutionary. Further on this point, we must learn to hate what is done and not to hate the doer. What is meant here is, if we hated the doer as such, it would mean that even if he changed for the better, we would continue to hate him simply because he was what he was. On the other hand, if we learn to hate what is done, there is always a chance that the people whose activities we strongly disapproved will change, and then we would have no cause to hate them…" (Address to UNIP national council at Mulungushi, November 9, 1968).
Clearly, racism is rejected as contrary to law and justice. And as Christians, we believe that the world is God's world; and that God intervenes in it and gives a human person the power to transform it into a world of brothers and sisters.
It should not be forgotten that racial discrimination happens when there is a distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference which is based on race and which is pursued with the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the exercise of one's rights on equal basis in all areas of public life.
Any political outlook which bases value judgments on racial differentiation is contrary to the moral and ethical principles of humanity and deserves to be denounced, discredited and discarded. And we wish to emphasise that it is definitely against natural justice and Christian brotherly love to discriminate between people of different races and tribe. Nothing but evil can be the fruit of racial or tribal discrimination, a practice contrary to both justice and brotherly love. The practice of racial discrimination is contrary to the principle of unity of the human race, the oneness of the human family. The enjoyment of the freedom from racial discrimination will be a reality when people refrain from paying exaggerated attention to the accidental difference within the human family, especially the accidental difference of colour.
The human race is one. The fact of its oneness is not altered by any secondary differences in the various families that compose the human race. The whole human race has the same origin, the same nature, the same basic rights and duties and the same destiny. The whole of humankind is united by the common parenthood of God and by a common brotherhood in Christ. We wish to make it clear that we recall this truth of the essential oneness of the human family for the benefit of all sections of the community, and not to be influenced by paying undue attention to accidental differences within the human family. All human beings indeed do not possess the same gifts or talents; nor does life offer each the same opportunities. But this inequality of gifts and of opportunity has nothing to do with race for all citizens are entitled to develop a full civic, social and intellectual life.
We fully appreciate the history of our country in terms of race. This is a country in which there was a racially oppressed black majority. But it is also a country in which we had white people who sided and fought side by side with the blacks to remove white oppression and domination. And in a country with our history, non-racism from white Zambians was not an outlook that could simply be taken for granted. Therefore, people like Dr Scott, who have contributed immensely, through their personal example, to nurturing that outlook which is so evident in our country today, cannot be taken for granted. Let those politicians like Hakainde, who have based themselves on narrow ethnic constituencies, now ponder their example. And nobody should be allowed to interfere with their political rights because of stupid racial prejudice. This country will always be a homeland for all Zambians, regardless of their colour, tribe or origin. Dr Scott is as much Zambian as Hakainde. And probably Dr Scott is more patriotic to this collective homeland of ours than Hakainde.

But there is a very worrying thing about Hakainde's tribal and racial political outlook. Why is Hakainde so concerned about tribe and race? What type of leader will Zambia have if one day we were to wake up and find we have Hakainde as president of the Republic? What will be the position on tribe and race in his scheme of things? And where will that leave the country?

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RACISM, TRIBALISM

Tribe, race mean nothing in Zambia, says Scott
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 30 Jan. 2014, 14:01 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Guy Scott says tribe and race mean nothing in Zambia. And MMD president Dr Nevers Mumba says the Katuba by-election will help the opposition understand the need to have a working relationship.

Speaking on Tuesday when he addressed a public meeting in Katuba after PF candidate, Moses Chilando successfully filed in his nomination papers, Vice-President Scott said issues of tribe or race do not work in Zambia.

"I want to thank you in advance for coming and thank you for voting. Don't let anybody tell you that this candidate Chilando is a Bemba... he should be a Lenje or vice-versa. In Zambia, tribe and race mean nothing. Who can I be representing if we are representing ourselves?

Lenje represents Lenje, Bemba represents Bemba and Muzungus represent Muzungus, it does not work," Vice-President Scott said.

He said the PF had chosen the best candidate for the job of area member of parliament for Katuba.

He urged the PF members in the area to be resolute, determined and send Chilando to Parliament, saying he would make sure he did the job.

"I am just telling you that we have chosen the best man for the job.

There were some very good candidates, but we chose the one we agreed on. Be resolute, be determined, send him to Parliament, I will make him work. Don't fight, no intimidation, we don't need any of that," said Vice-President Scott.

And speaking after the MMD candidate Cecil Holmes filed in his nomination, Mumba hoped that the outcome of the Katuba by-election will help send a strong message to the opposition.

"We hope this by-election will help the opposition understand the importance of a working relationship. We hope it will send a strong message to opposition political parties, but also the people of Zambia," Mumba said after being asked on the filling in of nominations by six opposition political parties in view of a recently formed alliance of opposition parties.

Mumba said in future, it would be important for opposition political parties to work together in dealing with matters which he said affected the people.

And Mumba said people should not expect violence from the MMD, saying the party had a new culture.

"There is a new culture of MMD in as far as violence is concerned. Don't expect any violence from MMD," said Mumba.

Meanwhile, Allan Malawo, the UNIP candidate, said it was high time young people jumped on the band wagon and joined his party.

Malawo said most of the UNIP members had aged and invited young people in the country to join the party.

Malawo further said the ground in Katuba was very fertile for UNIP and rated his chances of scooping the seat highly.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GUY SCOTT, NEVERS MUMBA, TRIBALISM

Monday, December 16, 2013

Chikwelete
By Editor
Sun 03 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT

IF Michael Sata is able to forgive those who were hired or had hired themselves out to claim he was a Tanzanian and not a Zambian, who is Wynter Kabimba not to forgive Robert Chikwelete?

If Michael easily finds it in his heart to forgive those who were hired or had hired themselves out to beat him up at Ichengelo Radio Station in Kitwe, who is Wynter not to forgive Chikwelete who was hired or had hired himself out to denounce him, humiliate him and accuse him of all sorts of things?

Wynter says if he is going to be a disciple - a true disciple - of Michael, he must practice his virtues. We agree. We should not forget that the name Christian means like Christ, follower of Christ. Now, Jesus Christ was humble, most pure, poor, meek: how can his disciple and imitator be proud, dishonest, angry, greedy and unforgiving?

Alexander the Great once said to a soldier who also had the same name but was sluggish, mean and cowardly: "Either change your name or change your behaviour."
Forgiveness is the only way to inner peace. A Chinese proverb says, "One who pursues revenge should dig two graves."

There are people who do wrong things because they do not have sufficient knowledge or freedom. If they are not guilty, what is there to forgive? The tendency to behave in a particular way is so deeply rooted in our nature as a result of childhood and adult experiences.

This obviously raises the question of free will. We know that we have free will and that human beings are not totally at the mercy of the past. Yet how much influence free will has on us is a moot question. Human experience shows that it is very, very fragile. Though the concept is hard for us to accept, it seems to be well-founded on the Bible and human experience, taken in a wider perspective.

True, the evildoer's action is bad or wrong. It hurts us. He knows what he is doing. But how much does he know? Does he know all the implications of his actions on himself or on others?

To realise that there is nothing to forgive is true forgiveness. There is nothing to forgive because he acted out of ignorance, he was misled, he was manipulated. To forgive just because the other apologised or admitted his mistake or out of condensation, is no true forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act of love and in love, one does not put another down. The interaction has to be on the basis of 'win-win'.

When I forgive because the other apologised, it is like saying, "Okay, now that you have realised your mistake or admitted it, I forgive you." Here obviously one is in a one-up position. On the other hand, when one says, "oh, what is there to forgive? I probably would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes," both are winners.

Hence the words: 'It is easier to forgive an enemy after you have gotten even with him.' True forgiveness is as rare as true greatness. "Unless your justice exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom" (Matthew 5:20).

Forgiveness is difficult, especially for those who have been brought up in an atmosphere of harshness and resentment. But forgive we must, if we are to find peace of soul and health of body. It is said that life is an adventure in forgiveness.

Nothing clutters the soul more than remorse, resentment, recrimination. Forgiveness is a gift we need to give not only to others but to ourselves also, freeing us from self-punishment and enabling us to see wider horizons. There are times when we feel wronged, betrayed, deceived, humiliated.

It would be unhealthy not to react against the outrage. Certainly, we ought not to grant others the right to give us ulcers.

But we shouldn't think that forgiveness is only a precept of Christ or of religious teachers, it is also a law of nature. Forgiveness helps health. Non-forgiveness, holding a grudge, resentment and various forms of anger, all perform the same task - they keep us protected from perceived danger and away from the pain of loss.

Much psychic and physical energy is needed to keep up this defensive attitude. Most of us have experienced how resentment fatigues us. Forgiveness, on the other hand, puts us in contact again with people. This relaxes us, saving a lot of energy.

Forgiveness is easy when the violators see the pain they have caused us and sincerely apologise for their wrongdoing. The trouble is that they may not always apologise. Some people just don't realise how much pain they cause us.

Some of the careless, untruthful and malicious things people say about us can indeed cause us a good deal of pain. Yet others may feel that they have pained us, but are too proud to apologise. They feel that if they do, they diminish in our estimation, forgetting the truth that admitting a mistake is a sign of greatness.

Forgiving is not easy and sometimes we may find it too hard to forgive. Some may try different means and yet not succeed in forgiving.

Christ tells us three things we can do, as a last-ditch effort, which can help us towards forgiveness, provided, of course, we want to forgive and are ready to do what he asks of us. He says: "But I tell who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).

If we want to forgive and love our enemy, we need to do good to them, bless them and pray for them. These are all acts within our power. Forgiveness, like love, is not so much a feeling, as a decision to act in a particular way.

Feelings are not directly under our control, but actions are. We may have to do these actions almost mechanically for some time before we begin to experience feelings of forgiveness, namely the absence of resentment and certain degree of closeness to or freedom with the other person.

The first requisite to reconciliation is that we do good to those who have hurt us. This is what St Paul means when he says: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge: I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: if your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head" (Romans 12:19-20).

The second is to bless them. "Bless them", as its Latin root "bene dicere" means to speak well of the other. Avoid all criticism, slander and gossip about the others and say good things about them.

The last prerequisite is to pray for them; pray, not that they may realise their mistakes and come to apologise to us, but that God grant them their wishes and all things that would make them happy. It is remarkable how those who do these things get rid of their resentment and come to forgive others. Some might object that it is hypocrisy to behave towards others as if we love them when we really don't.

There is no hypocrisy here, because we admit that we don't have feelings of forgiveness but we are doing these acts precisely because we want to forgive. Hence the saying, "Enemies are not those who hate us, but rather whom we hate."
We usually say 'forgive and forget', as if to mean that when we forgive someone, we also forget the incident that caused us pain.

Forgiveness does not imply forgetting. As long as our memory is reasonable good, we will remember most of the things of our pasts, both good and bad. So remembering a painful incident does not mean that we have not forgiven. The test whether we have forgiven or not is whether we behave lovingly towards the other and speak well of him. One indication of such forgiveness is that we do not get emotional when we think or speak of the event that pained us.

However, to forgive does not imply that we are as close to the other person as we were earlier. This could happen; but not necessarily. It is perfectly okay to forgive one and at the same time decide not to have the other around too much, if that is possible or desirable. If from previous experience we know that temperamentally we do not get along too well with the other, it would be in the interest of both parties, to keep a respectable distance without, of course, alienating the other.

To such as those who thus forgive will peace be given: "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful" (Corinthians 3:12-15).

It is in this light that we look at Chikwelete's apologies and Wynter's forgiveness of him. There are great lessons for us all to learn from this.

Those who were using Chikwelete will see his act as one of betrayal, of selling out to Wynter. Others who are of goodwill will see Chikwelete's act as a good thing and in line with Christ's teachings and the behaviour expected from a good citizen, especially one who aspires to be a political leader of his people at any level.

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, PF, ROBERT CHIKWELETE, TRIBALISM

Sunday, December 01, 2013

The hegemonic Bemba power project in PF
By Editor
Sun 20 Oct. 2013, 14:00 CAT

THE hegemonic Bemba power project within the Patriotic Front is certainly and definitely destined for failure. It simply won’t work. It is an exercise in futility that will leave those engaged in it totally discredited and politically incapacitated.

Zambians have seen such projects before. The politics of Simon Kapwepwe’s United Progressive Party were more of less inclined towards Bemba ‘nationalism’. It failed.

And for similar reasons, this hegemonic Bemba project that some elements within the Patriotic Front have embarked on will also fail. It will fail because the Bemba-speaking people have never and will not be tribalists. And non-Bemba speaking people who live in areas dominated by Bemba-speaking people can attest to this. One is likely to face more tribal discrimination in other parts of our country than they are likely to face in Bemba-speaking areas. Even those who live in urban areas and have Bemba speaking neighbours can also attest to their general lack of discrimination on account of tribe.

This hegemonic Bemba project in the Patriotic Front is also bound to fail because the leader and founder of this party doesn’t possess a tribal outlook. There are very few leaders in this country, other than Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who have developed more political and other leaders who do not belong to their tribe than Michael Sata has done. If one audits Michael’s political history, one will realise that most of his key political associates, confidantes and operatives were from non-Bemba speaking tribes of our country. We could put a list of what we are talking about, but we will not do so to avoid embarrassing anyone. If it wasn’t for Michael, where would Wynter Kabimba and Emmanuel Chenda be politically? These are non-Bemba people who have been brought up by Michael politically and otherwise. The list is endless. We are pointing out Wynter and Emmanuel because these are well-known cases. Even in business, Michael’s enterprises were not dominated by people from his tribe. How many of our businessmen and women can claim such a record? We have Zambian companies whose employees are predominantly from the tribe of the principal owner. This has never been the case with Michael.

Even when it comes to the formation of the Patriotic Front, look at the people Michael used and those he brought very close to himself. The majority of them are not from his tribe. Look at the composition of the leadership of the Patriotic Front which Michael himself has constructed! It cannot be said to be a party leadership of Bemba-speaking people; it’s got a truly national character and not a cosmetic one. We have seen some political parties like the UPND whose key leadership is predominantly Tonga speaking, with only a few cosmetic non-Tonga elements brought in as ‘make-up’.

One can go to all the ministries and other public institutions that Michael led and will find the same composition of people. Of course, some Bemba tribalists don’t see that. To them, Michael is their tribesman and as such, the political party he founded and leads is theirs. Michael doesn’t see things that way. If that was his outlook, the composition of the Patriotic Front leadership would be very different.

And this is why people like Wynter and Emmanuel are more comfortable with Michael and have been able to work with him as their mentor for more than 30 years. Wynter was one of the few people who were invited to discuss the formation of what is now the UPND. At that meeting, there were only Tonga-speaking people or those belonging to the Bantu Botatwe and those from North-Western Province. Most of those who were at that meeting are dead. But there is still Ben Kapita alive in addition to Wynter. When Old Ben was invited to attend that meeting, he was thought to be from North-Western Province. When the objectives for trying to form a political party were laid out, it was clearly stated that the purpose was to stop Bemba domination. At that point, Ben and Wynter realised they were in the wrong place and never went back to the second meeting. This was the agenda on which UPND was formed. Of course, later on there were some serious attempts at ‘make-up’. Some non-Tonga or Bantu Botatwe politicians were drafted in to give the party some character of regional or tribal diversity. It nearly worked.
The cosmetic had covered the face and blended in very well. But even this little was too much for the new leadership of the party that emerged later under Hakainde Hichilema. Tonga hegemony in the UPND was no longer a secret. It was stated very clearly and publicly that only a Tonga could lead the UPND. We all know what happened after that. The political fortunes of the UPND started to decline. And they were cleared out of all the urban areas of our country where they used to have some seats and remained only in Southern Province, with a few seats in Western and North-Western provinces. This is what tribalism has done to UPND. We have no doubt that the situation will be worse for the hegemonic Bemba project because it will not even have enough votes in the Bemba-speaking areas because the Bemba-speaking people don’t generally vote that way. Kapwepwe’s UPP lost in Bemba-speaking areas. It is surprising that some of the people who are today in the Patriotic Front worked with Kapwepwe and led him to his political demise don’t seem to have learnt the lesson. They misled Kapwepwe and today they think they can mislead Michael the same way.

The other reason why this hegemonic Bemba project will fail is because the great majority of the Zambian people hate the practice of tribalism. The overwhelming majority of our people don’t like tribalism.

And as we have stated before, tribalism is a blight on the human conscience. And we should never allow our country to play host to tribalism. Nor shall our voices be stifled if we see that any one of us is a victim to tribal discrimination.

Tribalism, in any form, must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated. We all know how stubbornly tribalism can cling to the mind and how deeply it can infect the human soul.

We must ensure that tribe becomes only a God-given gift - and a precious one for that matter because God gives us only good things - to each one of us and not an indelible mark or attribute that accords a special status to any. Tribalism pollutes the atmosphere of human relations and poisons the minds of the backward, the bigoted and the prejudiced.

And in saying all this, we are not in any way anti-Bemba. It is impossible for us to be anti-Bemba because the editor-in-chief and managing director of this newspaper is Bemba. His great grandfather, his father’s grandfather, his grandfather’s father, was chief Nkula. The position this newspaper has taken on this issue is simply a matter of principle. In the same way this newspaper has denounced Tonga and other tribalism, it is today denouncing the attempts to introduce Bemba tribalism in our politics and in the governance of our country.

Imagine what would become of our country if we were to wake up one day and find that these Bemba tribalists have taken over Michael’s party to impose their tribal hegemony on the rest of our country? For this reason, we make a clarion call to all our people to use their instincts and refuse to be driven into tribal politics by these corrupt and tribalistic elements. We also urge all Zambians of goodwill, regardless of their tribe, to rally behind Michael and ensure that his leadership triumphs over the narrow interests of these corrupt and tribalistic elements.

We shouldn’t cheat ourselves that these tribalists will disappear so easily. No, they won’t go away on their own. To defeat tribalism, a tenacious struggle has to be waged on all fronts. Look at the aggressive way they are trying to impose their agenda on the Patriotic Front! Of course, they are very manipulative. When they realised that their corrupt and tribal agenda had been exposed, they hired some desperate and opportunistic non-Bemba speaking politicians to start speaking for them, fronting for them. But the Zambian people know who they are. And no tribalist should be voted for in 2016, regardless of the political party they belong to. Let’s register them in our minds and when the time comes for elections, there should be a roll call of tribalists. Expose tribalists whenever and wherever they rear their ugly heads.

And with the full support of every one of us, Michael will be able to effectively deal with these corrupt and tribalistic elements. Yes, they are very manipulative but manipulators have never deserved anybody’s respect or been successful anywhere. Manipulators are like little sailboats that go with the wind and the waves. Manipulation is synonymous with opportunism. Manipulation doesn’t have substance; it doesn’t have roots. And as such, it survives on lies, bribery, calumny, deceit.

We are lucky that they are not so many of them. They are few. And because they are few, they try to make too much noise. In guerilla warfare, they say if you are few, you fight in the bananas. This is so because the leaves of bananas make so much noise and you start to sound as if you are so many. This is what these tribalists in the Patriotic Front have been trying to do in their attempt to hoodwink the Zambian people to believe they are a dominant force in the Patriotic Front. We are also lucky that the great majority of the Patriotic Front’s Bemba-speaking leaders and members, although they are not making much noise, are not part of this hegemonic project and are totally opposed to it.

It is therefore very clear that this hegemonic Bemba power project in the Patriotic Front is destined for failure as long as Michael is in charge of this party.

Labels: PF, TRIBALISM

Friday, October 25, 2013

(NEWZIMBABWE, AFP) Zambia charges 70 separatists
02/10/2013 00:00:00
by AFP

MORE than 70 Zambian separatists are due in court on charges of treason Wednesday, in one of the country's biggest trials in recent years.

The defendants, mostly from the Lozi tribe, want Barotseland state in the country's impoverished west to secede from the copper-rich southern African country.

Police have arrested 83 people in a crackdown on secessionists, some while they were trying to hoist their own flag or singing songs denouncing the government.

Western province police chief Lombe Kamukoshi said only 72 of them will appear at Mongu High Court on Wednesday.

A treason conviction in Zambia could carry the death penalty.

Barotseland traditional leader and former deputy minister of education, Clement Sinyinda is among those facing treason charges, but will go to court on a later date.

"Sinyinda has been charged with the offence of treason felony and will appear in court on October 10, others will appear on October 2," Kamukoshi told AFP.
The secessionist bid dates back decades.

Barotseland was originally a protectorate of Britain, but entered into a deal at the end of colonial rule in 1964 to become a province of Zambia.

Under the agreement signed with independent Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, the region was supposed to have limited self-rule, but the Lozi say that agreement was never respected.
The issue had quietened down during the 1990s.

Last year, President Michael Sata ordered the military to clamp down on secession protests.

In January 2012, two people were killed during clashes with police in the town of Mongu, west of the capital Lusaka.

Human rights activist Brebner Changala blamed Sata for not doing enough to initiate talks and called on him to pardon those facing charges.
"It's a sad story that people are arrested and charged with treason," he said.

"Dialogue is the only way out... he should take the lead".

He added that the issue was capable of causing mayhem in the country.

"This issue should be handled with care, he (Sata) should not trivialise it," said Changala.

"This is a matter that can cause serious problems in this country,??? he said.

Last year, Sata said allowing the tribe to secede would cause other tribes to demand the same, in a country with 73 ethnic groups.

Labels: SEPARATISM, TRIBALISM

Caution about tribalism talk
By Editor
Wed 02 Oct. 2013, 14:00 CAT

It is interesting to note that some people became very uncomfortable with the mention of tribalism being a factor in the demands for Wynter Kabimba's resignation as secretary general of the Patriotic Front.

We started hearing people who have never cared about the mention of tribalism calling for caution in the use of the word "tribalism". We never heard some of these characters ever complain about charges of tribalism when those at the receiving end were Tongas from the UPND.

Since 2006, this newspaper has carried many stories of people accusing the UPND of being a political party of Tongas. We have also carried many editorial comments urging the UPND to move away from a narrow, tribal political base and do everything possible to make their party acquire a national character if they have to harbour any hope of ever being a ruling party of this country. We never heard any complaint from the people who are today cautioning about the use of the word "tribalism".

What has changed? The only thing that has changed is that our previous talk in the last few years or since 2006 has been about UPND and Tonga tribal politics. And today, we are talking about the Patriotic Front and Bemba tribal politics. And surprisingly, almost all the people who have thrown caution about the use of the word tribalism are this time round Bemba-speaking elements.

We don't think it is right for us to be free to talk about tribalism only when those said to be involved in it are non-Bemba speaking people - are Tongas or some other tribe.

It is not in dispute that some people in the leadership of the Patriotic Front went for Wynter because of his tribe. We could mention some names of those who took sides in this dispute on the basis of supporting a fellow tribesman. And those involved know that we know.

There are people in the Patriotic Front who stood against Wynter simply because he was seen to be fighting a fellow Bemba tribesman. We do not want to bring too many problems for these people. All we can say for now is that their tribal approach to politics and to life in general is wrong and deserves to be denounced.

We ask those who are complaining about the tribal talk today to tell us where they were when we were denouncing the Tonga tribalism that saw Sakwiba Sikota hounded out of the UPND simply because he was a Lozi-speaking person and the top leadership of the UPND was a preserve of Tongas? They never uttered a word against what was being said about UPND's Tonga tribalism.

The Zambian people, including ourselves, were not denouncing UPND's Tonga tribalism because they hate UPND and Tongas. No. They were doing so because they hate tribalism in general and regardless of which tribe or individuals are involved in it.

Today, the same people, and this same newspaper, are denouncing the Bemba tribalism that is said to be negatively influencing the politics of the Patriotic Front and the power struggle in this political party.
It is therefore dishonesty on the part of some of our Bemba politicians who seem to be so uncomfortable with the denunciation of Bemba tribalism. What is making them uncomfortable? It is simply because of a realisation that the Zambian people don't like tribalism and tribalists. And if they come to know them as being tribalists, their chances of winning national political offices will greatly diminish. It is not the fear or the dislike of tribalism that is making them uncomfortable with the mention of the word "tribalism", especially Bemba tribalism. It is the fear of losing power or the reduction of their prospects or chances to win power that is making them uncomfortable with the mention of the word "tribalism".

But what words should be used to describe the behaviour, the actions of people who are behaving or acting in a manner that can be said to be tribalistic?
They want to be allowed to be behave in a manner that is tribalistic, but they don't want anyone to publicly describe their behaviour as being tribalistic. Things have to be called by their right names. If calling things by their right names brings some credit to some people, let them get the credit. If calling things by their right names brings some discredit to some people, let it be so.
In life, one should be known by their behaviour, by what they do and by their beliefs. Those whose behaviour is one of tribalism, let them be known for that. Those whose actions are of a tribalistic nature, let them be known for that and reap the rewards of that. Those whose outlook, whose beliefs are tribalistic, let them be judged by that. We have to be honest about these things.
If one thinks that being tribalistic is a good thing, let them not pretend otherwise. That's what honesty demands. But today, we have tribalists being scared to be known as such. Again, there is need for honesty in life. Flann O'Brien once remarked: "Put a thief among honest men and they will eventually relieve him of his watch." And Bertrand Russell says: "The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented hell."
There are only two kinds of people in this world: honest people and dishonest people. We have a choice as to the category we want to belong to.
We shouldn't fear to be associated with our beliefs and pretend to be what we are not.
We should also not be afraid to hear the truth. And as Plato put it: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
As we have strongly pointed out before, tribalism is a blight on the human conscience. And we should never allow our country to play host to tribalism. Nor shall our voices be stifled if we see that one of us is engaging in tribalism or is a victim of tribal tyranny. Tribalism must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated by any of us.
Clearly, there is nothing careless about exposing tribalism and tribalists. What is careless is to assume an ostrich attitude and pretend that tribalism does not exist in our politics. It exits and is a growing problem that is principally led by our politicians themselves for narrow and selfish considerations.
The best way to dismantle tribalism is not by denying its existence or by labelling those who courageously and publicly draw our attention to its existence as careless. It is by acknowledging it and by working for increased understanding in the society of the underhand and pervasive ways in which tribalism functions. It calls for a willingness to reexamine what would be regarded as normal.

It presupposes opening up the subject of tribalism - no longer isolating and alienating those who dare raise it. It involves listening and creating spaces to hear the hurt, anger and aspirations of those expressing tribal oppression or marginalisation. It means dragging tribalism from the hushed conversations and murmurs and silences, into the arena of public discussion. And our politicians, the main culprits who mobilise on tribal basis and who generate tribal consciousness, should be in the forefront of this transformation.

Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, TRIBALISM

Kaunda counsels against tribalism
By Abel Mboozi
Wed 02 Oct. 2013, 14:00 CAT

IT makes me angry indeed when I hear leaders talking about tribe in Zambia, says Dr Kenneth Kaunda. Asked to give counsel on the issue of tribalism being discussed by some senior PF members, Dr Kaunda said it was not right that in 2013 issues of tribe should resurface.

"It is not right that in 2013, after we have come all the way building ourselves into one nation, some people somewhere in a dirty corner keep shouting about tribe… why? To achieve what? They want to get power through tribe?" Dr Kaunda asked.

Dr Kaunda said the talk of tribalism must stop immediately, stressing that such had no place in Zambia.

He said Zambia had been held together for a long time through the philosophy he coined of 'One Zambia, One Nation' and that citizens should remain steadfast on upholding that achievement.

"The tribal talk should be stopped immediately and completely. The nation has held, and we have been building the nation together. It sends me angry indeed when I begin hearing leaders talking about tribe," he said.

Dr Kaunda said Zambia was founded on the biblical commandment which stresses the need to love one another regardless of creed, race and religion.

"Young people, go back to God's teachings. Love God your Creator with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength as He is the One who has made His image like you. His teaching is 'love your neighbour as you love yourself; do unto others as you would like them to do unto you'," he said

Dr Kaunda said the commandments, as espoused in the Bible, were amazing because where they have been followed, peace prevails.

"Amazing teaching, amazing commandment; where these commandments are followed, there is genuine peace. Where they are not followed, disaster. So in Zambia, we saw that there were so many tribes, many colours, and many faiths and if we didn't come together, all these would be destroyed," he said.

Dr Kaunda said fighting and killing each other would have been the order of the day in Zambia if he, as the founding father of the nation, did not champion the 'One Zambia, One Nation' philosophy.

"So we thought we had to come together through 'One Zambia, One Nation'; through the podium, we shouted 'One Zambia' and citizens would respond 'One Nation' to transcend across race, tribe and anything else," said Dr Kaunda.

And MMD national youth chairperson Moses Muteteka has called on political parties in Zambia to avoid championing tribalism.
Muteteka, who is also Chisamba MMD member of parliament, said PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba was forthright when he stated that a clique within the party was scheming to hound him out on the basis of tribe.

"In fact, Kabimba has vindicated the UPND, which has been called tribal for a long time and yet the same evil is rife in the ruling party," said Muteteka.

Recently, Kabimba, said there was a tribal clique in the ruling party behind the cadres pushing for his resignation.And The Post ran an editorial in which it advised PF to deal with Kabimba in a fair way. The editorial read: "Wynter himself is today saying that it is a clique of tribal elements that is financing party cadres calling for his removal. He may have every reason to feel this way if the rules of natural justice and the party processes for disciplinary measures against him are not being followed.

There is no discernible charge that anyone has brought against Wynter before the disciplinary organs of the party to defend himself against. And for this reason, Wynter feels discriminated against on the basis of tribe.

And the list of those who went for him, those who were attacking him in the last joint meeting of the Patriotic Front central committee and Cabinet are predominantly from one tribe and region. Of the 14 people who spoke at that meeting, only three -Jean Kapata, Elizabeth Phiri and Bridget Atanga - can be said to be non-Bemba speaking people. And the 11 people who went for Wynter were Nkandu Luo,Chishimba Kambwili, Alexander Chikwanda, Joseph Katema, Esther Banda (from Mporokoso), Samuel Mukupa, Alfridah Kasembe, Willy Nsanda, Benson Chali, Emmanuel Mpakata and Freedom Sikazwe. All these are Bemba-speaking people. And Wynter seems to believe that these are the people championing the campaign for his removal. Geoffrey Mwamba didn't speak at this meeting.

But his position on this issue is well known and that's probably why it was not necessary for him to speak at that meeting. And as for the three non-Bemba speaking people who spoke at that meeting, they don't seem to have many issues with Wynter. ElizabethPhiri's complaint against Wynter at that meeting was that he was the one responsible for her not being adopted as a parliamentary candidate. This is the only complaint she voiced against Wynter. Atanga spoke in very general terms and had no direct issue against Wynter. As for Kapata, it is believed that the issue she has against Wynter is that she thinks he is the one who brought in Sylvia Masebo to compete with her. Of course, the truth is that Sylvia was not brought in by Wynter but by Michael himself."

Later Chikwanda issued a statement and called for an immediate end to "careless talk" bordering on tribalism by senior government officials, because it had the potential to cause disunity in the country.

Chikwanda said the government was concerned with reports attributed to some senior government officials alleging that there was tribalism in the PF.

Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, TRIBALISM

Friday, October 18, 2013

Tribal prejudice at work in PF - Scott
By Moses Kuwema and Prudence Phiri
Fri 27 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT

VICE-President Dr Guy Scott says there is some element of tribal prejudice at work in the calls for PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba to resign.

And Vice-President Scott says there is also a large element of corru ption involved in the people who are causing confusion in the PF because they are trying to immunize themselves against forces of law and order.

Commenting on Kabimba's statement that there was a clique of tribal elements that was sponsoring anarchy in the Patriotic Front, Vice-President Scott who is also party vice president, however, said the use of the term 'tribal clique' could have certain implications.

"The use of a term like tribal clique has certain implications…There is certainly some element of tribal prejudice at work. Whether this amounts to a clique or a conspiracy or simply to old habits that die hard, I would not be in a position to judge because I don't have a tribe, unless Scottish is a tribe. So I don't know very much about tribalism," he said.

Vice-President Scott said there was a procedure that needed to be followed before Kabimba could be removed.

"You cannot call for somebody to leave in this fashion protests. If you want somebody to leave, assuming that that's what you genuinely want, there are procedures. You write a complaint to the secretariat or if it is against the party secretary general, to the executive and say you want to give evidence, you want this matter considered. Then you go and give your evidence about what the secretary general has been up to, why you don't want him, which elements of party disciplinary code he has violated. If the decision goes against him, then he gets removed," he said.

Vice-President Scott said it was the same procedure that was used on Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda.

"He Lubinda was not hounded by people baying for his blood, taking off their trousers and standing on the roof of galimoto (vehicles) like 'funtad' (mad) people. He was removed by recourse to the procedures," he said.

And Vice-President Scott said there was certainly a large element of corruption involved in the people who were causing the disruption in the PF.

He said these people were trying to immunise themselves against forces of law and order.

"I think there are a lot of aspects and forces at work including opposition forces, wanting to confuse the party from inside. We are acting against it. I think it is being taken. It will not run forever. I expect it to be under good control in the next few days," he said.

Vice-President Scott said there were people within the PF who had their own agendas.

"Let me give you an example; there are land grabs going on throughout Lusaka. People claiming to be PF cadres who are selling land in Lusaka West, in Chawama, Chalimbana, in Kampasa. We have had a lot of people purporting to be PF cadres. It is difficult to say who is a PF cadre and who is not," he said.

Vice-President Scott said self-appointed PF branch officials do not want to comply with the law were the ones who were causing confusion.

"They think the way to do it is to take a dominant position in the PF. So that, for example, has to be handled and dealt with by the forces of law and order. I am just giving you as an example of the kind of interest that come into play when you get a situation like this. But I would expect everything to be brought back into a disciplined form, disciplined state of affairs," he said.

Asked why the leadership in the PF had allowed the cadres to conduct themselves in the way they had conducted themselves, Vice-President Scott responded: "Who says we are allowing it? It is very difficult to tell in the case of a demonstration, whether it is being allowed or not. But it is not our leadership which allows demonstrations by random people, it is the police. And if you ask me why the police have allowed this, I don't know. I am not part of the police structure but I suppose as long as the demonstration is peaceful, it is very difficult to stop."

Vice-President Scott said there was no active promotion of the indiscipline among the cadres from the leadership of the party.

"If there is then whoever has got the agenda has got a very strange agenda and we have got to find out what it is," he said.

Vice-President Scott further said he never saw most of the cadres that had been marching during the 2011 general elections.

"I have seen people I didn't see in 2011. It is just opportunism. It is a ruling party, if you can intimidate the police, outflank the police, you can use your position as ruling party to abuse the law and to effectively take control of the streets and we are not tolerating it," he said.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Scott agreed with Chishimba Kambwili's observation that the PF would be dead if the infighting were not stopped and added that there was need to bring to an end the anarchy and indiscipline that had rocked the party.

"If you have an organisation that wants to eat itself, it will die. It is like a mad dog eating its own stomach. You cannot have an organisation which is divided against itself, especially an organisation as strong as PF. So we have to bring an end to this anarchy, indiscipline," said Vice-President Scott.

Meanwhile, Kambwili says Kabimba's arrogance towards PF cadres is what will hound him out of the party.

Reacting to Kabimba's accusations that he was part of the tribal clique in the party, Kambwili, who is PF national youth chairperson, said it was unfortunate that the PF secretary general mistook his recent advice for tribalism.

"Munshebwa aile namafi kubuko (He who did not take advice went with faeces to his in-laws). This is the kind of arrogance that we don't need as a nation. Surely, how can someone give you an earnest advice like the one I gave, and I was not biased towards the cadres or towards the secretary general. What I said was a balanced advice to both the cadres and Honourable Wynter Kabimba and if my advice to him means I am a tribalist and I am a member of the PF that wants to hound him out of the party, it's unfortunate," he said.

"What will hound Wynter out of the party is his personal attitude and arrogance. Cadres are complaining that they are chased, he doesn't know how to answer people. The best he can do is to work on those things, rather accusing colleagues and friends of being tribalists."

Kambwili appealed to cadres and Kabimba to stop washing dirty linen in public as this would eventually weaken the party.

"Let us be united because we have a unity of purpose. To my colleague and brother honourable Wynter Kabimba, deep down his heart he knows I have never been associated with tribalism. It is not good to wash dirty linen in public. I am appealing to the cadres, please stop the demonstrations, it's not healthy to the nation and the party. To Wynter, let's be level-headed, be calm. But if he takes on everyone that gives him advice, then it's unfortunate," he said.

Kambwili said the future of the Patriotic Front was intact as no one member was bigger that the party.

On Wednesday, Kabimba accused Kambwili of being part of a clique of tribal elements sponsoring anarchy in PF. Kabimba, who is also justice minister, said Kambwili should know that he Kabimba had many PF supporters who were interested in the affairs of the party.

Speaking to journalists earlier at his office on Wednesday, Kambwili urged Kabimba to apologise to Kabwata PF member of parliament Given Lubinda over the behaviour of PF cadres towards him.

Labels: GUY SCOTT, PF, TRIBALISM

It's tribalists at work - Kabimba
By Allan Mulenga
Wed 25 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT

WE have a clique of tribalists emerging in the PF who are sponsoring anarchy, says the party's secretary general Wynter Kabimba. And slogan-chanting PF cadres yesterday morning marched from PF Lusaka district offices to the national secretariat housed at Lusaka House, demanding Kabimba's removal.

Reacting to the PF cadres demanding his removal as secretary general, Kabimba, who is also justice minister, said it is tribalists at work and he would not succumb to tribal elements in the party and relinquish his position.

"We have in PF a clique of tribalists that is emerging. The youths that you see marching on the streets of Lusaka today are being used as tools in the hands of a clique of tribalists that is emerging in the Patriotic Front. I didn't know myself or let me say that, I have been naive all along in my belief and judgement that all those of us that have been referring to UPND as being a tribal political party were themselves non-believers in tribalism. I have been naive," he said.
"The truth of the matter is that a lot of the people that have been condemning the UPND as being a political party of tribalists are themselves tribalists; maybe even stronger tribalists than UPND members."

Kabimba said a clique of "tribal elements" was financing PF cadres to cover up for their tribal agenda.

"In order to cover up for that tribal agenda, they have now resorted to hiring innocent youths to propel their political agenda. That is what is going on. These are the people that went to the people of Zambia in 2010 and 2011, campaigning that we would like to unite the country across ethnic diversity and that people should not vote for the UPND because it was ethnically tribal," he said. "The people of Zambia believed us in that message. After taking power, a clique now has emerged in PF which is more tribal in their thinking, in their action, in their attitude, in their deeds, than the UPND."

Kabimba said his contribution to the PF was across ethnic diversity.

"You can't cheat the Zambian people in that way. So, I am becoming the sacrificial lamb of that tribal agenda. Because I didn't go out to the Zambian people to cheat them, to lie to them that I was participating in the PF on tribal lines," he said.

"I genuinely believed and I still believe today that my service, my contribution to the PF as a political party and to the PF government, is to all Zambians across ethnic diversity."

Kabimba wondered why a "clique of tribalists" had emerged when the PF did not campaign on tribal lines.

"That was my position then and that is still my position today. I will never lie to the Zambian people the way this clique has lied. I want to make emphasis that those poor youths are being financed by this clique of tribalists that is emerging in the Patriotic Front after assuming power. And the Zambian people must judge them for what they are. Because this country has remained united, it remained united under UNIP because of ethnic unity," he said.

"That is the message we put to the Zambian people when we were campaigning, that MMD was taking us on the route of having this country divided on ethnic lines and we said as PF that we shall not allow that to happen."

And Kabimba said he would not succumb to the "clique of tribalists" to relinquish his position as PF secretary general.

"To my surprise, there existed and still exists in our midst a camp of tribal elements that think now that they can use the youths on the streets to achieve their tribal agenda. This is the core of this anarchy being fuelled by these tribal elements. The sooner we get them exposed, the better for the unity of this country. I will not succumb to these tribal elements," said Kabimba.

And business in the central business district of Lusaka came to a standstill yesterday morning when PF cadres chanting anti-Kabimba slogans staged a peaceful procession.

The placard-carrying cadres were also chanting Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba's names.
They vowed to continue staging protests until Kabimba relinquishes his position.

Police had to be called in to calm the situation as the crowd became violent upon joining Cairo Road from Kafue Roundabout.

This prompted pedestrians to rush to the roadside to catch a glimpse of what was happening.

Meanwhile, PF deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga said the wrangles in the party could only be resolved by President Michael Sata and Kabimba.

Atanga said the behaviour of PF cadres was embarrassing in the eyes of the opposition.

"I am just too junior; this problem can only be solved by the President himself and the secretary general himself. The President and the secretary general have to make a decision. At the end of the day, I don't think anybody can solve this problem. I am not against Mr Kabimba. I have worked with Mr Kabimba well. After all, in every institution where there are two people or so, the're always differences, but they are not differences that one would want another person to suffer," Atanga said.

"I am also watching the top bosses and see how they will solve this problem. I am just too junior to solve it myself. It is very sad; even our opponents will start laughing at us. We feel embarrassed us who are found in office. It is like we have failed to tame them (cadres). These are the majority voters and when we were fighting, they were there through and through. We just have to handle them properly."

And PF Lusaka district chairperson Robert Chikwelete said PF cadres would not stop protesting until Kabimba relinquishes his position.

Chikwelete, who was recently recognised as PF Lusaka district chairperson, said the removal of Kabimba from his position was in the interest of the party.

Labels: CADRES, TRIBALISM, WYNTER KABIMBA

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Mutelo's anger is understandable
By Editor
Sat 10 Aug. 2013, 14:00 CAT

Misheck Mutelo, who in September 2011 was elected member of parliament for Lukulu West but had his election nullified by both the High Court and Supreme Court, and whose re-election in the by-election that followed is today being challenged, is wondering what's going on and is asking many questions.

Mutelo is also making a number of insinuations and is raising allegations against others. Mutelo is angry, and his anger is understandable.

Mutelo is a very humble citizen of Lukulu. And from selling cell phone talk-time, Mutelo made it to become an honourable member of our National Assembly. This is not a small achievement. If Mutelo had managed to remain in Parliament, he was going to be a good example to all our young people of how our doors are open for progress to all citizens.

We don't believe that although Mutelo's parliamentary seat was nullified on account of him engaging in corrupt and illegal electoral practices, he is inherently corrupt. And as he himself puts it: "What's wrong for me to represent my people? When I contested first, I was not the incumbent member of parliament for Lukulu West. Where would I have gotten money to corrupt the people? I meet the qualifications of being a member of parliament. The question is: was I really corrupt? We had gone to the High Court, Supreme Court and then another court here - the people themselves who have given their judgment. Why would you want the person to suffer?"

Mutelo's frustration and anger is understandable. This was a humble citizen earning his little commission from the sale of talk-time in Lukulu. Then in 2011, the corrupt leadership of the MMD landed on him with everything. And truly the MMD of 2011 under the leadership of Rupiah Banda was awash with money and with everything that could easily corrupt weak souls - and indeed many weak souls were corrupted. They ran the most extravagant election campaign in the history of this country. Many people in the MMD lost direction and even forgot what constituted corruption in normal life, let alone in an election campaign. They forgot their own laws, the laws they themselves had enacted.

The election petitions that we are today witnessing were not conducted under a law enacted by UNIP or by the Patriotic Front governments. It is a law that MMD itself enacted.

And the rule of law requires that everything, including elections, is conducted within what is permissible under the law. The MMD, its candidates, cadres and supporters behaved as if there was no such law. To say the least, they were politically reckless in every sense of the word. And that's why even with that huge amount of money that they had at their disposal for elections, they failed to win.

Mutelo is today paying for the recklessness of Rupiah and the entire leadership of the MMD that worked with him. They thought money was everything and they forgot that laws also matter.

It is therefore not true, as Mutelo tries to claim, that the Patriotic Front is bent on humiliating the opposition by ensuring that they lose their seats at all costs. It is the MMD, now in opposition, that created this situation for themselves. If they did not break electoral laws, there is no single petition that the Patriotic Front would win and force parliamentary by-elections. It is the MMD and its allies who created this situation for themselves.

Mutelo says it's clear that the Patriotic Front is bent on creating a one-party state. One can excuse the man from Lukulu because he doesn't seem to understand how a one-party state is created. The Patriotic Front could not have stopped Mutelo from being a representative of the people of Lukulu West in Parliament if he had not engaged in corrupt or illegal electoral practices. It is not the Patriotic Front that sent him to commit the electoral wrongs he committed.

It is not good to blame other people for the problems that we have created for ourselves. You reap what you sow. If you engage in illegalities, you can be assured that one day, you will come into conflict with the law and you will be sorted out.

Today, Mutelo is asking why they want him to suffer. It is not a question of wanting him to suffer; it is a question of abiding by the law. We have many of our fellow citizens suffering in prisons today. And it is not that we want them to suffer; it is simply a question of society not accepting wrongdoing and giving it immunity, but punishing wrongdoers in order to create a more just, fair and humane society. Even in God's scheme of things, wrongdoing is punished. Those who sin are punished in hell. Could that be interpreted as an expression of hatred on God's part?

We were taught that there was a constant struggle between good and evil, and evil had to be punished. We were also taught that those who committed crimes and were responsible for injustice, evil, had to be punished.

Mutelo should admit that wrongs were committed in his former party's election campaign. And this extended to his own election campaign in Lukulu West. And the High Court and the Supreme Court have found that to be the case. And these are courts which were to a very large extent constructed by his own party - the MMD - that sponsored him as a candidate in the 2011 elections. What is his complaint?

We understand Mutelo's disappointment but this should not lead him to careless talk because careless talk can sometimes be very costly. Mutelo today is turning his frustrations into tribalism and regionalism - the philosophy or outlook of his current political party, UPND.

Mutelo says, "No wonder the Lozis are saying, 'we are alone'. Tell me, has there been a by-election in Muchinga, Northern or Luapula? Which by-election has come from those places? So people are reading between the lines." Which Lozis is Mutelo talking about who are saying "We are alone"? Let Mutelo look at the facts objectively and manage his disappointments. There is nothing tribal about these election petitions. It is only his head that is polluted with tribalism.

And it is this tribalism that has driven him to where he finds himself today. Mutelo ran a corrupt parliamentary election campaign and he should just accept the consequences of it. Tribal arguments won't help him and his political party.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MISHECK MUTELO, TRIBALISM

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

WP will only develop if all tribes live in harmony - Sata
By Roy Habaalu in Kaoma
Sun 21 July 2013, 14:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says Western Province will only develop if all tribes live in harmony.

And chiefs Mwene Mutondo and Chiengele of Kaoma district say the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) was misapplying the chiefs Act claiming that Article 3 (2) (B) extended the authority of the Lozi chief, the Litunga to oversee chiefdoms of non-Lozi speaking people.

During the Kazanga traditional ceremony of the Nkoya people of Kaoma district, President Sata in a speech read for him by justice minister Wynter Kabimba, said unity would help the government implement programmes aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy.

"I urge you all to work as one people and reduce on tribal frictions. The province needs peace and harmony to foster development. It is also important that we remain peaceful and uphold our national slogan of one Zambia one nation," President Sata said.

"Our 73 tribes which constitute our country must continue to act and live as one people."

He said it was the responsibility of every traditional leader to take up the challenge to lead and guide their subjects towards economic and social development.

President Sata said the government was pleased with the hard work of the people of Kaoma in the last farming season as evidenced by the good harvest in the district.

"In this regard government through the Food Reserve Agency is working hard to ensure that all maize is bought from the farmers in the country. To further show the government's commitment to the agriculture sector, we have already started distributing 18, 120 x 50 bags of fertiliser to Kaoma district for the 2013/2014 farming season," President Sata said.

He said the government was building a hatchery holding pond for fish farming in Malindi as part of its strategies of taking development to rural areas by diversifying the economic activities of people.
He said the government had constructed health centres in Namaloba, Katoya and Nalulembe.

President Sata said it was the focus of his government to conserve Zambia's heritage in order to preserve cultural diversity, social-economic and environmental transformation for people to achieve sustainable national development.

He said it was the view of government that traditional ceremonies were an effective way of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage including praise, poetry, music and dances.

In a joint statement after a meeting held at the Nkoya Royal Establishment, Lukena Palace and Mushuwa Royal Establishment of the Mbunda people, the chiefs said the misinformation on the chiefs Act had been extended to government offices at provincial and district levels creating a situation of servitude among the Nkoya, Mbunda and non-Lozi tribes in Western Province.

They said this had led to the BRE circulating a document that presupposed that gazetted chiefs Mutondo, Chiengele, Kahare and Kandala were sub-chiefs within the BRE set-up.

The traditional leaders said in social and judicial administration, conflicts had spread to local courts where citizens were compelled to speak Lozi contrary to individuals freedoms of expression, association and belonging.

"As regards general relations in Western Province, the meeting informs that BRE's arrogance on matters of traditional authority has led to tension and the meeting calls on government to treat all tribes equally and must not ignore the anarchy created and its supporters. On misinformation on matters of traditional leadership, the meeting notes that marginalisation of Nkoya and Mbunda people in the administration of the country perpetuated by Lozi loyalists in government has compounded the situation," they stated.

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, TRIBALISM, WESTERN PROVINCE

Monday, August 05, 2013

(TALKZIMBABWE) Tribalism has no place in Zimbabwe: Mugabe
This article was written by Our reporter on 19 July, at 20 : 43 PM

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has urged Zimbabweans to be united and castigated those who want to cheat the electorate by chanting cheap tribal politics saying they have no space in the country’s political discourse come July 31.

Addressing thousands of supporters gathered at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane, Matabeleland North for a star rally, President Mugabe said: “Vote for us on July 31. Don’t listen to those who talk of tribalism, those who say lets get together as the people of Matabeleland, such people as Dumiso Dabengwa and Welshman Ncube. That is dead talk.”

He said he does not want to deceive the late Dr Joshua Nkomo who wanted unity in Zimbabwe.

“Umdala Wethu Cde Joshua Nkomo as he lay dying in bed he said Mugabe take care of two things; the unity of the people of Zimbabwe and the fact of the land having coming to the people. So we should never go back. I don’t want to go against the people I worked with and for what we promised,” said President Mugabe.

He said every Zimbabwean must be proud of their country.

“It’s our Zimbabwe, Beitbridge, Plumtree, Chipinge, Binga it doesn’t matter where you are, you should be proud that the war that was wedged by ZIPRA and ZANLA gave us the dignity, ubuntu bethu, that we had lost when we were colonised. Now beat your chest saying you own a country. The government doesn’t own the country, it’s just an agency,” he said.

The Zanu-PF First Secretary said Zimbabweans and the people of Matabeleland in particular, have been let down by the Minister of Finance Mr Tendai Biti after he failed to account for the $500 million special drawing rights from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said Mr Biti, who is also the MDC-T’s secretary general had promised to give Bulawayo some $20 million for the resuscitation of industries in the city which is the country’s traditional industrial hub.

“Well we have now moved together with the MDC and we are able to judge them personally and you now know what kind of people they are. Let me tell you things have been going down and down in Bulawayo. We have had funding from IMF, $500 million. We told Biti, the Finance Minister and MDC-T secretary general we wanted to use the money to revamp some of the companies in Bulawayo. At first he agreed to set aside $20 million to Bulawayo. But now all the $500 million we don’t know were it went,” said the President.

He said the disregarding of government policy by some ministers in the inclusive Government, especially from the MDC led formations, has resulted in the suffering of most sectors, including civil servants and farmers.

President Mugabe said if Zanu-PF is voted into power, he will ensure that most of the educational projects currently under construction in Matabeleland region including the National University of Science and Technology and Lupane State University are completed.

The President said this will help ensure that Zimbabwe remains as Africa’s number one on the educational front.

President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to vote for Zanu-PF, a people-oriented party.

“Zanu PF and MDC-T are completely different. They are poles apart. We are people-oriented; we want people’s interest to be done. The MDC think of themselves only.

“To them its where shall I get my enjoyment and my family. Even today they are saying, we don’t the election,” said President Mugabe.

The President also castigated the behaviour by the leaders of MDC saying they abuse people’s money spending it lavishly.

“Weekend after weekend they are going to South Africa. They have homes, houses there. They employ European advisers and they pay them. They are people who want joys and pleasures of life.

“To them it doesn’t matter to get a wife today and reject them and get another one. We say look at the interests of the people, after all you are a leader. Polygamy in our culture is not done in that manner, it should be done properly,” he said.

The President also said if Zanu-PF is voted into power they are going to find more ways of making money.

He said: “We can now create more money by undertaking the securitisation of some of the natural resources. It involves your offering. Say a country like China guarantees that you have diamonds worth this, coal worth this or chrome.

“Give us loans based on the value of the resources and this is how some countries have developed fast. We can develop our companies, our banks and they can lend our people loans at very low interest rates such as five or six per cent.”

Labels: MDC, ROBERT MUGABE, TRIBALISM

Labels: ROBERT MUGABE, TRIBALISM

Monday, April 29, 2013

Hichilema is too prejudiced - Scott
By Allan Mulenga
Sat 27 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT

REPUBLICAN Vice-President Dr Guy Scott says it's unfortunate that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema cannot open his mouth without taking note of someone's race, tribe or gender.

Reacting to Hichilema's statement that he is the most stupid white man he has ever seen, Vice-President Scott, who is currently in London, said it was regrettable that a person with an ambition to lead the country could be so prejudiced.

"...Well, I have read everything he has said about me and I think that's not the way to go. It is unfortunate really that this man cannot open his mouth without taking note of someone's race, tribe or gender," said Vice-President Scott.

Hichilema on Thursday said Vice-President Scott abrogated the Electoral Code of Conduct by continuing to campaign in Lukulu West after the close of the campaign period.

He said it was shocking that Vice-President Scott deliberately disregarded the law by his conduct.

"Ine nikalibe kuona muzungu opusa kwati uja (I have never seen a white person as stupid as that one Vice-President Scott)," said Hichilema when he officially welcomed Dr Canisius Banda to the party, where Banda has been co-opted as vice-president for political affairs.

Hichilema said the UPND would petition over the areas where the party had lost by-elections because even President Michael Sata did the same when he was in the opposition.

Hichilema urged his supporters not to give chance to President Sata or Vice-President Scott to go ahead with electoral malpractices.

"Mugwileni pamukosi ati nka!" said Hichilema.

But Vice-President Scott said Hichilema was trying to take Zambia back to the era of tribal and racial prejudices.

"Zambia is past these tribal and racial prejudices but he is trying to take us back to where we came from, which is most unfortunate, especially that this is a person with ambition to lead the country," said Vice-President Scott.

And chief government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said it was derogatory for Hichilema to describe Vice-President Dr Scott as "the most stupid white man" he had ever seen.

Sakeni, who is also information minister, urged Hichilema to desist from politics of indecency and insults.

"This is uncivilised, unZambian and unacceptable. The Zambian culture and its people's upbringing entail respect and sober language towards the elderly and leaders in society," he said.

"Mr Hichilema is therefore advised to desist from politics of indecency and insults. Let him be civil and sober in his reaction and approach to national issues."

Sakeni said politics of name-calling and insults were long gone.

"Name-calling and insults will gain Mr Hichilema and this country nothing except to take the country's politics back to the Stone-Age era. This government reiterates its commitment to decent and result-based politics that uplift the living standards of the Zambian people," said Sakeni in a statement.

Labels: GUY SCOTT, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, TRIBALISM

Saturday, April 06, 2013

Corrupt elements seek protection in tribe
By Editor
Fri 05 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT

Maxwell Mwale is claiming that the Patriotic Front government's fight against corruption is targeting the people of Eastern Province.

This is not a new argument. We have heard such arguments before. When Nalumino Mundia was fired from Dr Kenneth Kaunda's government for alleged corruption, the first reaction was a regional one, a tribal one. And this was in the early years of the UNIP government.

Nalumino formed his own Lozi-based political party, the United Party.
For sure, it must not have been an easy decision for Dr Kaunda to fire such an outstanding freedom fighter and such a leading politician at that time. Nalumino was not inherently corrupt. But poor judgement was made on his part to accept some shares in a private company in a manner that was not acceptable for someone who was a cabinet minister in Dr Kaunda's government. Under the current order, Nalumino would not have lost his cabinet position over that. But very high standards, principles, values and common aims had to be defended at that early stage of our independence. Dr Kaunda made it very clear that he didn't "want to see decisions made for self-interest rather than the benefit of the people". Dr Kaunda maintained that his "government hates corruption, and anyone we discover doing that will be in trouble with the government".

Nalumino was not punished because he was Lozi or because Dr Kaunda hated him. Actually, in the Second Republic, Dr Kaunda brought back Nalumino to be prime minister.

We also heard similar arguments in 2001 when Levy Mwanawasa approached Parliament to ask for the removal of Frederick Chiluba's presidential immunity so that he could be prosecuted for corruption. Some people argued that Levy was selectively prosecuting people from Luapula Province and that he didn't like Bemba-speaking people.

Of course, this was nonsense, it was not true. What was true was that Chiluba, with a band of corrupt elements from Luapula, abused his office, his powers to loot the national treasury. The people who Chiluba was stealing with were predominantly from one region. But this is not strange, corrupt elements always turn to nepotism, regionalism and tribalism for protection. This is the only time they pretend to care about the region or the tribe from which they hail. Chiluba and his friends didn't care much about the people of Luapula. And we challenge anyone to go to Luapula and see the poverty that exists in that region of our country. They will not find good roads and other infrastructure in Luapula that is not found elsewhere in the rural provinces of our country. Luapula is as poor as any rural province of our country. Chiluba and his friends did not steal to share their loot with the people of Luapula; Chiluba was not a Robin Hood for Luapula. He stole for himself and his friends - they bought expensive designer suits, shirts, pyjamas, neckties, shoes and so on and so forth. They competed with each other when it came to dressing; they boasted about having the most expensive suits. Chiluba spent over US$1 million of public funds on suits, shirts, pyjamas and shoes in a Belgian boutique. Of what benefit were these things to the people of Luapula? Chiluba spent public funds buying his then girlfriend Regina Mwanza all sorts of things, including property. How did this benefit the people of Luapula? Regina may be from Luapula but the public funds Chiluba spent on her were not shared with the people of Luapula. The people of Luapula remained in poverty and are still in poverty today. But Chiluba tried to abuse them in his attempt to discredit the genuine and legitimate efforts of Levy's government to make him account for his corruption.

We today again see a similar attempt by Rupiah Banda and his friends to play victim when being pursued for corruption. There is nothing regional or tribal about Rupiah being pursued for corruption. It is not an anti-Eastern Province campaign. If Mwale was a beneficiary of the corruption of the Rupiah regime, he should just answer for himself. We know that Mwale had issues of corruption over the many bicycles he could not account for. We cannot comment further on this issue because it is before our courts of law.

If one closely examines the people Rupiah was involved with in his corrupt activities, it would be evident that most of them were from one group of people. But this is not strange. This is the typical behaviour of corrupt people. Corrupt elements are nepotistic, tribalistic and carry on their corrupt activities by patronising people on all sorts of lines, including regionalism or tribalism.

And this is why the fight against corruption has also to be a fight against divisive tendencies like regionalism and tribalism. This is so because these are weapons corrupt elements use to perpetrate their vices. In a nation that has totally overcome these vices, corruption becomes difficult to perpetrate and fighting corrupt elements becomes much easier because people are more united against wrongdoing. If you remove regionalism and tribalism, corrupt elements have no place to hide, they will have no tribe or region to run to.

Fighting corruption requires action on several essential levels. First of all, a political line of action must be laid down. By defining regionalism and tribalism as enemies to be fought against, just like corruption, corrupt elements are deprived of the chief instruments of their anti-people practices.

Of course, we have also heard arguments about personal hatred against this one or that one being advanced to try and divert public attention from the real issues at hand. It is not hatred for which Rupiah is being prosecuted. There is nothing of a personal vendetta in issue here. The charge against Rupiah is very simple and clear. One doesn't need to be a lawyer to understand that charge because it is in a layman's language. There is nothing about hatred in that charge. If Rupiah can explain in a satisfactory manner why things happened the way they happened in that transaction, that charge against him will fail.

That charge is not dependent on whether Michael Sata likes or hates Rupiah. It has nothing to do with love or hatred; it is simply about what happened, who benefited from that government oil transaction. The prosecution will give its evidence and Rupiah will have the opportunity to discredit that evidence. If magistrate Joshua Banda is satisfied that Rupiah has got a case to answer, he will put him on his defence. At this stage, Rupiah will have an opportunity to give his side of the story by taking the witness stand himself and calling others to testify. That is all that is needed in this case. After that, magistrate Banda will give his judgment. And as Rupiah has personally said, he has confidence in the country's Judiciary, which includes magistrate Banda. This being the case, where is the regionalism, the personal vendetta in this case?

Labels: CORRUPTION, EASTERN PROVINCE, MAXWELL MWALE, MDC, PF, TRIBALISM

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Tonga chief counsels HH

Tonga chief counsels HH
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 21 Mar. 2013, 14:00 CAT

CHIEF Sinazongwe says Hakainde Hichilema's tribal sentiment can divide the country. Commenting on Hichilema's statement that those who think their tribes were superior to others were fools, chief Sinazongwe of the Tonga people of the valley said leaders should preach peace and unity and not segregation among its citizens.

He said all human beings were equal and that no tribe was foolish or superior to others.

"Tribalism won't take us anywhere. We (Tongas) can't form a government out of one (Southern) province; this is what you should understand. We can't form a government under one province unless you are supported by many provinces that consist of many tribes but if we start segregating, there is no way we can find support from our brothers and sisters," he said.

"If we continue segregating, talking about tribalism, we will never rule. Let's network with others just like we shouldn't let others feel that they own this country. Government is for everybody. This is our government. This must be realised that segregation won't help us. If you just concentrate on Southern Province, you won't rule. Why are we leaving the national cake to others? Let's be with them and work together."

Chief Sinazongwe said all those that had accepted government appointments were doing it in the interest of the nation and for the good of the people.

He said Hichilema should have accepted to serve under President Michael Sata so that he learns and understands how the government operates.

Chief Sinazongwe said Zambia was not a personal to holder asset for any particular tribe or individual.

On Sunday, Hichilema said those who consider their tribes more superior than others were fools.
During a briefing in Lusaka, Hichilema said those that saw their tribes superior to others were simply fools because it was God who created everyone.

We should not demonise each other on the basis of choices we never made. No one chose to be born in a particular area, he said without disclosing the tribes that consider themselves superior to others.

Labels: CHIEF SINAZONGWE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SOUTHERN PROVINCE, TRIBALISM, UPND

Friday, March 15, 2013

HH can cause tribalism in Zambia if elected president - Fr Luonde

HH can cause tribalism in Zambia if elected president - Fr Luonde
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 14 Mar. 2013, 16:20 CAT

Fr Richard Luonde says Zambians made the right decision by not voting for Hakainde Hichilema. Fr Luonde says Hichilema can cause serious tribalism in Zambia if elected president of the country. His remarks come in the wake of Hichilema's description of President Michael Sata and Dr Kenneth Kaunda as dictators.

Fr Luonde, an Anglican priest based in Kitwe, said Hichilema's utterances were a recipe for civil strife.

He said if Hichilema had nothing to say, he should withdraw from the political race, go into reflection and return after the 2016 general election.

"Mr Hakainde can cause a serious tribal revolt in this country if he was by any chance elected president of Zambia. He's in a rush to become president not knowing how to go about it and he's about to crash. He's so hungry for power that's why he moved out of many political pacts including that of his party and the PF," Fr Luonde said.

He said Hichilema would do better to concentrate on his economics because politics had failed him.

He described Hichilema as an angry man who had no respect for elders that had contributed to his education.

He described Hichilema as a hypocrite who lacked respect after benefiting from Dr Kaunda's policies.

He said Dr Kaunda sacrificed the last years of his presidency paving way for the birth of multi-party democracy in Zambia.

Addressing the press at the party secretariat in Lusaka, Hichilema said he never thought for once that another dictator like Dr Kenneth Kaunda would emerge after 1991.

"Sometimes I sit down on my own and ask what sin we committed. Why have you given us this type of leadership? And I ask you to pray to God. We know God will answer us. God will help us," he said. "This is not the type of leadership, I am sure, that the youth voted for when they were shouting ' pa maka, pa maka ', when they were shouting donchi kubeba. I don't understand what Mr Sata wants. He won the elections and Rupiah Banda handed over power, what else does Mr Sata want?"

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RICHARD LUONDE, TRIBALISM

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Break UPND's tribal barriers, Kabimba urges S/Province

Break UPND's tribal barriers, Kabimba urges S/Province
By Moses Kuwema and Cynthia Phiri in Choma
Mon 17 Dec. 2012, 14:00 CAT

WYNTER Kabimba has called on the people of Southern Province to break the artificial tribal barriers that the UPND is trying to erect around them. And Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, says his priority is not to become PF president but to serve the people of Zambia.

Speaking when he officially opened the PF provincial consultative meeting at Crystal Lodge in Choma on Saturday, Kabimba called on the people of Southern Province to reject political parties that wanted to restrict them to a political boundary based on ethnicity.

"Stop segmenting yourselves into tribal enclaves and break these artificial barriers that UPND is trying to erect around you. You have a right to choose which party to belong to," he said.

He said the people of Southern Province were not tribalist but it was the leaders in UPND that were.

And Kabimba said contrary to public perception that he wanted to eliminate some senior members of the party so that he could take over the party presidency, his priority was to serve the interests of the party and the country.

"There is this talk that I want to eliminate people and remain alone to take over the PF presidency. Now let me make this clear, becoming president of the PF is not a priority for me but to serve the people of Zambia.

People are eliminating themselves by committing offences which are against the party. I am innocent. Let us learn to bear the consequences of our own actions, so stop the blame game," Kabimba said.

He said he had the duty to protect the PF on behalf of the central committee and the general membership.

He said the party would not be placed into the hands of greedy individuals and would flush out all those who were internally working against the party.

During the same meeting, Kabimba said all MMD members were welcome to join the PF except for party president Nevers Mumba and his vice Michael Kaingu.
And Kabimba observed that the West had realised that they could control Africans by dwelling on their ignorance.

He said western countries had found a fertile ground in some NGOs.
Kabimba said the government would only deal with NGOs that were progressive.
"Outsiders are coming to confuse us because we don't know the history of our country. ... It is for this reason that as a party, we want to equip you our members with knowledge. We are tired and fed up of these lectures. Stop lecturing to us, we know what we want to do for the people of Zambia.

The people of Zambia will tell us how to govern and not any other person," he said.

Meanwhile, speaking when he addressed party members upon arrival in Livingstone at Courtyard Hotel, Kabimba emphasised the need for party members to be loyal, saying people like former Southern Province minister Alice Simango would have been ministers today if they had been consistent with their political careers.

"I am not gossiping about her, she is there. That is the reason why Alice Simango does not have a position in the PF because today she is MMD, tomorrow she is UPND then she comes back to PF. She would have been a minister today in the PF government. Mr Siacheye Madyenkuku, he was with Mrs Simango.

Just a few months before elections he crossed over to MMD. We have a country to run now and we are looking for serious, consistent strong leaders, that's what we are looking for. The challenge is yours," he said.
Kabimba further told the members to be united as a party and respect decisions that are made by the central committee.

He also said every Zambian had a right to work in any part of the country and advised people to desist from preferring certain tribes to work in a particular area.

Labels: SOUTHERN PROVINCE, TRIBALISM, UPND, WYNTER KABIMBA

Maravi

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Monday, December 16, 2013

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Monday, August 05, 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

Saturday, April 06, 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Tonga chief counsels HH

Friday, March 15, 2013

HH can cause tribalism in Zambia if elected president - Fr Luonde

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Break UPND's tribal barriers, Kabimba urges S/Province

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