Chief Machiya of Mpongwe District has invited Republican President Mr. Rupiah Banda for discussions because he has burning issues he wanted to discuss with the president.
Chief Machiya expressed his desire when Mpongwe member of parliament Mr. Gabriel Namulambe paid a courtesy call on during his tour of developmental projects in the area.
Speaking at his palace last night, Chief Machiya said he had unfinished business with Mr Banda when he met the Lamba chiefs prior to the last presidential by-election following the untimely death of president Levy Mwanawasa.[quote]
He said there was a meeting of chiefs on the Copperbelt with the presidential candidate then and some promises were made which had not been fulfilled.
He said he was still desirous to have an audience with the republican president because he had many issues that he needed clarification on from the president himself.
Chief Machiya added that president Banda needed to appoint another Lamba person after Defence minister George Mpombo resigned from his Cabinet so that the Lamba people’s representation at Cabinet level could have been maintained.
He said he was saddened by Mpombo’s departure from Cabinet because that was an opportunity for Lamba people to be represented at such a high level.
He argued that Mr. Mike Mulongoti could not be seen as truly representing the Lamba people because he did not have a constituency. He was just nominated to Cabinet at the good will of the president.
And Mr. Namulambe who is also Science and Technology Minister assured the Chief that he would make his request known to the president to fulfill his promise of meeting chiefs after the by-election once he came to office.
He however said the president was willing to meet traditional leaders except his work schedule was tight and would find time to come and meet the chiefs on the Copperbelt because it was necessary to revisit the promises he made on meeting chiefs after the elections.
ZANIS
Chief what unfinished business are you talking about? Tell us
Did he Promise you free Fertelizer,Roads, Hospitals, a Car and free Seeds thats why we wanted Sata to be president at that time because he did not promise these things.Chiefs you are to blem you were busy tell your people to vote for RB
chief,you were wise not to have fallen for a depleted interlectualy depleted fellow like sata.but next time you should also realise that RB is a big liability.start identifying visionary leaders not those showering you with promises which are not ternable.
The problem with our Political Leaders is that they can even promise heaven on earth when they need something in their favour. This is not the first time a traditional ruler is calling on the Head of State for unfufilled promises. Its good Chief Machiya has taken up the matter of promise. It could be anything in form of may be building a palace or some developmental projects things like this happen. Nalumambe seems to be hesistant in his answer to the chief. The President’s busy schedule shoud not be used as an excuse. Arrange for the Chief’s appointment to state house.
kwena ifumu sha sebana mwe
kwena infumu sha sebana mwe
Reporter: Your Royal Highness, what are some of these burning issues you wish to discuss with the President?
Chief: As you are aware, i need a car, a GX, a 4 by 4, a new palace and a new wife. These things were promised to me. We have unfinished business with RB. Teta is too small for me.
So now people have to be appointed on tribal lines? Gosh, i thot appointments were supposed to be done on merit.
Well i guess this was a promise from the president that he would give them a lamba man in cabinet. We are rapidly going back to ancient times!!
Why is this chief bringing up tribal issues? Why does the next defence minister have to be lamba? Doesn’t he understand that people have to be chosen by their qualifications and not by their tribe? If we all thought like this it wouldn’t be long before we hen i’m suprised we had a situation similar to Kenyas…
Lamba Chiefs, they believe in Apafuma umutondo, pamena umutondo. (Umutondo pa mutondo). They told Chiluba exactly the same when Abram Mokola died, the coming of Peter Chintala.