Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has observed that Traditional Leaders in the country are being abused by the political elite.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says it is disappointing that respected Chiefs have been reduced to mere cadres.
Mr. Chipenzi says it is against the Law for Paramount Chief Mpezeni to openly campaign for Patriotic Front PF Chipata Central Parliamentary candidate Lameck Mangani.
He adds that the conduct exhibited by the Traditional Leader is an abrogation of Section 129 of the Republican Constitution which forbids Chiefs from participating in active partisan politics.
Article 129 of the republican Constitution states that a person shall not while remaining as Chief join or participate in active politics.
Meanwhile Mr. Chipenzi notes that Chief Jumbe of Mambwe district in Muchinga Province stands to be protected as his observation is correct as of the Bible.
Mr. Chipenzi notes that FODEP fully supports Chief Jumbe’s as he is trying to protect the institution of Chieftaincy.
Mr. Chipenzi says Chief Jumbe’s observation demonstrates how patriotic a Traditional Leader ought to be.
fodep or whatever you call yourselves, just shut your mouth and consentrate on handouts from donors. Problem in zambia today too many thugs seeking cheap publicity.
@George Bush, have you listened to your rantings of late? You sound like one, a thug). Intimidating others and insulting/demeaning other people as if you have the preserve to wisdom. You sound like your namesake George W Bush, over Iraq. That it was either his way or the highway.
Now I see that who ever is in fodep is a useless chap…..”Article 129 of the republican Constitution states that a person shall not while remaining as Chief join or participate in active politics”. the key words are join and participate in active politics…….first question to fodep is does Mpezeni hold a PF membership card? no……has mpezeni ever stood in any election? no. giving a political opinion cannot be infered to mean active politics. can these fodep guys prove that Mpezeni is a member of a political party?
@wynter your mind is as shallow as your analysis above and just as dull as your namesake Wynter Kaimbwa. When you stand at a podium and support one party against another it simply means you are participating in active politics. Simple as that.
For your ka small brain, its ok for sata to castigate and intimidate a chief in public for saying whats sensible and there’s nothing wrong with mpezeni’s behavior even with the constitution being very clear.
Am not surprised that you are the type that voted for sata and today continue supporting his uncouth behavior. Just look at your understanding of the constitution provision and your interpretation thereof, disgusting to say the least.
What cards does PF possess . Madness.
You must go back to skool
Chiefs must not divide their people by preffering one person from another, All candidates are yours. Too much politics of the belly. Viva Jumbe, do not be intimidated. You were not put there by politicians.
@wynter your mind is as shallow as your analysis above and just as dull as your namesake Wynter Kaimbwa. When you stand at a podium and support one party against another it simply means you are participating in active politics. Simple as that.
For your ka small brain, its ok for sata to castigate and intimidate a chief in public for saying whats sensible and there’s nothing wrong with mpezeni’s behavior even with the constitution being very clear.
Am not surprised that you are the type that voted for sata and today continue supporting his uncouth behavior. Just look at your understanding of the constitution provision and your interpretation thereof, disgusting to say the least.
The President has under the Chiefs’ Act of 1965 the power only to recognise, or not recognise chiefs. He cannot remove or appoint them, but merely remove their subsidies – a form of needless blackmail. It is up to the people of a chiefdom to appoint or withdraw recognition of a chief. The House of Chiefs is there merely to advise the President, and have no power to appoint or withdraw chiefs. In the case of the Luembe Chiefdom of Nyimba District, Banda interfered with the decisions of the Ambo peoples’ mpemba and re-instated the late acting Senior Chief Luembe, despite the advice of the House of Chiefs that the rightful chief was Develias Phiri. Zambia urgently needs decentralisation on traditional, not western, lines
Well said “Small Axe” I await when you will turn in a ‘Mpanga”
@ 1 as shocking as u r even calling urself George Bush , let people who know the law uphold and than presido manipulating things on the expense of people’s ignorance.
The i.d.i.o.t.s are the chiefs themselves. Even if you are invited to a rally, all you can say is thank you for inviting me, please votes peacefully and wisely, period. Why should you say more. I am Ngoni, but the currernt Mpezeni is an ID10T!
Just say PF abusing chiefs. Why are you generalizing. You cowards
When MMD was parading chiefs on TV to endorse RB, where was FODEP? Some Paramount chiefs even went further to an extent of forbidding PF to campaign in their Kingdoms and these guys were quiet and enjoying donations from RB! One Chief endorses PF, hell break loose and constitutional issues are raised and every NGO is involved in the condemnation. FODEP lost it credibility for not come out and condemning RB and MMD when they started to use chiefs in last general election to campaign for them. Northern province chiefs were brought to Lusaka after the burial of Mwanawasa and were put on TV to declare their support for RB until one Chieftainess said it was wrong, they did not come to Lusaka for politics. FODEP leaders were in bed with MMD and it is not easy to trust what they say.
This chief thing disgusts me. Chieftain is simply a vehicle for manipulation, plunder and bureaucratic tendencies. they guys don’t add any value except for slowing development because of their greediness. if you doubt what am saying go to North-western province ask Chief Mussel, my foot. I think lets do away with Chiefs so that you are either a Zambian or a foreigner period. Tanzania has no this chief rubbish things.