President Sata messing with the wrong guys
“Now to our surprise, when we thought a golden opportunity had occurred for a Bemba to rule us, a tree fell on our foot, lamented one of the Bemba traditional councilors known as bashilubemba. In other words, the Bembas have shot themselves in the foot.”
It has since become clear that President Michael Sata has ruffled the Bemba kingdom and fallen out of favor. He has drawn much blood and needs to suture the gaping wound before it becomes cancerous and spreads to his own party. His interference in the kingship of the Bemba is so offensive that an outraged Bemba council is prepared to die for its king.
If Sata does not gazette Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, and make peace with him, bashilubemba, who comprise Bemba chiefs and influential elders (bachilolo na bakabilo) will sink the already rocking Patriotic Front boat, and president Sata’s 2016 re-election bid will go down the drain. When he’s out and done, bashilubemba will declare him a pariah, and caution him never to step a foot in Mpika—remember KK?
The Bemba council has made it categorically clear:
“Bashilubemba fye ebakwata amaka ukusonta imfumu neshamfumu”
[The Bemba council is the only assemblage empowered to appoint a paramount chief and other chiefs]. This is in accordance with the Bemba tradition, and has been from time immemorial. The decision of the council is unquestionable. No one, in the more than forty exogamous matrilineal clans (imikowa), has a right to object, including Sata who belongs to the mushroom clan out of which a chiefdom was carved by Bemba princes, putting the Bisa in line of a distant succession to the paramountcy.
Executive Power versus Customary law
But what bashilubemba are forgetting is that their subject is the head of state. The Constitution is on his side for it stipulates that “the institution of chieftaincy together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and its usage is hereby guaranteed, subject to the Constitution.” Besides, the president has far-reaching powers to administer national affairs and can apply his executive powers to nullify the appointment of a paramount chief.
It has become apparent that the president is against the installation of the current paramount chief. He will not gazette a man who, according to him, has been “masquerading as Senior Chief Mwamba,” a man who has confessed that, as Chief Mwamba, he did not undergo “the traditional initiation as required by the Bemba tradition.” Bashilubemba think this is a ploy. Rumor has it that the president prefers young brother of Professor Nkandu Luo, Bob, who is from the Bisa cluster. This unilateral intention is at odds with the customary laws of inheritance because Bob is not a mwina ng’ona, a special type of clan that is a pathway to succession. Umwina ng’ona has to be a son of a woman, and not a man, who belongs to the Bena ng’ona. If the president appointed him, he would have overlooked this fact.
The die is cast. The question is who will blink first in this highly explosive wrangle? Will it be Sata, a suave tactician adept at the use of theatrics? Many a time he has astounded us with his ability to walk on fire and emerge unscathed. Will he brazen his way out of this and make bashilubemba cow, stoop to instinctive obedience and for the first time in the history of the Bemba chiefdom, nullify the appointment of a chief picked in accordance with the Bemba tradition? Or, will bashilubemba stand their ground and force the president into submission, castigate him, demand an apology, and make him swallow his ego and bow before Chitimukulu Henry Kanyanta Sosala? Still, will Sata, known to be unpredictable, raid the palace and arrest bashilubemba and the paramount chief for insubordination?
The Bemba vote
In all this kerfuffle (yes, kafwafwa is an English word), the loser is Sata. It has become evident that he’s better an opposition leader than a president. Before he was elected he was tenacious, indefatigable, imposing, convincing, omnipresent, timely, and often splendid. As president he is irresolute, lackadaisical, and complacent. Hallowed with the aura of incontestable authority, he has become the colossus who never admits to being wrong; one who takes people for granted; one who makes choices based on his ideas and judgment, and who thinks his actions have no consequences because they are a matter of prerogative.
Well, the interference in the Bemba chiefdom at the level of paramount chief is unprecedented and could have dire consequences. What the president is forgetting is that he owes a life-time allegiance to the Bisa tribe that falls under the suzerainty of paramount chief Chitimukulu. As a subject of the Bemba kingdom, the moral and practical rightness of his actions is beyond his presidency. If things went really bad between him and the paramount chief, he would tarnish the name of his family.
He must also not forget that he owes gratitude to the Bemba people for putting him in State House. The president and his PF were ushered into power, in most part, by Bembas. By the 2010 census, the population of Northern Province was 1,759,600, predominantly Bemba. Luapula Province had a population of 958,976. Add the population of the Copperbelt 1,958, 623 of mainly Bembas, and a large number in Lusaka (population 2,198,996), and you have the largest ethnic group in the country.
In the 2011 election, the majority of the Bemba people voted PF. The president’s ingratitude has brought about discontent and resentment in the Bemba kingdom. Bembas in every riding have not taken kindly to the way he has publicly defamed, antagonized, humiliated, and dishonored their current paramount chief. Their infuriation began when Sata refused to recognize him [paramount chief] as Senior Chief Mwamba and informed the press to shun him. They are further riled by the president’s failure to attend the burial of the previous Chitimukulu, something they regard as highly disrespectful. Further, they are incensed that he has continued to subject the paramount chief to ridicule by refusing to gazette him.
The president can’t read the tea leaves from the infusion. He can’t see the irreparable damage he is causing his political career and future. He can’t see that the lamentations of bashilubemba have been heard throughout Bembaland and are drawing sympathy and solidarity for the paramount chief. He does not know that the paramount chief is now in a position to fight back—that he is already fighting back. It is his lack of an avenue for the expression of his displeasure at the president that has led to the audio tape being covertly released on the Internet and other media.
The call for the Bemba people to rally behind the new Chitimukulu
Let me comment on the audio tape. The sound is so crisp it could only have been handled by a professional. There is no loss of quality in the voices of speakers like Ba Masembe, and Chief Chimba. They were speaking in the microphone inches away. Each speaker’s pitch, volume, and rhythm, conveys a clear denunciation of the president. And the fact that not one of bashilubemba has come forward to deny or condemn the audio tape is a clear testament that the recording was done with the full knowledge and permission of bashilubemba.
What does all this mean? It means that bashilubemba have risen against the president for attempting to desecrate the Bemba traditional laws of succession. They want to publicly and courageously express their contempt for him. They want to show him that they are impregnable. They want to assure their subjects around the country that they are diligently performing their duty of protecting the Bemba chiefdom. They are asking the Bemba people to rally behind the new Chitimukulu. Also, they are intimating that they may withdraw support of the president and his party in future elections.
In other words, bashilubemba have put their indelible stamp on the Bemba kingdom, for better or worse. They are tough men with profound influence. They believe they have a mandate from their people and see themselves as defenders of the kingdom. If they choose to withdraw support for the president, they will do so with tremendous backing. This possibility is inwardly welcomed by political opportunists within the PF party. Some, including confidants of the president, see this as a window of opportunity to succeed him. They are praying that he does not append his signature and gazette the man he has rejected so they can exploit the mess for their political gain.
President Sata’s trial of strength is his own making and has come too soon in his reign. The paramount chief succession cockup and the latest fiasco between the “endorsers” and “successors” have weakened him. The latter underscores the deep divide in the PF party. Geoffrey Mwamba and Wynter Kabimba have started a fight that might splinter the party. Even if they make up and shake hands, they would have caused irreparable damage. It is possible another political party might emerge out of this fracas or mass defections might occur. And if the president does not gazette the new paramount chief Chitimukulu, Bembas will be crossing over to other parties. In the end, the crocodile would have wrecked the boat.
By Field Ruwe
This is a small issue. Having listened to bashi Lubemba, they know the problem is not with President Sata, it’s with Nkandu Luo…..
Wouldn’t use this as strong Campaign tool, because deep down they know Sata is there son.
Ba Sata’s history is born in Mpika and straight to top bantu policeman in the country…no mention of schools attended or childhood friends…how Bisa or Bemba is our beloved leader? If he is a villager as claimed, is it not expected of him to be loyal to his chief/s?! You can’t take away a child’s cultural configuration no matter where you take him-he will still be loyal to his background…Ba Sata has totally shown no respect for the Bemba establishment-is he from Mpika??? Those of you who know please tell me…point me in the direction because i would like to read about my black President!
Secondly, all the infighting in PF and Ba Sata is now missing, is there something we should know about-Why has everyone all of a sudden lost fear for the COBRA…COBRA SURE SURE??? I smile a rat…
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Sata claim is not a bemba but a Bisa and why does he involve in the matter which he has no route. This is taboo according to the Bashilubemba “Bucitongo”. Even the minister of Chiefs should not interfere with the affaires of Chiefs which are straight forward. The only time she should come in is where there are Boundary issues are concerned but to come in with force in the matters like what bashilubemba are after installation, its not healthy. The Lord God saw it right to have our traditional governance and all Zambians we respect them as our God given leaders of the Mother Zambia. We shall stand with our traditional Leaders and defend them because we came through them to date. Whose inscriptions are on our NRC but Presidents come and go.
I don’t think Sata minds being called Bisa by some of you. After all the two are sister tribes if you know their history. What has upset Bashilubemba is his interference and lack of respect for chiefs:
Interference 1: He wanted to remove Maxwell Kafula Mucheleka from the throne of Senior Chief Nkula of Chinsali back to Chief Chikwanda of Mpika and replace him with Chief Chewe – a PF supporter and from the banished Ngoshe Mukote lineage.
Interference 2: Degazetting Kanyanta Sosala as Senior Chief Mwamba. Sata’s reason was that Sosala did not go through the normal progression i.e from Chief Mpepo to Nkole Mfumu to Senior Chief Mwamba then Chitimukulu.
Lack of respect: Sata did not attend the funeral of the late Chitimukulu Mwango Chilufya
Interesting article, hope HEMCS can for once reflect on his actions national wide.
“This possibility is inwardly welcomed by political opportunists within the PF party. Some, including confidants of the president, see this as a window of opportunity to succeed him. They are praying that he does not append his signature and gazette the man he has rejected so they can exploit the mess for their political gain.” I wonder why you like spoiling your supposedly well thought out and written articles by putting in stuff that doesn`t exists outside your head Ruwe.Who told you that some elements are hoping that he doesn`t append his signature ? Please try to learn how to separate your imagination from reality.People differ everyday and i`m pretty sure Sata has already learnt something from the incidence and hence has changed his stance after seeing the reaction of the bemba…
…bemba chiefs.If anything the blame should be heaped on his minister for chiefs and traditional affairs for not doing her homework.She should have had advised him better.
@Saulosi Do you honestly think Sata is a type of a person who can be advised ?
Yes he can be advised.
Uuli na matwi ya kumfwa naomfwe. Batila munshebwa aile mashinshya ku buko.
It is true and munshebwa amenene umwenfu kumukoshi
Correction 1: They say ‘munshebwa aile mashinshi ku buko’ NOT mashinshya.
Correction 2: They say ‘Umwana ashumfwa amenene umwefu kwikoshi’. It is umwefu NOT umwenfu.
Those traditional rulers are just itching for attention, in as much as i like the way they delt with PF, i would have loved to have seen maturity in their actions, the first and second parts were ok, the rest resembled a politicians lifes story, which from my own point of view is a shame! When is Zambia coming above the water and see clearly that traditions and politics are like mixing Oil with Water?
I beg to disagree. A peaceful co-existence of traditions and politics is very much possible. How about the Queen of England and Westminster System? How about the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese state? Or the King of Spain and the Royals of Norway?
The Bashilubemba are not itching for attention. They are simply commanding respect for their culture. Let us not pretend that we do not have cultural identity and traditional values from birth. Trying to ignore our culture or attempt to erase our heritage is what I would equate to trying to “live under the water”.
Dont compare civilised societies with our Zambian maffian political arena, i think you misunderstood me, am not saying we do away with tradition, please read through again, i like your suggestions though.
Learn from MMD,it also stopped listening and see what happened to them. Prof. Nkandu Luo reports to Mr SATA,so the position of the minister simply means has the blessings from the president.
Am Bemba and PF. I do not see the PF government unseating the current Chitimukulu just as I do not see myself leaving PF because of their non recognition of Henry Sosala as Chitimukulu. I will remain PF because of the PF’s pro-poor and developmental agenda that is bearing fruit more than ever before. We have never seen so many new roads before and a considerable increase in the pay of public servants, university lecturers included. Field Ruwe can continue hallucinating wherever he is. It will not make me buy into his weird ideas. Let him remain a perpetual PhD candidate whilst we the PhD holders contribute to the development of Zambia and enjoy the fruits of this development.
HE IS NOT FIELD RUWE BUT FIELD MUNBWE
@ The Doc … “considerable increase in the pay of public servants, university lecturers included”. The truth about the new high salaries at University of Zambia, for example, is that the University is paying from its own resources and no monthly grants are coming from Government. The result is that the University is K 90 Million (K 90 billion) in debt, just trying to pay salaries. I dread to imagine that your last month salary PF Doc may be the last for some time to come.
Quite erudite. That is the power of reading. It helps in accumulating idears even from the erudite dead. AND ENABLES YOU to think ahead and therefore even be able to make predictions. So Field here is very much acurate with his prophecy. Listen to him and watch.
Our feaudalistic structures will stick around for a while. However, their incorporation into the government system together with logistical and financial support may prove burdensome as more chiefs emerge. As time passes even smaller ethnic tribes currently clustered under one chief after losing their own through conquest or assimilation will want to revive their own. Will the tax payer continue to support these families without asking for democratisation of the system so that they can have a say in who gets this well-paying role and how they assume this role. Personally I do not think these structures will continue to be sustainable overtime especially as more and more resources are demanded of the tax payer. Anyway, these are just my views
I meant “feudalistic”
IN BEMBA WE SAY
UMWANA KA SEMBE, CAN SOME ONE EXPLAIN THIS TO OUR ALL WISE MEN OF THE
EAST……
I don’t think Sata minds being called Bisa by some of you. After all the two are sister tribes if you know their history. What has upset Bashilubemba is his interference and lack of respect for chiefs:
Interference 1: He wanted to remove Maxwell Kafula Mucheleka from the throne of Senior Chief Nkula of Chinsali back to Chief Chikwanda of Mpika and replace him with Chief Chewe – a PF supporter and from the banished Ngoshe Mukote lineage.
Interference 2: Degazetting Kanyanta Sosala as Senior Chief Mwamba. Sata’s reason was that Sosala did not go through the normal progression i.e from Chief Mpepo to Nkole Mfumu to Senior Chief Mwamba then Chitimukulu.
Lack of respect: Sata did not attend the funeral of the late Chitimukulu Mwango Chilufya
Like the way this DJ Captain Cool Field Ruwe has put it , but I think lets wait for the next month by elections to see if indeed Sata is heading for trouble. Mansa by elections and the campaign leading to it will be very interesting
Luapula is more PF that even the Northern Province. The battle is between PF and MMD and not the UPND wannabes. PF will win this one without much trouble.
sata na toba akaputi ku chulu!!
i am bemba those shilubembas should not talk for people of Zambia youths voted for pf we are not interested in witch talks we are a modern generation so succession wrangles will not give us jobs we will continue voting for sata and the witches can hang
Dont be disrespectful. Bashilubemba are not asking you not to vote for your Sata. They are asking Sata not to interfere in their succession affairs. Be proud of whatever your tribe is rather than claim to be bemba when you are not.
bembas will never love themselves and each other- prediction.
I THINK SATA WILL SIGN SOSALA HE KNOWS THE BEMBA CHIEFTAINLINE
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Now I appreciate how shallow Ruwe is! Your analysis stinks! do think you can use your psych in your fictitious story to get bembas to join UPND?. Makaka Skanka pakunya iwe!
Now I appreciate how shallow Ruwe is! Your analysis stinks! do you think you can use your psych in your fictitious story to get bembas to join UPND?. Makaka-skanka- pakunya iwe!
Umwana kasembe,kalakoma wabwela wakobeka.You may be injured by an axe but you
ca not throw it.It will ever be yours and usefull.
We have toknow ulubemba better if not best.Chief Chikwanda from mpika can be chief Chitimukulu through aprocess,aswell as chief Mpepo,Mubanga,Chewe,Nkula,
Nkolemfumu and Mwamba.
Maybe along the road something was over looked years and years back the sooner
we can look at that the better.Bakulubakulu empo ba chili.You dont want that future
toface the same problem.
Sata has never been in good books with bemba chieftainship begining with the previous ones, find out how he humiliated him at a burial of chief luchembe before he even came in power, these shallow minded the so called bashilubemba lacks vision no wonder he prefers mpezeni,