Sub-chief Mwanamute of the Nkoya speaking people in Namushakasha area in Kaoma district of Western province says there should be political and tribal balance in choosing candidates for the forthcoming Mangango Constituency by-election slated for August 19.
In an interview with ZANIS, Sub-chief Mwanamute, whose name Davy Yowera, said the Nkoya people, being the hosting community, should be accorded an opportunity to field a Nkoya candidate in the Mangango Constituency by-election.
He charged that the Nkoya people were paying for their gesture of receiving many tribes which in turn do not appreciate the services accorded to them, adding that many tribes, such as the Luvales, Mbundas and Chokwes do not want to share political power with Nkoyas.
Sub-chief Mwanamute said in 2006 chief Mutondo recommended Mwendoi Akakandelwa, a Lozi, and in 2011 he also recommended Taundi Chiseke, a Luvale, adding that this time around he has recommended Chrispin Shumina, a Nkoya, to be fielded in the forth-coming Mangango Parliamentary by-election.
He said Luvales and Mbundas have politically dominated all the constituencies in Kaoma district with UPND’s Carlos Antonio heading the Kaoma Central Constituency.
Sub-chief Mwanamute complained that Nkoyas have been suppressed as the Luvales and Mbundas are now the majority in the district forcing Nkoyas not to be in the political corridors of the country.
He insisted that there should be tribal balancing in the political sphere of the district, a principle that kept former President, Kenneth Kaunda, in politics for 27 years.
But Kaoma district UPND youth chairperson, Joseph Kwanga, appealed to all the sub-chiefs of the Nkoya speaking people in the area to allow voters to choose a candidate of their choice.
Mr Kwanga said people have got the right to elect anyone as long as that person is accepted by the majority voters and warned that tribal politics will lead to anarchy in the area.
He said chiefs were the custodians of the land, tradition and culture hence they should not be dragged into active politics.
Mr Kwanga said the political positions of Mangango Constituency has been shared equally with the Nkoya Members of Parliament dominated the Constituency for over 20 years while the Luvales have just ruled for five years, adding that the complaint coming from sub-chief Mwanamute was null and void.
The Chief is spot on!!! But the key mr Chief please allow the Nkoya to marry alot and women to have alot of kids this way u can easily win back power….
Mwendoi Akakandelwa is a typical Luyana name. He is Luyi not Lozi. Why do Nkoyas have this terrible habit of labelling almost everyone else in Western Province as Lozi? What about the Kwangwa, Subiya, Totela etc. There’s no tribe called ‘Lozi’. This is a generic name for all the tribes in Western Province.
Honestly, Nkoyas are becoming cry babies for my liking. ‘Lozis’ have been accused of dominating other tribes. Today it is the Luvale, Mbunda and Chokwe! Really, my Nkoya friends?