When I read the United Party for National Development (UPND) statement disassociating “itself from tribal comments made at the Choma rally by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe,” I was astounded. For a while, I wondered who Dipak Patel was taking for a kid. Mr Munkombwe just told the truth—Zambians will “vote on tribal lines”— Tongas for HH, and my wise cousins from the East for ED! Unless one has some scores to settle with a specific candidate, all endorsements are on tribal lines!
Last year, I had a sad encounter with one young lady who runs a bookstore. After I showed her a copy of my book “God’s Family, God’s Earth: Christian Ecological Ethics of Ubuntu,” she wanted to add it her stock. But when she opened the content page, she immediately gave it back to me with the words—“awe abaTonga, I don’t like those people. They are very bad.” My book has a chapter on the Tonga people—I lived among them and enjoyed their love and support during my research, for which I am deeply thankful. I am sure they are Tongas who would say the same thing about Bembas—we are all God’s children and citizens of mother Zambia!
But if there is something that Mr Munkombwe and the young lady revealed, the unfinished battle of our founding fathers — Kenneth Kaunda vs Harry Mwanga Nkumbula in the 1960s still haunts us to this day. Until 1973, Southern and Western provinces voted for the African National Congress while Bembas for UNIP. From 2001, this pattern was duplicated. HH has almost 100 percent of the Tonga vote. Likewise, Bembas have always denied HH their vote–they rather vote for a frog than a Tonga.
Most people believed that the advent of education will make us less conscious of our ethnic needs. In 1994, for example, President Chiluba asserted that Zambians viewed themselves as individuals, and not simply as members of some ethnic group. While such an argument has some truth, tribalism is a cancer of Zambian politics.
We should all address tribalism in the nation. We need a united Zambia where tribal differences are celebrated as the very knots that unite us. But to pretend it does not exist or to accuse the Patriotic Front or the United Party for National Development of being tribal while benefiting from it during the elections is self-deception, and entombing the nation’s future. Alas, poverty knows no tribal boundaries or identifications. For a common man, being Bemba, Lozi, or Tonga does not put food on the table. Post-jubilee Zambia should set aside tribal or ethnic politics in order to fight the common enemy responsible for the agony of the masses – politicians who are amassing wealth at the expense of the poor majority. We all have a choice to make: to allow politicians to divide us while they make millions, or unite, and fight for our equal share of the national wealth.
One way to bridge “ethnic” politics is by requiring a 50 percent +1 of the total vote to win the presidential elections. The current requirement of a simple plurality feeds into tribal politics and undermines democracy. Since 2001, our presidents have been elected by a minority – the majority of the electorate has always voted against them. In the absence of 50 percent +1, the constitution should allow political parties to enter into alliances before forming a majority government. This system will increase accountability in government and will also address tribalism—turning tribal loyalties into instruments of accountability.
KK taught us to shout, “One Zambia, One Nation!” It is encumbered on us all to live-out these words. Let us bury tribalism, and become “all one, strong, and free!” We may be nonviolent, but to think that the country is immune from ethnic-related violence is delusional. Tribalism can win one the presidency, but it cannot ensure national unity.
by Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
This is a final boarding call for Zambia United Flight HH2015 to Statehouse. May those will sound minds proceed to Gate 200115 and board the flight. Passengers from the sunk PF boat ECL “me too” are welcome to join, terms and conditions apply.
More and more Zambians are voting based on merit and performance, not tribe. So UPND were right to dissociate themselves from the self declared “belly politician”.
PF performance = doubtful. Roads and other infrastructure is them doing what is expected of any reasonable government.
Did not you read what Rev. Kaoma has said. HH Single Engine 14 seaters-passengers are restricted to Tongas and their Lozi brothers. EL Dreamliner will take all other Voters from North, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern, Central, North Western and all other tribles from Western province. Dreamliner is about to land to take everybody onboard for 2 years flight to prosperity and development. EL is the magic word.
If God Existed, Prayer Would Have Brought World Peace.
Tongas please start by loving your cousins lozis atleast. When Andy died you could have rallied behind Sikota Sakwiba or Given Lubinda but you chased them away from UPND
But when Sata died, bembas are supporting lungu
Today you are talking of voting on merit???
What I see;
Edgar Lungu- Copperbelt, Lusaka, Eastern, Northern, Luapula, Central, North Western (HH has not campaigned here).
This could be a one- sided affair. To see the crowds Edgar Lungu obtained in Choma, you ought be concerned. Lungu will be president!
True. we should introduce 50 + 1 with debates becoming mandatory. there is no ways we can continue with such nonsense. we are in the new era therefore we should think differently.
Let not politician control outcomes by buying votes / vote in tribal lines.
we are ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION so vote for a right person not because of the tribe they belong.
I will vote for Edgar Lungu tomorrow.
You are the real tribalists. When Rupiah Banda and some of his people were saying people of eastern province should vote for their son EL, no one shouted tribalism. EL has received a lot of endorsements from easterners based on a background of being a good leader that he doesn’t have but they have not been labelled them tribalists but just wako ni wako. Tongas have been encouraged by Munkombwe to vote for a the best candidate who happens to be Tonga not just because he is Tonga. Tonga chiefs in 2008 supported RB and in 2011 supported Sata.
All people promoting tribal talk in UPND are PF- Daniel Munkombwe, Ngande Mwanajiti and Syacheye Madyenkuku (aka Mazi ankuku), the latter two who said Anderson Mazoka should be replaced by a Tonga.
This article is from a Zambian who has read and mixed well with others. What s/he left is the true statistics of ethnicity&cousinship populations which I believe the Tonga dialects tops i.e. Solis & lenjes inclusive but these have not been voting on the side of the tonga dialect otherwise results would have been different. This time around, it seems, solis, lenjes, ilas, tonga plateau, tonga valley, toka-leyas, their cousins lozi dialects, lunda, & luvale dialects plus bembas in the central northern will vote for HH. Ofcourse easterners will vote for EL but their are some who love merit as most easterners are intelligent. Few southerners who will not vote for HH will not do so for personal hatred but not really with good reason. I still believe HH will win and once exposed…
Kapya ,U shud be ashamed of your self being a Rev who Can’t seem to carry out a broadbased research – you pick one bookseller, then refer to a period almost 50yrs ago & conclude Tongas & Bembas can’t get on – meanwhile BLINDING yourself to all the Intermarriages between these two tribes & the so many other Zambian tribes – Are you out to try & drive the WEDGES between the tribes or as a man of God trying to bring them together – People might not see that difference between you & Pastor Chomba!!
I am a Zambian and I will vote for the best Zambian standing.
Hakainde Hichilema has my vote.
And I am true Zambian, my family is Zambian and all will vote for a humble and honest EL.
Best based on what…the HH promises. Please do not be gullible we have heard these promises before in many forms and accents…talk is cheap. The best can only be determined by achievements in public service not personal achievements and empty promises backed by nothing. Between HH and Lungu its clear Lungu has achieved much better than HH in public service. HH has never even served as a ward councillor. HH has never been voted into office publicly. HH is president on UPND just because he is Tonga and has money (some of it stolen from the public, viz RAMCOZ) nothing more. I do not think it is wise for Zambia to put such a one in charge. Just look at the company he is keeping, Munkobwe, GBM, William Banda, Katele, the list goes on and on
@ K.Kay;
The company of HH is wrong; does that make EL company of RB & Dora Angels? Be balanced in your analysis. You dispute HH promises which have not been tested and ignore the failed promises of PF is this fair or partial? Please explain what EL has achieved in public office and at an individual level. Sitting in office year in year out is not accomplishment K.kay; its just a repetition of 1 years’ experience over duration of tennial without an tangible results and solid organisational and personal achievements; How productive is EL at personal level; how many people does he employee? what can he point to as his lifetime achievement? Please answer these questions in relation to HH and try to balance your analysis
Even if he is tonga or whatever tribe HH has my vote. Ofcourse Chipimo, Nawakwi and Nevers are good candidates-very issues based. At the Moment HH has my vote.
Munkombwe is PF we all know that. A desparate “belly” politician. Whether or not UPND has accepted him, that’s a different issue. What is clear is that UPND condemned his tribal remarks because UPND is not a tribal party. Vote HH tomorrow no amount of tribal tags will change voters minds. Welcome HH the 6th President of Zambia
Give a name of a political party in Zambia whose moto is that only a Tonga can lead it???
Why didn’t HH stop him right there and then. Even VJ has said what Dan said albeit in a tactical way. He my win but not with my vote. I know its only one vote but a journey of one million steps starts with one step.
UPND is tribal and Violent whether they accept Munkobwe or not… the Zambia united they preach is that of wnting other tribes to put a Tonga at plot 1, UPND thinks its time a Tonga ruled Zambia and not that a befitting individual with appropriate credentials ttakes Zambia forward by serving with distinction… All UPND wants is Tonga rule not serving Zambia
very true!! We all know Munkombwe has one OVERIDING POLICY, & he has been very OPEN & HONEST about it – which is POLITICS OF THE BELLY – so him using as an example of a “tribalist”, is simply clutching at straws!!
I ‘m bereft for words, LT how abominable is the word T.r.i.b.a.l.i.s.t???? for you to apply those asterisks??
Zambians from east to west and north to south have shown they are for EDGAR C. LUNGU…TEAM EL WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU HAVE DONE BUT THE JOB IS NOT COMPLETED..BROTHER AND SISTERS.. COMRADES GO OUT AND VOTE FOR EDGAR C. LUNGU..
PA BWATO IS THE SIGN WE ARE TICKING ON…YOUR VOTE COUNTS ABASH APATHY, VIVA EDGAR LUNGU 2015…
NAFUTI TUKA BWELA MU 2016 NAFUTI TUKA VOTELA BA EDGAR!!!!
****VIVA EDGAR LUNGU 2015 AND 2016****
We will give him the job acceptance letter tomorrow.
He has to report for work on 22/01/15.
We wish EL success in this new position.
Our regards.
@2020vision
He can only win by massive rigging. Lungu will never be president.
This is just true. I am missing appoint on how the Bembas come in here. The two front runners are Easterner and Southerner. Both have been endorsed by Bemba politicians. And what is the problem?
I will vote on Tribal lines. Viva Edgar Lungu.
I stayed with Tongas in Sinazongwe, as a worker for an NGO, i helped in drilling bore holes and supply of clean water and provision of farming inputs. They never saw my hard work all they saw was a person who does not come from their tribe, in the final analysis they said they wanted a Tonga to take my position and they made sure i left.
I have since declared i will also live a tribal life!!
I will continue teaching my children like that!!
Viva edgar Lungu, Viva PF
Very right. I grew in southern province and did quiet a lot but will never forget when Mazoka was about to win the elections M.H.S.R.P I genuinely voted for him on merit but we were threatened with leaving southern province and go back. Since then I will never make the mistake of voting for a Tonga. It’s a pity I am not in the country and my cousin Lungu will miss my vote.
You are not the only one who have got sad stories about Sinazongwe. There are many of us.
In fact for me it I had not been ill-treated in Sinazongwe, I would have considered HH. But that ill-treatment which reached the level of threatening my life based on tribe makes me feel that the Tongas are not good.
They almost killed me. Because I am not their own. I have forgiven them but I have not forgotten the encounter.
Its only for this reason that I am not voting for HH.
@ Chishinte
You are a defeated man. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Its best to do good in the face of evil; otherwise what is the benefit of doing good only to those who do you good; its a simple thing even bad people can do it.
KWENA IWE WADEPULA ATI YOU WILL TEACH YOUR CHILDREAN AND GENERATIONS TO COME THAT WAKO NI WAKO STICK BY TRIBE AWEE MWANDI HA HA HA HA HA INFINTU NI LUNGU THESE COMMENTS HAVE TAUGHT US A LESSON MWANDI SUPPORT YOUR OWN.
I had this Tonga lady i had wanted to marry, i was supporting her fincially till she finished school, when i went to pay lobola with my family her father rejected because am not Tonga. i promised myself never to trust Tongas AGAIN
And all these people will accompany HH at State House and advise him in everything he does?
You all are writing from foreign posts where you are perceived as monkeys but you weather it and then come home and do the same crap on a fellow Zambian. When will this ignorance end?
my friend try NOT to be so narrow minded, REMEMBER You were dealing with “Villagers” in Sinazongwe. Go to any rural village anywhere in Zed & ask them about another tribe, their ignorance will be no different – so do not bring up your kids with unnecessary skewed bias!
Let settle the matter 2morrow ,Edgar Lungu for continuity.
Tonga,Tonga,ulabeja!
Tonga, Tonga Ulabeja!
@Mwansa Kombe @Tutu
Sure you guys are telling lies and you know it. Do no give excuses for wanting to vote for a sick thief like Lungu. It is your democratic right but the consequence could be economically disastrous for the country.
Whether or not some tribalists like it or not, Zambians of sound mind have resolved to vote on non tribal lines instead of these 90 days jokers. So far HH’s campaign team has shown no trace of tribal or race so it is laughable and shame on anyone branding HH and UPND tribal. Just accept defeat. HH in State House on Wednesday here we come.
Interesting! Stories from the South. I’ve heard many stories from there by expatriate’ workers. I have always observed that Tongas know how to shoot themselves in the foot. They have no shame in discriminating. And then they deny their wrongs and rationalize them, “But have you seen what Bembas also do?” to justify their wrong. At least Bembas are accepting to all. Tongas are completely indifferent to how other people feel. “Ni zawo izo!”they’ll retort. Easterners are a myriad of tribes and don’t know tribes. Ask Tongas and Indians settled there. So for me, the enemies of HH are Tongas who don’t mind embarrassing him. I’ve always said there is everything going for HH except for his Tonga people who’ll stop at nothing to annoy other people and embarrass him in the process.
Why is this election about Bembas and Tongas when the race is between an Easterner and a Southerner?
Like Mucheleka said, ‘Bembas of sound mind should vote HH.’
Those are the words coming from a real Bemba. So, tell me how that is anti-Tonga.
YOU HAVE SAID THE TRUTH MY BROTHER. TRIBALISM IS REAL IN ZAMBIA, BUT THIS CAN BE COUNTERED, THAT IS WHY HH TOOK THE INITIATIVE OF TOURING THE COUNTRY IN HIS CAMPAIGNS TO PREACH UNITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL. HH IS THE ONLY VIVID UNITING FACTOR IN THIS RACE. TONGA TRIBE HAS BEEN IN POLITICS DURING COLONIAL RULE, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RULE IN SPITE OF THEM BEING VERY ACTIVE IN OUR ZAMBIAN POLITICS, WHY? ISN’T IT BECAUSE OF TRIBALISM? LET ZAMBIANS NOW PROVE THAT THEY ARE NOT TRIBAL BY VOTING FOR A TONGA THIS TIME AROUND. EASTERNERS HAVE ALREADY RULED BEFORE. VIVA HH VIVA! VIVA ZAMBIA UNITE VIVA!
Why give someone a chance on tribe lines? Our democracy will allow any one to rule Zambia depending on how one markets himself. That statement of GIVE A CHANCE is what will make it impossible for one not to ascend to the presidency. Organise naturally not by trying infuse in Ba Mutati & Co as way to hoodwink us. No
TONGAS ARE NEVER ABOUT UNITY BUT LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
ABASH HH!!!!
You are clearly saying people should vote for your HH cos its TONGA time to rule,. That’s how he even became UPND , cos he is Tonga. Such thinking is why HH will not wni no matter what — rigging or not we shall make sure he looses cos we don’t need anyone to ascend to leadership based on tribe. Mafi uleluka ci iwe.
“Tongas have not been given an opportunity to rule” Who is suppose to give a Tonga an opportunity? Why not a Kaonde, Luvale, Thumbuka etc? Why Tonga? What is important about a Tonga that they should be ‘given an opportunity’ to rule on the basis of their tribe? Every Zambian has an opportunity to rule but only through a democratic process. Please stop thinking with your tribe in mind. This is the tribalism people are talking about.
@@Ndaje
Tribalism is not real in Zambia!
Ignorance is real!
People in Zambia are so gullible. They will tell you things that they say they believe without giving a slight thought. They listen to the troubled old man RB talk and all they take from it is, “it is my democratic right blah blah blah.”
Well, I am sorry some Zambians do not understand the value of that right because they are ignorant and gullible. They can easily be swayed, lied to and bamboozled.
Imagine how hard Sata and the opposition worked to dislodge corrupt RB. Now RB is the darling of PF and people in their infinite wisdom think it’s OK?
MULUNGU has given us LUNGU satan has also given you §§§§
It’s good to hear from a senoir politician after Chiluba saying that presidence should be rotating from all the tribe if at all there is an credibal candidate from any of the tribe. All tribe are fit to produce a president at state house. Chiluba at one time side this sit is sweet ,it must rotate to all the tribes. He said the one going to take overfrom me is from a small tribe. It’s true Mwanawasa who was from lenje / lamba tribe was supported by Chiluba and won. Most of the Bemba politician they thought Chiluba would support them. Munkombwe what he said is the promotion of rotation of leadership from one tribe to another. He gave example that he has been supporting non Tonga presidents since independence including Sata. Now he has decided to support a Tonga southern.
we cant vote HH simply becoz Tongas have never ruled. There areas in this country where Tongas have an uper hand and other tribes have never complained. There other tribes like lozis and kaondes who have never ruled and have kept quiet. The problem is that most of the Tongas are full of me and thats what we fear. While other tribes have endosed lungu or HH which Tonga has endosed other tribes?
Good point.
For now the best we can do is to show the Tongas that we are not as tribal as they are by appointing them to positions of leadership whichever party wins (this time I will call the winning party PF, until someone finds a better name).
To the Tongas’ credit, they breed good women. Their women are nice-looking and nice-hearted. I think we can take it from here and the rest can fit in later
What about your Simusa and Kazabu?
The only reason I am going to vote is so that HH DOES NOT win and save Zambia from tribal ransom.
I would have stayed away but I am compelled to drive a few hundred kilometers to go and save Zambia from Tribalism.
I almost lost my life in Southern Province/Sinazongwe. I felt like an alien in my own country.
I appeal to Zambians to protect this land from tribal ransom. You can vote anyone else except HH.
Tongas stop pretending so many tribes have complined about your self centeredness. You are violent and tribal that is a fact and you shud change if you want to rule. PF has done so much but you always want to paint them black. Zambians are not fools wait for tomoro you will learn a political lesson
Friends, when people run out of ideas on how to sell their candidate, they will resort to tribalism. Southern province has the most cosmopolitan towns when you remove Lusaka and Copperbelt. Tribalism is only real in politics where certain tribes want to rule always and use tribalism to deny others the chance to rule. When Obama won the election, we celebrated across Africa that a black man was ruling USA. Tongas also just like Bembas until Sata died would be happy if HH rose to the presidency. Nothing tribal about it. What Munkombwe said can only be wrong if for instance Edgar Lungu (who has no vision and has been running away from articulating his plans for Zambia) was Tonga and then Tongas said they will vote for him no matter what. That’s tribalism at its best. HH’s the best among…
If UPND want to win any election with national character, they must unconditionally renounce tribalism first. For now the tribal tag is so strong and true that it needs a bored Tonga to publicly apologize for the mistreat of other tribes in Southern Province.
This province just has to learn to work with other people before they aspire for such high profile offices as Republican Presidency.
Not UNTIL THEY PUBLICLY ADMIT TRIBALISM AND AOPOLOGISE will any one of them serve as Republican President in Zambia.
For sure God has given us Edgar Lungu while satan has also given tribal people HH!!so the choice is yours.Fred M’membe has also reminded Zambians in today’s POST EDITORIAL THAT UPND IS A TRIBAL PARTY!!so why waste your votes on an evil party?99% of voters supporting HH are bantustan people.SO NEVER ALLOW THESE FEW VOTERS TO DIVIDE ZAMBIA!!!UPND MUST RETIRE HH AND ADOPT A NON TONGA FOR US TO CONSIDER VOTING FOR THIS TRIBAL PARTY.AS IT IS NOW,PLEASE ZAMBIANS LETS NOT VOTE FOR UPND.ZAMBIA IS BIGGER THAN TONGAS OR ANYBODY,SO WHY DIVIDE IT ON TRIBAL LINES?!!! GO PF GO AND IFINTU NI LUNGU!!!
@eddy @Tutu @monde
Your rantings will not help you. HH will win. Get over it.
This time around I am voting for HH. I am from Muchinga Province and ever since, I have never voted on tribe. In 2011 I did not vote for PF though everyone thought that all the northerners voted for PF. I always vote based on the analysis I undertake of every aspiring candidate. Voting on tribal lines produces mediocre leaders who fail to give back to the people what is due to them. A good example is what Sata did where he started appointing relatives into key positions. We must never allow such people to rule us again. I have strongly rejected the PF and I know that they have nothing new to offer apart from the incompetence and arrogance they have exhibited over the 3 years they have been in power. HH gets my vote this time around. Put that X on HH.
If truly you are in Muchinga, go ton Shiwang’andu uye u ponokwe chapwa. Any person for Muchinga who does not appreciate what PF is doing is less than a dog. Ni Mumbwe or such like. Only F00ls and traitors cant see the way Muchinga is unfolding . Shame. Please such chaps can migrate to Bantustan. We wont miss them , nakalya
What is your Chiefs name, your village, your head ma and the name of your closest neighbour in Muchinga. You are from Mwanchingwala so don’t pretend
Munkombwe is the only sincere politician.
This time its wako niwako.
I must admit El is not the best candidate.
But am voting for him. Call me anything you want i dont care.
Your ZWD hate propaganda has made me others completly lose interest in hh
You are free to vote for your canditate. Since its a mojority vot, ECZ will give verdict.
Yes its one Zambia one nation and let each zambian voter vote for the right candidate based on merit.
I took in a fellow Zambian here in the UK and gave him shelter for six months until he found his feet.I met up with him for socialising a few weeks after he left my house.He was in the company of fellow Bembas and politics entered our conversation, as you would expect.To my absolute disbelief this man declared for all and sundry to hear that ‘umulozi teti ateke Zambia pantu ba liitemwa sana’.And all his friends agreed.The irony was that the same tribe-mates he was now reguiling had pointedly refused help him in his hour of need.I calmly asked him to repeat what he had just said and he did.I never spoke to the idi0t after that.
You have so rightly described him – an 1diot!! So one 1diot doesn’t really describe the rest of his tribe!!
It is sad actually that tribalism has festered in Zambia. It is a concern!! As the author has said, Kaunda did his best and Zambia was one nation one people,that’s how peace was maintained. This dream was shattered by Chiluba and completely buried by Sata when all his ministerial portfolios were filled by his family or family associations. Will the next president please see beyond tribes and appoint people on merit! Will the schools also reintroduce the slogan of one zambia one nation!! It worked and we were all united. Hatred breeds strife and strife leads to war. As a landlocked country,where do we run to? Please vote for brains and not a hangover.
Let’s take these elections seriously,not on the basis that EL will reduce beer prices. VOTE HH
Lol, you must start reconciling yourself to the probability that Edgar Chagwa Lungu will be President. Edgar Lungu is now projected to win tomorrow’s election by Reuters.
Copperbelt, Lusaka, Northern, Luapula, Eastern, Central Provinces. Not to mention tight races in N. Western and Western Provinces. This will be a done deal by 21 hours.
Edgar C. Lungu will declared the winner by lunchtime; 12:00 by Acting Chief Justice, Mme. Lombe Chibesakunda. HH will claim malpractice. It is over!!!
I am voting for a leader not a slave…
I am voting the best man for Zambia not a drunkard
I am voting for some one with a vision not visionless
win or loss, i would have voted for the best. conscious free
i am voting HH
I wonder why you UPND tribalists are trying to justify your “sunk” vote with fancy words like; vision, integrity etc. Look, you are tribal.
Vote all you want. But do not go around claiming to be wise, you are voting exactly as your great grand parents would have. When you go into that booth, please search your soul and reconcile yourselves to the fact just because you are Tonga, doesn’t mean you have to be a numbskull as well.
this tribal talk is sickening to say the least. and also this thing of following what other did wrong to you doesnt help either. there is no good or bad tribe in zambia. what is good or bad is an individual. some of you people are posting comments arising from the situation you passed through and that has conditioned you to think along the lines you think about. this simply means you are average in your thinking and the lenses you use to view life are all cockeyed. you can make something out of what the world throws at you – if the world throws garbage at you, recycle it than complain. if a few Tongas acting in a mob treated you badly that does not mean all Tongas are bad. some of us Bembas, we can live in area for 10 years, we dont want to learn their language. that is a problem.
I believe the UPND is now a threat to the ruling party so the question is how can a regional party be a threat to the ruling party which believes theirs is has a national character and why does it matter if the PF thinks that UPND are going no where? I personally cannot vote based on the tribe of the candidate because it does not matter
I am finally happy to hear from old politician taht leadership of this country must rotate as Chiluba said that This presidency must rotate to all the tribes when he said that the one going to succeed him will come from a small tribe . Munkumbwe he justified for his support of HH saying he has been supporting president from diferent provinces including Sata now he is supporting his own HH and after that he will support another one from a different province. He gave a very good a exaample how people should vote for a prsedent regardless of where he comes from . He said leadership should not be restricted to one tribe only instead it must come from all the tribes one after another. I don’t see any tribe sentiment here, but in RB’s on EL when he said VOTE FOR Your SON in E/Province
Most UPND supprters are tongas.U can tell in Lusaka.These pipo indeed love themselves.At work the manager is just employing tongas only.Ata bane we can’t allow such a party which declared itself that UPND can be only be led by a Tonga.We are not crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to vote for UPND.They will cry tomorrow.UPND=Party for Tongas only.They want all tribes to be united against bembas.Kikiki what a massage from this tribal party.Bembas are supporting PF.Is EL a Bemba?This is why we told Guy scott that supporting Miles Sampa will lead anarchy in the country.UPND wanted miles in order to label PF as a tribal party .We are happy that PF indeed is a national party.Viva Edgar Lungu wesu lungu. Bembas are above tribal politics
You say: “..the unfinished battle of our founding fathers — Kenneth Kaunda vs Harry Mwanga Nkumbula in the 1960s still haunts us to this day..” Further, you decry the tribally skewed voting pattern since 1964. How absurd.
The truth of the matter is that, it is not tribal for Bembas to vote for a Bemba, if that Bemba has a better chance of winning the election. Similarly, it is not tribal for Tongas to vote for a Tonga, if that Tonga has a better chance of winning the election.
In 1964 both Kaunda and Nkumbula were formidable candidates. Hence the apparent tribal voting you decry. In 1991 however, there was only one strong candidate – Frederick Chiluba. As a result the whole country, Tongas and all, rallied behind him. This year, the whole country is rallying behind HH.
Which whole country? Count me out
Following my line of reasoning above, it should be expected that the Tongas and the rest of the Bantu bo Tatwe will vote for HH en masse this year. Similarly the Ngonis and the rest of the Easterners will cast their vote for EL. Here is why? Each of the two stands a good chance of winning the election. The support each gets from his tribal base shouldn’t be seen as sinister.
The rest of the country, (Copperbelt, Luapula and Northern included), should be able to vote for either of the two candidates based on merit. What I would consider TRIBAL VOTING is when Bembas will vote for the likes of Nevers Mumba – regardless of whether they see any merit in him. Why? Simply because Mumba and the rest of the BUYA ZONKE candidates don’t stand a chance of winning this election.
I think most importantly we have to look at the article which is very objective. I have also at my on level has endevoured to look into this tribalism issue in relation to how Zambia has been governed in the past 50 years. I can simply say it has been a disaster. Right now as for me I really do not care who wins these elections of tomorrow, but importantly we need some one who will give us the constitution in the pipeline. The 50 +1 per cent is a very crucial close in this constitution and I am glad the article does emphasise on the same. I am educated alright, but I have suffered at the hands of the constitution that has been very fluvurous. Other things will come later, but the 50 + 1 percent must be brought to the masses to vote on it. It must not be done by parliament, I say NO NO.
This article is spot on, i have seen some people that are well educated drop their cognitive thinking and vote based on tribal, so education will be slow in solving this problem, . I therefore agree that the 50+1 will definately solve this problem much quicker.
Truth be told that Mukombwe said the truth. This is SP time. Next time, let us go for a WP. Then NWP. In 2 yrs time we will be saying that the politics of the belly man was right. He was not being tribal. Let us have a fair system where presidency & vice presidency rotates among provinces. I am not Tonga but I believe in what. Munkombwe said. Why can’t we say RB and Dora are tribalistic?
I appreciate the whole article and is well articulated. Sometimes when I am just stralling through the sreet of any town I visit, I always ask myself, WHY is it that we all fear this so called TONGA tribe. I also personnaly when I encounter some of my Tonga colleagues, I ask them, why is it that we fear you guys in the political arena? one of my Tonga friend told me that I think it is just a Phobea that as Tongas we also are at loss to understand.
Now I want to pose a question to the BEMBAS, can you come out in the open why you fear or you have a dislike for the TONGAs. I personnally have a good number of Tonga friends, and have found them to be very humble and very business minded, and have learned a lot from them. One thing however is that they are very reserved and very truthful.
There is also need to look at what RAcism is all about in the world. For me all the ISMS are the same, it be nepotism, regionalism, Capitalism,communism, Tribalism, Holiganism,Facism etc. One thing that has been concluded about phobeas for these ISMS is IGNORANCE. Thus to say , the fear or the idea of not wanting to learn about others. For tribalism, you shy away from learning the tribe, the culture, the traditions. The idea that yours is the best in the World. This led many nations not advance in technologies and other spheres. You take for intance USA, what made it get so advanced in technology is because people from all nations are converged there, thus to say all sorts of brains are based in the USA, you can even talk of tribes of europe are all there in the USA. Zambians love each oth
Rev Kaoma
I also encountered a young girl (18 years) in 2013 who vowed and swore she could not vote for a Tonga or Lozi. I not being a tonga asked her why. Her answer was she “hated them with a passion” and could not allows herself or her relative to marry one. I reminded her that she was an employee of a Lozi and she said she did not care.
There is no denying that tribal sentiments run high and the PF has never given a respite to UPND on this issue while ignoring the fact the 98% of appointments in government strategic positions were from the North. The solution in my mind is to introduce the electoral college system in Zambia. We badly need this or else, conflagration is coming. Mark my mords.
There was a stammering UPND lady on 89.9 FM around 10:00hrs….Terribly bitter.
YOU can’t win with such disgruntled individuals. You are used to loosing… don’t develop such hate and bitterness.
LOOSING FUTI NA FUTI.
“pray for our colleagues to shed bitterness and find peace within their hearts.”
The author of this article let him go to hell.
Wherever you go in any part of Zambia learn the language of the area and their culture.
No place for a tonga man at state house
Tonga’s are generally good people. They are humble and welcoming. I worked in the Tonga land for some years and I never experienced any problems with them. It’s just on campus where I remember them working in groups and communicating in their local language. Otherwise, they are manageable.
HH is a national leader at the moment and weather some people like it or not he becomes the next president of Zambia, not one tribe, region or grouping as some would want us to believe.
Any Zambian aspiring to become a national leader from now on wards will have to erase a tribal concept in their consciousness.
This appears to be the trend and proof is HH himself who bad Zambians labelled him tribal but has been wholly accepted by the entire nation.
Viva HH, viva one Zambia.
Quietly and confidently waiting for Zambians to do the right thing tomorrow.
Engaging people of low caliber such as I’ve seen here is not on my agenda today.
You’ve run a good race Mr. Hichilema. Congratulations are in order already.
Kwena Jessie wamu townie wan sekesha sana – am like you, very much agree to having no time to engage people with minds of low calibre.
Its time for a tonga is UPND’s foundation. It is the problem. Edgar was not loved on tribal lines. People just loved him after sata appointed him SG of PF. It was not people from Eastern Province who gathered at NASDEC to force Edgar to stand. It was not people from Eastern Province who gathered in kabwe to usher in Edgar as PF president. When did the issue of tribe come in? after RB. But RB was bound support Lungu regardless of tribe. Those of us who called RB to come back knew its either RB or PF continued. That was our motto. RB thinks like us. Pwasha, kakubo, mwaanga, desai and others endorsed HH on tribal lines. It is a bantu botatwe thing. But don’t worry sanity will come back after Edgar is sworn in.
This article is from a Zambian who has read and mixed well with others. What s/he left is the true statistics of ethnicity&cousinship populations which I believe the Tonga dialects tops i.e. Solis & lenjes inclusive but these have not been voting on the side of the tonga dialect otherwise results would have been different. This time around, it seems, solis, lenjes, ilas, tonga plateau, tonga valley, toka-leyas, their cousins lozi dialects, lunda, & luvale dialects plus bembas in the central northern will vote for HH. Ofcourse easterners will vote for EL but their are some who love merit as most easterners are intelligent. Few southerners who will not vote for HH will not do so for personal hatred but not really with good reason. I still believe HH will win and once exposed…
The song am jamming! Edgar Lungu ni CONTINUE!!!!After counting Southern Province, HH’s votes will dry up…mudala HH you are getting 500,000. 1,000,000 for Edgar Lungu! Ni CONTINUE!!!!
Reverand Kaoma: Sad as a reverand you pen such an article portraying bias based on regions without giving true substance. Sir, yes there are many tribal sentiments in Zambia.., just that when voiced from some sections of Zambia they resonant louder than ever before. I will not argue on Munkombwe’s statement, and for the record, he is PF who brings along his own views to another party. A responsible person/leader would denounce such a statement with it’s intents, and Mr Patel did so! Alas, you have gone historical when Nkumbula actually agreed to work with UNIP. Forget mentioning that Bemba felt more victims at the time because Kapwepwe was “not given anything”. You go on to Chiluba, the person who thrived on tribal divisions and destroyed Kaunda’s unity efforts. Let’s address this…
contd.., Let’s address this issue in a civilized well and realize that what is at play now promotes the divisions among regions in Zambia. Trust me, if a strong leader came out of North Western Province, those people will be viewed otherwise by the vocal sections of Zambia. As a reminder, during these campaigns many statements have been attributed to leaders in power now like, “bamwisa” “bakasenda chalo” “nawakwanu” and so forth. It never was a big issue in parts of media and some Zambians. In short, Rev. preach the truth in the name of the God you believe in, and educate folks like such a young person who hates others without reason. It should actually be surprising that a young person would say such had it not been what is actively going in some folks who have led Zambia after…