Friday, March 29, 2024

Government Apologises over the arrest of a Lamba Chief

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Chishimba Kambwili
Chishimba Kambwili

Government has apologized to Chief Mwinuna of the Lamba people of Mpongwe over the manner in which he was picked by police for allegedly inciting his subjects to beat up Electoral Commission of Zambia officials and Police officers.

Chief Mwinuma and his son Kankomba were picked by police for allegedly inciting his subjects to beat up Electoral Commission of Zambia officials and Police officers conducting the voter registration exercise.

According to Central Province Police Commissioner Lombe Kamukoshi the officials were allegedly harassed for kicking off the voter registration exercise without paying a courtesy call on the Chief.

Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili, who held a closed door meeting with the traditional leader at the Mpongwe District Administration, assured the traditional leader that the incident will not repeat itself.

Earlier this month, Chief Mwinuma was arrested by Police and questioned for allegedly organizing residents to beat up Electoral Commission of Zambia officials who went to Ngabwe to conduct voter registration exercise.

Meanwhile Mr Kambwili, who is also Information Minister, has called for dialogue among all stakeholders to resolve wrangles surrounding the creation of Ngabwe District in Central Province.

Ngabwe in central province was declared a district by the late President Michael Sata in 2013 but various stakeholders among them four chiefs have differed over the new boundaries created as a result of the new status.

The Minister said this when he officiated at this year’s Lesa Nkushe traditional ceremony of the Bulima people of Chieftainess Lesa of Mpongwe District.

Earlier, Lesa Nkushe Organizing Committee Chairperson Rasford Bulaya urged Mr Kambwili to ask President Edgar Lungu to convene a meeting with Chiefs Mwinuma, Mukubwe, Machiya and NGABWE to resolve the issue.

Mr Bulaya said a round table meeting for all the concerned Chiefs is the best way of resolving the boundary dispute because the situation in Ngabwe is tense and if not well handled, could lead to bloodshed.

7 COMMENTS

  1. The chief wanted a bribe and handouts not necessary what he is saying. These chiefs are more interested in handouts than mere protocol . malabishi

    • So, if police arrests chief and govt. apologizes, then Govt. has a hand in the arrests made by ZP. Therefore, ZP is not independent as they claim. That’s why POA is not done is good faith; worse the arresting of opposition leaders is clearly orchestrated by Govt.

  2. First it was apology to The Chiitimukulu, Then Mpezeni, another Chief I can’t recall and now Chief Mwinuna. Who will be next. Edgar’s govt has no respect for our traditional leadership, invariably, they have no respect for us the citizens

  3. Nobody must be above the law. If the chief is found wanting he should face the law. Finish en klaar. This idea of mixing tribal law with statutory law must be mitigated by advising chiefs not to use bush law in settling their subjects’ grievances… Let them be impartial when it comes to effecting action by going through the police or other law custodians.

  4. ..Libongani should have been the one to apologise….this just goes to prove that govt hold a police remote control garget….

  5. Am so shocked by this apologise. The chief and his son are still hinding the properties of the officials who were asualted and the of ecz equipment. Up to now no recovery has been made despite dockets of assult and theft being opned at kabwe central police. Sadly one of the asulted ECZ officials ear drum was damaged/Perforated. Instead of making arrests here comes Kambwili to apologiese to the same criminals. now one wonders on what reddress and help will be rendered to the affected officials and their lost properties.

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