Caution: The credibility quotient for this article is this: If it deals with politics it’s a fact; if it is dramatized it’s fiction; if it is outrageously unbelievable, it’s a fact. While the names of the characters are true, the impact of the story as it unfolds involves my imagination, deductions, and surmise.
The PF is a volcano brewing and readying for the inglorious eruption. In the magma chamber of Zambian politics, a sense of betrayal is simmering portentously. It has been since Edgar Lungu became president. Day after day, thick PF lava is flowing up the main vent and it’s a matter of time before it reaches the crater, and when it finally explodes, Lungu will be engulfed in it. Patriotic Front stalwarts will blame him for destroying the party of Michael Chilufya Sata.
Chishimba Kabwili will be on television: “The PF died when Lungu and his thugs hijacked the party of Michael Chilufya Sata at the November 2014 convention. Me, Dr. Guy Scott and others, refused to accept the bogus results, I actually was courageous enough to tell the nation that the election of Edgar Lungu was invalid and illegal. I warned Edgar not to abrogate the PF constitution, but he went ahead and did just that. Look where we are now.”
Interviewer: “And yet you Mr. Kabwili were quick to serve in his cabinet and defend him to the core. Why have you now turned against him?
Kambwili: “I had no choice. When a head of state appoints you, you’ve to oblige. But the truth is I was sad to see the party of Michael Chilufya Sata begin to disintegrate. The minute Edgar Lungu dismissed Guy Scott and became an ally of Rupiah Banda I knew there and then that we were headed for disaster. My most frustrating moment was when Dora Siliya left MMD and joined PF without first apologizing for insulting and demeaning the founder and architect of the party.”
Interviewer: “But Mr. Kambwili, if indeed you were saddened by president Lungu’s open support for Dora Siliya and other MMD defectors, why didn’t you resign in protest?”
Kambwili: “I didn’t want to fail the people of Zambia. When I was appointed Minister, I chose to serve my party, the people, and not Edgar Lungu. I did not want to be associated with him, because I knew right from the beginning that he was not a leader. He has no presidential acumen or qualities, and I might add no vision. That’s one of the reasons I took part in the elections. I was afraid Lungu would take us nowhere. I saw that in him each time he acted as president. He was a mere egg warmer. There was a huge difference between him and Guy Scott. Even me, had I become president or had Dr. Scott continued we would not be having this interview.”
The above hypothetical dialogue, although potentially delicate, does invoke the reality of Zambian politics in which back-stabbing, turn-coating, and Judas Iscariot tactics are modus operandi. I use Kambwili as a model because he has shown emotional devotion and acts simultaneously as a defender and preserver of what he calls “the party of Michael Chilufya Sata.” He is the erratic and maladroit devotee who despises Lungu inside and loves him outside.
It is not a travesty to claim that most PF zealots covertly accuse Lungu of hijacking their party, personalizing its apparatus and moving its centrifugal force to Chipata. They say he has snatched the PF away from the Bembas and handed it over to his Nyanja kith and kin. It is here that the rupture on the crater is about to erupt, ignited in part by Lungu’s dismal performance, the worst depreciation of the Kwacha, and the appointment of Dora Siliya as minister. Eleven months into Lungu’s reign, there are already surreptitious calls for a convention and whispers of “we want our party back!”
Jeremy Gould, Professor of Development and Cooperation at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland writes in his book Left Behind: Rural Zambia in the Third Republic that “tribalism is a register generally eschewed in public political discourse in Zambia” and that “ethnic tension is still considered an unmitigated virtue in each leader’s political legacy.” He adds: “ethnic identity and rivalry simmer ominously beneath the surface of Zambian politics.”
“It’s true,” a Zambian political pundit added. “Since the Tongas lost to the Bembas in the Kaunda-Nkumbula contest of January 1964, tribal affiliation continues to play a major role in national politics. When Frederick Chiluba became president the MMD was more assertive on the copperbelt and in Northern and Luapula provinces. When Rupiah Banda became president MMD power-base moved to the east.”
And according to information in the book Zambia: Building Prosperity from Resource Wealth edited by Christopher Adam, Michael Gondwe, and Paul Collier, when Sata founded PF in 2001, he was dependent to a large extent on the people of his homeland. “The PF was understood as an essentially Bemba party.”
Like Chiluba and Banda, Sata too was a tribalist. It is the reason he designed a party logo of a boat with the Bemba words “pabwato” (dugout canoe) as the party’s slogan. He was appeasing the subjects of Chitimukulu and Mwata Kazembe.
“That’s without doubt,” said the Zambian pundit. “Sata knew that voting was heavily determined by tribal loyalties. In other words, he was aware that tribalism plays a major role in the election of a leader. In fact it was Sata who in 2006 reinjected tribalist language in Zambian politics when he accused the United Democratic Alliance and the MMD of being biased against the Bemba.”
When Sata become president the tribalist assertion became clear. He appointed Bembas in the key ministries of Finance (Alexander Chikwanda), Defence (Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba), Foreign Affairs (Chishimba Kabwili), Health (Joseph Kasonde), and Home affairs (Kennedy Sakei). Nepotism manifested itself in government, diplomatic, and parastatal appointments, just like it did in the Banda regime. Relatives and underqualified tribes-mates found their way to embassies around the world.
Moreover, Sata allocated the bulk of government disbursement for roads, universities, and other social structures to Northern and Luapula provinces, causing Itezhi-Tezhi District Commissioner Roy Nangalelwa to accuse him of being a tribalist “who only favors and takes development to provinces occupied by the Bembas.”
Nangalelwa’s remarks did not deter Sata. By concentrating on Bembaland he was affirming his large power and making the Bembas more politically relevant. But things would happen quickly. As is the case in most personal-cum-cadre parties, Sata’s sudden departure caught many of his beneficiaries off guard and toppled the PF into chaos.
The PF Bemba elite of Geoffrey Mwamba, Miles Sampa, Mulenga Sata, Chishimba Kambwili, and Christine Kaseba, were hoping a successor among them would emerge. Lungu detected a loophole. Taking advantage of the dust cloud that shrouded the party, he recognized his opportunity. Knowing he would garner little support from the Bemba PF power circle, he turned to the East for help and found it in Rupiah Banda, the man who was still popular among his eastern vassals. Before the dust could settle, Lungu was standing on the stairs of the Supreme Court, the Holy Bible in hand.
Since he became president, Lungu too has shown infallible tribalist symptoms. It is because of him that Sata’s arch-rival Rupiah Banda has stealthily weaved his name into the fabric of the PF party. Together, Lungu and Banda are working to reduce the Bemba’s strong hold of the PF by dismantling its one-sided benefaction complex. So far they are on their way to dexterously moving the PF party to the east.
“Sata must be turning in his grave!” one of the PF zealots exclaimed. “How can we allow Banda of all the people to hijack our party? How? Can someone please tell me? This is a man who smeared and trashed our leader.” He went into a rant: “How can we sit back and allow Dora Siliya to become minister. How about us who sacrificed our lives, worked day and night to make sure PF won? He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
The zealots around him exclaimed: “We want Sata’s PF back!”
Please Note: The objective of this article is to show that Zambia is far from being tribalism free; that tribalism and nepotism are Zambia’s Achilles’ heel—a drawback in spite of our cultural co-existence. Tribalism and nepotism retard our development, they are the reason we are at the bottom of the totem pole, barely hanging in there. We need to find a quick way of rising above the fray.
By Field Ruwe
Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner, historian, author, and a doctoral candidate. Learn more about him on his website www.aruwebooks.com. On it you shall access his autobiography, articles, and books. Contact him, blog, or join in the debate. ©Ruwe2012.
Go to Luapula,Nothern, Muchinga,Estern, Copperbelt and Lusaka you will be surprised how many people support
Lungu`s PF. I don`t know why they don`t want HH.
To be honest Sata (mhsrp) would have reluctantly gone to bed with UPND than MMD. What Edgar has done is despicable, Sata must be turning in his grave. It took Sata 10 years to get rid of the corrupt MMD and only a few months for Edgar to destroy all that Sata worked for. RB, Kaingu (the man who tore apart Sata’s address to parley) Vincent Mwale, Dora Siliya, Lucky Mulusa just to mention a few….
I have a high fragrance for intellectual rigor in a democratic space, but a big laughter on flawed idealism. Ruwe, and his acts of aberration is a good thriller writer, and passionate American leftist history student. Sadly he is not anchored on strategies of the real world political theater. When Bashi Chilufya ruled, he lined up as a rumor mill to defame him into his grave as a useless tribalist that ever existed in plot 1 with a “90% concentrated cabinet” so he insinuated.
No apologetics, ECL was the grassroots’ choice. The scheme to subvert the people’s will failed flat and it’s doomed beyond Decision 2016 because Lungu understands that the success and growth of PF and as a country depends on commitment to inclusion of all Zambians and equity. It’s about establishing a partnership…
President Lungu, understands that the success and growth of PF and as a country depends on commitment to inclusion of all Zambians and equity. Success in the political theater is about establishing a partnership with the people across divides, demographics and intuition anchored on a spirit of building unity through many balanced acts and value for all. To those isolationist and eccentric icons ethnic calls, know that the distinctly Zambian spirit for unite and optimism is confoundingly hard to shake.To believe that t.r.i.b.a.l.i.s.m would triumph a unitary state, is fallacious reasoning.
Forget about Sata’s PF. Edgar Lungu, in RB’s thieving ways have snatched the party and shared all valuable positions among themselves and their people. With the Cobra dead forget the resurrection of the PF.
Most Bembas are tribalists and thieves whether you like it or not. Ba kumawa uninji wawo nibaka boyi. How do you expect this combination to develop the country? Let’s be real here. Zambia needs to move away from these characters if we are to develop. Look at where we are…..
The zealots around him exclaimed: “We want Mazoka’s UPND back!” Ba Ruwe, your prefered candidate is headed for another loss. You can write as many articles as you wish against the PF, majority of them are read by people in the diaspora and that’s how come your candidate always wins polls on the net by more than 85%.
Who the hell give that Ruwe that picture of Sata??
Please don’t remind us of good times.
Sata was the biggest tribalist Zambia had ever had, no wonder all former presidents said , he was not fit to be president of Zambia. Thank God for taking Sata away – may his soul rest in HELL.
Interesting thoughts Ruwe…….. Thank you for the food for thought!
Mine is a short one. Kambwili is the one who sourced for the support for pf from RB. why is ka luwe propagating lies. We follow issues better than you kakolwe.
U’re just expressing your idiocy because u know what you are talking about!
The Bembas say, “pafwa bantu pashala bantu!”. After President Sata’s demise, the train has moved on with a new driver. Wake up and adjust to the new reality or perish in the irredeemable past!
Train has moved on with a new driver????
A DRUNK DRIVER? or just ON AUTOPILOT?
Very soon Zambia Railways will have gone COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS!
A casual inspection of Lungu’s cabinet informs me that the man is not as tribaly rotten as his predecesor (MHSRIP). To be fair to the man, he is trying hard to pull the PF out of the tribal flu it caught under the cobra. Here is Lungu’s cabinet: President: Lungu (Eastern), Vice: Wina (Western), Defence: Syamunene (Southern), Finance: Chikwanda (Northen and failure), Kambwili: (Mwakyusa from Mbeya, just kiding). Whatever Lungu’s many failings, tribalism is not one of his weakness. Check Sata’s record and puke!
“Finance: Chikwanda (Northen and failure)”
I laughed so hard.
I think Mr. Ruwe has sunk very low on this one! Accusing Lungu of tribalism is totally out of the way. The man has done very in trying to make PF much more ethnically representative than any other president in the recent past. MMD moved to the east not during Banda’s rule it did that under Levy! it just shows that Mr. Ruwe is the one who is so tribal that he can not see issues as they are the ground. You can blame Lungu on the economy, though even that is a very shallow blame on him cause Mr. Ruwe surely know what is happening right now in the world economy! Lungu is not even favored in the east as Rupiah was, he is more favored in the north and Luapula! Grow up man and accept the fact that the Mbuya combination of Nyanjas and Bembas has worked very well unlike the Lozi and Tonga one…
Comment:I disagree with the author somehow.While tribalism does exist in Zambian politics, it is not true that Guy Scot and the group are angels. Guy Scot is a cartel, a group which has destroyed zambia economically, culturally and socially.If SATs was alive today still Guy Scot would have gone the Winter Kabimba way. Who does not know that Data fired Guy Scot and he was saved by Elexander Chikwanda.It is the satanic cartel who wanted Guy Scot, not the Bembas.Sata and majority of Bembas wanted Edgar to take over. He is not even turning i n the grave because that was his political plan the PF not to be called a bemba party by leaving it the hands of a bemba. The RB factor came into PF politics because Edgar had no money for campaigns and not because of tribalism. This is a fact known by…
there is nothing like sata’s PF. pf has evolved, it has undergone the stages of any institution or group. it has matured and operating at another level. know that you can rule with only 3 provinces in zambia, now. you need to be strategic and lungu has seen that. he looks dull because the current economics is not in his favour. but wait when he starts making grades in that sector, he will be a darling of many. pipo laughed and teased LPM, later he bacame a hero and pipo started naming public facilities after him because of what he did. so wait, i can see lungu doing surprises, good surprises and all critics will be mauless. he might have not started well, but his ending will be memorable , that i can assure masses
i meant know that you cannot rule with only 3 provinces in zambia, now. you need to be strategic and lungu has seen that.
Sata mhsrip is one choose ecl to be our next presindent after him we can prove by the number of positions he left him.the country is moving forward under ecl only that we depend on copper wich has lost its value.
When did you cede your right to vote to Sata?
And why did you have to vote anyway?
Eubutu ba mwisa ba mwene mubena Africa: All you need to do is convince them that they are children of a lesser god and they will do whatever you want them to even when you are gone.
This belief underlie your actions in every sphere of your life, be it religion or politics.
Seriously, who is Sata to choose the next political servant for you?
THINK
The PF is not against appointment of people from different tribes and regions, The issue is why appoint the same people who committed some hate acts towards others. Are Dora Siliya or Kaingu the only suitable people in Peatuke and Kaingu area. Of course there are better, wiser people. I think that business man of Petauke was popular enough and would have been just fine. But why stick with Siliya? Are there no other people in those regions? Can someone tell me
Artico Above Cant Change Our Support For Lungu In Northwestern Province We Needed Development Now Development Is Everywhere In Solwezi What More Can We Ask For.We Know There Pipo Who Feel HH Can Do Better Than This Mark My Words He Is Going To Pour More Money In Northern To Win Popularity Than Pf Has Done. Lets Push All Our Politicians In One Party So That We Ve Word In It.Our Population Is Small Lets Be Together To Make A Gud Impact.Already We Are Doing Fine In Pf Than In Any Party In Zed.See Representation Nwp~ok,wp~ok,cb~ok,cp~ok Lp~ok,ep~ok,sp~ok,mp~ok,np~ok,lskp~ok. HH MISSED TWO WINNING PENALTIES HE IS NOLONGER IN THE TEAM
CHOOSE~ (A) A HARD WORKING DRUKARD HAS UPND PUT IT (B) HAKANA HUKUPEPA HH DEVIL WORSH~ I TELL YOU IWUD GO FOR (A) ITS RISKING IN (B) KUTI BAKUDOSA TUMULOPA KWATI MUKA D~
Imwe Dada AField Ruwe, Mkhumbachi? From your analysis, it is clear you do not know the people of the east. You claim to be from the east but you do not know your people at all. You are the same guy who wrote Rupiah Banda was one of the worst presidents Zambia has ever had. Your stay on the copperbelt diluted your brain. If you cared to do a proper analysis, you will be surprised to see how similar you and ECL think. You are the type of easterners who think speaking in bemba makes you a town person, okachangamuka. Your article on Zambia presidents and this one have been the worst in satire or is it analysis. Baba come off your high horse and continue to chew your Big Mac!
Comment:taunu you are very dull when you bembas are thieves and eaterners ba ka boyi. let me tell you this tongas have had no leadership since colonial rule not until chilubas time that he named chief bright nalubamba as paramount and you can how scattered your trditional ceremonies are worse is your respect on your chiefs very low you respect a headman more than a chief and then you bring a hand picked president on trial base to rule zambia shame on you feras get failures gbm and cancius they must be tonga mothered
pipo forget so easily, have u forgotten that in 2012 there about dora went to statehouse and had a meetuiing with the cobra. she was even harrased by her fellow MMD fellows because MMD was issues with Andeleki the former registrar of societies( i wonder where he is). do you know what dora nad the cobra talked about. note that petauke central constituency was one of the few that had no MP for a long time and PF never objected. the PF was not even a hurry to go shpts in petiz, siliya’s home town. so beef between dora, kaingu and the cobra were not there even by the time MCs was dying. he had forgiven and forgotten, while you and the others are still fishing from the sea of forgetfulness, ‘DEAD DRIED FISH.’