Friday, March 29, 2024

Chief Chtimukulu was not being tribal for urging his subject to vote in numbers as alleged by UPND

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By Sunday Chilufya Chanda

Let me begin by paying homage to an icon of Zambia’s struggle for Independence; one of Zambia’s founding fathers; a patriarch of patriarchs; an esteemed culturist who would have been two years shy of his 100th birthday today -The late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe 12th April 1922 to. January 26, 1980 (MHSRIP) .

And seeing that the essence of this particular piece touches on respect for traditional leadership, an aspect that is integral to our culture; it would only be appropriate to use one of the late Kapwepwepwe’s many insightful quotes on the subject:

“Culture is the heritage of us all. some may be more interested than others in the treasures of the past, but no one can fail to take a pride in his country’s participation in the story of mankind, as represented in carvings, sculpture, music, paintings and the other arts. And there is a personal commitment to this, for no man can really say he is alone: we are all joined through our identity, with the cultures which are part of the mainstream of life.”

It is evident that UPND, its uncultured leadership, and its alliance partners do not value culture; They are, let’s say, to put it mildly, uncouth. On this score, I wish to ask my elder brother Mr. Chishimba Kambwili, leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to state whether or not he buys into the propaganda by an alliance partner in the name of UPND.

How else could their madness to launch unprovoked personal attacks on the Paramount Chief of the Bemba- His Royal Highness Chitimukulu- Mwine Lubemba be explained?

What kind of looney frenzy has driven UPND and its uncultured leadership to unleash unwarranted insults against all the Bemba speaking people? As usual, UPND the Dons of Distortion, Harbours of Hatred and Masters of Malice, have twisted something positive. This time they have distorted some guidance Mwine Lubemba gave in good faith in a radio interview.

There is nothing tribal with what the Paramount Chief said on Radio Mano as he spoke to his people. UPND and its allied online media are trying to make political capital out of it because they think everyone is like them. They have conveniently twisted the Bemba Paramount Chief’s remarks and used them out of context to suit their morbid tribal agenda. If anything, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has demonstrated his admiration for the Southerners, of whom he eulogises:

“They know what they want.”

While Bembas constitute a very significant part of the Zambian population (about 22%), their voting figures and trends do not reflect a pattern that is characteristic of Southern Province – which had a voter turnout of 70%. (Bembaland only had 50% voter turnout). That’s why just one province beat the combined vote of Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces. It’s a statement of fact!

Was it wrong for the Paramount Chief to encourage his subjects to take interest in voting for national leadership that will secure their interest? Isn’t the essence of voting to elect leadership that brings development to the voter’s area? Is it wrong for the Bemba Paramount Chief to prod his subjects to get to KNOW what they want in an election?
Is there anything wrong with admiring the voting zeal and consistency of citizens from a part of our country? What is wrong with emulating their zeal in knowing what they want?

Instead of continuing with their lackadaisical approach to national matters and their apathy to elections, what is wrong with Bembas replicating the spirit behind the consistent voting trends and high voter turnout intensity of their Southern bretheren? Surely, doesn’t one good turn deserve another? Can anyone become President if the Bemba population at 22% decided to vote along tribal lines? Your answer is as good as mine!

Did the Paramount Chief direct his subjects to vote for a fellow tribesman or woman? No he did not! Is there any wrong in replicating the voting enthusiasm of Southern Province? No there isn’t! Then why do UPND and its leadership have it so twisted?

Why are they jittery? Leave the Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga II of the Bemba speaking people of Zambia out of your bitterness.

The Author is a Patriotic Front Media Director. At the Patriotic Front Secretariat.

52 COMMENTS

  1. Ba LT u are giving space to a reaction to a story that u ignored yesterday.
    Where is yr professionalism if any!

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    • Other chiefs in this country should be careful with chitimukulu, this thing is about the council of Paramount chiefs is one sinister move,whose aim is for him and others Paramount chiefs to colonize other other smaller tribes and tribes without paramount chiefs, why would he refer to luapula, northern and muchinga provinces as bembaland when there other tribes there like the ushi, lungu, namwanga, mambwe, visa and mwata kazembes lunda people.

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  2. Matters of tribalism should not be priotised and should be debated in a civilised way,remember we lost thousands oo our african brothers and sisters in Rwanda because of such , one zambia one nation

  3. Had such a statement come from Chief Mukuni or any Chief from Southern, Western or Northwestern, this Ka Red lipped M@gg0t -Bandit Monday Chanda’s toxic “kabonga” would have instantly gone ERECT, as he spews venom & spits tr!balistic feathers.
    If those sentiments are indeed from Chitimukulu, THEN WHO REALLY ARE THE BONAFIDE TR!BALISTS IN ZAMBIA??
    Ati “we should be responsible for who becomes Republican President” What a greedy sense of entitlement.
    Is that why 75% of Government/Parastatal positions today are filled by Ba Katangese?

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  4. Upnd are losing in their stronghold of western province, North Western looks shaky as well. They are desperate. They will resort to anything to improve this reality. Instead of alternative policies, they want to stick to their failed strategy of hate, tribalism and lies. No wonder their sponsors are threatening to pull out.

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  5. This is not the first time this chief has uttered remarks the are border line tribal. LT post the recording if everything is above board!!! If Chief Mukuni had said these things would Sunday Chanda have sprung to his defence? What hypocrisy by our brothers!! We are not stupid. By the way Sunday, who was the drunkard who is just drinking and not showing leadership that Chitimukulu was referring to?

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  6. By the way, what did UPND say as a party about this? Please feature that and the audio so we can get a clearer picture.

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  7. Irony, they had to use a Bemba to defend his Chief? Bemba’s are the most tribal ethnic grouping in the this country. 21% of 17m people translates to 3.6m. Can chanda and his Chief provide a complete picture of all the 74 tribes in Zambia?

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    • When people speak the dialects of your tribe it doesn’t necessarily make them your members of your tribe, infact when one decides to ignore other tribe’s dinstict behaviors and label them as part of his tribe that in itself is tribalism. You can’t refer to a soli or lenje in lusaka and central province as Tonga just because of speaking a similar dialect, same with bemba you can’t refer to a bisa, namwanga, mambwe as a bemba, that is disrespectful to those tribes.

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  8. Truth be told, Sunday Chanda may be wrong on dragging UPND into this , coz its not UPND that said this Audio is tribal rather its an individual who we dont know if he is UPND member. However, Mwinelubemba Mulopwe Chitimukulu 38th, Kanyanta Manga II did not speak any tribal remark, He addressed an issue of development, Voter apathy among bembas compared to our fellow the southerner’s, lack of understanding among Bembas as regards what they want in choosing a national leader so that they can voter for a leader that will take care of their interest in development. The King is open for bembas to choose any leader regardless of Tribe so long that leader takes care of their interest. He went further to give examples that bembas have contributed in voting massively who includes presidents from…

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  9. But the PF govt has taken so much development in terms of new social capital. New civic centre in Kasama, a bridge on the Chambeshi river on Mbesuma road, tarred Kasama-Mansa road, tarred Nakonde-Mbala road, 2 universities in Chinsali, new hospital at Mungwi, new hospital at Chinsali, tarred Kasama-Mporokoso road and more. Wht has Solwezi got despite being the base of First Quantum Mining the biggest taxpayer in Zambia? Do u think North-Westerners are unable to see this step-child treatment?

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  10. There is no problem with the chief from any party of the country urging their subjects to go and vote in large numbers or a large voter turnout. We have a agreed as a nation that there is genereally a low voter turnout in Zambia in general but very high voter turnout in Southern province in particular. The 2016 general elections saw our colleagues originally from Southern province of Zambia living in the diaspora come in large numbers to cast their vote. UPND had huge numbers of votes from Southern province and also won several wards across the country but fail short of wining the presidential majorit. However no other political party won anything in Southern province. But UPND won wards in as far flung areas from southern province as Mpulungu. You cannot say the same for any other…

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  11. … But UPND won wards in as far flung areas from southern province as Mpulungu. You cannot say the same for any other political party in Southern province. What does that tell you? UPND are understandably afraid because they are masters of tribal voting pattern. So if a chief urges their subjects to turnout in large numbers to vote the UPND quickly turns it into tribal vote. That is the sad reality.

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  12. Why does this punk Chanda always talk about tribalism or Hh ??

    Can’t he talk about the economy ? Cost of living or job creation under PF ? Or even exports ??

    Looks to me like he gets erections from talking about tribalism

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  13. HOW DOES UPND come in here?? I DONT SEE ANY UPND CONNECTION…. THIS SYCOPHANT CALLED SUNDAY IF LEFT UNCHECKED HAS A POTENTIAL TO CAUSE HAVOC IN THIS COUNTRY. WHO IS BEMBA? 21% WHERE….

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  14. Kelvin Mulanga: Here’s a historical titbit for u. Read John Mwanakatwe’s book END OF KAUNDA ERA. There’s something Mwanakatwe says about voter turnout in Southern province. It was always higher than everwhere else in Zambia and it was for UNIP. Wht does that tell you about Southerners? And there was no Tonga candidate standing for president in 1991 and 1996. Still voter turnout was very high in Southern province. Look at all the evidence and not just one piece of evidence. Southern province also leads performance at O-level exams in Zambia and has done so for years.

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  15. This “Chieve” is such a vicious tribal bigot! That’s why he is now lobbying all Bembas to register in large numbers because we know he now wants Ng’andu from the Treasury to take over from Lungu. In Johannesburg last year, he referred to Luundas from Luapula as ba Tubulu abanyina mumenshi, all of a sudden now that he wants their vote, they’re Bemba! What a bigoted *****!

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  16. Chitimukulu is being hypocritical and selfish because the PF govt has done a lot in his area. And remember, the PF govt is a Zambian govt and not a Bemba govt. It taxes all the people and has to spend well in all parts of the country. I hope Chitimukulu will be brave enough to defend himself by clarifying a number of issues. The interviewer was perhaps his subject and was fearing to quiz him. Since he loves to talk, let the Chitimukulu appear at a public function in Lusaka.

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  17. Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans

    This thing called Sunday Chanda, I really can’t stand it anymore. Every time this dude opens his mouth he spews hatred and he thinks he is the best thing that ever happened to Zambia.

    He is really advocating tribalism in broad daylight using the Bembas and Chitimukulu and in any other countries with proper functioning, independent law enforcement agencies, he would be questioned to explain himself.

    When did he become a Chitimukulu spokesperson… he’s almost giving an impression that PF is for Bembas and Chitimukulu and vice versa.

    PF have nothing left and they will resort to all kinds of cheap tricks even to the point of igniting a civil war to benefit their stranglehold onto power. Tribalism is one weapon they use to blind the uneducated and unsuspecting electorates. Watch…

  18. Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans

    …Watch this space!

    Chitimukulu if he was wise, he would tell this Sunday guy to stop speaking for him and ‘defending’ him. Just because his name is ‘Chanda’ should not give him the powers to drag him into his cheap political games. You wouldn’t that with the Litunga even if you were a prince or princess from the royal family… you would be reprimanded.

    If Chitimukulu has a good memory, he will remember that it was the PF with Lungu as Home Affairs minister in charge of the cops who banished him from his palace into ‘exile’ and whatever hold coins they give him now are just meant to bribe and induce him so they can use him for their continued stay in power!

    “With great power comes great responsibility”!

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  19. This Bemba Tonga bif is getting out of hand. 21% pure Bemba and 14% Tonga are the two biggest tribes by number but only represents 35% & based on the so called the 7 major tribes theory, the 33% un assigned also mainly feed into the 2 above tribes, tribes like lala,lamba, ushi into bemba, soli, lenje into Tonga. So the two tribes command 68% of voters numbers.
    This has to stop, May the vast provinces like western and North western please increase in population ,the two provinces equal muchinga , luapula, northern and copperbelt put together in land mass but very sparsely populated.Can they please increase deliberately so we can diffuse tribal majority and peharps after that we may start voting for credible national leaders.and some tribes will stop boasting of numbers superiority.

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  20. The UPND and HH are so afraid that if the Bembas vote as the Tongas do, then UPND and HH will be buried for good. This is the reason behind their backlash as they will no longer capitalise on a Bemba-vote apathy this time around as their strategy has been unveiled. Along the lines of the Mwine Lubemba, I urge the Bembas to gain interest in voting in big numbers just as the Tongas do. You should also know what you want. I end my case.

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  21. If I see authors names Sunday fing Ch&** and Anthony Bwalya I dont even bother reading their articles no finesse…its like some drunk shouting across at the bus station.

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  22. Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga 2 would not have been Chitimukulu if it were not for UPND to recognise him as such because late president Michael Chiluya Sata had threatened to DETHRONE him in preference to a relation of him (Sata). So, when Chitimukulu bemoans the lack of leadership in Bembaland, it’s a big telling. We ask then; What of the noise we get from all those who believe being Bemba and are in PF leadership. For example, Nkandu Luo, Chitotela, Stephen Kampyongo, Kampamba, Ng’andu Mumbi Phiri, etal. Others in Luapula only speak the language but not grouped into Bembas as place of origin.
    Mwine Lubemba should learn that ‘Every pain gives a lesson and every lesson changes a person’.

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  23. The problem with Sunday Chanda is that he is unable to articulate issues intellectually without finding a way to bring in UPND and/or HH into his discourse. What I’m trying to say in so many word is that the guy is a mambala

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  24. The key is, once you see Monday Chanda defending you just know you’re an Enemy of the majority. I didn’t even read the nonsense up here but I know I am commenting correctly

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  25. Can someone summon ka Chief Mukuni to any radío station so that we compare his mouth with that of HRH Mwine Lubemba.

    What if there is no Bemba MP in UPND but PF has Tonga MPs

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  26. The only tribal group or rather party in this country, is those who made a full announcement that only a Tonga can rule their party. Every zambian knows this and knows what they are like and indeed they are living up to that by having only the same candidate for over a decade even when he continues to lose. What a shame

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  27. Chiefs are tribal by their nature. They rule over tribes not over republics. They can only address their subjects not citizens. If we have decided to create a new nation then Chiefs are irrelevant if we want to progress chiefs won’t help us. They are archaic

  28. @kz..indeed what a shame to someone who was a political advisor to the presidency and now has nothing to do apart from making noise on LT day and nite. Chimbwi no plan kaMonkey akaa.

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  29. Agony is where PF cadres have admitted and made it publicly that they rigged the last elections and challenged the PF regime to either take them to court or expel them from PF and nothing has happened. Even KZ has publicly stated that he MADE PF regime win elections. Zambians know the people who defrauded them the last elections – Judge Chulu, Ms Isaacs, Chavula, Ms Kampamba etc. Many will dread that time not to come and yet time is ticking and so it shall be to tell the tale.

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  30. @Truth Hates , This is just politics….. HH can feed you and your entire CLAN for 100 years… Now that is the man you want to bury….

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  31. So time back Sunday Chanda was crunching numbers about the voting pattern in southern province he said southern province & upnd are tribal because a large numbers of southerners voted for upnd he kept on mentioning “numbers don’t lie ” in that article now a few months down the line Chitimukulu advocates for the same voting pattern Sunday Chanda was against now things have changed since it’s Chitimukulu it’s not tribalism and now it’s now called culture ** from the recording you can hear Chitimukulu saying bembas should vote for someone who will represent their interests as a tribe is that not tribalism ^^^^^sometimes I wonder what kind of a person is Sunday Chanda what’s wrong with this young man

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  32. Can someone please pull up the article I have mentioned the one Sunday Chanda did it should be titled if am not mistaken ” Numbers don’t lie” . Let people judge for themselves the kind of snakes we are dealing with the kind of devil we have at hands these are the creatures some people decide to support people only interested in their own interests people willing to risk civil war just to remain in power it’s common knowledge calling for mob justice to burn a man you is innocent is equivalent to attempted murder so what do we call a government connected man that dares to call an entire province tribal is that not an attempt to bring about civil unrest

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  33. Where was Sunday Chanda whn Michael Sata was misusing state power by blocking Henry Kanyanta Sosala from being installed as Chitimukulu? That’s whn he needed him most. Indeed where were the rest of his subjects? I know where they were. They were in the queue at Sata’s office looking for jobs.

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  34. Just shut up already…We are tired of your fat ugly face…go away please….we don’t want to see your face…I can’t wait to see you after this garbage administration loses. You will be a nobody my friend…

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  35. I too, was appalled at the distortion of what Chitimukulu said. The distortion is so divisive, so antiBemba and tends to push the country deeper into tribal groupings. Needles to say, but UPND has just lost my vote and I may not be the only one.

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  36. Vintage Point do you have a written statement from UPND on the chitimukulu matter or you r already imaging things bcoz monday chanda has said so

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  37. Us tongas are tribal wes should not even dispute that,only upnd wins in southern province which is not normal no wonder other tribes are talking. We should change not defending buyanga

  38. Why the f.uck is everyone justifying and defending the chief? He meant what he said and that was tribal. UPND has not issued any statement, why drag them into the mud?

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  39. I listened to the speech of Chief Chitimukulu actually the Chief in his speech he sounds like he is not happy with the PF government and am just surprised with Sunday Chanda’s statement twisting things and i have not heard any UPND leader who has commented or responded on the statement of the Chief.
    This Sunday Chanda is sick why are you trying to make fire were there is no wood why are you twisting the words of Chief Chitimukulu the Chief is not happy with you he said you can’t even fix a pothole properly he said you guys are failures stop inciting tribalism instead of developing the country you are always busy looking for faults in people.

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  40. Sunday Chanda instead of sorting out your mess in PF you are busy pointing at UPND it is clear that Chief Chitimukulu wants KBF as PF presidential candidate for 2021 and not Lungu because your brain is so small you can’t pensive it sort out your third term issue then you can point at UPND as things stand you don’t have a presidential candidate in PF because Lungu does not qualify.

  41. If a Tonga chief or elite comes out in support of a fellow to nga it is tribalism, so is in case of a bemba, lozi, easterner.
    Having said that Bemba are 22% of Zambian population, how come there has never been a bemba president in Zambia?
    By law of probability at least there should have been two and a half bemba presidents in last 55 years.

    Let there be a bemba president or a Tonga president in 2021. Tonga president, by same mathematical calculation deserves to be there one and a half time in 56 years.

    I will vote for a bemba or a Tonga president in 2021. Still better a candidate who has roots, relatives in both tribes.

  42. @Sichalwe, you are naive to politics. KBF is not wanted by Chitimukulu. Wait for a surprise of surprises of Zambian politics in May 2021.

  43. Me and my close people will never ever or even think of voting no matter what for a party that celebrated the death of our former president ba SATA period. I wonder what CK is doing with the people that insulted his hero day in day out. It will always be PF until Jesus come.

  44. MunaDekhane ,KZ IS STILL AT STATE HOUSE. HE HAS NO LIFE BEYOND STATE HOUSE. RED LIP CHANDA,U ARE AN *****. HOW DOES UPND COME INTO THE STORY. ULICHIPUBA SANA PAMO NENSHILU KZ. MALLA CHONDI

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