Friday, April 19, 2024

The HH Presidency:Why the Tonga tribe is on trial

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By Chimwemwe Mwanza

This heading is not only repulsive but emotive enough to upset a segment of politically conscious Zambians – more so in the aftermath of a bitterly contested Presidential election.
Yet nothing compares in its vulgarity to this infamous remark. ‘Zambia will one day have a Tonga President but not this one,’ retorted former President Edgar Lungu to a question on the possibility of a Hakainde Hichilema Presidency.

Notwithstanding the sarcasm with which he delivered this message, Lungu was conscious of its impact on the electorate. It is precisely why he used the Presidency as a bully pulpit to deliver such a crudely stitched innuendo. He knew very well the influence and power of the office that he has since vacated. In retrospect, did President Kenneth Kaunda – Zambia’s founding statesman’s ethnicity ever matter?

Put more succinctly, did it ever bother our electorate or the political commentariat that Kaunda’s successor Frederick Chiluba was Bemba? If not, why then should ethnicity become a prism through which the HH Presidency be viewed? The fact that we are even discussing ethnicity with focus on a specific tribe and 57 years after independence is reflective of the low bar that politicians have set in our social discourse. However, the reality is that fear sells, and this is something that politicians know too well.

In fact, nothing scares the Zambian electorate more than having a tribalist sitting in state house. It is thus fair to state that in the absence of a compelling campaign message, politicians tend to resort to base politics hence the Patriotic Front’s (PF) decision to enlist Chishimba Kambwili as the attack dog to amplify their assault on HH’s persona. This was a well calculated move by the PF to exploit Kambwili, a formidable politician with a solid grassroot following in both Lusaka and the Copperbelt – two swing provinces that were critical to the electoral outcome.

Why Tribalphobia is Zambia’s biggest threat?

With Eastern, Northern, Luapula and Muchinga provinces firmly in the PF corner, he was the chief points man designated to arrest the PF’s waning fortunes in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. Whether he did succeed or fail in his scaremongering mission should not be seen in the context of PF’s loss but the overall impact of his messaging on the larger electorate. In the bigger scheme of this analysis, HH’s victory is inconsequential. While he won the election, it may well be true that HH somewhat lost his standing as a non-tribal leader especially among the PF faithful and independents that voted against his candidature.

Whichever way you look at it, PF with help from the likes of its Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri (she of the bakachema fame), GBM, Canicious Banda and Kambwili among others did succeed to put ethnicity on the ballot alongside unemployment, rampant corruption, rising cost of living and poverty among others. This is evident in the voting pattern as demonstrated in the Eastern, Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces.

We can argue all we like and rightly so, but the facts and outcome of the elections tell a different story. Zambia is now dangerously divided into two parts, one shared by the UPND and the other half by the PF. Which brings us to the crux of the discussion.

HH waving to the crowd during his inauguration
HH waving to the crowd during his inauguration

Is HH a tribalist? It is difficult to pierce through this man’s veil but those that were once in his inner sanctum tell conflicting stories regarding his character. In fairness, there is hardly any tangible evidence to prove such. However, it is worth noting though that his ascent to the United Party for National Development (UPND) Presidency was problematic giving rise to a perception that he was enthroned to the UPND Presidency by a cabal that wanted to create a Tonga hegemony. To this day, this perception continues to fester hence the belief that the UPND is a tribal party.

Add to this, the commentariat including sections of the media peddled this notion with maximum potency effectively robbing the electorate a balanced view from which to interrogate his personality. In fact, no Zambian Presidential candidate has ever borne the brunt of a tribal stigma as much as HH. It can be argued that his defeat in previous Presidential polls was in part enabled by a sustained media attack on his persona. In truth, the HH we know has largely been defined by the media and his political detractors.

It now seems amusing that the leader of a party that was called all sorts of names including a derisory reference to being a leader of a Bantustan is today in charge of government. With the PF having collapsed Zambia’s political and moral fibre and Lungu on a slow march to political oblivion, the in-coming leader has the added burden of restoring decency to the country’s political landscape.
To suggest that HH is now carrying the weight of the nation on his shoulders is being charitable; the appropriate description is that the weight of his nation is resting on his entire body. This includes a toxic political environment bequeathed by the outgoing regime

As he prepares to govern, optics will also focus on the ethnic composition of his cabinet and the rest of his government, perhaps unfairly so. But this is the Zambia he has inherited. It is a pity that a tribal balancing act will rob him the luxury of picking his best team. Blame this on the toxic politics perpetuated by the likes of Kambwili and his handlers – precisely why uniting Zambia and helping it rid of tribal politics should rank as one of his top priorities.

The author is an avid scholar of political history and philosophy. Raised in the multi-cultural city of Livingstone, he often ate ndongo and mapopwe with his peers drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds. He also knows a thing or two about mashendo yamu Livingstone. Mwanza remains a lifelong fan of both magnificent Kabwe Warriors and Liverpool. For feedback, contact [email protected]

73 COMMENTS

  1. This is really toxic. I was just speaking proudly with my friends in Northern Ireland how it is not as easy to tell a person’s tribe by their last name as it was a generation or two ago which is awesome because we are all Zambians. Let’s not go down that rabbit hole, it’s toxic and everyone loses. In Northern Ireland, there was a civil war between Catholics (minority) and protestants -majority and who supported Britain. Demographics have changed now, Catholics are the majority but we have turned a corner since 1998. Focus on your future development and not irrelevant things like accidents of birth (tribe and religion are just that). If you were born in the middle east, chances of you being Muslim would be higher than if you were born in South America. Let’s grow up!

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  2. Lungu was the biggest tribal bigot ever……

    No president of the Republic of zambia should actively encourage tribal attacks by allowing his senior ministers on nationsl air to openly attack ones tribe…..

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  3. Will there be resentment like we made you president so give us all the jobs, or will there be we are all Zambian it doesn’t matter who takes what job? Let’s wait and see. Let’s not prematurely support or condemn.

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  4. This will end in tears for many youths who thought HH is their messiah….kikikikikikiki now he’s wearing white gloves….he doesn’t want dirty on his hands…Forward Forward Forwarded…meanwhile the youths are starving their messiah has some white gloves on

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  5. “Only a Tonga must succeed Mazoka” is what brought about the ugly topic of tribalism in this country. We have given an opportunity to the Tongas. They are also Zambians and have the intelligence to govern this country. It is true they are on trial. We shall assess by the end of 5 years if they will deserve another 5 years BUT should tribalism rear its ugly head in these work places and businesses, UPND will make history as the shortest-serving party and Hichilema will be the first and last Tonga to rule this country

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  6. Your voting patterns as a tribe has drawn attention to the fact that you do indeed have a tribal inclination in your reasoning. It’s only fair that you are watched to see if it will extend to giving other tribes equal opportunities. As it is Southern province and it’s affiliated strongholds, Northwestern and Western provinces did not give any other party a single vote at MP or Councilor level when the rest of Zambia showed you the way and voted for you without tribal bias.

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  7. Your voting patterns as a tribe has drawn attention to the fact that you do indeed have a tribal inclination in your reabsoning. It’s only fair that you are watched to see if it will extend to giving other tribes equal opportunities. As it is Southern province and it’s affiliated strongholds, Northwestern and Western provinces did not give any other party a single vote at MP or Councilor level when the rest of Zambia showed you the way and voted for you without tribal bias.

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  8. This article is so toxic. A dead cow is dead. You don’t need to shoot it to make it more dead. The recent elections have already proved tribe is an irrelevant issue to Zambians. It’s a good thing the majority of the voters don’t patronize LT. Editors at LT, don’t accept articles anyhow. We need news, not indoctrination.

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  9. We should condemn Tribalism in all its faces, hidden or exposed. I assume this author was probably not born when tribes from Southern, Western and North Western provinces were persecuted by the PF regime. I would really have loved if he had written something to condemn that “genocide” at that time or probably it did not matter because he was in the inner circle then. Our brothers and Sisters lost employment or could not be promoted because their Surnames were perceived to be from these Provinces. How heartless they ( PF) were…!! God forgive them.

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  10. Saulosi is the resurrected Kaizer Zulu kikkkikikikikikik. We remember Saulosi during the 2015/16 elections and went underground only to appear later on as KZ! Next he will be ECL. This guy is like a cat! He has 22 lives! kikikikikikik

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  11. Let me be very categorical on this. The people of Southern, Western, Central Province, Lamba rural , North Western Provinces and other well meaning Zambians refused to vote for an incompetent Leader. For some reason best known to your selves you could not see this thuggery leadership until hunger came into your homes too. We suffered so much at hands of PF up to the moment the election results were announced – we were singled out to have rigged the elections.

    And take this very strongly, we believe in One Zambia One Nation but are not scared to split this Country if that is what the innuendos of this article are all about.

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  12. So let’s wait and see. However, going by the voting patterns recently exhibited in southern, western and north western provinces, there appears to be no room for other tribes. Can this change? Highly unlikely.

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  13. Tribalism is bad and HH knows that and he has since elected made reference to this fact. He has even gone further to state that no one will be retired under the pretext of nation interest. He said it at his house and repeated it at heroes stadium. We need to allow HH rule with our sincere support. The people who mislead presidents are those surrounding him and the media. After the elections I expect you scholars to pick the presidents speech and re-emphasis it and pick talking points on which the electorate should hold HH accountable not this issue of Tribalism. Such things are better discussed by street vendors but scholars bringing such things. eesh. Ba Scholar advise HH what he should do to end corruption in the procurement systems of government please.

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  14. We all wanted to kick PF out, but the way Tongas voted, I still feel ka tribalism kalimo. Imagine Dundumwezi where the said Lungu took development, but he still got votes in hundreds against votes in thousands of HH. Who knows that even those hundreds votes were for some civil servants and not people from Dundumwezi? I am just giving an example of Dundumwezi, but the trend was throughout the province. Look at Eastern, its a stronghold of PF, but there is not Constituency that HH got votes in hundreds. mmmmm ba Tonga mwaonekera.

  15. I ordinary life, there is no tribe. The only time we propagate t.r.i.b.a.l.i.s.m, is when we are in politics.
    The southernmost, western and nortwesterners have been swindled of presidency since Kaunda time. They are on trial, but observation. To see what they are capable of doing once top leadership is granted to them.

  16. Only a Tonga must succeed Mazoka” is what brought about the ugly topic of tribalism in this country. And indeed it came to happen.

  17. Zambia is not a Meritorious! All Regions require representation in Cabinet and Elsewhere, Unfortunately or Fortunately. Every governance system has its own Advantages and Disadvantages.

    We have chosen Democracy – Government of the People, by the People, for the People!

  18. @ timely advice your reasoning is pathetic who are you to say he will be the last tonga to rule, pipo use your brains and a loving heart to think . I can only think you are from a pf camp and the defeat aches you. You thought gbm and kambwili were going to succeed with their evil schemes but zambians are now beyond tribe

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  19. 1… The primary reason why the tribal stigma haunted HH for such a long time was that he failed to openly denounce the mantra: Only A Tonga Can Lead UPND. He allowed the stigma to keep haunting him. At the back of many Zambian minds, that was perceived and interpreted as if HH was embracing the mantra. Hence he was labelled Tribal. He manifested that seed of Tribal name calling. He must take blame.

    In the end, HH realised that depending on 3 provinces was not going to work. He penetrated Eastern Province, Central and Copperbelt. Above all, he won because he got support from all provinces if one looks at the Data coming from ECZ. He also learnt and matched Lungu by appointing a Bemba Vice President.

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  20. Those of us that are in families that are multi-ethical, where do we fit it? My father is from the Eastern Province, my mother from the North Western. My first daughter is married to a man from the Northern Province, my second daughter to a man from the Western Province. Can someone please let me know which ethnic group my grandchildren belong to? As far as I am concerned, we are all proudly Zambian and speak multiple languages periodt! Anyone saying otherwise is extremely discriminatory. One Zambia, One Nation!

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  21. 2… So, HH has no choice but to assemble a proportional team. This means a few people in UPND will be left out of the top jobs, which will cause internal war inside UPND. If he does not, he will be reminded in 2026, how and why he won the landslide. But if he improves the standard of living and creates jobs for the youth, Zambia will be tolerant and give him a second chance.

    As it stands, there are already people inside UPND who were not happy that he picked a female and Bemba Vice President. HH must use his VP to penetrate the northern base, similar to how Lungu used Inonge Wina in Western Province, the second time Lungu beat HH.

    Lastly, we all need to give HH a chance. No one is qualified to be a president. It’s a job of training and learning every single day.

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  22. Now that all the dust is settled and desires sated, sit back and look at pertinent facts of the just ended elections:
    1. Parliamentary seats: UPND 81; PF 63; PUNP 1; Independents 11;
    2. Even with the 8 nominated MPs, UPND would still require the support of all 11 independents and a further 4 renegade PF MPs to achieve the two-thirds majority to enact a law.
    3. HH garnered 2.8 m votes and over 50% of these were from the mighty Southern, Western and Northwestern Provinces!! Lungu got a combined paltry total of less than 5% from the same regions.
    TRIBALISM – The elephant in the room people are afraid to address….

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  23. Mwa uka uli ? Mwa buka shani ? Mu zuhile ? Mwa uka bwanji? Mwa buka buti ? Nga chili mwane ? ………..Only weak minds court tribalism. What happened under PF should never come back to this Country again.

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  24. There is no messiah for any reason or season aside from an initial emancipation. I study personal management and what I have learned is how a collection of carelessly managed personal brands result in disastrous perceptions. If Zambians indeed want to have a messiah we need to begin to dismantle our mindsets of thinking change happens once every five years. Enough said.

  25. The author has NOT been analytical enough!! He should have seen that HH pulled more numbers from Eastern, Muchinga, Northern and Luapula Provinces including some Councilors and MPs. Over time HH’s number have been increasing these province including in the northern parts of Central Province which can be described as Bemba speaking (Abalaala, Abaswaka and some Lambas). How come, since UPND was formed and following elections in 2001, no other Presidential candidate has won any election there and the number of MPs have always been UPND, with the only difference going to independents- principle or feeling for tribal belonging? As he has rightly observed, Zambia is divided into two rural voting blocks with the middle urban swing areas of Lusaka and Copperbelt. In urban areas where people are…

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  26. Awe Sure @ 16

    You and the rest of family, your children and grandchildren are Zambians, that’s what all matters.

    A tribe is just a “uniform” we pick up when we are born. That’s why it is illegal to judge any person based on his tribe, colour, creed, faith, or dogma.

    But judge a man by the content of his character. That’s what One Zambia One Nation – should mean to all of us. Or the whole entire universal humanity. So don’t dwell deep into that. You are made in the image of the creator. You are as good as any great men and women who have lived on planet earth.

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  27. Yes you are right to pose the question where do children of multi-ethinic families fit in. The new government should start by issuing new NRC without mentioning the chief of the area the individual comes from. In other words redesign the NRC to be neutral about tribe.

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  28. With reference to comment number 22, why do you want to hide your tribe on your NRC? Will this solve the tribalism issue exhibited in the voting patterns In southern, western and north western? It will remain the same as far as I can see. It is a deep rooted issue. In my opinion, as long as we do not acknowledge that we have this problem and continue to pretend, the status quo remains. Just look at the numbers in the three provinces and you have your conclusion.

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  29. This was penned by a 1st class ***** who under no circumstances should ever be given a platform to vent this utter load of hogwash. What a baboon-brained fool!

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  30. No man should be judged by his race, colour, tribe or station in life but by their character. Character is the only thing for which everyone is personally responsible.

  31. Do we vote for Tribes or vote for quality Candidates ? And why should it be an issue now that a Tonga is voted into Power ? Why the three provinces so much mentioned when provinces like Luapula did not give UPND a single Councillor seat ? Chi wamila Galu kuluma Mbuzi………..

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  32. @ Zambiaisours, you have just proved my point. Having said this we stand by Romans 13, that all power and authority is from God. And as Christians we will pray for the Success of President HH and his administration and not his failure. Even if he may not be our choice. But make no mistake, Zambians that voted for them hold them accountable for promises made, peace and the upholding of Zambia as a Christian Nation.

  33. African politics…how much was spent on the inauguration….why not a simple ceremony on the High Court grounds…I thought HH would be mindful of unnecessary spending it turns he has a appetite for big spending….brace yourselves and his wife expect overseas shopping trips every month

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  34. Kikikikiki still talking about tribalism…how much is a bag of melie meal..still how much is fuel…still how much is cement…and the youths still no any signs of Job creation…by manipulating the dollar they killed a lot of small businesses….the Tourism industry is dead. ..the exporting industry is dead…they can’t hire now they’re firing

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  35. I also strongly think they way southern, western and northwestern voted was not good for the country. Lungu did something and you can’t give the party zeros.People may try to pretend but tribalism was rooted in UPND.I hope HH will address it.His supporters still want jobs and think HH is like a messiah.Some even felt like it’s heaven on earth. let us watch and see.Our Friends divided the country and never cared for anything. High prices just made even other provinces to support them otherwise Zambia would have divided if HH lost this year.God loves this country and peace we enjoy.Our brothers were willing to divide the country.Can you imagine killing people on voting day?Please Lungu, u did well to leave the state house these people would have caused civil war.Let them rule and we’ll…

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  36. 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 Honeybee 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 Honeybee

    What an intellectually lazy article! Of everything that’s happened so far in the last week or so, this guy picks the debunked tribalism and give some relevance to the likes of Chishimba Kambwili. How can you even doubt if Kambwili was successful with the overwhelming votes HH got in Luapula, Northern and Eastern provinces. HH was beating Lungu in his own backyard.
    HH should not suffer for the utterances of Sejani and Ngande Mwanalushi (?) which the PF was trying to milk all these years.

  37. 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 Honeybee 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 Honeybee

    As for voting patterns in W; N/W and S, I’m not sure it is influenced by tribalism but political favouritism (big difference)… it happens even in Western societies where someone doesn’t even need to campaign in certain areas they have support for. The question really should be why someone would have even voted for PF and Lungu in the first place. Please let it go, it’s all over. As someone said above, analyse HH speech and not Kambwili’s rhetoric.

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  38. If you like affiliating names to a tribe then you are tribal. I think the voting pattern doesn’t matter as long as the chosen leader rules all equally.

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  39. For the record, President Chiluba aka FTJ was not Bemba. He was Ushi from Luapula.

    NB: Zambia has NEVER had a Bemba president. Once upon a time it did not matter. We pray it will not matter now and our nation can heal.

  40. 1… The primary reason why the tribal stigma haunted HH for such a long time was that he failed to openly denounce the mantra: Only A Tonga Can Lead UPND. He allowed the stigma to keep haunting him. At the back of many Zambian minds, that was perceived and interpreted as if HH was embracing the mantra.

    In the end, HH realised that depending on 3 provinces was not going to work. He penetrated Eastern Province, Central and Copperbelt. Above all, he won because he got support from all provinces if one looks at the Data coming from ECZ. He also learnt and matched Lungu by appointing a Bemba Vice President.

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  41. I really liked the voting patterns exhibited in Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and Eastern Provinces and can’t wait to see all the 10 Regions of this beautiful land unified. With all the inter marriages we have now it’s just inevitable that we see each other as 1 big country. I also can’t wait for political maturity where we have issue based politics instead of insults, that’s why young people don’t think it’s wrong to insult elders because elders parade themselves in front of the TV insulting each other.

  42. HH now is saying you will only see results after you vote for him again in 2026 and results will be seen in 2029/2030…..kikikikikiki Politician is not your friend….as for me I work 2 jobs and I drive Uber during my free time…i have 2 SUV’s in my garage so I care less about Forward Forward Forwarded…this is for Spaka and Tarino

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  43. Let’s give the man a chance to serve. He is a honorable man. He has invoked one Zambia and one nation. The election season is over, let’s people United and end this tribalism talk because we have heard it from him first, he wants competence and has never ulterior anything tribal, I’m a Banda and I approve this message, I support President HH.

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  44. Why do you single out the Tonga tribe to be “on trial’? There were more than 50 tribes which voted overwhelmingly for HH. That meant that HH ran a non-tribal campaign. For one thing, the Vice President is not a Tonga. Why should you not consider yourself and your tribe to be the ones “on trial” instead?

    Edgar Lungu ran an extremely tribal campaign. He governed as a hard core tribalist. It is for this reason that he lost the election. Let PF conduct a funeral and bury tribalism. Let it be a thing of the past. Let them continue to embrace tribalism, and they will, once more, lose. The only reason they have been able to win elections in the past, is by rigging. Without rigging, there is no way any presidential candidate can win an elections in Zambia, purely by standing on a tribal…

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  45. Tribalism was on the ballot in this last election, and people rejected it, overwhelmingly. Is that too difficult to understand?

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  46. Anyone sane looking at the outcome of the last presidential election in Zambia, must have to admit, however painful that may be, that the majority of Zambians hate tribalism. Thirty years ago, upon realizing that I could not change my last name, I left my beloved country. To this day, I still live in exile. Tribalism was what drove me out. It is both a vice and a virus, against which we must all get inoculated. Otherwise, the brain drain will continue.

  47. Political commentators,those who call themselves “political experts or pundits” had infact swallowed the tribal bait of PF and had also joined hands in labeling HH as a tribalist…

    Most of those political commentators & their pf appendages thought Zambians were too stupid they would not see thriugh their lies.

    Well,HH & UPND’s resounding victory proved them wrong. That’s why you now see their attempt at ‘balanced reporting’.

    So whatever you write, the people of Zambia,the voters,will be the final masters & captain of their country…

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  48. Tribalism is bad for Zambia and it will keep Zambia backwards. Fa Lusaka Times publishing these types of statements from authors such as this are designed to stir the Tribalism pot. Why give such toxic statements legs to grow? Every Zambian must be part of the solution to unit each other and not be part of the problem. We are all Zambians. One Zambia One Nation.

  49. @Nakulu well said. You nailed it. What people are forgetting there’s been inter marriages throughout the years and if they were to take DNA tests they’d be surprised at the outcome of the test results. We are all Zambians Period.

  50. ..continued from 20,. In urban areas where people are driven by more advanced economic issues of employment, cost of living people vote for a particular candidate they believe can bring some relief. In rural areas, tribal affinity is higher and people’s expectations are much lower hence the term- rural strongholds, strongholds of ethnicity!!However in general the North-East block has demonstrated some flexibility and acceptance of HH going by the just ended election!!

  51. I am almost certain that those crooks who booed my president at Heroes stadium were upnd tonga bigots.
    I head how they tried to turn the inauguration celemony into a tribal event. Why hire friday mukando as mc when you know that the army chaplain is alway in control on such events.

  52. I am almost certain that those crooks who booed my president at Heroes stadium were upnd t0nga big0ts.
    I head how they tried to turn the inauguration celemony into a tr1bal event. Why hire friday mukando as mc when you know that the army chaplain is alway in control on such events.

  53. I am almost certain that those cr00ks who booed my president at Heroes stadium were upnd t0nga big0ts.
    I head how they tried to turn the inauguration celemony into a tr1bal event. Why hire friday mukando as mc when you know that the army chaplain is alway in control on such events.

  54. Eya yewe Kisyala @30, wasosa bwino sana! That is how you say it, huh? Zambia is maturing and sooner than later we will begin to analyze matters in a more accurate way than has been the case. @Chishala has said it well.

  55. Wasted my time reading most of the article and some of the following comments. Zambia has had the bulk of the leadership from the northern and eastern parts who have endeavored to bring into governance their cultural best experiences for national benefit I believe. It’s now the first time that a leader from the southern parts of Zambia has emerged and its up for Zambians to yet experience what values this will contribute to the betterment of the nation! My first ever job in the civil service during the early years of independence was a posting to a remote area very far from my area of origin! First encounters with people I served was that of uneasiness in communication but it was amazement and curiosity that enhanced cooperation both ends. The Zambians I had to serve made easy learning…

  56. contd… with patience and tolerance, thereon I appreciated the Zambian diversity, locally married and took a gem of a wife to my people!

  57. @ Timely Advice you are obviously BEMBA right? Living in the system so long that you fail to realize ALL the government posts and foreign services are filled with your kind, and yet you people never call it for what it is! I thought after Chiluba we would never have a Bemba president but the country moved on and elected Sata, who along with Lungu practiced the worst nepotism this country has ever witness; so palpable it was even published on the Washington Post. I think if your statement holds water we should never again elect one of your kind. But that’s not how I see it, ever individual stands on their own merit regardless of what vehicle brought them to the presidency. At the end of the day every Zambia should be judged based on their character and not their tribe. Otherwise trust me…

  58. This article is by all standards, at least in my view, brilliant and bald. However, the view that you categorically state that if one individual fail from some ethnic group is adjudged by those those that you assume have given him chance to prove himself on behalf of all those you assume he represents, to have failed the test, spoils the article. One would ask , why should it mark the last time for for the entire ethnic group you have accorded a chance to prove themselves? Had the situation been lumped on the entire ethnic group of those others who the Zambian people have rejected for misrule in the past? If not, why would you suggest that for the one on trial, his entire group will have lost it in perpetuity as a result of his failure. Is the writer also telling the Zambian people that…

  59. 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 Honeybee 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 Honeybee

    @Matt, 53… DNA test would not show your tribe tribe is not hard code in a DNA genome sequence so? It shows that this tribal stuff is nothing but irrelevant.

  60. @Melvin Hamalambo that’s a brilliant idea. I think redesigning NRC to be neutral about tribe is the right thing to do. There’s absolutely no benefit listing tribe on the NRC, except for dividing people. I think there needs to be a petition to have tribe removed from Zambia NRC.

  61. The voting pattern in Southern, Western and North Western provinces show tribal or regional bias. If you can not see that then you are either pretending or something is very wrong with you

  62. The voting pattern in Southern, Western and North Western provinces show tribal or regional bias. If you can’t see that, you are either pretending or something is very wrong with you

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