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Umodzi Kumawa Forum Denounces Tribal Labels Amidst Political Condemnation

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Levy Ngoma, Political Advisor to President Hakainde Hichilema, has criticized the establishment of the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group, claiming it promotes tribalism. Ngoma strongly condemned tribal affiliations, emphasizing their adverse impact on national unity. The remarks were made during a press briefing convened by politicians from the Eastern Province to address concerns surrounding the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group.

Moses Moyo, Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Luangeni Member of Parliament, echoed Ngoma’s sentiments, urging Zambians to refrain from tribal politics. Moyo emphasized the equal standing of all tribes, emphasizing that no single tribe should be considered superior to another.

Mike Mposha, Minister of Water, Development, and Sanitation, called on the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group to clarify its agenda to avoid misrepresentation as a political entity. Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri urged residents to support President Hichilema, highlighting his commitment to developmental projects across all provinces.

At the same gathering, Retired Colonel Bizyayo Nkunika, Former Zambia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the need to avoid sectarian approaches to national issues. Other parliamentarians, including Menyani Zulu, Misheck Nyambose, and Davison Mung’andu, also shared their perspectives on the matter.

In response to the criticism, Umodzi Kumawa clarified that it is a developmental group in the Eastern Province, aiming to unite the region’s five tribes for investment and developmental purposes. The forum seeks to foster collaboration among people with diverse tribal backgrounds to advance the province’s development.

The organizers emphasized that Umodzi Kumawa is not a tribal group but a unified front for the province’s developmental advancement. Similar initiatives exist in other provinces, such as the North-western Development Board in the North-western province. The group’s goal is to unite the people of the Eastern Province for common developmental causes, transcending tribal boundaries.

The forum denounced attempts to label it as tribal, asserting that such claims were politically motivated and aimed at personal gain. Umodzi Kumawa emphasized its commitment to unity and progress, urging the public not to be misled by those seeking to exploit the situation for personal and political ends.

Sensio Banda, Former Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa Constituency in the Eastern Province, concluded the briefing by affirming the determination of the people in the Eastern Province to unite and work towards progress and prosperity.

Umodzi Kumawa Forum Denounces Tribal Labels Amidst Political Condemnation

Lusaka, Zambia – December 21, 2023

Levy Ngoma, Political Advisor to President Hakainde Hichilema, has criticized the establishment of the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group, claiming it promotes tribalism. Ngoma strongly condemned tribal affiliations, emphasizing their adverse impact on national unity. The remarks were made during a press briefing convened by politicians from the Eastern Province to address concerns surrounding the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group.

Moses Moyo, Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Luangeni Member of Parliament, echoed Ngoma’s sentiments, urging Zambians to refrain from tribal politics. Moyo emphasized the equal standing of all tribes, emphasizing that no single tribe should be considered superior to another.

Mike Mposha, Minister of Water, Development, and Sanitation, called on the Umodzi Kumawa WhatsApp group to clarify its agenda to avoid misrepresentation as a political entity. Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri urged residents to support President Hichilema, highlighting his commitment to developmental projects across all provinces.

At the same gathering, Retired Colonel Bizyayo Nkunika, Former Zambia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the need to avoid sectarian approaches to national issues. Other parliamentarians, including Menyani Zulu, Misheck Nyambose, and Davison Mung’andu, also shared their perspectives on the matter.

In response to the criticism, Umodzi Kumawa clarified that it is a developmental group in the Eastern Province, aiming to unite the region’s five tribes for investment and developmental purposes. The forum seeks to foster collaboration among people with diverse tribal backgrounds to advance the province’s development.

The organizers emphasized that Umodzi Kumawa is not a tribal group but a unified front for the province’s developmental advancement. Similar initiatives exist in other provinces, such as the North-western Development Board in the North-western province. The group’s goal is to unite the people of the Eastern Province for common developmental causes, transcending tribal boundaries.

The forum denounced attempts to label it as tribal, asserting that such claims were politically motivated and aimed at personal gain. Umodzi Kumawa emphasized its commitment to unity and progress, urging the public not to be misled by those seeking to exploit the situation for personal and political ends.

Sensio Banda, Former Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa Constituency in the Eastern Province, concluded the briefing by affirming the determination of the people in the Eastern Province to unite and work towards progress and prosperity.

44 COMMENTS

  1. There’s nothing wrong with the group. Leave them alone. Ngoma is against it because it may upset his applecart.
    Ngoma and Mposha nobody is forcing you to join the group so continue eating from your current dish.

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    • @ Deja Vu, when Easterners united against Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, they used the slogan Umozi Kum’awa. They used to unanimously walk out of Parliament whenever Kapwepwe as Vice President walked in until he resigned. KK succumbed to their pressure and appointed their tribesman Reuben Chitandika Kamanga in his place. If that’s what they want to revive then there’s everything wrong about it. If they genuinely want to advocate for development, it’s better they find another name as Umozi Kum’awa is dented, just like Wako ni wako.

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    • The Tonga’s in Southern Province had their “CHUUNDU CHAITWA”…… There was no condemnation of the grouping. In Northwestern province , there is the so called ” Council of Elders” and their is also ” Nsakwa ya bakaonde” …. In Luapula province, the MPs were united under one front and I remember the Mbala Mafias had their own grouping to foster development in Mbala, Mpulung etc. Such groupings are normal. Why should we make so much noise about them?

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    • @Ayatollah you are telling lies. Eastern Province MPs never protested against Kapwepwe. He was a very popular Veepee when he was appointed. In fact you have turned round the clock of events to suit your narrative. Kamanga was the first Vice President of Zambia and was replaced after three years by Kapwepwe. Umodzi kumawa had actually been used as a slogan to unite Eastern Province during the struggle for independence. It wasnt a regional weapon against other tribes but was meant to show unity of Eastern province against Colonisation

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    • Those who are complaining they don’t have tribe, and most of have chased away by your families. You believe in One Zambia. Fvck One Zambia, I love my own tribe and church.

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    • @Kalaba, Chuundu Chaitwa can’t be compared to the original Umozi Kum’awa. Chuundu Chaitwa is a Tonga distress call to address a particular challenge. The one that was called last time addressed what Miles Sampa said. It was provocative and it ended there. Why were Easterners against Kapwepwe? They united against one person. It’s like the youth of Luano coming together and forming Mailon Brothers Cooperative. The name is tented, it’ll pollute a genuine call. Wako ni wako was used to promote interests of Easterners in parastatal companies. It was also in bad faith.

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    • @Phiri Yes its only the young generation that doesn’t know the European colonisers’ tactics of divide and rule.
      The colonisers ALWAYS divided Africans according to “superior” tribes and subordinate tribes so as to prevent their getting together to fight these invaders. Indeed, during Zambia’s struggle they employed these tactics. So Umodzi Kumawa was a message for Eastern Province tribes not to be tricked by these colonisers

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    • Reuben Kamanga, Shadrack Soko, Francis Nkhoma, etc were some of the founders of Umodzi Kumawa and it was a front for the liberation of Northern Rhodesia from Britain. Just ask Kamanga’s son at FAZ instead of telling fibs. Eastern Province has about ten tribes, more than any other Zambian region, so it saw the need to show that these tribes were fighting as one during the struggle thus Umodzi Kumawa was a positive force for Zambia

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    • @Ayatollah To retaliate what soeone has said here, Easterners never united against Kapwepwe. That is your imagination. Kapwepwe’s daughter is still alive go and verify with her.

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    • Hello, let Easterners unite and develop their region. Let other tribes too unite in their provinces and develop their provinces. Is one Zambia one Nation still there? The appointments speak volumes. What Levy and Mposha should have done was to advise their bosses on appointments not groups whose agenda is to foster development. Bembas, Namwanga, Lozis should do the same. Period!

  2. Why are these politicians so scared to legislate against tribalism? pass a bill in parliament which will make it against the law to discriminate on tribal lines. This will put these scaremongers out of business once and for all. We have built a wonderful nation but all this will be in vain if we keep a blind eye on this looming time b0mb.

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  3. If is for people resident in Eastern province inclusive of other tribes from other provinces resident in Eastern province, it is okay. But let us wait for them to set objectives, then we can judge. It would be too soon to judge them harshly when maybe they mean well and there is no tribal inclinations. I also doubt there are a tribal political grouping because no one ethnic region can win politically on their own, and they are sharp brains, they know this fact, so let us give them space for now

  4. Tribalism exists in zambia and it is quietly entrenched by politicians when they are in government. They only condemn it when they are in opposition. Moses Moyo and group are condemning Umodzi Kumawa because they are eating and enjoying.

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  5. Tribalism is there. We should not bury our heads in the sand like proverbial ostrich. Look at appointments in parastatals. It is only one group that is enjoying the national cake. Easterners and Northerners have been marginalized. It is high time they were also recognized as components in national building. Why should such a big issue be pushed under the carpet in the name of appeasing tribalists? Tribalists are very defensive when such an item is thrown in their faces. Zambia is for all of us.

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    • I am not supporting tribalism and regionalism. However, why didn’t you complain when Lungu filled the civil service with northerners and easterners. When he was retiring people from other regions in ” national interest”. We should be consistent

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    • Yes it’s there only if tribe a mentions tribe X… but X can say anything and it’s not tribalism. I wish we had remained in our villages.

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    • @Swahili can you be specific? Some of the happenings were well orchestrate by the Upnd… anyone from the three regions who got appointed by the PF government was automatically expelled from the Upnd. Any MP that tried to cooperate with the PF government was expelled from the party. Nominated MPs from the region were ostricized…. they found it hard to work. Upnd is not as angelic as you want us to believe.

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  6. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
    Both of them are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15

  7. The question to ask is what has motivated the people to come up with this initiative? We seem to be rushing to dealing with symptoms (condemning the group) rather than focusing on the root cause People who think they are more clever than others should not think everyone else is dull and doesn’t think. People can see for themselves what is going on. Who can’t see and tell what actions amount injustices and those that do not? The Mulungushigate Scandal will have far reaching consequences than one can think or imagine. Some people may think they are wining until the end comes (He who laughs last, laughs the longest). Some people are putting their careers in jeopardy, walking into a ditch with both eyes open.

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    • KK influenced the installation of Mr Lackment Ng’andu as Mwine Lubemba Paramount Chief Chitimukulu because he felt that Bemba people needed a progressive chief to spearhead development both economically and culturally. It wasn’t tribalism. But today it can be called so because of sensitivity in certain circles.

  8. kkkkkkkk yama why are you afraid and what are you afraid of.Chill and take heart.Leave the group alone.The problem with this regime is that they are too perty.Work on your promises and you will too popular and if you dont forget about yourselves kaya bebele yama.

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  9. At one the late Sampa Bredt ( mhsriep) and others formed the Kola foundation in what was perceived as a counterweight to the bantu botatwe. A lot well meaning people from the north myself included pressured them to abandoned the idea. These veiled tribalistic organisations like Kum’mwa umodzi, bantu botatwe, kola foundation can be divisive and tear our nation apart. What are we teaching our children? To see each other through tribal lens? Remember hatred is taught and passed on. We are not born hating. We are under threat of economic domination by foreigners and yet all we can think about is tribal groupings to facilitate the acquisition of govt positions? There are several avenues grievances can be presented to government eg church mother bodies, traditional chief’s, NGOs.

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  10. Ngoma just eat in silence iwe, we understand you. Why have you failed to comment on the voting pattern in southern province and on upnds sentiment that only a t0nga can rule upnd? Even better why not comment on the pathetic performance of the kwacha? F00Iish man

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    • @Kaizar “Kanyenga Nyoko”: part 3, if this was not enough, he proceeded to kick all the Tonga, Lozi and Luvales out of the army, and left only Bembas and Nyanjas in it and the civil service. He also spent a lot of money, and failed, to try and introduce animal husbandry in his province.

      So my dear, when we looked at his, we became dismayed. Thus, in 1998, when UPND was formed (in Solwezi, Northwestern Province), we gave our allegiance to it, the same way we have faithfully served and saved Zambia for more almost 60 years,,

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    • Fine… he who lives by the sword dies by the sword… They have Luangwa National Park and what else? Lusaka is in Tonga land, lets just be clear about that, and it is not going anywhere else…The thing that may be pissing them off is that Michael Satan took the mineral rich part of their province and ceded it to his own tribal province which he created. Imagine if we in Southern province had been like that, or would become like that: There would have been no Zambia, and there would be no Zambia. Even the name Zambia derives from the Tonga name of the Zambezi “Kasambambezi”. The Portuguese being unable to pronounce the named truncated it to Sambesi, then modified this to Zambesi, and now it is Zambezi…

    • We must ask ourselves where is Yugoslavia. Those in Kosovo are still fighting for their independence after Yugoslavia broke up 22 years later. We dont want to start unneccessary wars

  11. Please just take note Zambia needs entrepreneurship not what these people are advocating its irrelevant, let have one war to fight which is the stagnant economy rather than creating another issue.

    Thers so many problems that you can solve here in Zambia and make more money.

  12. Fine… he who lives by the sword dies by the sword… They have Luangwa National Park and what else? Lusaka is in Tonga land, lets just be clear about that, and it is not going anywhere else…The thing that may be pissing them off is that Michael Satan took the mineral rich part of their province and ceded it to his own tribal province which he created. Imagine if we in Southern province had been like that, or would become like that: There would have been no Zambia, and there would be no Zambia. Even the name Zambia derives from the Tonga name of the Zambian “Kasambambezi”. The Portuguese being unable to pronounce the named truncated it to Sambesi, then modified this to Zambesi, and now it is Zambezi…

  13. Fine… he who lives by the sword dies by the sword… They have Luangwa National Park and what else? Lusaka is in Tonga land, lets just be clear about that, and it is not going anywhere else…The thing that may be pissing them off is that Michael Satan took the mineral rich part of their province and ceded it to his own tribal province which he created. Imagine if we in Southern province had been like that, or would become like that: There would have been no Zambia, and there would be no Zambia. Even the name Zambia derives from the Tonga name of the Zambezi “Kasambambezi”. The Portuguese being unable to pronounce the named truncated it to Sambesi, then modified this to Zambesi, and now it is Zambezi…

  14. The fear should be more for Asians who corruptly got their way through the dark days of MMD and PF, and now control the economy, bought prime land for nothing and now are the upper class. Zambia should have affirmative action on land acquisition and opening business in CBD of all towns.

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    • @ Daniel. We share the same vision for Zambia. Focus on indigenous Zambians owning the economy. Not fighting for positions in the civil service and parasitic parastatals that just milk the treasurery instead of making money. This Kum’mwa umodzi thing must be related to the alebwelapo project. A selfish agenda to completely finish off/loot the economy

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  15. The problem starts in shrouding intentions of any such grouping in mystery leaving the general public to formulate the intention of the groups aims! Then the rebuttals from the groups leadership makes it worse as it comes from a position of defensiveness which could have ben avoided had the group made its intentions shared from the start and invited anybody from within the province and outside but interested in seeing development in the province to join! However handling of such non partisan and good intentions groups needs high levels of tact! I wish you well Umodzi Kumawa just be candid!

  16. People have every reason to complain of exclusion by the current government. We are talking about fewer elites from the East being part of government today. But will the appointment of more of them develop the Eastern Province? I have serious doubts. Dr. Charles Banda was in charge of Local Government, Vincent Mwale was in charge of Infrastructure under PF. But the road network in Eastern Province was pathetic. Chipata-Lundazi road and Chipata-Vubwi roads were among the most deplorable. One only hopes the Umodzi Kumawa is not just a movement for political elites from the region for lobbying for personal appointments in GRZ and personal economic empowerment at the expense of ordinary people in Eastern Province.

  17. @Deja vu. This issue is not new. In 1991 the 8 provinces out then 9 provinces of Zambia voted for FTJ’s MMD. KK only won eastern province. Come 2001, recall the run up to the 2021elections. Chiluba used Sata to ensure that Mazoka never got to stand for MMD president. It wasn’t just Mazoka but others eg Miyanda, Tembo & BY. It was at that point when cohesive nationhood across tribes was lost due to FTJ’s greed for power. HH was elected by the whole country & has an opportunity to to correct the unity which FTJ destroyed. However, the aggression & self laundering from the NE dominated PF/SP is spiteful. HH needs our support not spite

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  18. @ Deja Vu. Did Sata’s opposition PF allow his MPs to with the ruling party, then MMD. Recall what happened to Dr Saviour Chishimba an Mary Masiye when they tried to work with MMD on the constitution. They were expelled. Even attending national events was and is still a big no no. It is wrong to use tactics that we used against colonialists against ourselves. What goes round comes round. Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.

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  19. We must ask ourselves where is Yugoslavia? Those in Kosovo are still fighting for their tribal independence after Yugoslavia broke up 22 years ago. We moved forward. We dont want to now start unneccessary wars

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  20. This chap is one of the MONSTERS that have mutated with no clue on the history of Zambia, but thrive on engineering the torture of people. The theme of “UMODZI KUMAWA” is a unifying factor to realize development in the Eastern Region of Zambia consisting of the tribes the Bisa, Chewa, Kunda, Ngoni, Nsenga, Senga, Tumbuka. We shall support Easterners because the region is endowed with soil types to boost agricultural products such as maize, groundnuts, beans, soyabeans, rice, cotton and various fruit crops for export. This is an economic venture – and NOT a political idea.

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  21. The only problem is that UPND is afraid of everything, including the new dawn shadow. Scared of critical voices. All rallies and groups are banned except those meant to fight and divide PF. Why can’t KUMAWA complain about lack of development?
    The current sharing of farm inputs in medas, tins, when SP got their full 8 bags three months ago is typical example of neglect. Regionalism is in effect peddled by the government in their stronghold areas. UPND days are numbered.

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