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Acting president Alexander Chikwanda calls for an end to careless tribal talk in PF

By editor
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Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda

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Finance Minister Alexander Chikwnda
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwnda

Acting president Alexander Chikwanda has called for an end to what he has described as careless tribal talk by senior Patriotic Front officials.

Mr Chikwanda in a statement issued to QFM News says Government is deeply concerned with recent media reports attributed to senior government officials alleging that there is the practice of tribalism in the Patriotic Front (PF) and in government.

Below is the full statement

STOP THE CARELESS TRIBAL TALK – CHIKWANDA

LUSAKA, 27th SEPTEMBER, 2013. Government is deeply concerned with recent media reports attributed in some cases, to senior government officials alleging that there is the practice of tribalism in the Patriotic Front (PF) and in government.

It is indisputable that Zambia’s biggest asset is its peace and unity and that all its people live in harmony. In fact, Zambia’s natural unity is its fortress and anyone attempting to bring disunity based on tribe or ethnic grouping is strongly frowned upon.

Therefore the careless talk about tribalism is dangerous, regrettable and only serves to sow seeds of disunity. The talk is counter-productive to the well-being of the country and must be curbed immediately.

We must emphasize that the recent happenings in the Patriotic Front are purely internal debate and the normal practice of internal democracy. The political differences in the PF party will be resolved using established channels and its internal grievance handling process.

We should state that Government is functioning normally and there is no paralysis, fear or dysfunction as alleged by certain media reports. It is, therefore, naïve and illusory for the Opposition to assume that the internal differences in the PF will result in their reaping political fortunes. Over the years, the PF has demonstrated that it is a resilient and strong party that eventually overcomes its internal challenges and has emerged stronger and united.

Diversity of views can never be at variance with the dictates or imperatives of unity.
The PF Party will also not yield to selfish interests or private cleavages perpetrated by persons or individuals attempting to hijack the party or pursue agendas which are adrift with the national development agenda.

The Opposition will also not succeed in derailing government’s ambitious development agenda. It is, therefore, desirable that all leaders in the PF work together for the good of the party and country.

Government is committed to its national development program and will not be dissuaded by activities that undermine this noble agenda. Government is also focused in ensuring that poverty levels are significantly reduced, and that jobs and wealth are created.

Hon. Alexander B. Chikwanda M.P
Acting President and Minister of Finance
Republic of Zambia

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

93 COMMENTS

    • MR CHIKWANDA,THEIR WAS NO NEED TO ADDRESS YOUR TRIBALISM IN YOUR PARTY VIA A PRESS STATEMENT,You should have just called GBM AND KABIMBA THAT’S ALL. WE ALL KNOW PF IS TRIBAL 90% bembas learn to be inclusive. We know only a BEMBA CAN LEAD PF.

    • yaba!!!.. this tribal talk is just stu.pid,, you can set the country on fire… am lozi myself am listening to late Pk chishala`s bemba music on youtube…
      people must just man up and sort out their political differences,, and not bring in tribes in the mix
      Now from kabimba`s statement .. hate can created between solis and bembas

    • We need development. The country will suffer when this unwarranted differences continue. this is because whether we want it or not these are the people driving the country so if they start fighting the grass will suffer and in this case the grass is developt. PF please help us

    • Did I just read that he condemned the violence by PF in the strongest terms? NO. According to him PF is not violent. All the coffin and panga hoisting is normal to him as log as the name on the coffins is not his; and the panga is not being wielded in his face, all is normal democracy. The only troubling thing to him is when he is called a tribalist. Only then is he ready to defend himself vehemently. Of course he is hiding behind GBM. And you call yourself Acting President…no wonder Zambia is in big trouble right now.

    • Well said but wrong channel ba acting,closed door meeting after the first protests was expected.I don’t agree with PF being only for a Bemba president but its true 4 UNDP for tonga president strictly hence HH ‘s installation the chikwlete method of adoption opposed to sakwiba ,yes.

    • @Ndobo & Conclave, please leave us Zambians to take this tribal issue, its high time!! Mwaba your Barotseland.
      You 2 Lozis are not troubled because you are just one proud tribe aba Lozi. You have good identity of wearing skirts with neck-ties…. but your country katwishi mwe. That’s the latest toggy I wanna gotta Sata into yoo!!

    • @Nostradamus
      iwe Nostra, dont bring that tribal talk to me because i can expose on you and forget that you are the one organised those suits which made zambia proud on Sata.
      You are not even bemba anymore.. true bembas dont marry latinos and hold dual passports ask bashilubemba… true bembas only go to USA for education, later go back to kasama and work there and marry a fellow bemba

    • PF is busy working on that by inviting all country men eg MPs to work in govt but if they talk like hon nkombo today,so you have platform to make tribal noise it’s your own fault.talk will they work.viva development.

    • PF is full of Confusion, Since when did we have such rubbish??Zambians being tribalistic??? With our Intermarriages? Not a chance, it’s all Wynter’s tricks because he is under fire. They Man is arrogant? With very dangerous talk. The youth in his Party don’t want him, so let him just resign.

  3. ba chikwanda, do not bury your head in the sand and assume everything is fine. there is indeed tribalism in pf that has been confirmed by your own rank and file. just address the issue instead of dodging it. non bemba ministers can be counted on the fingers of one hand while those of the bemba speaking, you need all the fingers on both the hands and toes to count them.

  4. Chikwanda you useless like ukwa why bring the opposition in PF confusion?? It is not a debatable matter that The current infighting in PF has affected the country negatively. Therefore I find it unbelievable to read the ranting from an old person like chikwanda saying all nonsense

  7. which tribe goverment, jst jealous of lunda pipo of luapula bembes frm northern and muchinga province. time wil come for yo pipo to rule this country.

  9. Mr Chikwanda , unless you have been smoking something the tribalism in PF should be as clear as daylight to you. May be you are too close to it to see it. You see, even very clear pictures get blurred when you are standing too close to them .

  10. “Government is deeply concerned with recent media reports attributed in some cases, to senior government officials alleging that there is the practice of tribalism in the Patriotic Front (PF) and in government.”

    Yet we all know of only one government official “alleging” that there’s tribalism in PF. Incidentally, it is the Minister of Justice, Wynter Kabimba. All other government officials who have spoken on the matter before this statement, Kambwili and GBM, deny allegations of tribalism in PF. So who are the other “senior government officials [plural]” that Chikwanda referring to?

    I would loathe think Chikwanda is referring to Fred Mmembe, the only other voice publicly supporting Kabimba’s assertions, as a government…

  11. I just wonder how a political party can fail to have a single person with basic instincts of leadership.
    How on earth can an acting president issue such a dull statement. Indeed PF is a bunch of retards.

    • He is your dad,some respect will be appreciated.if you don’t know Hon Chikwanda you should not blogg if you do , put on some manners and respect for elders.

  15. When HH was labeled a tribalist by the Post, did the government issue a statement to condemn the careless tribal talk? someone remind me!

  16. unlike mmd,both pf and upnd are regional parties.if hh wins,he wil face the same problems pf is facing.they wil be more tongas,lozis and luvales in his govt.just imagine,if sata wanted to apoint a northwesterner,who would he apoint since he never won a seat there?people who help a party wins are paid back by being jobs.you choose people you can work with.the only solution to this problem is to apoint ministers outside parliament kwata.

    • @ganja farmer,that is right! Addressing the cause not reacting to symptoms of the problem. Sata’s choices were limited and all non Bemba PF members that had been with him for sometime got Cabinet positions and those that came a bit later but won seats got Deputy Ministerial positions. Sata may have his weaknesses but he has been loyal to those that supported him when he needed their help regardless of their ethnicity.

    • Looks like the complaint is not only on ministers but also diplomatic missions key government positions, and parastatal companies etc.

    • That is the most retrogressive comment I have ever, you call that democracy you *****. It should be ‘by people for people’. It is lumpens like you who will lead this country to war. Who are Bembas anyway, because Sata is not one.

  18. Why even mention the opposition in this press statement? This is a PF issue and the Senior Party Officials in question is one Winter Kabimba. Lets call a spade a spade and leave the opposition out of this. This is your baby Mr. Acting fimo fimo!

  19. No wisdom whatsoever from this Chikwanda monkey, the first thing he should have done if he wanted to be part of the solution is to acknowledge the tribalism and not make such siilly denials. First step to any solution is to identify the problem.

  20. I thought Mr Chikwanda was intelligent BUT how did he end up in this useless party called PF? The party is undoing itself. There’s so much confusion in this pathetic party. Look at the question of Mr. Nkhongole or is it Chikwelete. Today we hear he is self imposed. But isn’t he the one who was appointed at the same time like Mangani in EP. Is Mangani too self imposed? Who will save PF? The boat is fast sinking. Is it lack of education of Mr. Sata or what, the cause of all this confusion? The educated in PF have been a let down, let alone Satas wife. PF how will you shake off your tribal tag when the people making the most noise in PF are bembas? PF should dissolve itself or as Changala has said, let them abdicate.

  21. I thought Mr Chikwanda was intelligent BUT how did he end up in this useless party called PF? The party is undoing itself. There’s so much confusion in this pathetic party. Look at the question of Mr. Nkhongole or is it Chikwelete. Today we hear he is self imposed. But isn’t he the one who was appointed at the same time like Mangani in EP. Is Mangani too self imposed? Who will save PF? The boat is fast sinking. Is it lack of education of Mr. Sata or what, the cause of all this confusion? The educated in PF have been a let down, let alone Satas wife. PF how will you shake off your tribal tag when the people making the most noise in PF are bembas? PF should dissolve itself or as Changala has said, let them abdicate.

  22. People should grow up in Zambia. Stop using this tribal thing. Bembas are crying, Lozis, Tongas and now Solis. So the problem is not tribal but poor political leadership of PF government of which Ka Kabimba is part of the rotten nonsense. Bakaponya bafika nimwe muletusebanya pakusala kwabukopo. Mukafwa mulecula. U will never see light.

  23. Yes tribalism in PF has been there from the inception of the party and the composition of the cabinet speaks volumes unfortunately PF GS Winter Kabimba was in the fore front denying it.Now that he has tested the bitter medicine of tribalism and he has come in reality of with it,he the first one to cry. Ba Chikwanda shikulu just accept that you guys are tribalists and in deep problem over this tribal issue.

  24. ISNT THIS A FORESTY TRIBAL GOVERMENT; PRESIDENT, SATA(BEMBA) MINISTERS:LANDS, KALABA(BEMBA),DEFENCE, GBM(BEMBA),FINACE, CHIKWANDA(BEMBA),INFORMATION, KAPEYE(BEMBA),HEALTHY, KASONDE(BEMBA),SPORTS KAMBWILI(BEMBA), AGRICULTURE ,SICHINGA (BEMBA),ENERGY, YALUMA(BEMBA),CHIFS, LUO (BEMBA),COMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ,KATEMA(BEMBA),TRANSPORT,MUGANGA(BEMBA), MINES,MUSUKWA(BEMBA).NOTH WESTERN PROVINCE IS NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS TRIBAL GOVERMENT SATA ONLY USE OTHER REGIONS TO VOTE FOR HIM AND LATER ON DUMP THEM PF IS A BEMBA GOVERMENT CHIKWANDA IS TRIBALIST NUMBER ONE.

    • imwe cikala cenu mulekwata mano. some of the people u mentioned here are not Bembas. Understand politics. I still believe the problem is not tribal but political and I have reasons for that. You are just like Ka Kabimba. You both don’t think and I just wonder how you managed to be where you are.

    • @King of Justice, I think you can freely attack Sata and PF because they are very poor communicators and lack tact and strategy on many fronts. Some of the attacks they are facing could not even have been there if they knew how to communicate on national matters! Some of the people you have mentioned here are just Bemba speaketars and NOT Bembas per se. If North Western Province is not represented,how many MPs does Sata have from that Province? If appoints from the opposition in order to bring in other regions and tribes,then he is accused of destroying the opposition!

    • So what do you want him to do when HH and hon nkombo refuses appointments in GOvt am not a politician I could have been appointed though not Bemba.intrest is just to discredit govt. propose names to govt to complete your tribal script.

    • Sichinga, msukwa, n. Luo are. Not bembas. I have learnt that you guys don’t even have proper infor. Northern province n muchinga has so many tribes except its bemba dominated. Don’t tell me lenjes re. Totngas by virtue of language. Don’t hate the govt. Jst vote wisely next time n not on tribal lines. FYI. There no bembas in luapula province.

    • I second, ministers should be free to make decisions without fear.thats why they fail to respond to opposition attacks fearing to use wrong words and bit your tongue.

  28. Very stupid statement indeed. When Pf tries to divert people to thinking that UPND is tribal you have been quiet. You now have no hiding place thats when you issue a useless statement.
    The country has been failed by its leaders. despite our different parties tribes etc as zambians wer still love one another and have trascended many hardships which would have let us into tribal divisions. This statement is long over due. It should be said not only for PF but for any party in the country. GVT show your leadership and people will follow.Right now you re leading us astray

  29. Everyone is a politician, everyone is power hungry, everyone want to be in govt, everyone want jobs in govt, everyone talks politics, pew! When will be time to read a newspaper one day without politics? How are we doing scientifically and in many other areas? Is politics the only field we must all join? Diversify thinking away from politics if at all this is possible.

  30. READ BETWEEN THE LINES: TROUBLE IN PF STARTED WITH A VISIT BY WYNTER TO PALESTINE. BE CAREFUL HOW YOU HANDLE ISRAEL AND IN PARTICULAR THAT RELATIONSHIP.

  31. From now onwards, it is a fact from the Chief Exec that PF is tribal! Who can deny this! This is the BEST gift that UPND can and will ever get! Nobody will have balls to call UPND tribal given what Kabimba has been through!
    The real Bemba demons of Kambwili, GBV, etc came out of the holes when Kamimba smoked them…and they are now shamed with their tails in between!
    But hey no sympathies for Kabimba the most arrogant and gullible unelected parliamentarian and king maker of King Cobra! He doesnt know what has hit him so hard and he is now confused. May be now he knows what his tribe is ….and it certainly is not Bemba.

  32. tribalism is only in small minds like that of winter and fred mmembe. As for violence … Look at way upnd hounded saki after mazoka death. Look at how kachingwe was brutalised by neverlands the militia boss.

    suddenly all opposition are a darlin to post and mmembe. When did the post ever write nice things about opposition. This what happens you plant lunacy in your newpaper system.

  33. Hope is everyone is following seriously the happenings in Kenya, According to an intelligence report on the Standard Media Leaked NIS document details terrorist plots of an attack in Nairobi between September 13 and 21 Alshabaab intends to target countries with Kenya’s interest and Zambia is next . It is time to hold the Govt accountable to ensure that our country and borders are safe.

  34. “Elsewhere, the Al Shabaab is contemplating attacking Kenyan interests in other countries, starting with Zambia, but the timing, target and methods are still unclear. Kenyan interests anywhere in the world, therefore, remain the militant’s potential targets of attack as the Kenya Defence Forces and AMISOM exert pressure on them, and the imminent capture of Kismayu,” reads the report.

  37. Sometimes, it’ s quite difficulty to give a proper description of the type of people we have in government, that’ s why in my case, I call all them empty tins, paupers, hoodwinkers and so on and so forth. Are Zambians especially those who are non Bemba speaking blind enough not to see and accept that our beautiful country has been turned into in a tribal state where there is a blind consideration of Bemba supremacy ? Iwe Chikwanda, be honest enough and don’ t hide in the name of being acting president because you and your boss Sata are the perpetrators of this nonsense. I come from Mbala myself but what your PF government is doing to other tribes in conjunction with the ill remarks given by your own people against other tribes makes me sick. Do you have a genuine direction for Zambia ?

  38. Don’ t forget that we are watching every ill step taken by your government against those who have opposing views to your type of governance. This is the worst government ever because we have never experienced such high level of tribalism since independence. We had Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa and Banda. These were gentlemen and they knew how to unite the nation not imwe ba PF with your tribalist stance. Now, whom do you want to cheat that you are the perpetrators is this vice ? Further, you have only been in power for barely two years and your tribalism is growing at such a rapid rate, what more if you will be given another term after this one, it means the circumstances and consequencies will be untold. I hate what I see and hear especially, the remarks which are passed on by Bembas…

  40. Pf is a group of thugs who need to removed soon Kabimba kindly finish that gay party Alex shut up no listens to you! We all know you are clown put up there for comedy sake the whole country knows its monkey in the maize field so don’t try and act smart no one really cares what you have to say even sata himself doesn’t care na edger lungu is even better because he has five% smart as for you go into hiding you are the shame of the nation but then again it’s not your fault it’s where you come from

  42. Every party is tribal if it has more of its senior members from the same province and tribe than any other. In Zambia it’s easy to point a finger at a tribe because many people both from the ruling party and opposition have got no issues to discuss. Tribe should not even be discussed amongst those who aspire or are in leadership. We have important issues to address and not tribes. Discussing tribes will only yield hatred and disunity among people. What really happened to One Zambia One Nation anyway? Nobody seems to preach this anymore!

    • My observation is that this talk of tribalism was started by PF officials when they accused UPND of being a regional and tribal party. Many senior PF officials have referred to UPND as a tribal party. Now that PF has been analyzed carefully and alleged to be tribal, the same PF officials are now denying the allegations with threats of tribal talk being a danger to unity. Didn’t these people realize that by accusing UPND of being tribal, they were endangering peace and creating disunity in the country. E

  43. The PF brought this tribalism in our society and beautiful country. Now we have a country mainly made of Bembas leaving other people from other tribes aside. Chikwanda should not waste tax payers’ money to hold press conferences over his tribalism which they have been exposed. They chase HH from Kasama because he does not come from there and according to them only Bembas can campaign in Kasama. Now they are fighting Wynter Kabimba through the bemba PF cadres who they have paid to go on the streets to stage illegal demonstrations. PF is for Bembas only and that is why Kabimba if he didn’t know he was just used to seal the party to where it is and cannot go beyond because another Bemba must take over from Sata. You see its a known fact that Bembas are power hungry; Shame

    • What is your opinion about UPND which suggested only a Tonga succeed after the death Anderson Mazoka? These elements are there in our society and every peace loving Zambian should reject them from all aspects of the society and not just concentrate on PF!

  44. In democratic transitions, it is wrong to impose a leader on a nation. Holding free and fair elections is the right answer. Now, in accordance with demographic indicators, it is not common for strong regions to elect leaders from weak regions. What is required is unity of purpose and collaboration across the entire political spectrum. The strength of PF is that it cuts across the country in terms of membership and representation.

  45. Iam very disappointed with Chikwanda’s rumbling statement. Ati acting President! Atase!

    Your attempt to involve the opposition in your shallow argument gives you away Minister. You are also a fraud like GBM and Kambwili. Why is that its only Bembas refusing that there’s tribalism in PF. Wait a minute, have we touched a raw nerve here? Sata ordered Ministers to respond against HH’s tribal claims in PF. Scot and Kabimba have responded to the affirmirtive, that there’s indeed tribalism in PF! Period! Is that too hard to take Minister?

  46. Mr Chikwanda should be sincere and stop pretending, he knows all this chaos and tribal talk was started by his fellow tribesman GBM. Why has Mr Chikwanda been silent all along and only chooses to comment now in general terms just because Kambimba has hit back? Has he talked to GBM or Kabimba or to both men at the same time?

  47. Isn’t it a national scandal Mr. Ministers that in Parastatals, Zambia’s mission abroad, Cabinet, Civil Service, Defence and Security, its Bembas leading and benefiting at the expense of other citizens? A few non Bembas that are used as exbhits in some few institutions are having to watch over their shoulders from Bemba surbodinates that work 24/7 to bring them down. No one is working freely and Government operations are being affected just because of Bemba tribalism that has been institutionalized. Isn’t high time we called for a commission of inquiry?

  49. The issue of tribalism is a small fire burning that, with wise leadership, can still be quenched. But, the leadership is in total disarray and confusion meanwhile Kabimba is adding fuel to the fire. In general though, the PF has failed the country. Especially the President who seems to have no foresight of dangerous situations that people like Kambwili, GBM and Kabimba can bring upon the Nation. He has failed to unite us and is leading us on a very slippery slope where the fire may be unquenchable. What we need is a strong party of national unity much like our very first Party. Tribal balancing in government positions should be in every great leader’s mind, it breeds unity in a nation. Without it we know from the experience of Rwanda what can happen. We have a good foundation from Kaunda,

  50. We have a good foundation from Kaunda, he too had to deal with hot heads who were regionalists. He dreamed of a one Zambia one Nation and it is still strong. As for Kabimba the hens have come back to roost, we know how unforgiving he was when Lubinda cried tribalism.

  51. We all know & need not be lectured by a dry old fool like Chikwanda that Zambia’s biggest asset is its peace & unity & that all its people live in harmony. However, Since Chiluba took over, when Chikwanda was his Chief of Staff, tribalism was engendered & let to fester much to the detriment of the spirit of One Zambia One Nation that bounded us all as one. Sata’s ascendance to power has been a tragedy of immeasurable proportions to this nation. Their is no such thing as natural unity as Chikwanda dreams, unity is created & nurtured through all inclusive policies, not where North-Western has zero full cabinet representation & the West has a sole Inonge. It is such bigoted tribal stupidity created by the PF that ought to be strongly frowned upon! So the allegations of rampant practice of…

  52. The problem with bemba politicians and their hired supporters of politics of the belly is that they think other tribes are so dull and can fall for any excuse they give. We are seeing tribalism right from cabinet to all institutions and yet they continue telling us with straight faces that there is no tribalism. 2016 is near and they will regret.

  53. PF has always been a tribal party and has always advocated a tribal agenda. Sata formed this party out of frustration that Chiluba had by-passed him in the succession process. They sprinkled the party with a few luminary non-Bembas just so as to make it appear that it was a national party, a strategy initially hatched by Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe. It’s good to see that even those who were fooled by this strategy are now able to see the PF in its true colours. Not all Bembas are tribal, but the PF is definitely tribal.

  55. PF does not talk about tribalism, they practice it. Chikwanda can not condemn tribalism in PF because he is part of it. PF practices tribalisim 100%. You just have to see who is appointed to which diplomatic mission, parastatal, ministers, quasi government, Perm Secretaries and those who have been recalled from foreign missions and those that have not been recalled. Non bembas in foreign missions were recalled but bembas were not touched. PF is a Sad reality of TRIBALISM. I challenge the PF to SET up an independent body to probe what Zambians are saying.

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