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The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has charged that demands by Members of Parliament to have their salaries increased are outrageous and tantamount to highway robbery.
FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says MPs should take time to understand their role as public servants and not turn politics into fund-raising ventures for enriching themselves at the expense of poor voters.
Mr. Mwanza explained that their demands are unwarranted as MPs do not only enjoy hefty allowances but that most of their services and goods are subsidized by tax payers.
“The call by some Members of Parliament to have their salaries increased yet again is outrageous and tantamount to highway robbery.
“From the reasons advanced, it is very clear that these MPs do not fully understand their role as public servants and they view politics as a
fund-raising venture and not as a selfless service to the people.
“To begin with members of Parliament enjoy hefty allowances and subsidized services and goods. The cars they drive are tax- free; the National Assembly Motel they sleep in is tax- free even the beer and the buffets they enjoy are tax – free,” Mr. Mwanza explained.
Mr. Mwanza wondered what job the MPs are doing to deserve such huge amounts when they are already getting K250, 000 for just sitting around for two and half years when no civil servant in the country earns so much money in such a short time.
“Secondly these MPs are entitled to
hefty gratuities. Imagine they will each get K250, 000 for sitting and yelling ‘Hear! Hear!’ for two and a half years. Which public service employee can get K250, 000 for working for two and half years?
Thirdly, what job are they doing to deserve all these luxuries that they are waxing themselves in at the expense of their voters? Can they first prove their worthiness to their voters before they ask to eat?” Mr. Mwanza noted.
Mr. Mwanza challenged the MPs to remember that politics is a noble calling to serve and not to eat and that they should not turn the sacred vocation of serving people into a money- making venture.
He further challenged the MPs who are not satisfied to quit politics and venture into entrepreneurship.
And the opposition party has proposed that a body be established to deal with the emoluments and entitlements for constitution office bearers so as to curtail the greed that has crept into constitutional institution.
“1. That an Independent Service Commission should be established to be the body tasked to deal with the issues of emoluments and entitlements of MPs and all Constitution Office Bearers to bring an end to this greed and self -aggrandizement
“2. That legislation should be passed to compel each MP to have periodical visits and community meetings in his/her constituency to converse important issues with the electorates and that such undertakings should be financed by the state to crack down on ‘absentee’ MPs.
“3. That National Assembly Constituency Offices should be properly funded and equipped in order to serve as avenues that electorates can use as resource centers to keep themselves abreast with the happenings in the House.”
This is contained in a statement released to the media by party spokesperson Antonio Mwanza.
Chadiza Magistrate Fabian Likulunga has accused the district administration of delaying the construction of the seventy six kilometres chadiza-Chipata road.
Magistrate Likulunga says the delay was particularly due to the District Commissioner Paul Phiri’s office and not his court.
ZANIS reports that Magistrate Likulunga said this in an interview in Chadiza District, today.
He was reacting to recent media reports that the construction of the Chadiza- Chipata road under the link Zambia 8000 project is likely to be delayed following a court order to China State Engineering Company (CSEC) to stop getting gravel from a pit along the road.
The Magistrate said the court ordered the construction company to stop getting gravel from the pit because contractor failed to appear before the court after being sued by a resident who is claiming compensation for trespassing on his land.
“I ordered the company to stop excavating gravel because the contractor and some headman at Kamseche village failed to appear before the court even after being served with the summons.
“ And according to the records we have here at the court, the District Commissioner seized those summons and is still in possession of the summons up to now”, he said.
Mr Likulunga said it was not in order for the District Commissioner to seize the writs that were delivered to the defendants.
And China State Engineering Company, Contract Manager Yim Wang said he was directed by the District Commissioner not to go to court.
And when asked for a comment Chadiza District Commissioner Paul Phiri said he had nothing to comment on.
Last Thursday, John Banda of Kamseche Village in Chief Zingalume’s area sued China state Engineering Company and Timothy Banda the village headman claiming compensation for trespassing on his land and getting gravel without his knowledge since June 2014.
Mr Banda Contended that the trespass on his land has left him without anywhere to continue with his farming career and wondered how he was going to sustain his family because that was his main source of income.
However, both the Contractor and the Headman failed to appear before the court contending that they were told not to appear before the court by the district administration.
A survey conducted by the Zambia Medical Association in Lusaka province has revealed that an average of 20 women give birth on the floor per day at the University teaching hospital – UTH- labour ward.
The report also says only an average of 40 deliver on the bed due to inadequate bed space at the highest health institution.
This is because the increase in population in the province has not been matched with expansion in health infrastructure and human resource.
The report released in Lusaka shows that UTH- labour ward has always had 17 bed spaces for delivery since 1969 when the maternity wing was opened yet the hospital has an average of 60 deliveries per day.
The report on the “State of Maternal and Newborn healthcare in Lusaka Province” commissioned in February this year has also discovered that UTH has a glaring shortage of midwives and theatre nurses which makes service delivery a challenge.
Making a presentation on the findings during a breakfast meeting today, Dr Swebby Macha who was taskforce secretary conducting the situational analysis said the picture at UTH is the same at other health facilities in Lusaka.
And in receiving the report, community development mother ad child health minister Emerine Kabanshi says government is determined to address maternal and new born health challenges.
Ms. Kabanshi has praised the Zambia Medical Association for carrying out the survey and said government will look at addressing the issues established by the survey.
Northmead Assembly of God Church Bishop Joshua Banda
National Aids Council – NAC says Zambia is poised to win the fight against HIV and AIDS within the generation.
National Aids Council Chairperson, Bishop Joshua Banda says the optimism to overcome the battle on the spread of HIV is evidence based.
Bishop Banda has explained that based on the global report on AIDS for 2013, Zambia is ranked as one of the top six countries recording reduction in new HIV infections particularly in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, NAC has appointed Jabbin Mulwanda as its new Director General.
Bishop Joshua Banda says Dr. Mulwanda’s expertise in managing national public health programmes including HIV-AIDS spans over 15 years.
Bishop Banda was speaking at the media briefing held at the National Aids Council in Lusaka.
FILE: Kabwata MP Hon. Given Lubinda (l) discussing with Human Rights Commisioner Isabel Katongo Simukonda during the Launch of the Parliamentary Caucus on Children Strategic Plan 2012-2016 at Raddison blu Hotel
The Grand Coalition on the people driven constitution has called on members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to emulate Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda and support calls for the release of the new constitution.
Speaking in an interview Grand Coalition Vice Chairperson Beatrice Grilo said Mr. Lubinda should be commended by all stakeholders for his bold step to support calls for the release of the constitution and that PF members should emulate his boldness.
“We are calling all PF members to actually come back and say we made this promise to people and we cannot turn around because next time when we promise something people will not take us seriously?
“We commend Mr. Lubinda and that is what everyone should be doing. There is no reason why the PF should not honor commitments they made within their party manifesto as well as the promise they made to the people before they were elected into office,” Ms. Grilo said.
She noted that the promises made by the then opposition PF was something which was thought through as it was not just a word of mouth but was put down in writing hence the need for the ruling party to deliver on their promise of enacting a new constitution.
“Everybody in the PF should be saying we made a commitment and we should honor the commitment. Tell me if they don’t honor this serious commitment which is in their manifesto what are they going to tell you in 2016.
“This not something that was just said so that you can say maybe it was a slip of the tongue; it is something which was thought through and put down in their manifesto and a manifesto of a party is what you use to sale yourself to the people,” she said.
Ms. Grilo added, ” now if you tell people that this is what we are going to do for you and you put it in writing for everybody to read and then you make a U-turn on the promise isn’t that a betrayal to the people so he is just telling us that this what they promised and he does not agree that they should U- turn.”
Ms. Grilo was commenting on recent remarks by the law maker who has been quoted in some media circles saying the needs the constitution “as soon as yesterday.”
Yesterday, Mr Lubinda, has backed calls for the immediate release of the final draft constitution.
“Zambia requires to end the constitution making process like yesterday and government should ensure that whoever is holding on to the draft constitution must release it to the President and the people of Zambia,” Mr Lubinda who is Patriotic Front member said on Tuesday at Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka during the launch of the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) state of Democratic Accountability in Zambia.
He said Zambians should not abdicate their responsibility of demanding for the new constitution.
Mr Lubinda was reacting to Alliance for Better Zambia Secretary General Shula Mulenga who proposed that the member of Parliament should be given a Green Ribbon so that he could demand for the immediate release of the constitution to the people of Zambia.
The Kabwata legislator said he still maintained his position on the constitution and that he was still a strong advocate of a people driven constitution.
“I want to say to the whole country that my position is the same, the same as I had in 2002. Zambia requires ending this process, and ending it yesterday not tomorrow. We cannot continue to waste time, effort and resources. We ought to bring it to a close in Parliament. I have not changed positions, I didn’t agree to a motion that government should give a road map because that will be contrary to the aspirations of the Zambians for a people driven constitution.
“The amendment I proposed to my friend Garry Nkombo is to let the motion lead, Can government ensure that whoever is holding on to the draft releases it to the Head of State and to the people so that the stakeholders may come up with the roadmap leading to the giving of the Zambians a people driven constitution, that is my stand and no one and no circumstances shall change that because that is me and what I believe in and I am afraid others don’t believe in that but that is me,” Mr Lubinda said
Botswana have sneaked into the country ahead of Sunday’s 2015 CAF Under-17 Youth Championship qualifier against Zambia in Lusaka.
FAZ spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe confirmed that the Young Zebras arrived in the country on Wednesday evening.
Zambia and Botswana clash in the second round first leg match of the 2015 CAF Under-17 Youth Championship qualifiers at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Botswana had kept FAZ in the dark on their arrival prior to landing in Lusaka.
“Zambia’s opponents in the Niger 2015 Under Seventeen qualifier have arrived in the country. The Botswana national team touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport this evening at 18:00 and were met by FAZ officials who immediately took them to Lusaka’s Golden Peacock hotel
where they have been accommodated,” Tembwe stated.
Meanwhile, the Junior Chipolopolo squad has intensified preparations for the Botswana encounter.
The Chris Kaunda coached side has been in camp in Lusaka for over a week.
The team:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Sikanyika (Damiano Academy), Derrick Sichangwe (Butondo Western Tigers), Jackson Kakunta (Kabwata Dynamos).
Defenders: Benson Chali (Forest Rangers), Elias Kapembwa (Luanshya United),), Prosper Chiluya (Olympic Youth Development Centre), Edward Chimfwembe (Zesco Victoria Falls), Gift Sikaonga (Nchanga Rangers), Salati Lungu (Sable Bulls), Gilbert Ngulube (Chaisa Academy), Wayne Museba (premium Sports), Garry Mwelwa (Gomes)
Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President George Mpombo has advised government to issue a comprehensive and detailed statement on President Michael Sata’s wellbeing in order to clear the skepticism surrounding the recently released pictures.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema and the President’s aide for press and public relations George Chellah have both confirmed that the recently released pictures of President Sata chairing a Cabinet meeting on Monday are the recent pictures of the President.
But Dr. Mpombo said pictures are not enough to make people believe that the Head of State is doing fine and did indeed chair the said Cabinet meeting held at State House.
Dr. Mpombo told Qfm News in a telephone interview that unless government issues a statement on the said Cabinet meeting, people will treat any information from State House with a pinch of salt.
He said government should not continue handling the issue of the President’s wellbeing in an awkward manner.
Dr Mpombo added that government should also be mindful that it still owes the people of Zambia an explanation as to why the President’s arrival from his working holiday in Israel was not publicized.
Suspected criminals on Saturday night broke into GBM Milling, a milling company owned by Kasama Central member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, raiding the entire accounts and logistics departments and stole eight computers but a quick response from Police C5 foiled the robbery as the suspects were immediately apprehended and a taxi they were using impounded.
Both Lusaka Police Commissioner Lemmy Kajoba and Mr Mwamba confirmed the robbery at GMB Milling to the Daily Nation yesterday.
Mr Kajoba said police through the C5 who were on patrol in the Industrial area have since arrested six suspected criminals who had managed to haul six computers from GBM Milling in the accounts and logistic departments.
He said Police were consolidating the details of the robbery before taking taking the suspects to court.
Mr Kajoba said the police who were in the area on the material night apprehended the six alleged criminals after they suspected something wrong going on at GBM Milling.
“Yes, we arrested about six suspected criminals who broke into GBM Milling on Saturday night and stole six computers. Police who were patrolling in the area intercepted the criminals after suspecting that there was something criminal going on at the Milling. We also impounded the taxi they were using to haul the computers and the suspects are currently in custody. We are consolidating their details before taking them to court,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said the number of computers that were stolen from the GBM Milling accounts and logistics departments was eight and that Police recovered some of them after they arrested the suspected criminals.
Mr Mwamba said quick response and action from police C5 department of the anti-robbery squad foiled the robbery and that before the suspect could speed off after breaking into the offices, they were apprehended.
He commended the police officers for their quick action stating that he was happy that the suspects were arrested before they could leave the premises of his company.
Mr Mwamba said among the suspects were two security guards from a named security company.
In another incident, a lone criminal waylaid and ambushed Mr Mwamba’s daughter, Thandiwe and snatched her handbag containing K54 000 and US$3 000 withdrawn from Access Bank for GBM Milling workers’s salaries.
The lone bandit is suspected to have trailed Thandiwe to the bank and waited for her to withdraw the money before ambushing her and snatching the handbag before disappearing into the crowd.
“On Saturday, bandits broke into GBM Milling and raided the entire accounts and logistics departments and stole eight computers but before they could speed off, they were apprehended by the police from the C5 department. I commend the quick action by the police. Some of the computers have been recovered. But on Tuesday, a lone bandit ambushed my daughter who had withdrawn money at Access Bank and robbed her of K54 000 and US$3 000 meant for salaries,” Mr Mwamba said.
Police in Nakonde district of Muchinga Province have arrested a man for allegedly marrying off his underage daughter to a 21-year-old man.
Police have also arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly marrying an underage girl.
Muchinga Deputy Police Commissioner, Bonny Kapeso, has confirmed the development to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today.
Mr Kapeso said following a report by the Ministry of Education in Nakonde District yesterday that a man of Mulizye village had married off his underage daughter, police, in the company of the World Vision Zambia (WVZ) staff, followed up the matter and arrested one of the parents and the husband of the girl.
Mr Kapeso said the mother of the girl escaped the drug net and disappeared in the nearby bush and police are still looking for her.
He named the arrested parent as Bernard Sinkolongo of Mulizye village in Chieftainess Waitwika’s area of Nakonde district and his in-law as Kenny Sinkala of the same village.
Mr Kapeso said police are still investigating the matter and the public will be informed later on the next action to be taken.
Meanwhile, the 13- year- old girl who was in Grade 6 at Mulizye Primary School told ZANIS at Nakonde police station this morning that he loves the man and wants to remain in the marriage.
The girl, who is three months pregnant and was married off at an organised ceremony, last Saturday, said she does not want to go back to school.
The named girl said her parents were given one goat, two chickens, two hoes, four metres of Chitenge material, 60 litres of munkoyo drink and K60 cash.
And Chieftainess Waitwika of the Namwanga people of Nakonde district has strongly condemned the marrying off of the under-age girl.
Chieftainess Waitwika told ZANIS in an interview today that the long arm of the law should firmly deal with the parents who are in the habit of withdrawing girl children from school and give them into marriage at a tender age.
She said she is disappointed that such a thing could come from Mulizye village where she personally spent time to educate the parents on the need not to marry off their young girls.
And Society for Women Against HIV/AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ) coordinator for Muchinga and Northern Provinces, Maggie Siame, said in separate interview with ZANIS that her organisation is ready to take the girl to the transit home until she gives birth.
Ms Siame said after the girl has given birth she will be taken back to school.
Ms Siame has also disclosed that her organisation is following up a similar case in Isoka district where a Grade 7 pupil of Mutondu Primary School has been withdrawn from school and married off.
Yesterday, Nakonde District Education Board Secretary (DEBS,) Stanley Mwambazi, told ZANIS that a 13-year-old girl of Mulizye Primary School had been withdrawn from school and married off by her parents.
Mr Mwambazi said it is unfortunate that some children abruptly stop school and school authorities later on discover that their pupils were actually married off.
He lamented that some parents are too vulnerable and view their children as a source of wealth which is wrong and against the law.
The DEBS said that it is a common trend in Nakonde district for parents to marry off their young children.
He, however, warned the parents of the 13-year-old girl of Mulizye Basic School that the long arm of the law would not spare them.
Mr Mwambazi said the Ministry of Education in conjunction with FAWEZA and CAMFED as well as Chieftainess Waitwika were working restlessly to sensitise the villagers and ensure that early marriages come to an end.
Gender Minister Inonge wina , Sylvia Masebo Chongwe MP and the candidate for Mangango Rogers Lingweshi Lyambai having the light moment shortly he successfully falls in his nomination at Mangango Primary school
PF National Chairperson, Inonge Wina, has called for calm among the party members in Mangango constituency ahead of the forth-coming parliamentary by-election slated for August 19.
And Ms Wina is confident that the ruling PF party would scoop the Mangango seat.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Ms Wina counselled the PF members from Shikombwe ward in the area to respect the party’s decision to adopt Mr Rogers Lingweshi to contest the Mangango seat and rally behind him.
“This is not time for squabbles but to rally behind and support the party leadership’s choice. Our aspiring candidate, Mr Lingweshi, was selected after wider consultation with the people at the grassroots,” Ms Wina said.
Ms Wina, who is also Gender Minister, said the PF government is on course to deliver development not only in Mangango Constituency but the entire country in accordance with the party manifesto as evidenced by the massive development in infrastructure in key sectors of the economy such as roads.
On Monday this week, a group of about 200 discontented PF members from Shikombwe ward in Mangango Constituency, led by Albert Mubanga and Miriam Kashwashwa, stormed Kaoma District Commissioner (DC), Joster Manjolo, demanding to be told why the former Member of Parliament (MP), Taundi Chiseke, was not adopted to re-contest his seat.
The members contended that the decision by the PF leadership to field Mr Lingweshi as PF candidate for the Mangango by-election would cause the party to lose as the people’s wish was not respected.
But Kaoma DC, Joster Manjolo, told the irate PF cadres to exercise restraint as their preferred candidate, Mr Chiseke, had some legal impediments which hindered his candidature.
On the ruling party emerging victorious on August 19, this year, the PF National Chairperson said Mr Lingweshi is out-standing, credible, seasoned politician and mature person who has vast experience over his opposition opponents.
Ms Wina said the opposition candidates were ‘no-match’ to Mr Lingweshi and urged the people of Mangango not to worst their ballot on voting for the opposition but vote for Mr Lingweshi who has the ‘key’ to develop the area.
Six candidates, that include five males and a female, are vying for the Mangango seat after they successfully filed in their nomination papers last week.
Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) have fielded Mweene Naluwa, United National Independence Party (UNIP) has Janet Sombo Chingumbe and Charles Mwenzala is from MMD.
Others are UPND’s Godwin Putu and Mukumbuta Kabuyana of the Fourth Revolution Party.
A new report on the state of maternal and new born health care services has called for the immediate operationalisation of a baby care unit at the University Teaching Hospital.
The report is based on the findings of the survey conducted by the Zambia Medical Association in five public hospitals and 28 public clinics in Lusaka province.
The survey reveals a glaring shortage of midwives in the labour ward at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) which has an average of 60 deliveries per day.
The midwives ratio translates to 1:6, with a shortage of theater nurses averaging three nurses per shift making it impossible to fully optimize the theatre at any time.
The report also indicates that Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital only has six delivery beds despite having a well defined and equipped space for a special baby care unit.
Survey task force Chairperson Dr. Suwile Macha has since appealed to government to urgently address the challenges in health care centers.
And Community, Mother and Child Health Minister Emerine Kabanshi has reaffirmed government’s commitment to the provision of quality health services.
Ms Kabanshi has also commended the Zambia Medical Association for the initiative to conduct the maternal and newborn health care survey.
Government has accused some sections of the media of having pre-conceived and predetermined ideas in pursuing its stories on the whereabouts of President Michael Sata and his health status.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Joseph Katema has maintained that State House would issue a statement on the matter but only as and when it will be absolutely necessary.
He said it was not immediately necessary for State House to issue a statement on the whereabouts of President Sata and his health status because the Head of State had already made himself available to the nation by chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday this week.
On Monday, State House released still pictures of a cabinet meeting allegedly chaired by President Sata.
The minister who could not state when State House would be able to issue a comprehensive statement on the speculations and innuendoes currently chocking the nation about the whereabouts of President Sata and his health status said it was annoying that reporters doubted government’s position.
Dr Katema who is Chief Government spokesperson told the reporter to get in touch with State House over President Sata’s absence from public appearances charging that it was not necessary to inform Zambians about the whereabouts of President Sata and why he was avoiding to address the nation.
He said Zambians should believe and accept that President Sata chaired a cabinet meeting on Monday this week and that pictures of the Head of State entering the auditorium where the meeting took place were circulated to all media houses.
When asked why State House had decided to circulate the pictures of President Sata chairing the Monday cabinet meeting when he had always been chairing the meeting as the Head of State, Dr Katema accused the reporter of having a preconceived mind in his line of asking questions.
“The Vice-President has said State House would as and when it is absolutely necessary issue a statement on the whereabouts of President Sata and his health status. The President chaired a cabinet meeting and I attended the meeting myself. Things did move well and we shall inform the nation as and when necessary. Do not quarrel with your sources. Why do you call me with your pre-conceived mind. I have given you the answer, put away your pen and I am cutting the line…finish,” Dr Katema said before terminating the line.
Honourable Professor Nkandu Luo,
Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs,
L U S A K A.
Greetings
Nkandu Luo’s attempt change the Bemba chiefs’ appointing authority
FILE: CHIEFS and Tradition Affairs Minister Professor Nkandu Luo Senior Headman Natende walushiba also known as Dr. Katele Kalumba
THE FALSE AND WILD CLAIMS OF SUB-CHIEFTAINESS CHANDA WE YAYA
We the undersigned Bashilubemba wish to state that some clever people with the promise of being gazetted and of course with your blessing told sub-chieftainess Chanda we Yaya to falsely claim that she was instructed by sub-Chief Chimba to appoint a Mr. Chipoya to replace Mr. Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu. We in this instance, however, wish to exonerate His Excellency, President Michael Sata because these events thereof happened when he was outside the country.
In the first place sub-Chief Chimba cannot make such a decision alone since all such important decisions can only be made in the full council meeting.
[pullquote]God frustrates the plans of the schemers, so the work of their hands will not succeed. He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted[/pullquote]
We believe that this scheme of implicating sub-Chief Chimba who is our chairman has been a deliberate and malicious calculation to bring confusion, mistrust and division among Bashilubemba since the government machinery has totally and absolutely failed to change our choice of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga II.
In the Supreme Court Judgement No. 25 of 2008, let us look at J13 __618 of the Supreme Court judgement which reads:
‘’Alluding to the case of Ignatius Muhau Vs Attorney General and National Airports Corporation, a case founded on the principle of judicial review and where we said that the court cannot enquire into the merits or demerits of the decision made by a body with the power to make decision. Professor Mvunga, S,C., submitted that the decision of Bashilubemba would not be attacked on any ground of illegality, impropriety or unreasonableness in the Wednesbury sense……’’
Honourable Minister, we believe the fact that since you have managed to devastate your own Bisa chieftaincy from matrilineal to patrilineal status and in the same way, you are by all means trying to change the Bemba chiefs’ appointing authority from Bashilubemba to Queen Mothers whom you think you can easily manipulate as at the case at hand wherein you have promised to gazette them.
In the book, African Political Systems, edited by Messrs. M. Fortes and E. Evans-Pritchard, it is written:
‘’Women of the royal line, the mothers, sisters, maternal nieces and granddaughters of the chiefs are called banamfumu and are treated with much the same deference as are the men of the family. The mother of the paramount is highly honoured, succeeds to a fixed title – the Chandamukulu or Mukukamfumu – and owns several villages of her own. The sisters of chiefs are privileged persons, protected and supported by their royal brothers and usually granted one or more villages….’’ (ibid.,p. 93).
Mr. W.V. Brelsford wrote in Succession of Bemba Chiefs: A Guide to District Officers:
‘’since the seniority of the chief depends absolutely upon the place of the mother in the genealogical table, it is essential to get a clear view of the position of these mothers or sisters of Paramounts. Historically, there have been only two hereditary names of mothers of Paramounts. These names are Chandamuklu and Mukukamfumu. There are several other women who have borne Paramounts, but their names have not become hereditary. Nor have they themselves inherited one of the two traditional names of the queen mothers, for it is essential for a woman to have a title in order to bear a Paramount……’’ (ibid.p. 11).
In the Supreme Court Judgement No. 25 of 2008 between Chief Mpepo (Ackson Chilufya Mwamba), appellant and Senior Chief Mwamba (Paison Chilekwa Yambayamba), respondent reads on J18__ 623:
’’In the case of the Bemba customary law of succession, it is generally agreed by the parties that a chief below Chitimukulu, it can be Senior Chief Mwamba, Senior Chief Nkula or indeed any other, is chosen or appointed by the Paramount Chief-in-council. When the choice of a Chitimukulu is an issue, the body mandated to make the appointment is known as Bashilubemba. The composition of the two bodies, including the necessary quorum for transaction of business, was not part of the evidence. Besides, what the evidence failed to establish is the role of Chandamukulu, the Queen Mother (including Mukukamfumu, the Queen for Chinsali side), in the selection process of Chitimukulu and the chiefs below Chitimukulu,’’
The two anthropologists quoted above including the Supreme Court have not found any role of Queen Mothers in appointing chiefs and we do not know where yourself and Chileshe Yulaya the PF cadre Chief Chewe researched, because according to The Post newspaper of 1st May 2013, you were quoted as having said that it was Queen mother Chandamukulu who appoints Chitimukulu and you wondered what would happen since Chandamukulu had just died.
And to the contrary, you were again quoted in The Post of 3rd October 2013 as having said that it was Queen mother Ngoshe Mukote who appoints Chitimukulu. In fact the house of Ngoshe Mukote has disintegrated because after the colonial District Commissioner, H.G. Willis met the members of Ngoshe Mukote family on 9th November 1924 who were claiming the Nkula throne he wrote to the Secretary for Native Affairs on 18th December 1924: ‘’..
I agree that Ngoshe Mukote branch of the family has no good claim, they had been driven away many years before the Government came and to revive such claims is impossible.’’ Honourable Minister, how have youself and Chileshe Yulaya managed to decipher what was ‘’impossible’’ after eighty-nine (89) years (i.e., 1924-2013)!
The Bemba Political system
And coming to Chanda we Yaya, Mr. Andrew Roberts in A History of the Bemba wrote:
’’…the title of Chanda we Yaya is honorary. Chanda we Yaya is allowed the dignity of a namfumu (mother of chiefs), but she cannot bear chiefs. Indeed, a crucial condition was attached to the title, that the holder be celibate….’’ (ibid., p. 131).
There are 72 Bashilubemba who are assigned different functions, but those with the responsibility of choosing chiefs are only six. Andrew Roberts wrote:
‘’First there are the senior bakabilo of Chitimukulu, those who determine the most crucial issues, such as royal successions. These are: Chimba, Chitikafula, Kapukuma, Katenda, Munuka and Nkolemambwe.’’(ibid., p.15).
However, the Bemba political system is very democratic and accommodates royals from diverse houses. And the key lies in what W.V. Brelsford wrote:
‘’Another guiding line is that there is no sequence of chiefly names leading to the Paramountacy. Only relationship, place on the genealogical table and seniority count, and a new Paramount may step up from being Mwamba or Nkula or from being a man with no earlier post. The sequence of Chitimukulu, Mwamba, nkolemfumu, Mpepo need not necessarily be a permanent order of names to the Paraamountcy.’’ (ibid. p.11). (emphasis mine)
This actually means anybody can compete for any Bemba chiefly positions as long as he presents his family tree to Bashilubemba and certainly people like Chileshe Yulaya (the PF cadre Chief Chewe) has no royal family tree and in fact in 2002, when he was competing for the throne of Senior Chief Nkula with the current Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga II, he only produced a fake family tree and that was why even his court injunction was thrown out by Judge Japhet Banda. And that was why he was only gazetted by President Sata without even the courtesy of consulting traditional authorities. How true are the words of President Kaunda:
‘’The world of power can so easily become a closed universe, cut off from the source of morality, generating a fraudulent morality of its own, driving men in directions which, in their better moments, they would not take.’’ (Letter to my Children p. 74).
And yet the PF cadre Chief Chewe himself stated on Kasama Community Radio Mano: ‘’How could a President appoint a chief? He has got no right to appoint a chief.’’ This therefore means that since he was not appointed as Chief Chewe by the Bemba traditional council and by his own admission, President Sata ‘’has no right to appoint a chief,’’ then he is not a chief.
What is amazing is that since President Sata entered State House, Chileshe Yulaya has become the Bemba royal expert and champion. He, however, needs to be reminded to always remember at every sun-set that, that politicians and politics have an expiry mandate. And indeed, history testifies to the fact that tradition has a longer span of life than political regimes.
And going on with the selection procedure, after the six Bashilubemba have chosen their best candidate, but in case there are others who feel they deserve the paramountancy, then the chosen one does not cross the Kalungu river and he camps somewhere and other contestants also camp there in order to wait for the entire team of the 72 bashilubemba including two senior sons of chiefs i.e., Chief Makasa and Chief Munkonge to come and make the final vote. For instance, in 1966, four contestants camped at Kalungu river i.e., Senior Chief Mwamba Musenga, Chief Chikwanda Chitabanta, Chief Chimbola, sub-chief Mutale Mukulu and sub-chief Chileshe Mukulu. And it was Senior Chief Mwamba Musenga who finally became Chitimukulu.
Bemba community has accepted Henry Kanyanta Sosala
Cars donated to the Chitimukulu by the Bemba people after government withdrew his vehicle
And as with the current Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga II, he camped at Kalungu river in August 2013 and there were no contestants besides President Sata and yourself. And surprisingly it was Bwalya Kosa who is currently involved with Queen mother Chanda we Yaya who drove his ailing grand-father, sub-Chief Chikwe to conduct the rituals for crossing the Kalungu river.
It is very clear that our Mwinelubemba has been greatly accepted by the entire Bemba community as you can see that his subjects have even bought him three vehicles when the government withdrew their vehicle. And Parliament has recently been advised to recognize Mr. Henry Kanyanta Sosala as the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people. The Daily Nation report read:
‘’Supporting the motion tabled by the committee on delegated legislation, Namwala b MP Moono Lubhezi told Parliament that Henry Kanyanta Sosala as duly installed as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and that government should correct the Statutory Instrument degazetting him so that he could be recognized..’’
The Plot
Then you and your group, Bwalya Kosa, Sub-Chief Kalulu and others came up with the scheme of inciting sub-Chieftainess Chanda we Yaya with an unworkable plan. Bwalya Kosa went to see Chieftainess Mukukamfumu with the proposal that she should travel to Mpika on 30th June 2014, so as to meet government officials who would arrange her to be gazetted. And this meant she could have met with sub-chieftainess Chanda we Yaya and the so-called sub-chiftainess Ngoshe Mukote and together they could have signed a secret document that could have appointed Chipoya as Chitimukulu.
But we were informed of the evil plan earlier and Chieftainess Mukukamfumu informed Bwalya Kosa that she was not attending and the whole evil scheme flopped. The ancient philosopher Eliphaz once said, ‘’God frustrates the plans of the schemers, so the work of their hands will not succeed. He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.’’ (Job 5:12,13)
Botswana Under-17 team have arrived ahead of Sunday’s 2015 CAF Under-17 Cup qualifier against Zambia at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
The team is currently staying at Golden Peacock Hotel and will hold its first training session at Woodlands Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The two sides will meet in a final leg qualifier set for August 2 in Gaborone with the winner advancing to the final qualifying round in September to fave winner of the Uganda versus Rwanda tie for a place at next years finals in Niger.
Zambia have never qualified for the CAF Under-17 Cup tournament.
Congolese Rhumba star Koffi Olomide may be arrested when he returns to Zambia for a series of shows this month end for assault.
Koffi had to elude Police last time he was in Lusaka after Photo Journalist Jean Mandela reported him to police for allegedly assaulting him during a New Year’ Eve convert in 2013 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel.
Reports indicated that Koffi had to use the porous Kasumbalesa border post to flee from Zambia in January 2013.
But Mandela is determined to resurrect the assault charges against Koffi and he has asked the police to arrest Koffi this time around when he lands in Zambia at the end of this month.
In an interview, Mandela explained that Koffi assaulted him when he was taking photographs of his dancing queens at the hotel.
“He kicked me in the face and I fell to the ground, the only crime I committed was to try to take a picture of him and the dancing queens after a show and I reported the matter to Kabwata Police and a docket is still there,” Mandela said.
Mandela has since engaged MISA Zambia to help put pressure on the Zambia Police Service not to abandon the matter as it borders on threats against the press.
Koffi was no stranger to trouble with the Zambian police as in his previous visit four years ago he eluded a police dragnet and left Zambia on a motorbike following differences with his promoters at the time.
