THE FAMILY of former President Dr Frederick Chiluba has said there was no chief in Luapula who requested that the body of the former President be taken to Mansa for viewing because it would be against their tradition.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, family spokesperson Ben Mwila, who is member of Parliament for Nchelenge, said there was no such demand by chiefs in Luapula Province.
“The chiefs have not requested us to take the body to Mansa. In fact we say in our tradition that a dead man does not visit you, it is you who visit a dead man. How can you get a dead body to visit you, is it possible?” Mr. Mwila, who is Dr Chiluba’s cousin, said.
He said chiefs usually make such requests through the House of Chiefs, but as chairman of the bereaved family, he was sure that chiefs in Luapula had not requested for Dr Chiluba’s body.
Mr Mwila said the only representation chiefs had made was to request for transport to ferry them to Lusaka and that government sent transport yesterday for traditional rulers and other mourners in all provinces.
He said these mourners are expected in Lusaka today and most likely will view the body today.
Mr Mwila said this arrangement was not only for Luapula mourners, but chiefs and mourners in all the provinces of Zambia.
He was reacting to a story in The Post suggesting that government denied the chiefs’ request to fly Dr Chiluba’s body to Mansa for body viewing.
A story also claimed there were disagreements in the Chiluba family over the choice of his casket and that this annoyed some bereaved family members.
Mr Mwila said it was unfortunate that some sections of the media enjoy associating the Chiluba name with negativity despite the important role Dr Chiluba played in enhancing media freedom.
Mr Mwila said The Post, which he called a small newspaper, failed to bring DrChiluba down because he died a hero.
He said there was no need and it will be a futile mission to bring down DrChiluba because he is dead.
“They failed to bring FJT down when he was President. He has died a hero,” Mr Mwila said.
[pullquote]“The chiefs have not requested us to take the body to Mansa. In fact we say in our tradition that a dead man does not visit you, it is you who visit a dead man. How can you get a dead body to visit you, is it possible?” Mr. Mwila,[/pullquote]
He said the media should appreciate the role Dr Chiluba played in liberalising the media.
“They called him names, they said things against him, he never responded; why? Because he wanted to liberalise the media to ensure that the Press is a real mirror of the nation,” Mr Mwila said.
He said the country was almost bankrupt when Dr Chiluba ascended to power, while the media operated in a hostile environment.
“He has liberalised the country in such a way that even you members of the Press do not have to look over your shoulders to say something,” Mr Mwila said.
Mr Mwila said the country should not bury all the achievements of Dr Chiluba on account of mistakes because no-one is perfect.
“FJT made a lot of mistakes, but he made a myriad of accomplishments. So let us not bury what he achieved as President of the Republic of Zambia,” Mr Mwila said.
Mr Mwila called for unity and reconciliation in the nation in order to move forward.
Meanwhile, traditional leaders and their subjects in Kawambwa are demanding an apology from individuals and media houses that demonised and persecuted late second republican President Frederick Chiluba soon after he left the presidency in 2001 WALLEN SIMWAKA and JERRY MUNTHALI reports from Kawambwa.
Chief Munkanta of the Chishinga people of Kawambwa district said his subjects are not happy that Dr Chiluba became a victim of his own democratic and economic successes.
Chief Munkanta, who presides over sub-chiefs Kabila, Chitondo, Matende, Kabanda, Ntenke and Muyembe, said late DrChiluba together with other courageous Zambians broke the one partystate ideology and brought freedom of speech and association to Zambians.
Chief Munkanta said in an interview at his palace on Friday that although Zambia was independent during the one party state era, citizens were still in bondage in terms of freedom of speech, expression, association and economic empowerment.
The traditional leader, who was Dr Chiluba’s uncle, said it is disheartening that some politicians kept on calling the late head of State names even after the courts cleared him of the allegations levelled against him.
“Now that he has died all those who are talking ill about him should apologise. If it were possible even in his death, they should restore his immunity so that his good deeds go on,” Chief Munkanta said.
The traditional leader said it is not true that Government neglected Dr Chiluba prior to his death. He said this in apparent reference to Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s insinuations that President Banda neglected Dr Chiluba.
“It is not true to say that Dr Chiluba was neglected by Government. Death has just struck and as family members, we are grateful that President Banda looked after our son well and even evacuated him to South Africa each time he was not feeling well,” Chief Munkanta said.
He said Dr Chiluba will be remembered as a leader of all Zambians who respected traditional leaders.
Chief Munkanta said Government only started respecting traditional leaders in Zambia after Dr Chiluba became President in 1991.
He appealed to Zambians to mourn Dr Chiluba in a Christian way since he declared Zambia as a Christian nation.
He also appealed to family members to remain calm during the period of mourning.
And Kawambwa senior agriculture officer Samson Chipeta has warned that Zambia risks being cursed if citizens continue disrespecting leaders even in their death.
Mr Chipeta said Zambians have seen through some political messages that are aimed at maligning Dr Chiluba as a way of winning votes from the electorate.
He said there are political leaders who recently called for the re-arrest of Dr Chiluba as a way of gaining political mileage.
“We wish to advise politicians that they should realise that Dr Chiluba was President of the country for a decade and during his reign, he continued advocating change for the better. Those who were calling for his re-arrest and continued persecution were looking for votes. Zambia will be cursed if people continue not to respect leaders,” Mr Chipeta said.
He advised Zambians to learn lessons from the dangers of citizens refusing to respect leadership.
He said some countries have gone to war because the people decided to disrespect those in authority.
“The Bible says that if anyone of you has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at the woman. So let us not sound holier than thou because it is God who has the judgement,” Mr Chipeta said.
And traditional leaders on the Copperbelt have condemned people trying to gain political mileage over the death of former President Dr Frederick Chiluba, MONICA KAYOMBO and KALONDE NYATI report.
The traditional leaders have also stated that people trying to find wrongs in Dr Chiluba must revisit their cultural values and morals.
Speaking in separate interviews in Mpongwe, Senior Chief Ndubeni, Chief Machiya, Chieftainess Lesa and Chief Kalunkumya of the Lima people said it is immoral and unZambian for people to speak ill of the dead, particularly of second republican President Dr Chiluba, who championed the restoration of multi-partism and declared Zambia a Christian nation.
Senior Chief Ndubeni said he is saddened by the death of Dr Chiluba whose legacy would forever be embraced by his people.
Chief Machiya said Dr Chiluba’s funeral should be taken seriously and must not be politicised.
“There is need to mourn him in peace. He empowered most chiefs and ordinary Zambians when he was President,” Chief Machiya said.
He said it is actually a taboo for people to quarrel during a funeral or issue derogatory statements against the deceased.
“If we had differences then, we must forget about them. We only have one culture in Zambia and one wonders why some people are behaving un-Zambian,” he said.
Chieftainess Lesa says Dr Chiluba deserves a good send-off because he did not only rule Zambia for 10 years but also liberalised the economy and ensured that there was enough transport in the country.
“We are not happy that he has died, but this is God’s will. Let us mourn him as a united family,” Chieftianess Lesa said.
She said although there were hiccups during his tenure of office, he ruled Zambia peacefully and many people appreciated the benefits of democracy, which was re-introduced.
Chief Kalunkumya says people, regardless of where they come from, must realise that there is no perfect human being on earth.
“We are born sinners and only God has the power to cleanse us from all our sins,” Chief Kalunkumya said.
He appealed to Dr Chiluba’s critics to look at the good he did for Zambia such as declaring Zambia as a Christian nation, empowering people with houses, improving the transport sector and liberalising the economy.
The chief also commended the government for according Dr Chiluba a state funeral and for deciding to bury him next to his successor, Dr Levy Mwanawasa.
And chief Chamuka of the Lenje people of Central Province says the death of Dr Chiluba should unite the country instead of dividing it.
Chief Chamuka said while the death is a tragedy to the nation, people need to remain united in prayer and show love to one another.
The traditional leader said this when he visited the funeral venue, Belvedere Lodge.
He said Dr Chiluba was a peace builder even beyond Zambia’s borders and it is important for people to be peaceful during and after the mourning period.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
