By Henry Kyambalesa
As Zambia braces for the 2011 general elections, President Rupiah Banda has decided to trot around the country to seek the help of chiefs in his bid for re-election without making any effort whatsoever to address the needs and expectations of the common people.
President Banda needs to stop taking advantage of chiefs by using them in his political campaigns because they are likely to abuse the absolute traditional authority they wield by imposing their political views and choices on their subjects; and because chiefs are, ideally, supposed to be impartial leaders of all the people in their chiefdoms regardless of the political affiliations of their subjects.
Moreover, engaging traditional leaders to support the MMD in elections is likely to frustrate efforts aimed at creating a level playing field for all political contestants, since they (the traditional leaders) have a faithful following in their areas of jurisdiction. We would do well to address allegations of election-rigging, vote-buying, intimidation of voters, and access to public resources by the ruling political party without opening up other avenues for unfair political advantage.
In this endeavor, the MMD should stop consulting chiefs in the process of picking candidates for elective positions because it is likely to cause confusion if other political parties also decide to consult the same chiefs in picking their candidates.
Also, public assistance to chieftains should be removed from the office of the Republican president and placed under the aegis of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs in order to forestall any suspicions that assistance to chiefs is designed to woo their support for the ruling political party during elections.
If President Banda continues to use chiefs in his scheme to retain the presidency, he is likely to bring about disunity in chiefdoms among chiefs and their subjects who may have divergent political affiliations. This may eventually undermine the legitimacy of chieftains. Chiefs across Zambia need to emulate their North-Western Province counterparts, who decided not to involve themselves in any political rallies or campaigns for the Solwezi Central parliamentary by-election held on November 19, 2009.
Another issue that is of particular concern relates to some of the statements President Banda has thus far made on the campaign trail. For example, he has accused leaders in the PF-UPND pact of having no respect for chiefs. Such an accusation is unfounded, and it is both childish and irresponsible for a public official to try to pit traditional leaders against any other members of Zambian society.[quote]
Also, he has accused opposition-led councils of stealing money from people that is collected through property rates and levies. But if this is actually true, why haven’t the councils been charged with theft of public funds?
Moreover, he has alleged that the PF-UPND pact is a coalition of snakes with two heads that will never rule Zambia since the Constitution only allows for one Head of State. I am not aware of anyone in the PF-UPND pact who has said that the pact wished to have two Heads of State if it secured the people’s mandate to form government.
Besides, he has advised parents to educate their children, and urged pupils to be disciplined in order to succeed in their studies. This reminds me of a contentious statement made by the previous administration that Zambians should not think of having children if they cannot afford to finance their children’s education. And, by the way, the majority of children in Zambia today are already disciplined; what they really need are educational policies designed to provide educational opportunities for all children and adults by investing massively in teachers and educational facilities, abolishing Grades 7 and 9 elimination examinations, providing for low-interest educational grants and merit-based scholarships, and so forth.
Further, he has claimed that the people in Luapula Province have encouraged him to continue with “the good policies” the MMD is implementing. What good policies is the MMD implementing in Luapula Province or elsewhere in Zambia that will make education, healthcare, food, shelter, and other necessities of life readily accessible to all living Zambians?
And why on Earth would a country’s president be advocating for mass defections of citizens from opposition political parties to his party? Is this a scheme designed to create a UNIP-style one-party state?
I personally expect the Republican president to take the lead in engaging in issue-based politics. He needs to spent time telling the people what his administration is doing to address the catalogue of problems currently facing the country—such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, disadvantaged children, crime, corruption, and moral decay.
President Banda and his ministers should realize that meaningful socio-economic development will not come to Zambia like manna from heaven; it will need to be adequately planned for and diligently pursued. And they should not expect such development to be attained in an economy where the labour force is composed of large numbers of sickly, illiterate and starving citizens.
If he continues to be stubborn and arrogant, and to consider dissent and criticism as insults, he will end up being the worst Republican president Zambia has ever had—leaving no legacy at all! Dr. Kenneth D. Kaunda, for example, is credited with having presided over a government that provided free healthcare for all, free education for all, and as having secured the existing harmony among Zambia’s tribal groupings, as well as played a pivotal role in our beloved country’s struggle for independence.
Dr. Frederick T.J. Chiluba is credited with having spearheaded Zambia’s transition to multi-party democracy, and the adoption of a more liberalized economic system. While the late Levy P. Mwanawasa is credited with having introduced free healthcare for rural dwellers, provided for free education up to Grade 7, and embarked on a vicious fight against corruption.
We anxiously wait to see the kind of legacy President Rupiah Banda and his administration will leave behind.
Is that a chief he is talking to in the photo? He looks like a school boy to me
The majority of our chiefs are a liability to the nation….just what purpose do they serve?
Good Afternoon
Well, Kyambalesa should know that politics has never been a fair game. It’s a kind of Darwinian struggle, the leaders that are most popular with the prominent citizens (in our case chiefs) have the better chances of staying in power. The ruling party will never surrender the keys of authority reluctantly. They will use every opportunity to influence traditional figures all over the country to rake in the votes in their favour come 2011. The pact might find itself losing a battle they don’t even know they are in.
ishamfumu shesu ukutemwa ulubone,president Banda eleteka nechisunsunya panshi,apitanafya ngembwa yabindula,anyway nalepitanina limo pantu come 2011 ninshi atoba akaputi kuchulu.kulaikalafye pa farm.
Why is it that you only complain when Chiefs support RB and not when they support the opposition. Talk of hypocricy!
Never mind, our chief are standing with their people. Theyare tired, they dont want the MMD anymore. No one will full the chiefs anymore. The only province remaing to be supporting the MMD is Eastern, they are slowly realising as well that wapya Munzi! They are joing the PACT.
Is that an Egyptian King’s head gear with the Mwata??
Leave the Mwata out of this and please respect infumu. They don’t invite RB it is him he goes to visit them. When did Mwata visit RB at State house? Never
Our Chiefs have Lost there Respect. They are Coru……[-([-(:-\”:-\”
Henry, Henry! The President has been articulating his programs wherever he has gone. These trips are to inspect the progress of his programs. So what are you talking about? You talk about legacies, I was with you in Mufulira, you never had any kind words to say about KK, You formed Agenda for Zambia with Aka against Chiluba’s MMD! I do not like to talk personalities but I am afraid I have to because Henry is being a hypocrite here. You are using this forum as a campaign platform but Zambians rejected you. Finish your studies in US and return to the Zambian political arena and sell your views to the voters. I guess that 90% of bloggers here do not vote.
#9 Iwe ci Saint who told you we don’t vote? Don’t assume akadabwa sana
Looks like the pact is feeling the heat, PF/UPND or is it UPND/PF continue talking to the Post as RB continues talking to the chiefs.If you thought RB won the 2008 bye election by fluke, u got to think again. This man has indeed shown how politically experienced he is, i bate Mr Sata will not have the urban Vote he once enjoyed.William Banda has taken over lsk stations and compounds, Mumbi Phiri was recently chased from munali her own constituency, RB is taking over luapula with the rebel MPs ready to decampaign King Kobra, FTJ and terrence findlay have established base in Ndola, Danniel Munkombwe has asked RB to leave HH and southern in his hands as Mwanachingwala and Mukuni continue to provide wise councel to the people.Is the opposition and the post aware of what time it is in politics?
We luck leadership both at political and chieftain level. Unfortunately, our paramount chiefs across the country are too poor to resist the lure and money that these politicians throw at them. If they had invested in their own chiefdoms & looked at self-sustaining models, their welfare will be taken care of than wait for RB to visit them & basically buy their loyalty for a few votes after which they get dumped again. This will continue for as long as chiefs depend on government to run their palaces. One would expect them to move with modernity & look beyond government dependance for their own survival. I wouldn’t blame RB or past presidents, RB wants to survive & he is merely doing what our instincts of survival tell us.Good luck to the opposition I hope they win the elections in 2011
We lack leadership both at political and chieftain level. Unfortunately, our paramount chiefs across the country are too poor to resist the lure and money that these politicians throw at them. If they had invested in their own chiefdoms & looked at self-sustaining models, their welfare will be taken care of than wait for RB to visit them & basically buy their loyalty for a few votes after which they get dumped again. This will continue for as long as chiefs depend on government to run their palaces. One would expect them to move with modernity & look beyond government dependance for their own survival. I wouldn’t blame RB or past presidents, RB wants to survive & he is merely doing what our instincts of survival tell us.Good luck to the opposition I hope they win the elections in 2011
I FEEL PITY FOR BA RB. THE CHIEFS IN ZAMBIA SAVE FOR THE LITUNGA (i’m not LOZI but has very high respect for HIM). MOST CHIEFS HAVE BECOME PARTISAN & IN THE OPEN WANT TO SUPPORT A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE. THE PIPO VOTING HAVE STOPPED LISTENING TO CHIEFS. IT’S WISHFUL THINKING THAT 15 CHIEFS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE BACK R.B ?$# THE PIPO THERE WE ALL KNOW TROUNCED RB VERY HEAVILY. HE IS BEING CHEATED BY MUNKOMBWE JUST LIKE LEVY WAS IN 2006, RB 2008 AND AGAIN 2011 THAT HE IS VERY POPULAR. THE CHIEFS NOWADAYS ARE EDUCATED & KNOW WHAT TO DO TO WELCOME BROWN ENVELOPES, TURNED INTO PRAISE SINGERS BUT NEVER MEAN IT. WHO WOULDNT WHEN AT THE END RB LEAVES A WAND OF MONEY. I WOULD GET IT BUT VOTE DIFFERENT. FULL STOP.
DUCATED Zambians have often let this country down because they are responsible for plunder, Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Dr Caleb Fundanga has said.
Aah This also includes Chiefs because positions have been taken over by educated Zambians. Well said Fundanga. Fundaga for Deputy Finance Minister under the PACT in 2011. Viva Fundanga.
Sorry I meant “Educated” the first word in #15 comment.
Well written article.Nine charlie shushushu, we are watching you, JUDAS! You will surely rot in hell. Zambia shall be saved!:d
We have the right to know why the mwata was putting on that head gear, is he about to go to war or is he some kind og Roman subject?
Would be more interesting to learn how the pact would reform the participation of chiefs in the political sphere. The way Henry is talking you would think that RB is the first Zambian politician to play patronage politics with the various traditional authorities. The opposition do not have any plans for reforms because should they get into power, they will play the same games. Also, as guardians of our people why should we assume that because a chief supports the govt then he or she has been bought? Perhaps they simply have looked at what the alternative is and have come to the conclusion that their people would be better off with MMD rather some mad snake with rotten teeth who is completely inonsistent in his rantings.
#18 The headgear the Mwata was wearing is part of the regalia he wears during the umutomboko ceremony. If you were to go the website umutomboko.com you would be able to learn more about the regalia and the Lunda kingdom in general.
The headgear was brought to the Mwata who was ruling early in the 19th Century possibly by a French trader as it was originally worn by members of the French fire brigade. It is inscribed with the words ‘pompiers’ which is ‘fireman’ in French.
Chiefs are being manipulated by RB and his brown envelopes.The support they are getting will disappear like dew in the morning once elections are thru.RB is working on their poverty!
When a president or someone of importance visits an area ruled by a chief, the visitor must pay homage as respect to the Mwata in this case. The president rules the whole country and has right to visit each pary of Zambia. Imagine if he visited Kazembe area and left out the chiefs. They will feel disrespected. This will be bad for everyone and politically. People in villages listen to their chiefs.
Presidents Need Degrees Too
What kind of education does it take to become president? Find out here.
John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, once suggested that we “remember that our nation’s first great leaders were also our first great scholars.”
Case in point: Five of our first six U.S. presidents received a college degree, and the sixth, George Washington, received a surveyor’s certificate from The College of William and Mary.
In honor of President’s Day and the 43 men who have held the job, let’s take a look at some certificate and degrees available today, and the presidents who earned them.
TEACHING CERTIFICATES
Lyndon B. Johnson earned his teaching certificate from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1930 (now Texas State University-San M
I agree with Henry RB is not up to no good he is dividing our beloved nation but we do not have to worry about for the people they know who they gonna vote just like they did chitimukulu. My adivice to my chief stay of politics and give your surpporty to every politician regardless of which party they belong to for you are the chiefs for every one. It’s just the shame that we have a president who don’t care about the poor, people who can not afford to take their kids to school or wheather they can get cured about their sickness so if the cheifs relly care about their subjects the best they can do is to stay away of it.
I find Henrys’s articles extremely idealistic. Which politician in his propoer mind would not try to het Chiefs surport. The whole business of elections is bout numbers and Chiefs do have some considerable surport, which is why leaders in both the opposition and rulig party court them. aND Surely how does he expect the Head of state ( love him or hate him) to travel to Luapula and not see the Mwata. Rather strange thinking in my books.
I am glad that this story is neither coming from Dairy Mail nor Times of zambia nor Zanis.
Of course so far as RB is concerned his legacy is a democracy and leadership that is enforcing divide and rule.
Valid points by the writer. It can’t go without mention that RB’s 2009-2010-2011 campaign trial is becoming not only unrealistic but also deadly. Involving chiefs in politics will only breed hatred amoung village dwellers that will result into uncontrollable fights among village folks.
It is indeed selfish of RB not to critically analyse the situation and the danger of involving chiefs in politics.
Are these desparate times for today’s politicians?
Chiefs please, keep your esteem. Pali Kobo fye? You are selling your people.
Zambia, poor zambia, where did you go wrong?:-??
Who should RB take advantage of Mr Kyambalesa? Northern Western Province is getting the face of modernity. Try thinking in that line my man. When RB was in Luapula he talked development. When he was in Mazabuka he talked development. Is this taking advantage Mr ‘God’s Saying’..Kyambalesa. Are you saying RB should stay awy from the Chiefs and only MCS and HH should be seeing these ”traditional politicians?” Be real and resolute my man.
Zambia needs to change direction and gear. For me democracy in Zed is failing and failing badly. We will then remember one part participatory. Unbelievable stuff:o
Mukalaipononafye ubwaila no bwacha. Mwembutushi mwe
#27 Which trials are you talking about? Or did you mean TRAILS? That is why you have picked different meaning form this story. Check your spelling before you praise another bad writter just like yourself.lol.lol:d/:d/:x
Ba Kyambalesa nabo, pretending to be an intelligent academic. No, man that’s shallow thinking. I bet if you were to write a book, you would be lucky to sell even half a copy, Mr Kayambalesa. Fyalimukanafye ba bwana.
I can feel the bloggers’ pulse rate, they clearly have a deep sense of doubt in this so called pact.
And in a relentless attempt to promote snakes and baby snakes, the post has ended up exposing the unifying and leadership qualities of President Banda. Overnight RB has become the most desirable and respected leader of all time in Zambia. It is a matter of little time before sata begins to blame the post for this turn of events. But we told you that the pact is a two head serpent. God does not allow countries to be led by serpents, otherwise it would defeat the whole purpose of creation.
It is always nice to know the person behind written words. I have that advantage or privilledge concerning this author. He would do well to go to Zambia and stand with whoever he wants and see how far he will go. He has seen the potential impact that RB’s visits will have on MMD’s fortunes and he is not happy. Chiefs ARE neutral but that does not mean that they are disinteresteed in who runs government. The government of the day has an effect on their subjects and this is political interest. If there ever was one politician who MUST NEEDS meet chiefs, it is the President!
Henry is an intelligent man, but he is misdirecting his intelligence by putting it into use as a self appointed opposition politician. His friend Aka, rejoined MMD, so why doesn’t he?
To all of you anti-RB elements on this blog who are against RB visiting chiefs, is it your good advice that RB should ignore the chiefs who are the traditional leaders and guardians of our people. Is he not supposed to visit them to learn the priorities in the various areas as the people see them. Would you ignore the chiefs if you were in RB’s position and where would that take you.
It looks like Henry has been away for too long. Chiefs dont wield anymore influence than any other zambian. Chief’s influence is limited by the respect their subjects have for them. Most of chiefs comand very little respect, they are only chiefs because their fathers/uncles were chiefs. Pipo generally dont care who their chief is!!!
Inyambo Yeta tried to run, the NIKUV card not withstanding, did UNIP have any upper hand in Western or Southern Province. So dont worry about the influence of chiefs, If the PACT is popular, it doesnt matter were RB goes. Remember how quickly these chiefs can change allegiance? Remember Mpezeni and his “Mwana uyu nimukonda ngako” and later, “Neo nimuziba lini wamene uyo HH”!!!!
All of you who are so negative about Zambia, do you know that Zambia is acountry of 12million people which in Angola forced a draw with Nigeria a country of 150 million after 1 hour 20 minutes of play. Is Zambia really such a failure. If you think so, then you need to work on your sense of proportion.
Things will only work in Zambia when the age group ( 25 – 45) grab power from these old guys, these are people tax payers have looked after i can’t even say how years the word retirement has never crossed their minds.
#39 I concur with your thoughts. Sometimes when you read the negativity that some bloggers have towards our country, you would think we are worse than Somalia or Afghanistan. Some blogger even had the temerity to say that ‘no wonder Nigerians think Zambians are docile’ as if Nigerians have anything to be proud about the current state of their country. This Henry guy tries to paint a picture as though RB is the first president to visit Chiefs in the history of Zambia. Now that RB is travelling around the country people are still complaining, forgeting that the majority of Zambia’s people dont live in Lusaka.
Chiefs should not involve themselves in politics. Look at how they have ruined African American lives by selling them to slavery and our sisters and brothers are still struggling to overcome that pain even when it happened a long time ago. Do they still want to contine selling Zambian’s rights and destiny by allowing inefficient, ineffective and non performing Govts.
Zambians should say no to chiefs being invollved or used in politics, what happened to African Americans when they were sold into slavery by chiefs in exchange for guns, spices and other goodies should be a good lesson, because our brothers and sisters are still fighting this pain.
i think Rupiah Banda is slowly getting his grip on the presidency because of the Post.they have actually given him enough time to check his mess and now they have nothing more against him and he has shown to be a mature and experienced politician that Sata..they are slowly following him as he is headed for another victory…why bother yourself alot?nima politics chabe aya!muka fwilapo ba pompwe iwe..just go to school,secure a future for yourself and family,that is the only way to secure the future of zambia!
Chiluba’s thoughts:’I can easily engineer my way into RB’s govt. First I will sponsor my own MPs from Luapula like I did with PF. This time I will go further by planting a few more on the C/B and possibly Northern province. I can’t trust this sheepish looking RB, he might try to sort me out like Levy did after winning the second term in 2011. If I have my own MPs then it will be easy for me to control things, I can ask them to switch camps to the opposition. I must be the most intelligent political engineer on earth.I am sure the queen will agree with me going by that famous prayer I made at Buckingham palace about 20yrs ago. Uuum that reminds me of Vera, how is she?’
chiefs dont really have influence..otherwise the are likely to go into oblivion once they differ with subjects..
The Saint.Despite its vast land resources of 75million hectares, Zambia suffers from a relatively high incidence of poverty. According to UNDP World Development Report, Zambia is one of the poorest countries in africa(LDC) 68% of the population live on US$1 or less a day.I do not need to blog further.You should understand the politics of poverty.The report by the young man makes a lot of sense.We can’t all be ass lickers like yourself please
33 and 34, the truth hurts ayi, when you see your old man galavanting across Zambia, meeting chiefs behind closed doors. What are they talking about?, if RB meets those chiefs with good intentions then let the news people get it all on tape and video so that the whole world can see. So for you to attack Henry ati fyalimikanafye, we don’t see you writing inteligent articles on Lusakatimes so BOOYAH.
Surely the president has got the right to travel the country and meet with who he wansts?
HH ACCUSED OF BETRAYING THE PRINCIPLES OF UPND
United Party for National Development Member of Parliament Major Robbie Chizyuka has charged UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is betraying the principals upon which the party was formed.
He says UPND under its late President Anderson mazoka was a formidable political party which Mr. Hichilema is allegedly destroying the party.
Major Chizyuka has also disclosed that he regrets that he championed the campaign for Mr. Hachilema to be elected UPND president after the demise of Mr. Mazoka.
He says the people on the grass root even in southern province have lost faith in UPND leadership.
Major Chizyuka says Mr Hichilema will remain a leader of a few people at the National Management Committee but the grassroots is not in support of that leadership.
And Major Chizyuka has disclosed that the true Anderson Mazoka spirit will be revived and UPND will once more be a formidable political Party.
MMD INTACT AND WILL WIN 2011 ELECTIONS- VJ
Veteran politician and chief Parliamentary Venom Mwaanga says the ruling Party is intact and there is no doubt that it will win next year’s presidential elections.
And commenting on accusation by the UPND-PF pact officials that MMD is panicking because of the Pact, Mr. Mwaanga laughed before saying there is no aorta of truth in their statements.
He says to the contrary MMD is not panicking because it knows that the Pact will crumble before the elections.
The self proclaimed elections strategist added that the Constitution and the Ideologies of the Patriot front and that of the United Party for National Development are different and the two cannot stand together.
He further vowed that MMD shall continue tearing apart the pact saying even the pact is busy telling lies about the ruling party.
Interesting article, very interesting. I wonder why Rupiah Banda has to hold meetings with chiefs behind closed doors! Does this say something about what Kyambalesa has written about? If the President talks about development issues with chiefs, does he really need to meet them behind closed doors? What kind of development issues require him to discuss in secrecy? I keep wondering …
I think kyabelesa does not know how to analysis issues like a good writer. First its seems to his promoting the PF- UPND pact from what has written,i need to be collected here, lets analyssi issues as we see them not bcause we want to be seen that we are good writer, what he has said here is clearly rubbish at its highest level, tell us facts not yo head knowledge from pubs were u meet with you mate, please , we need development not rubbish like this, . Hope next time we get staff from him.
Thierry, just come back home. You dont know what on the ground. RB is working and is free to talk to anyone.
Henry aint you the one who denounced the declaration of Z as a christian nation. America has brainwashed you. No wonder you support the pact, HH a free mason, Sata a wild catholic. Whats the connection btn catholics and the secret society? Sata is also against the declaration, so is father Heriot, they want a secular society which allows gays, lesbos, porno and the like.
No.55:code101 says: yes you have been ‘collected’ because what you wrote is crap to say the least.
#47 Nuetral
I have much to say, but I will not respond to an insult. If you withdraw your statement, I will be able to engage you in appropriate debate.
“(Reuters) – Copper output in Zambia, Africa’s top producer, rose 14 percent to 697,860 tonnes in 2009 versus 611,940 tonnes in 2008 the central bank said on Monday.”
Such good news but no, evryone runs for the bad news!
Henry!!! Come to the playing field, dont comment from the stands.
Ba henli, naimwe muli ba politician mwa?
legacyless rb!!
code 58, has nothing to say that why he attacking a fellow blog , tackle issues not not fellow writters .