Tribalism
The last couple of weeks the nation has been besieged with rubbish Tribalism talk following Wynter Kabimba, PF party Secretary General’s revelation of emerging Bemba tribalism within the ruling party.
The post newspaper picked up this debate in their editorial comment to denounce alleged Bemba tribalism within the PF. To be sure Tribalism is barbaric and backwardness. It has been responsible for many deadly conflicts and wars across Africa including dangerous killings and genocide experienced in some countries (Rwandan genocide (1994), Nigeria’s Biafra (1969), Kenyan political violence (2007) and continuous flights in Darfur (since 2003).
Tribalism can also be used to disadvantage a particular tribal individual or group from participating or ruling the country. UPND has suffered this at the hands of the media. More so, tribalism can contribute to disunity and perpetuate inequality, discrimination and poverty. Tribalism can affect access to national resources and can promote selective distribution of national resources and development.
Power struggle in PF
I doubt the internal wrangles within PF are a matter of tribalism, more so than matter of political power. Who takes over from Sata? I think it is matter of political power relationship and patronage-a case referred to as New Tribalism.
One of the challenges tearing PF apart includes the tendency of manipulating Bemba tribalism identities for private interests and egocentrism. We can grasp the root causes of the prevailing in the PF political competition, discrimination, and violence insofar as we take seriously the following questions. Why did Wynter make such allegation of tribalism and corruption knowing too well the political damage it would have on the political party he heads? Why is the post newspaper a private media for that matter protecting Wynter Kabimba? What is there for them to lose? Why is the post newspaper so much interested in the internal affairs of a political party they don’t belong to, unless facts have changed? It can’t be denied that the post newspaper smeared Michael Sata whilst in the opposition, including calling him tribal. What has changed today that Sata is a hero to be worshiped by the post newspaper?
Kabimba not democratically elected but ruthlessly protected by the Post
It is now very clear for everyone to see that the post newspaper have gone to latitude in protecting Wynter Kabamba. In fact they have gone to defame anyone who seems to be against Wynter Kabimba. The other day it was Emmanuel Mwamba; today it is Edgar Lungu.
What has dismayed my imagination is the distortion of fact with regard a gallant son of the soil late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe (MHSRIP), a great leader, freedom fighter and founding father of our beloved country. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe was not tribal. By the way show me a Bemba who ruled Zambia and I will tell you, you are wrong. KK parents were not Zambian at least. Late F.T.J Chiluba (MHSRIP) was Aushi from CONGO-ZAIRE and we know the controversy surrounding his origins, Sata is Bisa from Mpika. Late Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) was Lamba and RB is from where? I don’t know maybe Eastern province of Zambia or Gwanda in Zimbabwe.
What is going on here? New Tribalism –Politics of the Belly, New tribalism has nothing to do with ethnicity- a group of people belong to one tribal. No. New tribalism is a concept built around power relationship and patronage. New tribalism sows seeds of disunity and distrust in political parties through formation of political cadre tribal camps which promotes bickering. The political cadre tribal camps usually do not belong to the same ethnic group speaking the same language such as Tonga, Bemba e.t.c but are based on power relationships and patronage and they usually report each other to party leaderships, in their struggle for power and recognition within the party. New tribalism influences opinions and debates in the public domain.
New tribalism develops nepotistic tendencies, as people belonging to a particular individual pledge their loyalty to that person in order to get favours in securing patronage or jobs in government and private sector. Consequently, there is general dissatisfaction among the cadres who are denied access to these privileges as a result creating internal wrangles fuelled by interest groups loyal to the individual.
The challenge Wynter Kabimba faces today is purely a lack of being democratically elected by the party members? Wynter allegiance is to Sata than to members of the party. Well, there are lessons to be learnt here for PF or any other political party. Where does Wynter as party Secretary General of the party draw his legitimacy if he was not constitutionally elected?
Someone defined democracy as “basically, government in which the supreme power is vested in the people.” The people choose leaders through periodic elections. During the elections the majority vote is carried.
If democracy must prevail and benefit our society, then we must revisit our concept of democracy and understand that while democracy offers us freedom, and promise of a successful nation, it challenges us to be responsible citizens. It is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that the media, both public and private maintains independent and objective reporting, free from political influence, to ensure healthy and competitive democracy for multiparty and interparty democracy. New Tribalism must be weeded out to promote tolerance and national unity as we work together towards ideal democracy.
By Chitapakwa Ntalasha
“New tribalism !!” I like this.Food for thought right here.Nice article.
Good idea, good attempt, but shallow analysis. Lacks that crisp/christal clear thought process like what Situmbeko Musokotwane wrote about how we are doing economically or is it financially under my PF government.
I am from the Bemba speaking group of tribes but I don’t like tribalism. Sometime I pretend to play the tribal game out of fun, but I know when to get serious. My take is that sometimes what comes out as tribalism is mere natural flow of communication emanating from understanding the other fellow’s traditions, customs and language. Otherwise tribalism is a stupid and cowardly act. It is actually supposed to be adventure to try to learn and understand what others are made of. I love all Zambians regardless of tribe. In fact I have very good Lozi friends.
VIVA One Zambia, One Nation!
This is not about tribalism rather survival of the fittest, ignorant and poor beings being used, this is not new but an old tendency which slefish greedy people use in order to make their life easy, the strange thing about it is that, non of us belong to any tribe, it is an illusion that has blinded people for many centuries. Has anyone of you thought about how we may have found ourselves on this planet? What if we all come from one particular matter which divided itself into different specimens that later came to be known as humans after evolution? The fact that this is more rampant tells you how much greedy, desperate and sophiscated humans have become.
Humans are so selfish that they will use anything to make it, even if it’s at the expense of the weaker beings. Let me ask you all bloggers a crazy question…. what do you see when you lay eyes on another Black person? Does your chemical compounds in your brain tissues immediately inform you that it is a Tonga or Bemba? What goes through your mind within the first seconds of such an incident? What kind of blood comes out of you, is it Lozi or tonga or Pure human blood? Is there evidence found in your DNA to indicate that that you are tonga or Bemba? Remember those two Zambians who robbed a shop in the states, i wonder if the Authorities found the word Bemba in their DNA, Wonder how their identity was established!
This posting and the comments has influenced me to write an Article on such matters, your response has amazed me considering you are all educated, i would have loved to go into details over this important issue affecting our country, which to me has more to do with ignorance, poverty and greedy. With abit of education towards present day life Visavi poverty. It would be fair for the leaders to go out there and empower people on what matters most to help the future of this nation, i wonder how informed Zambians are on matters of life, it’s a pity the only ones getting informed are those with access to proper and meaningful education, i wish i could help the villagers, those in shanty compounds, the “educated but not so educated” seeing how much limited knowledge is displayed here.
Lastly, many thanks to the Authour of this Article, it has revealed alot even if the comments are not that much to tell exactly how much we understand or practice Tribalism, which i must say should be your next topic….What is Tribalism, who and how much is there in our land. How far and how do you measure tribalism? What is the ultimate solution to Tribalism? Fine weekend to everyone, am out.
Cindy nice data there.I like it.Keep it up chikashana.
nice indeed
Thank you Saulosi and Candid, keeping my fingers crossed for a sumptuous thrilling article, i hope LT will allow.
I really dont understand what you are talking about. If some one is from mpika or kasama, the common language is bemba. If you are from sinazongwe or ila from namwala the language that bonds you together is Tonga. So KK, chiluba and sata are bemba speakers. Mwanawasaka spoke bemba because of his copperbelt connection. So tribalism is very much alive in PF, Let alone the family forest!
You are very wrong. Study languages then you will know the differences.
John, Are you saying technically that a Tonga has ruled this country considering that Mwanawasa was Lenje? Lenje is [art of the Bantu Botatwe tribal group.
You are very blind you cant see,umwana ashenda atasha nyina ukunaya…
Say no more. You don’t understand.
Aushi, Mambwe, Bemba it’s all the same. It’s like Banda, Mwanza, Jere, Phiri, Manda – its one and the same name
You can dress it in any colour, call it whatever you desire. Fact remains tribalism is tribalism. In my considered opinion, Kapwepwe is the father of modern Bemba hegemony, Chiluba and Sata are mere disciples. Kaunda is a subject of Bemba Senior Chief Nkula. Mm’mbe was brought up in Lozi tradition, and descrimnated against as a “munyukunyuku”, but he is Bemba to the core. In 2005, his paper was at the forefront of trying to shove Bemba down our collective throat as a national language. It was the wide spread reaction and condemnation of his crusade that curtailed and put to an end a one man’s folly to shove a particular language on us. Again in my opinion, Mm’mbe and Sata are working together towards ‘One Bemba, One Nation’ and ‘One Nation, One Bemba.
Sir you have wrong facts .You can’t stop the language from spreading.The Eastern world did the same to stop English from spreading but today its all English.Chibemba launguage language is spreading like fire even here in the United Kingdom any Zambian meeting you go to is Chibemba.Don’t be offended recently we were surprised in Livingstone shoprite it was Chibemba
You started off well but lost your way in your own tribalism -making your article rubbish.
Justifying the unjustifiable. When pipo says talk about bemba tribalism, pipo try to talk about all these bemba speaking dielects, bisa, ushi, etc. They speak one forrm of bemba or not. Pipo want to sugar coat history, simon mwansa kapwepwe’s political base was bemba hegimony, just like harry mwaanga nkumbula’s was stronghold was tonga dorminated areas. Tribalism is rife, in PF. Stop pretending. Adress this issue before its too late.
is nkumbula a tonga name?
I think this article has no sugar in it. The analysis made is useless, Kabimba and Scott are the only mature guys in the party. Kabimba surely needed that protection, not democratically elected does not matter, he is the trunk, of the party. The was was tossed, you had the coffin everywhere of him and to you, you find that appropriate. I think you must be sick in your mind. Mwamba was rightly discharged he needed to go, grow up man, I can tell you must be Mwamba’s sucker. The post does a good job man, I wish Lungu can go as well. GBM is dull, he can stay.
Whether its the new,old or “refurbished” brand of tribalism,one thing is clear -all shades of tribalism have been re-energized in the age of PF.
Right. I don’t really care – the author is trying to split hairs and slap labels on it. Whatever it’s name the monster is alive and well-fed by PF.
I think it is a form of tribalism not to conduct enough research on RB’s ethnic background and to dismiss it so casually in what purports to be a serious article about ethnic relations in our country.
The point is that tribalism has been taken to dangerous levels under pf. This coupled with sheer incompetence and backwardness is agony and a complete shame. Simon kapwepwe’s base was Bemba, Nkumbula’s Tonga, Nalumino Mundia’s Lozi, Mulemba’s Kaonde etc plus the Umodzi Ku Mawa group. This was mishandled by KK who played each group against each other for his on political gain andin the end it was KK wamuyayaya! It is not a secret that a lot of unipists who were in Kapwepwe’s camp have been campaigning & organising for Sata for a long time. If you study sata’s political career not just from 2011 you will see that his mantra is confusion, violence plus a tribal agenda = poitical power. The ‘new tribalism’ thing is a hoax because the original reason pf was formed was based on…
The ‘new tribalism’ thing is a hoax because when pf was formed sata made it clear that he felt bemba’s had been side lined under Mwanawasa and he wanted to correct that. It was only when he realised that he could not win outrightly through a bemba party that he started making alliances across regions. Look at even where he campaigned over the years. Initially he spent a few hours in Barotseland and tongaland unlike this last time. Try to sugar coat it as much as you like or to ‘spin it’ how you like but the foundation of pf is tribal.
If what you say is what brought Sata into power then he will stay because people don’t change their tribes. Most of you need to stop Bembanising issues. The more you group people as one the more they will identify each other as such and the bigger will be your enemy
what brought sata into power was he was the only candidate from a long list still standing, all the other guys e.g. miyanda had gone quiet or had failed to build a formidable political grouping. I was stating how sata started. He had a tribal agenda and was fortunate enough that banda got himself so hated and made too many political enemies that everything fell in sata’s favour. A close study of sata politics from the time he was councillor in kabulonga, mp kabwata and I think later mpika will reveal to you how violence, intimidation, coercion and tribalism are part and parcel of what he espouses. In fact sata initially believed that he could win by just getting votes on the CB, northern and luapala. Only after losing did we see him trying hard for eastern and western etc.
Wtf? Again?
STFU “slow”. Make your point clearly and succinctly otherwise STFU.
Imwe ba High Shipidi. U are a typical Zambian hater. Once U hate someone U 4rever can’t see anything positive in what they say. This Slow mama woman has made her point very clearly and we all understand it. Thats why people are voting for her here so stop giving her your expletives. Mature pipo always move on
@ubuntungwa
As far as Slow is concerned I will forever be immature. Find your own identity Slow!
clearly, the author of this article is either confused or deliberately and unashamedly trying to water down his own Bemba tribalism that showed it ugliest head in PF!
There are no variants to tribalism but only one tribalism which driven by the urge of one Tribe (mostly Bembas) to dominate other tribes with a view to stealing and unfair distribution of the nation’s resources
We know Bembas naturally and always call others as tribalists except themselves of course. BUT this has now changed from recent events in PF itself because it is evident that the Bembas are the biggest problem when it comes to Tribalism – and it is coming from among themselves – and Scott agrees!
Fear of the unknown! Most of the bloggers on LT are tribal especially those who cannot appreciate a few developments happening in the country. Grow up and learn to differentiate ethnic groupings. Lenjes are not tongas. Bembas are not Bisas. Aushis are not Lungus/Mambwes. Are you saying Mambwes are bembas since they are from the north? Do not pretend not know these ethnic groups; if not study them to know the truth mannnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’ll said
Face facts and don’t play around with words.
TRIBALISM is rampant in our country now. P.f came to power riding a tribal wave & they don’t know how to survive any other way.
BEMBA TRIBALISM has for a long time been caning & well orchestrated that now that it’s so blatant & intolerable, guys like you the author of this article still think you can hide behind fancy semantics & still get away with it as usual. Nice try. But no more will the rest of our 70+ ethnic groups burry our heads & sing “Kumbaya” while one tribe dances on top of us. Just look at our cabinet & foreign service & you can’t still imagine a crappy article like this feeble attempt will pacify the nation
Overcome your inferiority complex and you will not fear the Bemba people.
Nobody fears the Bemba people except those small allied tribes from northern, Muchinga & Luapula who are too ashamed to say in public;
“I am Ng’ubo, Aushi, Tabwa, Bisa, or Senga”. I suspect YOU are one of them.
@Lufwi Nyemba drop that. What we have are traditional custom and language conglomerates to form the major so called tribes. Bemba is a congloemerate of so many small tribes that can speak the language, practice common customs and understand one another very well. So it is for Nyanja. I believe even Tonga. The greatest survivors are those that try to make their own groups grow and overflow. The Bembas do that are they have made themselves outgoing, carefree and interactive
My friend, the Chinese are not one tribal grouping but we know them as Chinese speakers. Even inside China there are so many minor differences. Why put yourselves in small useless compartments? Yak!
@Chindakwanda. You have much to learn about the significance of the nations current mood & bone of contention regarding tribalism.
Dude, we’re a multi ethnic nation but for the first time we’re dangerously stroked to tribal sentiment.
BEMBA tribalism is rife. It is practiced & perpetuated by Bemba speaking(not real Bemba) politician who have mistakenly confused OUR NATION’S love for the Bemba language to be a rubber stamp for impunity. Oh yes, we Zambians love the Bemba language. And why not? It’s one of OUR own. Remember there is a difference in the following 3;
Bemba people (wonderful & friendly)
Bemba speaking politicians (mostly insecure under-qualified opportunistic loud mouimpostors who are most often not real Bembas)
Bemba language (one of the easiest & most wide spoken…
Lufwi Nyemba you are flip flopping. Firstly you accuse Bembas of being tribal and you show disrespect for tribes in themselves big like the Bisa whom you call small to show your derogation of them. Later after Chindakwanda conscientises you you tell us these “small” tribes are the Bemba tribalists since you now think Bembas are good. Whats your objective? The Bisa Aushi Nsenga etc are all proud of who they are. Do you want them to start demanding ethnic independence for you to know who they are?
@ slow
Excuuuuuse me Slow! – these small tribes must keep their identities instead of trying to identify with something greater than they are?
This advice from YOU?
Fear of the unknown! Most of the bloggers on LT are tribal especially those who cannot appreciate a few developments happening in the country. Grow up and learn to differentiate ethnic groupings. Lenjes are not tongas. Bembas are not Bisas. Aushis are not Lungus/Mambwes. Are you saying Mambwes are bembas since they are from the north? Do not pretend not know these ethnic groups; if not study them to know the truth mannnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are u talking about roads? Coz it doesnt make sense for the government to neglect the rural areas. Or maybe u r talking about the agriculture scandal. These guys made a mess of things last season, and they hav followed it up with a bigger one. Or maybu are the genius who thinks it was a grand idea to build more universities when we haven’t upgraded the standard of education at the grassroot level? Hell we can’t even maintain the unis we alread y have. The cost living is so high now. U my frend r suckin pf’s c.o.c.k. We r spending alot of money on the civil service but the general service is poor and still under staffed.
So you want us to hide our heads in the sand and deny the obvious? Don’t forget Kenya always projected a false sense of peace before the resenment of kikuyu hegemony set the country on fire in 2008.
The author of this article is a shameless, biased, tribal fool
@Mucende, you could have countered his arguements instead of your shallow and very imbecilic response. Get real and stop being a twit.
Chitapakwa tells a lot of lies. CHILUBA was not from Congo. Just because someone lives on the border doesn’t make him come from another country. There are Aushis in Zambia and DRC. Just as there are Tumbuka, Chewa Ngoni in Malawi Tanzania Mozambique and Zambia, Tongas in Zimbabwe and Zambia. We live inside artificial borders so we should refrain from the xenophobic tendencies of looking for foreigners where there are none. Tribalism isn’t the only form of discrimination. Discrimination starts with the unfounded negative stereotyping of those identified as different.
Great! I love your counsel.
No one fears Bembas…its only that you are becoming enemies to every tribe.We detest anything that has to do with Bembas.zambia is not yours,after you are foreigners from congo.
Just admit you are scared of Bembas we mbushi we
@Padre point of correction Zambians in general are coming from different parts of Africa, there those from South Africa, Mozamque and other countries that surrounds it therefore in that context we are all foreigners, otherwise owners are bush men and broken hillman of Kabwe.
Before you post such nonsenses go to school. Had you been inside a
classroom you would have met something called History. which would
have taught you that the majority of Zambia’s tribes including yours
come from Congo no matter how far you now live from that country.
*****!What a bunch of *****s.Cant you fools see that Sata and PF are the only victors once you start playing the tribal card?Unite across tribal boundaries if you want to restore this nation to what it was.HH and Nevers need to come together and fight all this nonsense set on our nation by Sata.
The article is somehow confusing and dramatical though there certain issues that should be tuckled seriously especially where peace is concerned I believe we all did history and goegraphy of Zambia in Grade 5 and 7, the bemba people came from Kola the place based in Congo to northern part of zambia called Kasama, this wasn’t a final destination others continued upto luapula province, in short am trynig to say that wether from luapula/northern there all bembas because they speak similar language Icibemba the only difference between the two is the accent and diallect, otherwise there all bembas.
That is not true. your comment arises out of a little education. Go and read about the Luba kingdom Mwati yamvo and where Kazembe comes from then go and read about the Bemba s movement in the 15th century into whays now called Zambia. I ain’t no History teacher
Before you post such nonsenses go to school. Had you been inside a classroom you would have met something called History. which would have taught you that the majority of Zambia’s tribes including yours come from Congo no matter how far you now live from that country.
Tell them! But some brains never reason so just reserve your wisdom for sharp minds!
I was going to be comfortable if the majority in gvt. are Lozis and Tongas because they are the majority educated ones. But look at the officials in pf, 3/4 are from the north why? Ans tribalism simple. I come from NWP but am proud to say that lozis and tongas are the most educated ones in Zambia who should be the majority in gvt. but for the author of this article to say like this, it means may be he was in his confused state of mind.
Twapya, the number of highly educated Bemba speaking people is phenomenal! We don’t brag when we get educated like some village cow herder like you who has to announce to the world! And I am not talking about people like you who will never assimilate regardless of how long you live in that particular region.
Someone gave me a history of the legendary Lunda Luba Kingdom that once extended from Angola to parts of East Africa-the journey taken by Mwata Shinde, Mwata Kazembe and Chiti Mukulu. It explains why Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, Lamba, Swaka Lala, Ushi, Ngumbo, Bisa, Mambwe, Bemba etc have so much in common. Before you aliens try and divide us consider the common names; Musonda, Kanyanta, Chinyanta, Kayombo, Changwe, Mwewa, Kanona, Mwansa, Chanda, Mwenda etc. Our common names speaks for…
@Sossa wasosa, bebe. Why is it an issue really? We are Human and Zambians first of all. WHAT IS IN A TRIBE THAT WE SHOULD MAXIMISE THIS MINIMAL STUPID IDEA?
Sossa waso…. it is sad to have people like you promoting, thinking that you are a group of better people. Yet you have not done any research to stand by your statement at you as a tribe you are better educated. By the way chances that you are wrong are quite high, for the following reasons, which have nothing to do with tribe;
1. formal education was first in Western Province
2. Till the 80’s most schools were highly concentrated along the line of rail
3. the passing mark is for G8, and G9 are very low in the area you would like to think is highly educated; if anything some of the G9 dropouts in some parts of this country deserve the place of your so called educated
Everybody in PF was NEVER elected by PF members, including the President himself. The author is engaged in mumbo-jumbo to justify tribalism and his hatred for Wynter Kabimba. The fact that the author is Bemba also may be justifies Kabimba’s claims and observations of the general population about which tribe seems to be most tribalistic in Zambia. At white extremists admit that they are racists and that provides a beginning, but for this author to deny tribalism practiced by most of his tribesmates is absolutely unhelpful and insulting to other Zambians. Rubbish like this should not be promoted. This article deserves to be printed on toilet tissue.
@Mwembeshi, has it ever occurred to you that Kabimba is half saala and half bemba and hence his idea of tribalism borders on his quest to gain more power by destroying anyone he perceives a danger to his quest? The author has shed some insights on the in-fights in the Pf but you are quick to call him a bemba. Shame on you. You are making the bemba speaking people unite against this evil called tribalism.
I got one thing from the artical though, if you claim to be democratic walk the talk.
I can’t wait for the new constitution. Some of us will be addressed as Zambian British as opposed to some jungle group affiliation which should have been phased out in the 21 Century! I mean, how do you even explain this nonsense to your kids? Maybe, like those kids who have been brain washed to go about blowing up people for some nonsense reward, you have instructed them not vote for such as such because he is from a that tribe which has been dominating politics. Is this how you people reason if at all you have a brain? No wonder you cannot even invent a simple technological device! Your thinking stalled when you woke and felt like an ancient, backward, unschooled, narrow-minded, bigoted tribal waste of …
As one who was born on the Copperbelt, we learnt how to embrace all regardless…
You just hit the nail on the head. We never cared for stupid tribes until some *****s started preaching about it with the help of the post newspaper.
BA FRELAHC MULICHIPUBA. HAVE YOU BEEN IN CLASS TO LEARN BASIC HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OR TRIBES OF ZAMBIA? DO NOT COMMENT ON ISSUES YOU HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FOOL.
Most Zambias are all tribal only difference is that Sata is in a class of his own as a tribalist, look at all the Bisas in the PF and its govt. Stop this finger pointing at the Bemba people, we aren’t tribal.
Most Zambias are tribal only difference is that Sata is in a class of his own as a tribalist, look at all the Bisas in the PF and its govt. Stop this finger pointing at the Bemba people, we aren’t tribal.
if I remember well what the post news paper said on one of its definition of tribelism,,its having a feling of belonging to a certain tribe and that is true,,,,,Confusion in our country shall never end if we don’t join the culture of jesus christ ,the isue of tribalism started way back bfore all of us wher born ,,so if we don’t learn from the past then will be fools at the end of the day,,the culture of christ knows no tribalism but love for one another
How many Bisas are in the cabinet? Only Sata and Kambwili
Crops will chock under this Weed!
It must be uprooted and burnt!
It is a rare type of weed which is more pernicious than tares!
It is taking away all nutrients and moisture from other species and they are dying off!
It has intertwined its roots with those of the normal crop such that uprooting the weed means uprooting some of the good crop!
What shall we do?
Sounds more like rare witticism than ‘dim’. Excellent.
What is this Bemba ntalasha saying? Tell yo chi leader Sata to stop his tribalism n nepotism. If he does Lusaka Eastern Southern northwestern n central province will vote u out. N u can predict yo suffering after that
Let us not live in denial issue of tribalism is now very real and has escalated during PFs’ ascending to power. It is a highly dangerous path, instead of trying to defend or bury our heads, let us challenge the leader to balance appointments in all areas of public service.
The tribalism label is even affecting innocent real Bembas who have totally no stake in the PF’s offerings, but these are the ones who now need to make a strong stand appealing to the powers that maybe that their tribe is being ridiculed due to unnecessary nepotism, favoritism which is now rampant in current Government.
God gave Zambia a rich blend of 73 tribes, why should a leader chosen to lead all these 73 tribes confine himself to appointing only a section of the community, family and relatives.
It took whites or slave owners to end the infamous slave trade. It took whites and a few courageous black people to end racial discrimination in S. Africa. It will take Bembas, Nyanjas, Tongas , Lozis, Kaondes, + 68 other ethnic groups to end tribalism in Zambia. The Post newspaper has been calling UPND a tribal party, I am happy to note that of late they have scaled down. UPND has been seeking a national vote. How on earth can you call them tribal?If their genesis is Southern province, so be it but please don’t label them tribal otherwise there is nothing wrong with calling PF tribal because of Bemba and MMD because of Eastern province. Mnost northers have a superiority complex. They need to change. A close friend of mine admitted in my face that northerners are cleverer than people
Freedom Fighters who fought for our Independence came from all walks of Life and Tribes across Northern Rhodesia. We had the likes of Nalumino Mundia, Mainza Chona, Chikamoneka, Katilungu, Mporokoso, Mwanakatwe, Mutemba, Winas, Sipalo, Kamanga, Kapwepwe etc. standing shoulder to shoulder for common purpose and to break common ground. Sadly after 49 years we now stand so divided.
Some of us who attended ZNS under KK embraced comradeship, practiced brotherly love and unity.
A friend of mine admitted in my face that he thinks that northerners are cleverer that people from other provinces. But put shoulder to shoulder, he performed worse than me at high school, I am comparatively by general standards more successful than he is. So its just the belief has about his origins that form the basis of judgement. I hope the minister of education is following this debate and is busy redesigning the social studies curriculum to teach children about tribalism, advantages and disadvantages, and the importance of nationalism over tribalism. Tribalism is a reality that we can no longer run away from but to deal with.
Among the notable freedom fighters I should not forget to mention are Grey Zulu, Aron Milner and the admirable Elijah Mudenda. Just to drive point home that they came from all walks of life.
In a quest to Strength your Tribes some of you will start marrying your sisters for fear of Bembas. Some of us choose to be free citizens of this country and i have been everywhere and able to speak most languages. My Inlaws in Namwala say Mubemba wabola and i see a bull brought down for my T-borne and when they visit us i also don’t mind having an Overdraft at the bank. Get real be adventurous Zambia is so beautiful than hiding in the tribal tag. The madalas you continue referring to will soon be history and you be the next tribalist since it’s so strong in you. Learn languages and other peoples cultures and always respect them as you would like to be respected. Kwamana
Exactly the point. The majority Bembas don’t have anything to do with other languages. That is why they speak their own language wherever they are. That’s where the problem lies. They need early education that by not assimilating and learning to speak local languages they are promoting tribalism. I gave an example the other time of someone making an announcement on a PA system through the streets of Livingstone in BEMBA, surely of all places. I wonder who gave instructions for that announcement. Lets get real and stop hiding behind pride and power.
@sunrise – The English do not make an effort to learn other languages because English is so widely spoken. In the Zambian context, Bemba is widely spoken that is why. We do speak other languages when it becomes necessary. I for one speak Nyanja, Chewa and some Tonga.
Food for thought article, however, I just want to clarify Chiluba’s tribe. He was Lunda from Luapula valley and not Aushi. Aushi’s are found in Mansa area, Chishinga’s in Kawambwa area, Ng’umbo’s Samfya area etc.
Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva Barotseland viva la la la Barotseland viva la la la Barotseland viva.
Last kicks of a dying horse.
That’s why i don’t see any reason debating with most of these bloggers. Their comments are of no substance. ln short they are demonic. Ataase! Educated fo o ls !lt is u educated pipo that have brought this tribal talk. U re fire without heat,demons!
Going back to well before Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Bembas have always been tribal and ethnocentric. Now nearly 50 years after independence, they are yet to realize that Zambia is for all Zambians not just for Bembas. But Bembas on their own cannot stand, politically or otherwise. They depend on making tribal alliances to win an election. If Zambia is to stand as a country, Bemba tribalism must be done away with.
You are a liar. Bembas are the easiest and more tolerant people to live with because they embrace anyone regardless of colour, tribe or creed.
Coachez you must be a die-hard Bemba tribalist. Besides, it’s characteristic of most Bembas to deny Bemba tribalism even in the face of glaring evidence. Please read Max Gluckman. 1960, regarding Bemba tribalism during pre-independent Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). You could also do yourself a favour and google Bemba tribalism. You will discover, among other shameful things, that Bemba tribalism was at the heart of Reuben Kamanga’s removal from the vice-presidency in 1967 barely three years after independence. Michael Sata, like his predecessor Kapwepwe had to break away from a ruling party mainly out of disgruntlement that Bembas were being ignored and formed a new party that would champion Bemba tribalism and dominance, which is now the reality we are seeing.
Coachez, you may want to check the postings @ 8 & 9 ‘When a wicked man rules..’ LT claims they are still moderating my response to your posting here. It’s taking forever…
I think we need to be honest with ourselves: all humans are born with a feeling of “self-connect”, a spirit of togetherness and solidarity with those that belong to the same group. In other races, it ends with the nuclear family but with Africans, it goes beyond the extended family, the clan and ends with the tribe.
This is why Africans are generally not so good at looking at their country, or their continent as a whole.
The fact that so many different tribes have been able to live together peacifully in our country is a wonderful blessing that should not be taken for-granted. Instead of spending time accusing each other of tribalism, the best we can do is continue under the motto of “One Zambia, One Nation”.
You have said it all brother.
The slogan: “One Zambia One Nation” is an empty slogan. Zambia cannot claim to be a “One nation” when it is so tribally divided. The Americans have vigorously been able to fight against racism in their country to the extent they now have a black president in the person of Barack Obama. This did not come easy. Some people had to give-up their lives in the fight against racism in America. On the African continent e can see that neighbouring Tanzania and Ghana have attained what would unmistakably be called a nation respectively. Botswana is clearly not a long way off either. The idea that Zambians must bury their heads in the sand and continue singing “One Zambia One Nation” is repugnant. Tribalism must be exterminated fully and completely before Zambia can be called ‘one…
I was in Shoprite,Livingstone people speaking Bemba,go also to Zesco and Zamtel livingstone,you hear the same thing,you cant find tonga in shoprite kasama,or zamtel kasama .its the workers in these organisations who are forcing pipo to speak not the local languages there respective managements should do something
Good food for thoughts and you did well to clarify even about the so called bemba dominance when it comes to the presidency.
Ba Ntalasha,
Every Zambian knows that we in Zambia have lived under the banner of ‘one Zambia one nation’. It is with this current PF govt of Mr Sata that has promoted Bemba tribe to be a better cut above every tribe. I will not elaborate on this point because Zambians have ably articulated over this matter with evidence. You too, is in agreement but with hind sight your approach over this subject is sounds like animal farm story. You are bemba mr Ntalasha and your article does not affirm that Bembas through mr Sata have been tribalistic in their governance of Zambia today. This is the problem, you burry your heads in the sand. Its shameful Bembas for the first time a Zambian govt has been seen dominated by Bemba tribe.
@Quasquas – Please educate me by listing the Bembas in the PF government. Please do not include Bemba speaking people – only the Bemba tribe as you claim.
New tribalism is cancerous. We must institute secondary preventive measures before it becomes invasive and metastatic. Its no use taking primary preventive measures as it appears almost embedded. It will erode what our fore fathers have always believed in, unity. The time to act is now. May God bless our mother Zambia.
Better discussing nepotistic tendencies than this boring tribalism. My respect is for those encouraging curiosity to learn diversified cultures under the Zambian umbrella as not to be offensive with each other. We have families that have ties with many ethnic groupings put at a loss with tribal debate
Bembas are very tribal..period..what are you trying to say..atase..
Alex Ferguson is a tribal! He selected David Moyes as his successor.
As a result Manchester United is now struggling. Chances are they will fail to defend the title. “Tribalism” does not pay.
Most of the problems in life start small and gradually grows cancerous. The issue of tribalism is real and PF is not paying attention to it at all. Look at PS position at Ministry of Information and Broad Casting. Mwamba was replace with a Mwansa. Is it true that only people of these names are the only ones fit to take up these positions? PF and the nation as a whole, needs to reflect on this issue before it is too late.
For the Post News paper, this is the number one enemy of our peace in this nation, recall how the demeaned the presidency of Mwanawasa and Banda, in particular for HE President Banda they reached a point where they insulted a seating president of a nation. Today, look at some of the online publications and style of reporting adopted from Mumembe.
Because they are bushmen who are
Egocentric with
Madness of Monkey ‘s
Boastful
Agenda.
Best are the
Lovely
Organized
Zealous and
Intelligent people
What crap is this?
Forming a Nation from many tribes is what African states were tasked with when the colonialists formed our borders. This is an achievement that only us Africans can boast about. Europe never had countries that were formed by others. So we should always thrive to show that we can. By being united.
The partitioning of Africa is what created the problem that many African countries are facing today in the form of tribalism. Please note that Europe’s map has changed significantly over the years. Boundaries of many European countries, particularly in Eastern Europe had to be re-drawn completely, sometimes to avoid genocides, etc. Following 50 years of fighting and more than 3 million lives lost, the map of Sudan, at one time Africa’s largest country, had to be re-drawn. Whatever, it should take, the creation of a nation out of many rival tribal groups, must be a deliberate effort. In Zambia, the deliberate effort that we have seen from our leaders has been that of encouraging as opposed to discouraging tribalism.
I agree my brother
This is an interesting article, even going by the number of posts made. However, the article creates more questions than answers. What is the difference between politics under PF and tribalism? which of the two is driving the other? politics or tribalism???
The educated are supposed to be educating their own tribesmen’s why the fruit of tribalism is bad rather than pointing fingers at other tribes when some of your own tribesmen’s practice that. I thank God for intermarriages and good friendship between two people of different tribes. These 2 keys have helped to reduce or check tribalism. Marrying one from your own tribe is not tribalism if based on love. To be fair, Zambia is much better that most countries mentioned by commenters in terms of tribalism despite having 73 tribes. Why should some individuals hate other tribes with passion and bitterness? That can be seen from comments. The appointing authority removed the late R. Kamanga from VP without disclosing a reason. In 1969 the late Kamanga was report “a rapist Minister”.
You are the same bane,just sing about developing rural Zambia for the betterment
of every one and the coming generation.About education any can do better,if i can recall between 1970 and 71 at University of Zambia at school of Engineering and Mining boys then like Sepiso,Mpande M,Mubanga N,Mulambya G, Malichi and K.a.n who went to Bristol University never came from the same province.Your advice is very important,Dont be none start.
This analysis can only come from a gradutae from MUSHINDO UNIVERSITY. very flawed!
wether new or old tribalism…. Kabimba knows something we all dont .. as for the post protecting him .. remember they have a case they have to be answerable to .. K14billion… which may not go away unless they are in good books with the powers that be.
From a bigger picture KABIMBA KNOWS SOMETHING WE DONT … IF THEY MESS HIM UP HE MAAY SPILL THE BEANS.. SO RIGHT NOW THEY WILL TREAT HIM LIKE AN EGG.
That Minister was right Politics of the belly… no shame at all Chikwelete kneeling in fron tof Kabimba .. wont be suprised if GBM KNEELS TO SAY SORRY. LOL
The post is nothing about tribalism, it is aimed at hitting Kabimba. Try to read to the PF constitution, does it allow for the elected or appointed party secretary general? Each political party has a model that they will follow just like in many political parties in Zambia, there positions where the party appoints members to those positions.
Take for example, nominated members of parliament, these are not democratically elected, but function as members of parliament.
Can someone please educate me by listing the Bembas in the PF government. Please do not include Bemba speaking people. I want to see if 80% are Bemba by tribe as it is being claim. Come on, don’t just make accusations, prove it and shame Sata!
Let those who are saying the Cabinet is full of Bembas state the names of the Bembas in the current cabinet. We are wasting time on the issue where there is no justification. The educated Zambians are suppose to be finding ways and solutions and practical suggestions to our own tribesmen and to all Zambians that would reduce poverty level to less than 6%. The educated Zambian tribesmen have turned blind eyes to the poor Zambian tribesmen, pretending all is well while the poor have no food or just little to eat. We have seen how the greed educated Zambians have stolen from the Zambian people. These people have greatly contributed in achieving 64% poverty level. These thieves’ have been defended by shameless lawyers. Lets talk about developing our country to end poverty or reduce it.