The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) is delighted with the ruling of the Constitutional Court to recognize the power of the Litunga and three other Paramount Chiefs in traditional governance.
At a press briefing held at the Kuta today, BRE Prime Minister (Ngambela) Manyando Mukela said the declaration has guaranteed the continual existence of traditional leadership.
The Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II with Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa and Nsenga people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people and Mpezeni of the Ngoni also petitioned the decision to remove salaries from chiefs.
The Nyambela said with this reality, the Litunga will be able to recognize install, discipline and dethrone their subordinate chiefs in accordance to customary law.
The Prime Minister said before the ruling, there was proliferation of illegal chiefdoms especially in Kaoma and Lukulu district and anarchy was witnessed.
The Prime Minister also warned erring individuals and groups to stop the illegal divisive activities and instead observe the Lozi tradition.
On Wednesday July 14, 2021 the Court ruled in a case where the traditional leaders cited the Attorney General last year on a number of matters involving the existence and exercise of authority of traditional leadership and reinstatement of salaries for new chiefs.
IT’S HIGH TIME IT WAS ABOLISHED CALLING OUR OTHER THREE KINGS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEFS. WE KNOW THAT THEY WERE KINGS BEFORE THE COMING AND IN THE EARLY STAGES OF BRITISH COLONISATION TELLING US THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE KING AND ONE QUEEN. AND THAT IS ONLY THE KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
WHY DO WE ALWAYS HANG ON TO THINGS THAT DON’T MAKE SENCE AT ALL?
These paramount chieftainships are a relic from colonialism. But then wht is not in Zambia? Even the country itself is a colonial creation. There’s no changing that, is there?
Why should chiefs receive salaries. Are they civil servants?
TRASH THATS NOT THE TRUE SENTIMENT IN THAT PROVINCE
All progressive nations have done away with this archaic existence of Chiefs and Kings. From India, Europe, Tanzania, etc. Where they exist, like in England, largely ceremonial and out of politics. In Zambia mostly were formed to help with local administration and surbodinate to the central government and laws.
Now in Zambia you have very tribal chiefs who do not represent the wishes of the people. They feel they have subjects to oppress! Who can support such a terrible system!
The only King was Lewanika, the rest were just ba kaponya village headmen!
#1,yes, these parasites called thieves, sorry, chiefs shall be stripped of their royalty. This is 21st century. Let councils takeover all functions and achieved become ordinary citizens.
They have what politician can only dream of, “grass root support”. People are Lozi, Bemba, Tonga Etc. First, then Zambian. They will exist just like the Europeans are trying to preserve theirs.
PF tribal divisiveness among chiefs revealed. Zambia is not only under these 4 chiefs or kings. Luapula & Muchinga has its own senior chiefs or kings including Mwanta Kazembe. SP has many including King Mukuni. Lusaka has its own Queen Nkomesha. CP has others including king Liteta. CP has many including king Chiwala. NWP has its own kings including Kanongesha, Ndungu, Ishindi, Kapinjimpanga & Kasempa to mention but a few. We reject PF tribalism influenced by few chiefs.
Recognition of traditional chiefs comes from the subjects, the people willing to be under that traditional rule and not from some Central government in Lusaka. These traditional leaders and associated cultures and customs have existed for centuries, long even before Zambia came into being. So I would find it troubling for some corrupt ConCourt to have some power over these traditional institutions.
You can probably mess around and tweak some of the pretenders elsewhere but I can assure you that the Litungaship is enshrined into the blood and veins of the Lozi native. It is a way of life, and not a choice… although the current Litunga is a sellout but he’s still respected by the subjects (they respect the monarchy, the office itself).