SENIOR Chief Nsefu’s royal family has threatened to reject Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata and his political allies during the 2011 election campaigns if he does not apologise for allegedly likening people living in the Mfuwe-Mambwe area to animals.
In a statement issued yesterday, a member of the royal family and elder brother of the senior chief, Moffat Mbewe, said if Mr Sata does not want to apologise to the Kunda and Malambo people, he should at least show respect to their chiefs.
“If Mr Sata and the pact (alliance with the United Party for National Development) are so proud to apologise, we are not going to ask them to do so, but humbly ask them to respect all our chiefs in Eastern Province,” the statement reads in part.
Mr Mbewe reminded Mr Sata that the people of Malambo Valley have their children, relatives and friends across Zambia who read his statement and might be assessing what kind of alternative leadership he is offering.
He said although the people in the Malambo valley live with animals, they were human beings just like other people of Zambia.
“If they insist that we are animals, then let the Pact cut us off their campaign trail for 2011 because animals don’t vote,” part of the statement reads.
Mr Mbewe urged Mr Sata and his UPND counterpart, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to tone down their anger against President Banda’s leadership because Zambians are tired of the everyday condemnations of the President.
“To the President Mr Rupiah Banda, please note that you have our total support in whatever developmental activities your government has embarked on,” Mr Mbewe said.
They urged the President to ignore Mr Sata’s criticism of the Chipata-Mfuwe Road because the people of Eastern Province are proud of the project.
Mr Mbewe said the Chipata-Mfuwe Road will not only benefit the people of the valley, but the business community in Chipata such as lodge owners, tourists and farmers among others.
He said the Mfuwe Airport, which has an international status, is also connected to the Chipata-Mfuwe Road which Mr Sata is allegedly trivialising.
Mr Mbewe said the development of the road in question will stimulate economic activities in the province as more tourists will drive to the area which is more adventurous and affordable than flying.
The road also passes through 12 chiefdoms in the province.
“Mr Sata must know that the road in question is the heart-beat of development in the valley as it is part of the road circuit from Lusaka to Nabwalya and Mpika; including Chitulika Village through South and North Luangwa National Parks,” he said.
Mr Sata is alleged to have accused President Banda of favouring the rehabilitation of the Chipata-Mfuwe Road, which leads to a game park where animals live at the expense of equal development of all provinces.
Pressure has been mounting on the PF president from the people in the province, including Paramount Chief Mpezeni, to apologise as they feel that he likened them to animals.
However, Mr Sata clarified that he did not liken the people to animals, but wanted Government to give priority to other roads in the province and not the road in question, which leads to a game park where animals live.
Question: are you in a game park? If yes, then animals live there. If not, Sata should apologise. And how will this road help Chipata?Chipata has an airport and a road. Who in their right mind would fly to Mfuwe and then drive to Chipata? The chiefs should be reasonable. There are other roads which are more urgent
This is so,so petty.
This is were the church has to speak and point Zambia to one God and share the story of the good Samaritan. Sata was wrong in inciting these cheifs and the cheifs are wrongbecause they are afraid they shall lose ground with their people like Chitimikulu has. This young brother feels like we need to educate our people at home that God is greater than our leadership. All we need is to work had and seek truth for all. Zambians don’t believe everything take a step back and clear your view.
lusaka times useless and irrelevant!!!!!!!!!!!all they are reporting is in favour of the MMD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!all the sh……t is from GRZ media.
Seriously the role and relevance of these chiefs must be looked into especially their involvement in bipartisan politics. The dishing out of brown envelopes to puppet chiefs by the president is not helping the situation at all. We are now in the 21st century. Even the continued existance of the Briitish monarchy here is being questioned.
i am stoping from reading and am encouraging all my friends 2 stop also. useless news/ we need balanced news!
Hahahaha)) i think Mr Sata shud go apologise otherwise this will dent his image
‘The road will benefit animals more than people’ Since when did animals start using roads? Mr Sata has to educate the people why he believes animals will benefit from the road, do they drive or are their supplies brought in by road?
These chiefs are so on the MMD payroll that they would do anything to please their pay masters. Sata was actually on their side saying there are more important road that this one which leads to the game park where animals live
Chiefs with no brains. Why should you put words in Sata`s mouth. When did Sata call Kunda and Malambo animals. What sort of chiefs are these who can twist clear statements. That is why such chiefs have no respects of their subjects. If you want to support MMD come out in the open instead of twisting welmeaning statements.
Ba LT give us news with substance and stop been bias. Are you MMD cadres or mouth piece for MMD?
This chief is an animal!
I’m sorry to ask but some one tell me who owns this paper? The reporting is suspect for sure’.
Sata has a loud Mouth, he is arrogant and undiplomatic and unpresidetial. Whats wrong with rehabilitating a road?. I am Bemba, not MMD but i dont like Sata.
I thought that winning elections was about getting people to your side and not alienating them. Sata should not rest on his laurels and think that he is already in state house because of the pact. We still have over a year to go before the elections and the pact might not be in existence then. If he feels that other roads are more important than the one in question, then will he please provide us with the data as regards to the number of users, economic benefit and construction costs to back up his statement otherwise why should any sort of development in ZAMBIA be condemned?
Lt please stop being bias and give us a balanced news. To the chiefs do not twist words who ever think like that then to me is animal of which Sata did tell you that.
Dont worry, Chiefs no longer influence the vote. Ask Chitimukulu. I salute the Kaonde Chiefs in Solwezi. At least they showed some respect for their subjects rights to choose.
THE MAN SHOULD BRUSH HIS TEETH
Am a PACT follower ,nomba kwena chi-Sata chiiiiiibbbiii pamenso!
When Sata is wrong and RB is right, the issue becomes trivial. You guys are creating a monster you will regret your bottoms.
You have chosen to bury your heads in the sand and assumed Sata to be a perfect angel. Go ahead, support. Muzalila. Anyway, LT will be blocked by then so even if am justified, no one will notice because there shall be no one to access LT, only the diaspora guys. I wish you luck.