Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people of Gwembe Valley has has urged his subjects not to vote for Gwembe United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament (MP), Brian Ntundu in next year’s general elections.
Chief Chipepo said Mr. Ntundu was a non performer who has failed to lobby or initiate development in his constituency for the past nine years he has been MP.
The traditional leader said it was not the chief’s task to go round and lobby for development in the area when there was an MP.
Speaking in Chipepo on Friday during Chief Chipepo Annual General Meeting at Chipepo Basic School grounds, the chief warned the people against voting on party lines and urged them to vote for credible leaders who have the interest of the people at heart.
“Can you point at any development that the MP has initiated in this constituency. I do not want to hide it to you, vote wisely in 2011 elections.”
“ Your MP has an office at the council (National Assembly Offices) does he sit in that office? Does he come to visit or report himself to you his masters? I warn you not to vote for him. It pains me that other constituencies are developing,” Chief Chipepo said.
Chief Chipepo disclosed that together with Chief Munyumbwe he summoned Mr. Ntundu at National Assembly Motel in Lusaka together but he failed to show up.
He cautioned electorates in his chiefdom to desist from allowing corrupt candidates to steal their votes.
And when contacted for a comment, Mr. Ntundu told ZANIS that he did not expect anything good about him from chief Chipepo.
Mr. Ntundu said the chief had been bent on de-campaigning him from the time he became MP.
The MP said it was not the first time that the Chief was holding a meeting with his subjects and village headmen to de-campaign him.
He accused the chief of practicing partisan politics but added that he has a lot of respect for chiefs including chief Chipepo.
On the chief’s accusations that he had failed to develop his constituency, the MP pointed out that many development projects have been initiated in the district using money from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Mr. Ntundu said over K213.9 million from CDF has been spent on various projects including boats which the chief uses on the lake.
The MP observed that the chief has been unable to see developmental projects because he did not stay in his chiefdom.
ZANIS
chief and your MP can you please do it better than this. what if people decided to vote for him then how are going to feel as a chief? as for chipepo please have time for your bosses, the voters sit down with them once in 2 months at least. let them see you..
NTUNDU IN THE HOPELESS PACT OR WITH THE WISE MATONGO, HACHIPUKA, CHIZYUKA. I GUESS HE IS WITH NKOMBO THEN THE CHIEF SHOULD PURGE HIM
To be fair,here Chief Chipepo is just trying to take the MP to task.Nothing political here but development.