Wed, 21 Feb 2018 11:09:32 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO
MBALA district commissioner Kedrick Sikombe must stay away from wrangles involving senior chief Nsokolo’s succession because he has no clue about the family lineage, the Mambwe Royal Establishment (MRE) has warned.
The royal establishment said Mr Sikombe should not get involved in the matter because it was beyond his jurisdiction.
But when contacted, Mr. Sikombe rubbished the accusations, describing the whole clan as confused.
He insisted he had nothing to do with their succession wrangles and that dragging him into their problems was unfortunate.
Mambwe Royal Establishment (MRE) spokesperson Christopher Nsokolo told the Daily Nation in a statement that Mr. Sikombe was not only disrespectful to the chiefs in Mbala and Senga Hill districts, but had also delved into the succession wrangles that had characterised senior chief Nsokolo to an extent of chairing a meeting purportedly to choose the heir to the throne.
Mr. Nsokolo demanded that Mr. Sikombe be fired from his position as DC as he was creating unnecessary problems by brewing confusion over the matter even when he knew that the natter was in court awaiting determination as the royal establishment mandated to choose the new chief had not done so.
“Contrary to constitutional provisions which bar Government officials from indulging themselves in the selection and installation of chiefs to the throne, and in contradiction to the Mambwe customs, tradition and practices which confers the responsibility to select the chief, the Mambwe Royal Establishment wishes to register its disappointment over Mr. Sikombe’s interference in senior chief Nsokolo’s succession wrangles.
“It is therefore surprising that on February 16, 2018, Mr. Sikombe convened and presided over a purported selection of the new senior chief Nsokolo at Nsokolo village at the community hall and yet the Nsokolo succession wrangle is before the High Court.
“It is for this reason that the Mambwe Royal Establishment demand that Mr. Sikombe be removed from Mbala as DC in order for peace to reign in then Mambwe chiefdoms,” read the letter in part.
But when contacted, Mr. Sikombe reacted angrily to the statement implicating him in the succession wrangle, saying he had nothing to with who must be installed as chief because that was none of his business.
“Let them show you the minutes of that meeting. Let them also tell you which people attended that same meeting. I have nothing to do with their issues and even if they choose their chief today, I cannot not attend until I am invited. I am a civil servant who has no jurisdiction over that issue. “Why should they involve me in their issue as if I am part of them? They are just a confused clan,” Mr. Sikombe said.
