Calls for sub-division of WP heighten

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:00:10 +0000

By Bennie Mundando

CALLS for the sub-division of Western Province to create an 11th tribal region have heightened with the Nkoya Royal Establishment (NRE) saying there will be no ethnic cohesion in the area as long as perceived minority tribes were not respected.

And the NRE has warned opposition political parties from creating unnecessary tension in the province, saying traditional leaders were at each other’s throats because of selfish politicians meddling in traditional affairs.

NRE spokesperson David Tamboka told the Daily Nation yesterday that Nkoyas supported the decision by President Edgar Lungu to upgrade Chipata to a city, saying that was the only way sustainable development would reach all parts of the country.

He however asked President Lungu to also consider creating the 11th province which the Nkoyas and other tribes which felt intimidated by the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) have been pushing for.

He said ethnic tension in the province will not end because the BRE was overstretching its authority even in areas beyond its jurisdiction, thereby rendering chiefs from other tribes ineffective.

He said ethnic differences in the province had stalled development and that the only way to address the problem was to create another province where other tribes will live in harmony.

“Meaningful development can never be attained in a place where there is strife and this is true for Western Province because it has become the most indisciplined province in Zambia. Our call for the 11th province was not borne out of tribalism but the reality on what is happening here and as long as the President does not grant our request, there will be no peace here.

“Western Province has become a hive of confusion. Traditional leaders are fighting against each other and we now have a situation where the Litunga himself is in court; what more confusion can you ask for? The conferring of Chipata with a city status was long overdue just like the creation of the 11th province and we will be grateful if the President can do it for us,” Mr. Tamboka said.

And Mr. Tamboka has warned opposition political parties from creating unnecessary tension in the province, saying traditional leaders were at each other’s throats because of selfish politicians who were meddling in traditional affairs.

“Part of the problem has been created by some opposition political parties which are sending people here to cause confusion but we would like to warn them to stay away before we expose them because we know them.

‘‘Politicians have nothing to do with traditional affairs and we shall not tolerate a situation where a few selfish individuals are fanning trouble in our area,” he said.