REMOVE HH

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:38:11 +0000

…he’s an embarrassment to Tongas

By Sandra Machima

HAKAINDE Hichilema must be removed as president of the United Party for National Development (UPND) because he is an embarrassment to Tongas.

Southern Province Minister Dr Edify Hamukale challenged UPND members to wake up and realise what type of leadership their leaders were instilling in them.

Dr Hamukale said” instead of grooming young people to be future leaders in the area, Mr Hichilema wants recognition and that is what is tagging Southerners as being tribal because of people like him.”

Dr Hamukale issued a statement yesterday to explain Government’s absence at this year’s Bene Mukuni traditional ceremony of the Toka-Leya people in Livingstone.  He said Senior Chief Mukuni snubbed the State because he did not invite the government “as per normal procedure.”

He noted that the traditional ceremony that took place at the weekend was turned into a political rally at which the UPND leader officiated and used the ceremony as a platform to campaign.

Dr Hamukale accused Mr Hichilema of seeking attention, saying the UPND leader had never wanted to share any platform with anyone because he wanted recognition for himself.

Dr Hamukale said Mr Hichilema must be replaced as president of the United Party for National Development (UPND) because he was an embarrassment to the Tongas.

Dr Hamukale said instead of grooming young people to take up leadership, Mr Hichilema wants recognition.

“This is what is tagging Southerners of being tribal because of people like him.

“I want to challenge youths to replace him and they will see change in the manner UPND will be conducting itself, for public interest, because he does not own UPND,” Dr Hamukale said.

Dr Hamukale challenged other UPND members to wake up and evaluate the type of leadership their leaders were imposing on them.

Dr Hamukale accused Mr Hichilema of seeking attention, saying the UPND leader had never wanted to share any platform with anyone because he wanted sole recognition.

He said that it was sad that politicians were now using such traditional ceremonies as an opportunity to hold political rallies at the expense of talking about developmental issues to benefit the people.

“We did not go to the ceremony because the government was not invited as per procedure and if the government is excluded how do they come in when it comes to issues to do with royal perspectives as such is only denying people opportunities to have their royal voices to be heard,

“It is all about development and there is no need of politicking real issues for personal interest,” he said.

He said politics should not divide people, noting that Zambia was not divided, apart from when it had to do with the opposition UPND because they had self-interests best known to them.

The Minister maintained that the government was open with anyone regardless of their political affiliation, but that it would not succumb to pressure and impose itself on issues just to please some people.

“We are not bothered, it is their ceremony, but they should not forget that President Edgar Lungu is the Head of State and therefore he has interest on the welfare of the people of Zambia regardless of their political affiliation,” Dr Hamukale said.

He said cultural events managed by the royal representatives should be respected, unlike was the case with the recent one that was turned into a political ground to satisfy their political ego.

Former President Rupiah Banda was invited to attend the 2010 Bene Mukuni Ceremony at the Simukale shrine in Kazungula.

In 2013, at the invitation of Senior Chief Mukuni, the then Chinese ambassador to Zambia Mr Zhou Yuxiao, together with his wife, Ms Wu Jihong attended the ceremony in Livingstone.  Others present at the ceremony were then First Lady, Dr Christine Kaseba Sata, Professor Nkandu Luo, then minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs as well as other monarchs from Zambia and other countries.

Mr Hichilema was accompanied to this year’s ceremony by Dr Nevers Mumba, People’s Party leader, Mike Mulongoti, Alliance for Democracy and Development’s Charles Milupi, UPND vice president, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, party secretary general, Stephen Katuka, former First Lady Dr Maureen Mwanawasa and several other UPND senior party officials and senior citizens.