Bemba chief blasts GBM

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 09:34:11 +0000

By Chikumbi Katebe & Mukosela Kasalwe

NEWLY installed Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province has told off embattled UPND vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) for attempting to drag the Bemba Royal Establishment into politics.

The chief has since warned politicians not to drag politics in traditional issues and   ceremonies that were of great cultural norms and values that united the nation.

On his blog Mr Mwamba claimed that the Northern chiefs had remained mute over the continued detention of Mr Hichilema on allegations of treason and wondered why he should attend a traditional ceremony where none of the chiefs was condemning Edgar Lungu’s persecution of HH.

Mr Mwamba has since threatened to continue boycotting all traditional ceremonies of the Bembas accusing the Northern chiefs of failing to speak out against the continued detention of his president.

“Why should I go to attend a traditional ceremony there when none of the chiefs have spoken out condemning President Edgar Lungu’s persecution of HH?

But Chief Mwamba said: “I am aware that my relative UPND vice president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba had no intentions of coming to the event but I urge him not to politicize the occasion,” he said.

The chief advised politicians to practice civil and sober politics saying the burning of government and private property would not change the status quo of Zambia having a legitimately sworn in President.

“I will not attend Senior Chief Mwamba’s installation ceremony due to the continued detention of my president Hakainde Hichilema. Why have the chiefs remained silent over the trumped up charges on HH which has led to his incarceration?

“In fact so many people in UPND have been incarcerated and traditional leaders have been quiet there….What is the meaning of that?” said Mr Mwamba

He said a traditional ceremony was a way of commemorating the country’s heritage but that he could not do so when Mr Hichilema was in detention.

He charged that traditional leaders have the responsibility to guide President Edgar Lungu when he was doing wrong things than keeping quiet.

He said there was no guarantee that the chiefs would speak for him as GBM if they have failed to speak for HH today, but advised that “we need to remember that all of us are potential victims and we need to stand for our brothers and sisters when they are being persecuted”.

Chief Mwamba was speaking on Saturday at his palace after being installed as Senior Chief Mwamba by the Bemba Royal Establishment led by the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Henry Kanyanta Sosala in Kasama district.

He lamented that he was aware of people who disrespected him but pretended to respect him in his presence.

“I am aware of a senior opposition leader who calls me ‘ka kanabesa’, meaning small chief, but when he comes and knocks at my door he says ‘mwe kanabesa’, great chief,

“Anyway, it does not bother me as I know more people love and respect me than those who use disparaging remarks against me in my absence,” he said.

Senior Chief Mwamba who is second in hierarchy from Paramount Chitimukulu noted that all politicians were his children whom he gave sound advice on many issues but that it was unfortunate that some had not taken his advice.

The traditional leader whose real names are Chileshe Kalolo said he was an advocate of development and that although he was nonpartisan he would work with the Government of the day under President Edgar Lungu.

He noted that President Lungu was a humble leader and those in denial of his presidency would continue day dreaming of forming their own government.