Lambas shun Sata, HH

By ALEX NJOVU

SENIOR Chieftainess Malembeka's brother Hyback Mwanza has said the Lamba people have resolved not to vote for Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata in the 2011 tripartite elections because of his alleged hatred for them.
Mr Mwanza said in an interview yesterday in Ndola that the Lamba people will not waste time associating with the PF leader because he allegedly hates them.
He said the Lamba-speaking people have refused to support Mr Sata's candidature in the tripartite elections because of his alleged vulgar language.
"Let me tell Mr Sata that if he is counting on the Lamba people's vote to go to State House, he is deceiving himself. We have not forgotten what he said in 1999 that Lamba people are a small tribe that demands a lot of things from Government," he said.
Mr Mwanza said the Lamba-speaking people are not happy with Mr Sata whom he described as a dictator.
He also castigated MMD Kafulafuta member of Parliament George Mpombo for issuing divisive statements.
Mr Mwanza said it is not true that President Banda hates Lamba people.
He advised Mr Mpombo not to issue derogatory statements against President Banda and his administration.
He said Mr Banda has proved that he is a President for all Zambians because of the manner he is executing development projects in all parts of the country.
"There is massive development of infrastructure going on in Ndola rural, including in Kafulafuta where Mr Mpombo is MP. The man has failed to initiate any development and yet he is busy attacking people who are bringing investment in the country," he said.
Mr Mwanza said Mr Mpombo allegedly failed to work with Government because of his negative attitude towards others.
Meanwhile, the MMD in Eastern Province has taken a swipe at Mr Sata, United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and other opposition political parties for shunning last weekend's Nc'wala ceremony of the Ngoni people.
MMD Eastern Province chairperson Kennedy Zulu said in an interview yesterday that the MMD is disappointed that Mr Sata, Mr Hichilema and others decided to shun such an important ceremony.
Mr Zulu said this act shows that Mr Sata and others have no regard for traditional leaders and cultural ceremonies.
"With such behaviour, how do they expect to have votes from Eastern Province? Shunning the traditional ceremony confirms that Mr Sata has no regard for the people of Eastern Province," he said.
Mr Zulu commended National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo junior for attending the ceremony.
"This is what we expect of leaders who aspire for the highest office in the land. Let's not politicise traditional ceremonies because they go beyond political affiliation or tribal lines," he said.
Mr Zulu said the decision by Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema to shun the ceremony only shows that they promote tribalism.
"I say so because these people only attend traditional ceremonies in the areas where they come from," he said.
He said President Banda has shown that he is President for all because he has attended most of the traditional ceremonies.
"The President has attended Ukusefya pa Ng'wena in Northern Province and the Lwiindi ceremony in Southern Province. This simply shows that he is not a tribalist. The President has also attended ceremonies which were never attended by previous presidents.
“This shows that Mr Banda is full of humility. He has the qualities of a national leader because he unites all the tribes in this country," Mr Zulu said.
President Banda and First Lady Thandiwe joined thousands of people to witness the Nc'wala ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province on February 26 at Mtenguleni.
The ceremony also attracted both local and foreign tourists who travelled to Chipata to be part of the festivities.
During the ceremony, Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people honoured All People's Congress (APC) party president Ken Ngondo posthumously, among others, for his contribution to the Ngoni tradition.