Chiefs Condemn Sata

25 May 2011

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s failure to pay a courtesy call on the Litunga is indicative of his lack of respect for traditional leaders, the head of the House of Chiefs has said.

Mr Sata, who held campaign meetings in Mongu on Saturday, angered the Barotse Royal Establishment because of his failure to pay a courtesy call on the Litunga.

Several Mongu residents also expressed disappointment with Mr Sata’s behaviour.

House of Chiefs chairperson, Chief Madzimawe said traditional leaders were saddened with Mr Sata’s failure to recognise the Lozi king.

He said the PF leader’s action showed that he lacked respect for not only Lozi tradition but all chiefs in their respective chiefdoms throughout Zambia.

In a telephone interview yesterday, the traditional leader said Mr Sata should have recognised the presence of traditional leaders in Western Province before embarking on his mission because the meetings were held in the chiefs’ areas.

The traditional leader said it was vital for all politicians regardless of their political views to always recognise chiefs and give them due respect because they represented various communities in their chiefdoms.

“If it is true that Mr Sata failed to pay a courtesy call on the Lozi King Litunga, then, it is very unfortunate for him and that shows he has no respect for chiefs in the country because he should have visited him as a way of recognising the significant role he plays,” Chief Madzimawe said.

Meanwhile, former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi has said it is unfortunate that Mr Sata has continued to live in “fantasy” over his popularity in Zambia.

Mr Mumbi said it was shameful that Mr Sata could continue deceiving himself over his perceived popularity when his political career had deteriorated.

He said the PF’s continued tendency of paying taxi drivers to transport people to rallies as a way of portraying huge crowds had proved to be nothing before and would remain a fantasy which would not take Mr Sata anywhere.

And former Foundation for Democratic Process president Stanley Mhango yesterday said Mr Sata had continued to use crowds at public rallies to gauge popularity despite being part of the huge crowd that first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda pulled when he lost the 1991 presidential elections.

Mr Mhango said Dr Kaunda had the biggest crowds before the 1991 elections but failed to win because there was no guarantee that people who attend rallies would vote for a candidate.

Commenting on Alliance for Democracy and Development president Charles Milupi’s observation that Mr Sata should not be fooled by the crowds that were attending his public meetings, Mr Mhango said it was sad for Mr Sata to believe that he had become popular.

Mr Mhango said even the defunct Zambia Democratic Congress under the leadership of the late Dean Mung’omba addressed huge crowds in Lusaka, Western and Southern provinces but he received the lowest votes in the same areas where the rallies were held.

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