Commenting on the stand-off
between government and the Bemba Royal Establishment (Bashilubemba) over the
selection of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda
accused the Patriotic Front (PF) government of creating fights for its
political gains.
Find below a full statement by Brig. Gen. Miyanda.
STATEMENT:
ABASH UNDECLARED WAR IN BEMBALAND
[By
Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda – 1stDecember 2013]
It
is alarming that reports continue to expose a serious stand-off between the
Bemba Royal Establishment and the PF Government, more accurately President
Sata,the Commander-in- Chief who waging an undeclared war.The PF is a cantankerous
regime, always creating and/or looking for fights where there are none!
In
2009 I wrote to the Law Association of
Zambia and suggested some options for possible reforms in traditional affairs;
the letter was never responded to. Now things are happening fast. It is NOT too
late to do something about it. We thus call on all citizens, and especially LAZ
and other BREs to challenge the President, particularly the Ministry of
Justice, to publicly state which laws give the President power to interfere in
traditional affairs in the manner he has done with regard to former Senior
Chief Mwamba and now Paramount Chief Chitimukulu. We are convinced that there
is no such law and repeat our declaration that the President does NOT have the
powers he claims to have over chiefs or traditional leaders. This power is
reposed, NOT in the President, but in the communities themselves through their
systems of selection and succession.
The
President has been ominously graduating from one degree to the next: threats
against Members of Parliament, then ranting against some Church leaders to go
to night school, and also Chiefs Nzamane,Madzimawe, Mwamba and Jumbe.
When
the President issued threats in the House of Chiefs earlier this year we
advised Zambians not to take that lightly. We challenged all chiefs to speak
out against this intimidation. No chief came out in defence and support of
their colleagues under presidential siege. We warned that this will become a
practice and thisis happening. It is not too late to stop the President in his
tracks before he turns “Chiefs abuse” into a new pastime and culture in Zambia.
These
threats will continue until all the chiefdoms have capitulated and have become
the red carpet for the President to danceon at ill. This is the biblical
Writing on the Wall that we previously wrote about.
In
this regard the Ministry of Justice has become moribund because they are idly
standing by, letting the President breach his serious oath of defending and
protecting the Constitution.Instead of advising him to respect the Rule of Law
they are watching as he creates instability and precipitates a
potentiallydangerous security situation. The President must lead by example by
displaying good discipline, decorum and etiquette. There is no constitutional
or legal ground justifying this act of besieging the Bembachiefdom as though an
enemy force has landed from Mars!
This
behaviour of the PF regime is part of their selfish long range strategy to
prepare for general elections. They do not care what happens to Zambia when
they are no longer in office as long as they get votes at any
cost.
We
urge other Royal Establishments and all citizens to condemn the PF regime’s act
and to speak with one voice against this Gun Boat diplomacy by the
Commander-In-Chief. The nation must nip in the bud this style of leadership and
governance that is based on intimidation and despising the Rule of Law, taking
advantage of citizens’ ignorance.
Last
but not least we applaud Bashi Lubemba for NOT capitulating orbeing cowed by
intimidation from a mere subject who is now President. By becoming president he
has become, NOT God, but Chief Servant. A servant serves and does not bully his
employer. Theymust stand firm because they stand on firm royal ground.
It
is courageousfor them to stand up to their intransigent employee and we urge
them to remain steadfast, for surrendering will be a betrayal and disloyal act
not only to Bemba-speaking people, but to all citizens and other Royal
Establishments in Zambia. UMUNWE UMO TAUSALANDA!
GODFREY
MIYANDA,
BRIGADIER
GENERAL,
HERITAGE
PARTY
[1ST
DECEMBER 2013]
