CHIEF OR CADRE, MUKUNI DILEMMA

SENIOR Chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya of Southern Province has unashamedly turned himself into a cadre of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

This unfortunate turn of events has drawn our attention because of Senior Chief Mukuni’s attempts to cause discontent by making a pronouncement that would pit one tribe against another.

It is not clear whom he hates the most, between the republican president, Mr Edgar Lungu and the Bemba chiefs.

What we have observed from the once revered chief turned political cadre, is that his venom has become more toxic with time. His speech is often laced with hate as his attacks are directed at the President.

And now he has turned his venom to the Bemba chiefs in a bid to cause discontent.

Senior Chief Mukuni is indeed very busy wasting time dreaming about other tribes and what their leaders are doing.

From warning government leaders not to mess with him because he has slept on graves to poking his nose into Eastern Province issues, now this has been extended to peddling lies aimed at maligning one tribe.

His hatred for the Bemba-speaking people is veiled under a veer of civilisation but once in a while, he betrays himself through his unguarded tongue.

Senior Chief Mukuni, found it prudent to peddle a lie about President Lungu and Bemba chiefs, all because it would help his cause and more especially that of his business partner and tribesman, Hakainde Hichilema.

Senior Chief Mukuni has made it his business to campaign against President Lungu at every turn, notwithstanding that President Lungu’s government pays this man and his retainer.

We agree with Change Life Zambia (CLZ) president Joseph Kasongo that Senior Chief Mukuni is a tribalist and should be treated as such.

While other chiefs hide their preference for politicians, Senior Chief Mukuni is a self-acclaimed and nationally acclaimed UPND cadre.

This is a role he has created for himself.

People have tried in the past to counsel him on the need to be neutral as a respected chief, but in vain.

His postulation about 2021 elections are nothing but a ruse to propel his tribesman, HH to State House at whatever cost.

The Patriotic Front has perhaps come up with a perfect explanation about this man. Apart from warning him to stop masquerading as President Lungu’s mouthpiece, the Patriotic Front has also suggested that the man be checked for mental stability in view of the very high temperatures the country was experiencing.

While Mr Kasongo warned that the talk about tribe would divide the nation, the PF media director, Sunday Chanda, wondered if the heat had got to Senior Chief Mukuni

“This talk about tribes could divide the nation,” said Mr Kosongo.

Mr Chanda also said Senior Chief Mukuni was being politically mischievous and malicious.

We clearly are at pains to respond to His Royal Highness but since he seeks to be politically mischievous and malicious, we wish to place on record that Senior Chief Mukuni must cease masquerading as President Edgar Lungu's mouthpiece. But we forgive him because seeing that it's very hot, some in the population are likely to start hallucinating, he said.

The Bemba chiefs on the other hand have reacted with shock to Senior Chief Mukuni’s sentiments that they secretly met President Lungu to find a replacement for him in the 2021 elections.

Chief Chikwanda has politely advised Senior Chief Mukuni to tone down and stop being political.

He said in an interview that Bemba chiefs discuss developmental issues whenever they have an opportunity to talk to the President.

“If Senior Chief Mukuni has anything against President Lungu, it’s better to meet him and engage him rather than resorting to lies. Otherwise he knows that his claims are not true, it’s a blue lie and I can tell you that no Bemba chief has engaged the President on that matter,” said Chief Chikwanda.

We hope that Senior Chief Mukuni would be courageous enough to go to State House and meet President Lungu to give him his opinion other than postulating on social media and spreading falsehoods.

Chiefs worth their salt, have no time for partisan politics and it is not surprising that the Bemba chiefs have treated Senior Chief Mukuni’s sentiments with contempt.