‘I never spoke to the MAST’.

IT is annoying that some individuals want to dent the name of traditional leaders especially in the Bemba land but we will not tolerate that, Chief Puta of the Bwile speaking people in Chiengi district has said.

The traditional leader said at no time did he issue a statement against the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), therefore it was prudent that the media report the truth instead of denting his image and ruin his reputation.

Chief Puta was reacting to an article published by the Mast newspaper quoting him that people would not vote for the PF but the opposition in next general elections.

In an exclusive interview yesterday, the traditional leader said it was wrong to involve the chiefs in petty politics, stating that the chiefs were non-partisan.

Chief Puta said the traditional leaders had no powers to put anyone in power but it was the people of Zambia who decide who to govern the nation.

The traditional leader said it was prudent that the media put across the truth than feeding the entire nation with lies. He said it was annoying for people to drag the chiefs in petty politics because they always work with the government of the day.

As traditional leader, he said, my mandate is to ensure that development flourishes in the chiefdom and that can only be done if I work with the government.

"I am very shocked with this publication because I never spoke to anyone from the Mast newspaper and I remember the time I visited Lusaka was four months ago and I never talked to anyone from the media.

And I have decided to distance myself from commenting on political issues and if I want develop

ment in my area I engage the government officials directly, I don't go to the media to issue statements on what is needed in my area.

"So whatever was published did not come from me and the person who wrote the same article we have never talked. And if I talk to him or her it is good that they write what someone tell them instead of putting issues that please them and those who sponsor them," chief Puta said.

Meanwhile PF Lusaka Province Secretary Kennedy Kamba said it was unfortunate that the media house had to fabricate the story to dent the image of the traditional leader. Mr Kamba said it was prudent that people respected the traditional leaders in the country who happen to be the leaders.

Mr Kamba noted that some section of society only wanted to destroy the stronghold of the ruling party as the country was going towards the general elections but it would not come to pass as people still wanted the ruling party because of President Edgar Lungu's style of leadership.