MWATA CALLS FOR UNITY AMONG ZAMBIANS
…as he summons opposition, Independent MPs from Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern Provinces to discuss governance issues including shrinking democratic space, intolerance, breakdown of the rule of law
PARAMOUNT Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda Kingdom in Luapula Province has called for peace, unity and harmony among Zambians across the country if the One Zambia One Nation motto has to live to its true meaning.
The Mwata Kazembe has called on the political leadership to ensure that citizens they governed should at all times feel free and equal without any sense of segregation or discrimination.
The Mwata Kazembe on Saturday summoned all the opposition Members of Parliament from Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and Eastern Provinces at his Palace in Mwansabombwe at which a range of governance issues including unfair application of the law, shrinking democracy, disrespect of the rule of law and the growing culture of tribalism and regionalism were discussed.
Brain Mundubile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament confirmed in an interview yesterday that the Mwata Kazembe had summoned opposition MPs as well as some Independents at his Palace where the traditional leader called for unity, peace and harmony.
Mr Mundubile said the Mwata Kazembe emphasised that for the One Zambia One Nation Motto to become a reality, citizens irrespective of their political affiliation or region of origin should be able to feel free and equal and that the law should be applied in a just and fair manner.
“The Mwata Kazembe summoned us, the opposition MPs including Independents from Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and Eastern Province at his Palace in Mwansabombwe and we had a good interaction that lasted for 8 hours. We engaged on a number of things and the Mwata Kazembe emphasised on unity in the country. The Mwata told us that if the One Zambia One Nation was to be a reality, every Zambian should be treated equally and fairly in all aspects. He emphasized the need for citizens to draw close to their traditional leadership for advice and counsel,” Mr Mundubile said.
Mr Mundubile said all the MPs took time to highlight their challenges they were facing in the face of growing intolerance by the UPND government.
He said the opposition lawmakers complained about the ever-shrinking democratic space, inequality, the growing trend of nepotism and tribalism in the distribution of opportunities in public service.
“The MPs observed that certain acts done by citizens from certain regions are often considered inimical to the interests of the country and bordering on regionalism and tribalism while same act done by a preferred region are deemed acceptable and are justified. So the MPs called on the traditional leaders across the country through the Mwata Kazembe to awaken and begin to protect the rights and interests of their subjects,” Mr Mundubile said.
He stated that the MPs also complained about political victimization by the UPND government and raised concern about the growing culture of vengeance, retribution and hatred.
“The MPs appealed to traditional leaders across the country not to sit back and watch their subjects being discriminated and victimised on the basis of ethnicity. We sent a strong message through the Mwata to chiefs across the country that a relationship between citizens and their leaders should exist to protect the governed.”
“The MPs made it clear that the UPND was making it impossible for them to effectively represent their electorate because they have not been given space in Parliament to debate. They stated the fact that they have no platform to explain to their electorates because the UPND government through the Zambia Police had banned public political rallies for the opposition political parties,” Mr Mundubile said.