The Plot Thickens: HH, MILUPI In Plan To End ‘Bemba’ Rule

The United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) have embarked on a scheme in which they have taken their political battles against the PF as a fight for power against Bemba speaking regions.

And sources have disclosed that former president Rupiah Banda is more supportive of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema than MMD president Nevers Mumba.

Tribalism has crippled Milupi too

The sources said that UPND leader Hichilema and ADD President Charles Milupi have concentrated their campaigns in their regions, Southern and Western Provinces respectively to convince the people to reject the PF as being a “Bemba party”, but they hope to utilise the support they are getting from former president Rupiah Banda to blindfold MMD president Nevers Mumba into an alliance with the two parties so that he can help them by delivering votes from Muchinga, Northern, Luapula and Copperbelt provinces in order to “wrestle” power from the Northeners.

Recently, ADD president Charles Milupi was in Western Province where he was alleging that the PF government was scheming to reduce the powers of the Litunga of Western Province. Milupi is said to have held a series of meetings to promote the alleged “anti-Bemba” scheme.

Hakainde

Since its formation, the ADD has only managed to win a seat in Western province, particularly in the area where Milupi hails from, where the party has concentrated its political activities.
“What PF must realise is that the whole campaign by UPND and ADD has gone tribal. Mr. Milupi is using the Barotseland Agreement to turn the people against the PF by portraying issues like they were injustices committed by the Northerners against the Westerners. But if you observe closely, he has not even stated clearly if he himself would honour the agreement in the event that he was elected president, and if so, how he would honour it. So it’s just a political gimmick to take advantage of the people’s passions about the agreement. That’s why some of us are not in support of Milupi and HH because we do not want tribalism,” a source said.

The source wondered how Milupi hoped to be a president for the whole Zambia when he was working with people calling for secession and has not clearly stated whether he disagreed with the idea of secession.

Milupi is also reported to have said during a programme broadcast in Lozi language on a South Africa based radio station, Channel Africa, that the Litunga was superior to other traditional leaders in Zambia, such as Paramount Chiefs Chitimukulu of the Bemba and Mpezeni of the Ngoni.

“How is he going to be president if on one hand he’s working with those advocating for the secession of Western Province while on the other he wants to rule Zambia? What is his position on the question of honouring the Barotseland Agreement?” The source wondered, adding, “If you remember, Milupi was almost beaten last year for mentioning the word ‘Zambia’ at a meeting in Mongu.”

And other sources have said that there is disenchantment within the MMD as a result of the activities of former president Rupiah Banda, who seems to be more trusting and supportive of Hichilema than his own party president Mumba.

“RB is for HH. That’s why he gave his blessings for William Banda’s decision to join UPND. Ask yourself, who was in that advance party that was involved in an accident for RB’s trip to the Eastern Province, recently? Wasn’t it UPND members?” said the MMD insider.

The source revealed that the party was divided regarding Rupiah’s activities, saying there were those who supported the idea of MMD just helping UPND to remove PF, while the majority feared Hichilema was too tribal to be trusted with power.

“My brother I can assure you that RB is still bitter with President Sata over his defeat last year. He is in hurry to revenge using other people, and he thinks Hichilema is his better ally since the young man hates President Sata, and generally Bembas, and he is equally bitter,” said the source before adding, “But do you think this is good for the country? No! RB must completely come to terms with his defeat rather than sowing seeds of division all because of losing an election. Most of us in the MMD would rather work with PF than UPND.”

The source further said Hichilema and Milupi were hoping to ride on Nevers Mumba’s strong stance against President Sata to gain countrywide support from MMD.

“The problem is that Nevers is quite naïve. He does not see the scheme behind the alliance with HH and Milupi. If you remember there were other opposition leaders that teamed up with HH and Milupi on the issue of suspension of judges. Where are they? They realised that there was more to that issue than just judges, so they have withdrawn to the rear,” the source said.

Posted by Editor on July 22, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

91 Responses to The Plot Thickens: HH, MILUPI In Plan To End ‘Bemba’ Rule

kamembya

July 23, 2012 at 10:00 am

tongaz are really tribalist, my mum is tonga and dad is chewa. these tongas at my mumz village call me an out cast surely isnt that triablism?
am a serious PF DIE HARD.

July 23, 2012 at 10:01 am

tumfweko is now useless…no senseble news..
BEEEV

July 23, 2012 at 10:03 am

WE HAVE HAD KAUNDA CHILUBA, MWANAWASA, BANDA, AND NOW SATA, ONLY TWO OF THESE PIPO ARE BEMBAS SO WHICH BEMBA RULE IS HH AND MILUPI GOIN TO PUT TO AN END?
kamyembye

July 23, 2012 at 10:10 am

the reason y pipo are saying HH wil nt rule its nt that no 1 is going to vote 4 hm bt hz term to lead upnd is over acording to partys constitution nowanda hz tryn all avenues to form another pact. so all democratic zambians shud realise dat if some 1 cnt abide to a simple party constitution hw is goin to respect the lands constitution. shame undemocratic HH.
tutu

July 23, 2012 at 10:47 am

ba hh wts this we herin
Kwa george

July 23, 2012 at 10:53 am

I KNOW HOW ETHNICITY START.
THAT’S WHY YOU REQUIRE A WISE PRESIDENT TO UNITE A COUNTRY WITH 72 TRIBES LIKE ZAMBIA – ABOVE THEMSELVES.
Child of the Sky

July 23, 2012 at 11:04 am

Milupi has every right to hold his views and to associate with anyone who holds similar beliefs. No sane person can tell us he is blind to the entretchment of regional hegemony in this ‘our’ Zambia. We need every ally in the the fight against tribal hegemony.
SHARP SHOOTER

July 23, 2012 at 12:01 pm

HH & MILUPI ARE JUST WASTING THEIR TIME BY ENTERING INTO A BATTLE WITH ONE TRIBE IN ZAMBIA…MIND YOU BEMBA IS WIDELY SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ONE DAY ZAMBIA SHALL HAVE ONE TRIBE WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF ALL THE 7 MAJOR TRIBES INCLUDING ENGLISH…WE ARE ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION AND ZAMBIA IS NOT BEMBA…LET HH SWALLOW HIS PRIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT HE NEVER RULE ZAMBIA…
Shikabunda

July 23, 2012 at 12:09 pm

countrymen no Bemba has ruled Zambia before, Kaunda is Chewa (Eastern province), Chiluba- lunda, Mwanawasa-Lenje/Lamba, Banda-Ngoni/Chewa(Eastern province), Sata-Bisa. Infact we have had two presidents from the Eastern part. So Ba RB’s region has rulled more than others. So bo Milupi a Bemba is yet to rule. Ba Milupi and HH are not presidential material, too pompus for nothing, you will never rule this country. We need to get a better lozi/tonga to support. And i miss Mazoka perfect choice
wylie chilaka

July 23, 2012 at 12:32 pm

I see cracks in these small parties alliances.
Saviour

July 23, 2012 at 1:16 pm

SO BA TUMFWEKO you have joined the post in insulting tongas???? who said a tonga/lozi should not aspire for presidency??? are nt you seeing any tribalism in sata’s govenment?? can you proof your story?? NO BEMBA has ever voted for a tonga man and you have not called them names!!!
blackbull

July 23, 2012 at 1:40 pm

some foolish idiots when ukwa clearly practises tribalism yu cant see it but when hh says it is bad yu say he is a tribalist what a shame to hell with pf come 2016.
Umukankala

July 23, 2012 at 1:41 pm

imwe,us zambians are very peaceful people,no 1 or 2 selfish individuals wil succed in dividing us,GOD loves this country.love u all.
isaac

July 23, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Tumfweko is not useless its you who is useles how can you hibanet the pure and plain tribalism of the tonga pipo.You remember when Hakainde was been elected in 2006,Sejani said that the UPND presidency is for tongad.
pity

July 23, 2012 at 1:48 pm

this sounds like gossip meant to divide the country. can you reveal the source instead of just writing your opinions.
pity

July 23, 2012 at 1:48 pm

give us real news ba tunfweko not beer hall gossip.
Geoffrey Shanjina

July 23, 2012 at 2:08 pm

guyz why Fighting…..4 ur Info No pure Tonga or Bemba has EVER ruled ths country ASK ba Mudala ku state house wht tribe he is!!!.Mwanawasa wht tribe was he?. Lets just share the National cake & Pray. God LOVES Zambia
k 1

July 23, 2012 at 2:26 pm

HH was with PF and now with this ka party and in just few months he’s gonna be my drinking partner if not silia’s huby
BECKY

July 23, 2012 at 2:32 pm

certain things shud not be talked about.i hate people who talk about tribes.it simply means that you are very shallow minded.lets talk about ideas and not tribes.why tribe,tribe.i did not choose to belong to my tribe.it was God’s will.
k 1

July 23, 2012 at 2:58 pm

@BECKY you 100% right
Mayo Zambia

July 23, 2012 at 3:28 pm

Milupi is going to mess himself up if he goes the tribal route.Because of tribalist HH has given effectively dropped out of the race to plot 1.If Milupi wants progress he should not associate himself with HH and he should not use the BRE to mobilise the Lozis so that they rise against the Bembas.Milupi have you forgotten what happened in Rwanda?Stop being selfish,get a life man!!
Kalunda Kasuko

July 23, 2012 at 3:43 pm

The article is just rubbish. It is tribal when it involves opponents (HH, Milupi and RB) but not tribal when it involves PF and Bembas! To hell with them. Let them continue on that path, but God has a way of normalising things. What goes up, always comes down. Only time will tell.
oscar

July 23, 2012 at 4:00 pm

Infact of the past presidents none of them is bemba,kaunda was malawan,chiluba was ushi from luapula,mwanawasa was lenje from central,banda was chewa fron the east,sata is not bemba but bisa from mpika.so which bemba rule do they want to end.They are just hopeless they will never rule.
sata

July 23, 2012 at 4:58 pm

kamyembye u a lost child because u did nt know self and have respect for your heritage and it could the very reason u are could such words. remember to respect your self and other will respect u easily without any question. Go and apologise to your mother and relative for words against them and for misleading the innocent people. Finaly remeber what the bible say about LOVING OTHERS and False ACCUSATION AGAINST OTHERS
Kenneth Kaunda mbewa Mayuka

July 23, 2012 at 5:20 pm

whether you like it or not, it is the voters that decide who should win. it is not alliances. it one’s objectives are straight forward and reaching the hearts of the people then that person can and would undoubtedly win any chitechi. so no matter what we say or do the giver of positions is GOD Himself. If God says so NO man or woman can change that.
Shanjina

July 23, 2012 at 5:54 pm

@Kamembya my foolish fellow I ve never seen a danda head like u…me mum is Tongaish if there is a term like tht and DAD Bemba & I luv them Both. KK thts Great Stuff GOD gives Leaders. Show Christianity thse r just Politics.
Zebb Mpinganjira

July 23, 2012 at 6:42 pm

I also wouldnt miss the Zambia Watch Dog, not objective and just too vulgar language promoted here while objective and sober counter views are lost in your comment is being moderated, so will post this one on Lusaka Times and Tumfweko just to ensure my views are heard!!!
Joseph

July 23, 2012 at 7:10 pm

THATS WHY I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR HH. CHIPIMO IS ONE CREDIBLE LEADER I CAN VOTE FOR IN 2016. THATS WHY THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER DEVELOP COZ SOME GLUTTONIOUS SELFISH LEADERS ONLY THINK IN TRIBAL LINES
tinamulongo

July 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm

BECKY, spot on dear..we need to discuss and articulate ideas in this country..the problem is that our leaders are not doing us good…TRIBE!!! MY GOD!!! ITS ACTUALLY A DEROGATORY TERM…I my self I AM NOT XX TRIBE I AM ZAMBIAN AFRICAN AND ABOVE ALL A HUMAN BEING..PERIOD!!
E. Mutale

July 23, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Lets not be emotional. These so called leaders will run away from this country if things went bad. Most of us will not. Lets preach peace and love. Its not possible to have the same opinion in a big country like ours. Lets respect each other’s opinion. Lets pray unceasingly so that good may prevail over evil.
palace boy

July 24, 2012 at 9:07 am

The Bemba Tribe has been misunderstood by so many people. If I speak Bemba or I grow up in a Bemba-speaking region this does not entail that Iam Bemba. These people, the Bemba tribe are also called benang’wena(crocodile clan).And to my knowledge, these Bemba Tribe originaly settled in such places as Kasama, Mungwi, Luwingu/Mporokoso and Chinsali. Sorry ba RB and your followers no Bemba has ruled this country. Dr Kaunda was born of Malawian Parents, Chiluba was Lunda from Luapula, Mwanawasa was Lenje/Lamba, RB is Zambian Ngoni(still debatable), President Sata is Bisa from Mpika. My brothers and sisters, why should we sink so low as to start looking at tribes? are we so backward as Zambians? As for me I will vote for any person who I believe can rule this country in peace and move it to prosperity. Even if it is HH or Milupi- as long as they can change and inspire confidence in the people that they will not cause trouble for the ordinary Zambian.For now it is President Sata, we should support him. I love you all!
dnice

July 24, 2012 at 9:36 am

Now the true colours are coming out. these two idiots were never rule the country. HH may be intellectually sound but this should i think also give him the ability to know that being tribalist will never buy him a ticket to plot number 1.
Kanabesa Mulopwe

July 24, 2012 at 11:02 am

Beev, infact no Bemba has ever ruled Zambia, except probably Kaunda by birth. Chiluba was Lunda, Mwanawasa was Lenje, Rupiah is Ngoni and Sata is Bisa.
Mwata Kalindawalo

July 24, 2012 at 11:41 am

Tribalism is a PERCEPTION, because it is only tribal when it involes a Tonga and worse when it is a Lozi. Perceptions change with time, and we should fight them as early as possible. We are all tribal as we naturally want to associate with one of our own. What is wrong is when you sideline other tribes e.g. you do not appoint them to positions. Look at the election results, RB was leading in the eastend, HH was leading in the southend and Sata in the northend. But people only point at HH. Sometimes I wonder, if we have bye-elections in Chinsali or Kawambwa, why can’t the people vote for a UPND candidate so that they demonstrate that they are not tribal.

PERCEPTIONS KILL, we have just buried a lady who died due to depression. Her husband is marrying a long time married woman girlfirend, who has later decided to devorce her husband. We kept telling her that the single woman she was suspecting and sometimes following up was innocent, but she would not listen.
Mfumu Kazi Maiwase

July 24, 2012 at 11:51 am

Sometimes I wonder, why is it only tribalism when it involves a Tonga or Lozi? When someone speaks Lozi in a bus – its disaster, when someone is speaking Lamba – no one will bother. I think the bigger problem is more of a PERCEPTION, where the problem is with the same poeple and they transfer it on others
HaHaHAIRIES

July 24, 2012 at 12:06 pm

HAhahahahahahaaaaaaaa…….but kwena kwaliba ifipuba eeh! Stategyless punks hh & milupi are!
wilson chanda mukupa

July 24, 2012 at 12:19 pm

God choose leaders what ever plans you can do with-out God you are wasting your time
PF whatever

July 24, 2012 at 12:20 pm

First of all. Tribe is but just an identity. I for one do not see or perceive any tribal sentiments in our political leaders. HH is just identified as a Tonga and indeed he is but I’m afraid he has never behaved in such a way as to segregate any tribe. So is milupi, Sata, Nevers, name them. There is however one profound area of concern: How representative is a particular government? Regardless where a president comes from or which tribe he is identified with, the question is has one taken care of a unique and diverse representation? Only then can one be said to be tribal if appointments are biased as alluded to. So stop this tribal this tribal that talk. It’s nonsense!
HaHaHAIRIES

July 24, 2012 at 12:33 pm

Is it the reason why every UPND MP is Tonga? How about the Lozis and a poultry of other tribes who support UPND? This will never take them anywhere. In short you UPND sympathizers, I like your adherence even to a party/leader that can never achieve anything politically by the way, find someone else to lead UPND. Not this unpopular, childish, Chimbwi-no-plan, strategy-less, inexperienced HH! Can’t he see that Zambia is better off without his political number-addition??
KiKiKikiKikiKiki

July 24, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Iwe Mwata Kalindawalo, did you follow 2001 election results? Mazoka won in almost all provinces but copperbelt and Luapula. He won in Northern province as well. Wise up chikala chobe!
KiKiKikiKikiKiki

July 24, 2012 at 12:41 pm

@HaHaHAIRIES; good observation, you are the man. Let these people see what imbwa HH is all about!