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SATA, BashiLubemba Differ Over Rituals
THE Bemba Royal Establishment (Bashilubemba) has differed with President Michael Sata over his decision to degazette Henry Sosala Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba-speaking people of Kasama.
Last Thursday, President Sata withdrew recognition of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as senior chief Mwamba of the Bemba-speaking people of Kasama.
According to well-placed sources, Bashilubemba had a meeting over the matter on Friday where they rejected President Sata’s decision, calling it government interference in traditional affairs.
“Bashilubemba met yesterday (Friday) and they discussed this matter extensively because they were concerned. So, they all rejected the President’s decision; in their view, the government is interfering with traditional affairs. The Bemba Royal Establishment gave examples of the previous two Chitimukulus who did not undergo traditional rituals but they remained Chitimukulus until their death. As far as the establishment is concerned, they still recognise (Sosala) as senior chief Mwamba,” said the sources yesterday.
“They also said in the meeting that they are aware that the government is trying to install one of the two Bisa chiefs as Chitimukulu. Bashilubemba are saying they are aware that the government has lined up chief Chibesakunda and chief Chewe so that one of them can become Chitimukulu. So, they are travelling to Lusaka to meet the President and Honourable chiefs and traditional affairs minister Prof Nkandu Luo over the state’s decision. And on Monday the Bemba Royal Establishment will issue a statement to officially state their position.”
In a letter dated May 8 to Prof Luo, President Sata instructed that payment of subsistence allowance to Sosala be stopped.
Last Monday, President Sata accused Sosala of masquerading as chief Mwamba.
President Sata asked media houses to stop publishing material coming from Sosala as chief Mwamba because he did not deserve the title of a traditional leader.
He stated that Sosala was not properly installed, hence did not deserve the title. Sosala is a Post columnist whose articles come out in the Saturday Post insert.
“By copy of this letter, I am demanding that The Post newspapers and other media institutions immediately cease quoting or admitting any material for publication from the said gentleman, under the title of senior chief Mwamba until this confusion is sorted out,” stated President Sata in his letter to Prof Luo, dated May 6, 2013 and copied to The Post.
And responding to President Sata’s accusation that he was masquerading, Sosala wondered why the government was on him now when it had all along been quiet.
Sosala said he felt victimised by the government in the manner he had been singled out from the other Bemba chiefs that had also not been properly installed.
“This thing has come up now, why has it come up when it is about two months away from installing the new Chitimukulu? And if I’m not properly installed, can the government properly install me? Is it the duty of the government to install me properly? And then it (the government) said we are about four or five, I don’t know, but why particularly on me? If the government wants to appoint Chitimukulu, they should just come out and appoint instead of victimising me,” he said on Thursday.
“It’s very suspicious. As a tradition, we put in a caretaker after the Chitimukulu has died. But this man who was acting was removed. And then what it means is, because those who embalm are supposed to get at least something from the paramount chief’s sub-chiefs, but since the government withdrew that man, I am the only one paying for those. So, I don’t know anyway the motive behind the government; but it’s a bit worrying.”
Sosala said he did not understand why the government was meddling in traditional affairs.
He said Prof Luo only understood much about the Bisa chieftaincy, and not the Bemba one.
“I would like to thank the President for his words. Honourable Nkandu Luo knows about Bisa traditions, not Bemba. I don’t understand how the government is coming into traditional affairs, especially rituals; because normally rituals are traditional affairs and government plays another role. But I don’t know in my state why the government is concerned about rituals, just in my case, in my special case,” said Sosala. “The government has never been involved in rituals, but why is it particularly now interested in my rituals? So those are the big questions. Now, are we trying to say that the government will take on both rituals and gazetting? This is the impression the government is giving us.”
Posted by
chick nigger
May 13, 2013 at 10:07 am
Iwe ka sata naiwe ninshi kanshi amano wa bo dictator?uchinje malyongo
Wanu Ngwee
May 14, 2013 at 6:28 pm
ARE THESE LUBEMBA GUYS REALLY GIFTED OR THEY’RE JUST MAKING UP THOSE PARCELS I SEE IN THE PICTURE?
kmsichilima
May 13, 2013 at 10:15 am
we should at times recommend the Government when they want to put things in order.
It was the chief himself who publicly said he has not been properly installed saying he has not go through the traditional rituals.
Viva ba Sata.
isaac
May 13, 2013 at 10:22 am
For sure the chief blew the tumpet himself that he was not properly installed. Attracting more concerns that those he claims that they are as well not installed properly. What was he thinking govt should respond?
Andrew Biemba
May 13, 2013 at 10:49 am
Tusheni ba mudala, mwali onawila mwebene
swine!
May 13, 2013 at 12:51 pm
kekekkekekeeee ba chief naimwe ukulandalanda mwamono mwaizala mwebene mweka yaba!
child sacrifice
May 13, 2013 at 1:04 pm
NDOLESHAFYE !
May 13, 2013 at 2:11 pm
NABASOSALA BENE BAILETELELA FYE ABANE PAMULANDU NA RITUALS OF THE BELLY !
Awiza
May 13, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Bamudala bailetele balitwanakanono sana sand mine yonse yabo. Lelolelo,lelolelo!!! ya!! katusheni.
Awiza
May 13, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Bamudala bailetele balitemwa sana akanono sana sand mine yonse yabo. Lelolelo,lelolelo!!! ya!! katusheni.
kachenche
May 13, 2013 at 3:31 pm
atase chi sosala,you are even proud to say you are not the only one who was not properly installed!why shouldn’t a bisa not qualify to be chitimukulu when Guy Scot can be veep!!Even a tonga can be chitimukulu.After all these titles now should be advertised in the media;we are all zambian!shut up Sosala
PHIRI
May 13, 2013 at 4:01 pm
LEAVE THE MONKEYS ALONE YOU HYENAS FROM THE SOUTH AND YOU RATS FROM THE EAST
Pyepye
May 13, 2013 at 4:53 pm
And you Sata’s buttocks from North Western why do you want the monkeys to be left alone….
Mpyana-Bwalya
May 14, 2013 at 1:23 am
Chief Mwamba, let me educate you a bit. You belong to the Miti clan the crocodile clan.
Do not compare your Chiefinship to Nkula-Chewe. Nkula-Chewe is a direct decedants of Mukulumpa and you are not.
I am not sure the so called bashilubemba are true bashilubemba if the they not know the history of Chewe. Chimba should know better at he belongs to the crocodile clan.
What might happen is that, if you insist we shall make Chief Chitimukulu as a senior chief so that you continue with the Miti clan and make Nkula-Chewe the real crocodile a Paramount Chief.
Mpyana-Bwalya
May 14, 2013 at 1:24 am
Chief Mwamba, let me educate you a bit. You belong to the Miti clan not the crocodile clan.
Do not compare your Chiefinship to Nkula-Chewe. Nkula-Chewe is a direct decedants of Mukulumpa and you are not.
I am not sure the so called bashilubemba are true bashilubemba if the they not know the history of Chewe. Chimba should know better at he belongs to the crocodile clan.
What might happen is that, if you insist we shall make Chief Chitimukulu as a senior chief so that you continue with the Miti clan and make Nkula-Chewe the real crocodile a Paramount Chief.
Mpyana-Bwalya
May 14, 2013 at 1:25 am
Chief Mwamba, let me educate you a bit. You belong to the Miti clan not the crocodile clan.
Do not compare your Chiefinship to Nkula-Chewe. Nkula-Chewe is a direct decedants of Mukulumpe and you are not.
I am not sure the so called bashilubemba are true bashilubemba if the they not know the history of Chewe. Chimba should know better at he belongs to the crocodile clan.
What might happen is that, if you insist we shall make Chief Chitimukulu as a senior chief so that you continue with the Miti clan and make Nkula-Chewe the real crocodile a Paramount Chief.
Mpyana-Bwalya
May 14, 2013 at 1:32 am
Chief Mwamba, let me educate you a bit. You belong to the Miti clan not the crocodile clan.
Do not compare your Chiefinship to Nkula-Chewe. Nkula-Chewe is a direct decedants of Mukulumpe and you are not.
I am not sure the so called bashilubemba are true bashilubemba if the they not know the history of Chewe. Chimba should know better at least he belongs to the crocodile clan.
What might happen is that, if you insist we shall make Chief Chitimukulu a senior chief so that you continue with the Miti clan and make Nkula-Chewe the real crocodile a Paramount Chief.
Zan1
May 14, 2013 at 10:57 am
When the monkeys are at play, humans sould just watch
pilolo
May 14, 2013 at 5:07 pm
What are these same rituals that are so difficult to do even after someone has ascended to the throne. Secondly are there no people who can do these rituals on Mwamba ASAP. For me Mwamba is an intellectual who if given an opportunity can transform the entitlement mentality of the bemba people; look at what Mumena another intellectual is doing in his chiefdom. I think this is what chiefs are supposed to be doing not just selling land.
FuManchu
May 14, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Ubuloshi!