Withdraw your allowances, we know your hatred for Tongas, Chief Mwanachingwala tells Lungu
Chief Mwanachingwala
Senior Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga speaking people of Southern Province has challenged Edgar Lungu to go ahead and withdraw their allowances as they can never compromise principles with money.
Speaking today after Lungu threatened to withdrew allowances for vocal chiefs in an apparent reference to a number of traditional leaders that have sympathised with the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, Mwanachingwala said he was aware that Lungu hated the Tonga speaking people going by the reckless statements, insults and derogatory remarks him and his senior party officials have issued in the past.
Chief Mwanachingwala said they could not be silenced because of the allowances they were getting from government when things were going wrong in the country such as oppression and injustices that has now resulted in the arrest of the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema.
And some chiefs have challenged Lungu whether was paying them money from his pockets or from the national treasury.
“Our children contribute alot to this country as shown by the Ministry of Finance data. Lungu can as well tell our region to just stop contributing to this country called Zambia so that we can look after ourselves. Even late Michael Sata treated very respectively as opposed to this boy. We have endured enough insults from senior PF Government and party leadership since Lungu came into power”, they said.
Edgar Lungu said he may be forced to revoke allowances for highly politicized traditional leaders.
In apparent reference to traditional leaders that have openly shown solidarity with incarcerated opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema, President Lungu wondered why some traditional leaders that were failing to recognize his presidency were getting allowances from government.
“Here is a chief who says Lungu is not President but is getting allowances from government, maybe I should also revise these things,” he said.
And Senior Chief Mukuni says that he will not disengage from active politics as traditional leaders where political by virtue of being leaders.
He said that chiefs look after the welfare of people therefore could not be detached from the political nature of their surroundings.
“By virtue of being chiefs we are social leaders, councillors so we are political,” Chief Mukuni said.
Chief Mukuni in league with other traditional leaders from Southern and Central provinces have been at the forefront calling for the release of treason charged Hichilema.