By Isaac Zulu
Chief Nzamane of the Ngoni speaking people in Eastern Province has said that President Hakainde Hichilema is justified to appoint people to key government positions that come from regions where he received massive votes.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Chief Nzamane said there is nothing wrong for President Hakainde Hichilema to appoint people to Cabinet and diplomatic positions that gave him “genuine support.”
The traditional leader said that he rememberEd confronting the late president Levy Mwanawasa when the former Head of State left out Eastern Province Parliamentarians from Cabinet positions.
“I remember when I worked with the late President Levy Mwanawasa. When he was just elected into office I confronted him and told him that the national cake is not being distributed evenly in terms of parliamentary Cabinet appointments because Eastern Province was left out that time. The response from the then Republican President was that “give me members of parliament from Eastern Province, then I will give them Cabinet positions.” The next election came and the MMD produced 19 MPs from Eastern Province. And true to his word, the late Mwanawasa, may his soul rest in peace, a good number of MPs from Eastern Province some parliamentarians in Cabinet,” explained Chief Nzamane. “If you have two people, one is supporting you and the other one is adverse towards you, what would you do? Logically, you have to consider the person that supported you. So when it comes to the appointments that the current President has been making, I think he is justified to appoint people in government positions and diplomatic positions from Provinces or regions where he received massive support and votes. If I was in his position as President, I would appoint people that gave me genuine support. Remember at in the run up to the 2021 general elections Eastern Province was considered to be stronghold of the Patriot Front, but President Hakainde Hichilema got 49.5 votes. Mabmwe, Petauke and Chipaata, somehow there were independent candidates. But the UPND emerged victorious.”
He advised Eastern Province residents to give the UPND administration the required support so that type can benefit from the President’s appointments.
“So, moving forward as a Province, we need to give the current government maximum support so that Eastern Province gets to benefit from these appointments. It is not right for people to get things on a silver plate,” said Chief Nzamane.
The Ngoni traditional leader also said that he has noted some growing trend by some political players not engaging in politics of character assassination and hooliganism, saying there are positive strives being made by the UPND administration.
“Currently I have noticed a change of version of politics in our country. And I want to put it on record that I have started seeing a different version of politics in Zambia. In the previous regime we used to see cadres engaging in political violence, hooliganism, and insults,” said Chief Nzamane. “But I am not seeing that anymore. There’s some improvement in terms of politicians engaging in insults, hooliganism and the continued exchange of insults. And I think, as a country, we moving on a positive note,” said Chief Nzamane.
