By Patson Chilemba
Chitimukulu has sold out the Bemba kingdom for the love of money, opposition UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka has charged.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Mucheleka said paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people, was abdicating to the wishes of President Edgar Lungu’s running mate, Professor Nkandu Luo in the “unlikely event” they won the 2021 general elections, and if something unfortunate were to happen to the President.
Mucheleka said his decision to forgive Prof Luo was his alone, and did not represent the Bemba people like himself (Mucheleka), saying he believed Prof Luo still held on to her beliefs that the Ngoshe Mukote clan, from the Bisas, should be the rightful heirs to the Bemba throne.
“He has sold the Bemba Kingdom to the Ngoshe Mukote clan to which Nkandu Luo is so much attached and has vehemently pushed for. She will not wait given an opportunity to have her dream come true and certainly if it’s allowed we can as well say goodbye to the Bemba Kingdom,” Mucheleka said. “Remember Nkandu Luo distorted the history of the Bemba when she claimed that it was Ngoshe Mukote clan who should assume the leadership. She did everything possible to defend her position and given an opportunity that is something she would seek to push through.”
Mucheleka said Prof Luo did everything possible to ensure that the current Chitimukulu, then chief Mwamba Sosala, and the bashi Lubemba should not ascend to the paramount chieftaincy.
“The sad part of it is that for the love of money, and you must stress, love of money, Sosala should give reasons as to why suddenly he is surprisingly, if you like, why is he entertaining Nkandu Luo who has even asked to be forgiven?” Mucheleka said. “Why didn’t she do that all that time? Because she had been part of the PF government why has she chosen this time to go and ask for forgiveness. Which means it’s not genuine.”
Mucheleka said the Bemba chiefs should speak out against the decision by Chitimukulu to entertain Prof Luo, as most politicians had the tendency of changing positions depending on their interests, saying that the Professor’s apology should therefore not be taken on face value.
He claimed that the Chitimukulu was already an old man, who he said has not been enjoying the best of health, and that the Bemba traditional leaders would therefore have to bear the “brunt” of Prof Luo’s actions if she were given the power.
Mucheleka said he and the many other Bembas stood by their principled position they held 10 years ago when they protested against Prof Luo’s position against the ascension of Mwamba Sosala to the Chitimukulu.- Daily Revelation