By Adam Makoye Snr
STOP THE BENE MUKUNI CLAIM BEFORE IT DIVIDES US!
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Chief Mukuni cannot be a paramount chief because, in Southern Province, chiefs are independent of one another.
The Tongas operate under clans, known as mikowa, such as Ba-Gande, Ba-Leya, Ba-Nsaka, Ba-Muchindu, and others. These clans are not related by blood and each has its own chieftaincy. Because of this, a Ba-Gande chief cannot submit to a Ba-Muchindu chief since they do not share the same lineage.
On the history of Bene Mukuni in Southern Province, their fellow tribesmen originally come from Central Province. They migrated southwards many years ago. Upon arriving in what is now Livingstone and Kazungula in Southern Province, they came seeking shelter and settlement. At that time they were received and accommodated by the local Tonga communities. They were employed and settled as guests under Tonga chiefs. To this day, their main traditional leadership and fellow chiefs remain in Central Province not in Southern Province.
The courts should not entertain the Bene Mukuni case because it will open a Pandora’s box that the government will fail to contain. If this is allowed, Chief Mweemba will also rise to claim paramount status. Chief Monze will do the same(Chief Mweeba and Moonze are related.Story for another day). In North-Western Province, most chiefs and tribes will demand the same title because a precedent would have been set. Even in the Northern bloc, Chief Mwatakazembe will rise to demand paramount status.
Historically, since colonial times and after independence, Southern Province chiefs have been recognized as equal and autonomous. No single chiefdom has ever been designated as paramount over the others. Legally and culturally, paramountcy in Zambia is tied to kingdoms with a centralized structure, like the Litunga or the Chitimukulu. The Tonga system is clan-based and decentralized, so the concept does not fit. Elevating one chiefdom will only create rivalry instead of unity and will weaken the collective voice of Southern Province chiefs in national matters. Once the court grants this, every chiefdom across Zambia with a large following will file similar claims and the government will spend decades managing disputes instead of focusing on development.
The Bene Mukuni claim should not be tolerated at all. I am encouraging all chiefs from Southern Province to join this case. If we do not act now, it will lead to disaster. By Adam
This is interesting, if that’s is the justification of why mukuni can never be a paramount chief cause they is no connection between him and other southern province chief it can be understood. In that case we have that which needs attention and and probably the crown of paramount chi3f has to be crowned immediately. The lenje central province Kingdom is one family and the main been chief Chitanda, the following chief are from the same family tree, chief chamuka, chief mungule, chief ngabwe and chief liteta. Shakafuswa where you, I need your personal interest here, not leaving out given lubinda you are also born from the above family tree stop hiding that your are lozi. The author is from the lense loyal clan.
Iwe Ka Sob
The Leya people are a distinct people in Southern Province who do not speak Lenge.They established a paramouncy in southern part of the now Southern Province of Zambia.Are you saying that Chitimukulu cannot be paramount chief because he came from Mwata in Kola
Shakafuswa,as Prince in the Ben Mukuni house is on firm grounds to rouse those articles in the constitution.Other tribes can also claim their rights if they qualify.What Pandora’s box .You even have a box to shut people in!…..Shaaa!