DEPARTING FROM ‘ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION’ RECIPE FOR TROUBLE – PROF MUMBA … as another blogger argues HH has sealed judiciary with nepotistic and tribal appointments
Professor Luke Mumba says Zambia has always survived on the motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ and any attempts to depart from this cohesion is a recipe for trouble, justifying observations made by Angela Cifire that appointments to key government portfolios are now heavily skewed towards Southern, Western, North Western and parts of Central Provinces despite Zambians having stood together to reject tribalism in 2021.
And Another blogger submitted that President Hichilema has sealed the judiciary with nepotistic and tribal appointments, in the form of Justice minister (Tonga), Attorney General (Lenje), Solicitor General (Tonga), Chief Justice (Lenje), Concourt President (Lozi), Concourt Deputy President (Tonga), Court of Appeals President (Tonga), Judicial Service Commission Chairperson (Lozi), Judicial Complaints Commission Chairperson (Tonga), and the “President’s niece” Mapani Kawimbe as Concourt judge, joining “the brother to have benefited from the uncle’s nepotistic appointment” Victor Mapani, the Zesco Managing Director and IDC CEO Perry Mapani.
Speaking with Daily Revelation over what many view as tribal appointments into government positions that are heavily skewed towards southern, Western and North western province despite President Hichilema having received significant votes even in areas where he lost, with Eastern Province producing a split vote (51 percent for president Edgar Lungu who hails from that region and 49 percent for President Hakainde Hichilema), former Health minister Cifire said appointments in government must be given in recognition that the 2021 general elections was a 10-province programme and not having a situation where the presidency is now being captured in terms “uyu wesu or uyu nguwezu.”
The Daily Revelation story quoting Cifire was posted in one of the whatsapp groups run by Casilla with a membership of over 400 plus people.
Contributing to the same, Prof Mumba stated that Cifire had raised pertinent points.
“Good morning, the loud silence on Mrs Cifire’s observations is surprising. I thought she raises pertinent concerns which deserve comments from this forum. Is it because she has raised issues that many do not want to face head on? Is she raising a ‘hot potato’, too hot to handle?” asked Prof Mumba. “I appreciate that this forum is more about business and economics but business cannot thrive in an environment which is poisoned with divisions. Zambia has thrived on cohesion based on the motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ but also being sensitive to the numerous ethnic tribes in all the 10 provinces of the country. Any attempt to depart from this cohesion is a recipe for trouble. Meritocracy can still be observed while respecting our Motto.
The Prof argued that “it cannot be true that most deserving candidates in these recent appointments can only be found from the provinces mentioned by madam Cifire.”
“If her observations are true, the appointing authorities need to rethink the path they have taken. This is a path to self-destruction. Zambians are watching,” stated Prof Mumba. “Good morning. Am observing…dead silence! Reality check!”
Another blogger mentioned how they felt that the President has sealed the judiciary appointments via his nepotistic and tribal appointments.
“1. Minister of Justice – Mulambe Haimbe SC- Tonga, 2. Attorney general- Mulilo Kabesha-Lenje, 3. Solici.. http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/departing-from-one-zambia-one-nation-recipe-for-trouble-prof-mumba-as-another-blogger-argues-hh-has-sealed-judiciary-with-nepotistic-and-tribal-appointments/