PEOPLE OF NORTHERN ARE NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER TRIBALISTS WHO VOTE BASED ON TRIBALISM
Frank Mutubila wrote:
Congratulations to the people of Northern Province for reminding us of what Zambia can and should be. Your action stands as a moral statement to the rest of the country, a clarion call that national consciousness must rise above narrow loyalties. Some will insist this cannot happen in certain provinces. Others will argue it will not happen in August. That resistance itself reveals how deeply the problem runs. The truth is painful, but it must be spoken, because a nation cannot heal from a wound it refuses to acknowledge.
Zambia is divided. Tribalism sits at the centre of that division. It breeds suspicion, resentment, exclusion and quiet hatred. It turns neighbours into rivals, citizens into strangers and politics into a contest of surnames rather than ideas. It rewards mediocrity when it wears the right identity and punishes excellence when it does not. In doing so, it kills merit, destroys trust and poisons national cohesion.
This issue disturbs me deeply on a personal level. My son Mwamba Mugwagwa Mutubila is of mixed parenthood. Which tribe does he belong to. What box does he fit into in a system obsessed with labels. There are millions of Zambians like him today. Children who embody the future of this country, yet are forced to inherit divisions they did not create. A nation that defines belonging by tribe condemns such children to confusion, rejection and silent discrimination.
When votes are dictated by tribal affiliation rather than performance, accountability collapses. Failure is tolerated. Corruption is excused. Incompetence is defended simply because it comes from one of our own. The result is poor governance, economic stagnation, deepening poverty and a growing sense of injustice among citizens who feel permanently locked out. Tribal politics does not only divide us emotionally. It impoverishes us materially.
I know that speaking this truth invites criticism. That criticism itself proves how normalised this disease has become. Silence would be easier. Silence would also be dishonest. We cannot continue burying our heads in the sand and pretending all is well.
Tribal affiliation must be banished from our politics. Let us differ on ideas, policies and visions for development, but never on identity. To all political parties the message is clear. Speak about governance. Speak about the economy. Explain how you intend to change the fortunes of our people for the better.
A nation only stands tall when tribe dies. As long as tribe lives in our politics Zambia will limp. When love for country defeats loyalty to tribe, Zambia will rise.
Mutubila, you are part of the problem. As a seasoned journalist, you should really know better than to swallow and regurgitate a cheap political narrative cooked up by politicians whose only agenda is power at any cost.
What exactly did you mean by your statement: “PEOPLE OF NORTHERN ARE NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER TRIBALISTS WHO VOTE BASED ON TRIBALISM”? Read that back to yourself slowly and tell us how that is not, in itself, a tribal and divisive remark.
The last time I checked, all tribes from all Zambian provinces have voted for KK, Chiluba, Levy, Banda, Sata, ECL, and now HH. In other words, Zambians across the board have supported leaders from different regions and backgrounds. So this neat little narrative you’re buying into is not just lazy, it’s factually shallow.
It’s genuinely disappointing to see a journalist of your experience becoming this casual and careless in articulating important national issues. But then again, perhaps it’s not that surprising. We’ve seen this same pattern elsewhere in the USA, for example, where Trump managed to drag supposed intellectuals into the abyss of his “alternative facts” universe.
Sadly, you’re not an exception, Frank. You’re becoming a textbook example.
Mr.Mutubila, what do you mean? Are you saying UPND is full of people from one tribe such that when the people of Kasama cast their votes, they were supporting that tribe? When the people of Kasama voted for Mr Bywell Symposya, they voted for him because he was a good candidate, was from Kasama, and supported the party he was standing under.
I now understand why KK chased you from his entourage at the airport when you had a wet look style of your hair. You lack wisdom
Is it Possible to take his ‘Wet Look Hair’ to the Laboratory for Testing…
Something may have gone wrong, maybe the chemicals were too much…
I can’t think of anything else driving his narrative…
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU, FRANK, NEED TO SURVIVE.
WHAT DO YOU CALL THE STAFFING IN FOREIGN MISSIONS DURING PF?
WHAT DO YOU CALL THE LIST OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES DURING PF?
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FEEL YOU MUST BE THE ONEASTO RULE EVEN THOUGH IT IS KNOWN THAT YOUR PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS MISRULED THOS COUNTRY AND STOLLEN BILLIONS FROM ZAMBIAN COFFERS?
GET YOUR CHEQUE, BUT TALK ABOUT FACTS AND NOT EMOTIONS.
CHILUBA STOLE, BANDA’S SONS HAD ISSUES, SATA TOOK RDA TO STATE HOUSE WHERE HE SAT WITH WILLIE NSANDA AND WHEN NSANDA DIED, BAGS OF DOLLARS WERE FOUND IN HIS HOUSE.
WHEN PF CAME IN, ONE TIME PAUPERS GOT STINKING RICH IN A BLINK OF AN EYE AND SUNK THE ECONOMY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, KK DID A VERY GOOD AND HONEST JOB. MWANAWASA DID A VERY GOOD AND HONEST JOB AND HH IS CERTAINLY DOEING AN EXCELLENT AND HONEST JOB.
MAKE YOUR HONEST JUDGEMENT THERE.
Which people Frank? Are the no elected officials from other tribes all over Zambia? How shallow….
Clearly this man is a bigot. Nothing else but a tribal bigot.
And this is the type of person who they sent to represent this country? No wonder ba Kaunda expressed distain for the man…very immature.
One would expect some widsom to come out of his mouth but alas…his true colours come out..
This is the example we get from a person who refers himself as a seasoned journalist? This is what the British Government wasted a scholarship educating…what an embarassment
Frank Mutubila was hoping that HH would appoint him to some foreign service as ambassador or something of that sort. He has that nostalgia of Italy. So, that is the ranting now of tribalism.
Who cast their votes for Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Sata? Was it merely one province? Frank, stop smoking you are old. You are currently displaying your lack of intelligence. Daily, you preach about tribe. You have become accustomed to receiving free money for doing nothing under Lungu. What business did you bring from Italy that we can identify? Do not be foolish, old man. You are finished; allow others the opportunity to work.
This is a very foolish and senseless old man developing dementia! What he is saying is shameful especially given his advanced age. Everything he is mourning about shows his childish mentality of ENTITLEMENT.
He an example of pure tribalism and no merit. He was appointed Ambassador to Italy because of his tribe. He is a journalist but got a job leaving qualified and experienced staff in foreign affair. Whilst enjoying himself as a diplomat, he wasn’t even thinking about his son, Mwamba, ever having to compete on merit. Indeed, his son will get appointments based on merit not tribal favours like Frank Mutubila – what is wrong with that.
Some of had compete to get whatever we have but not this foolish old arse called Frank Mutubila. Yes, you are now facing proper competition which some us have been subjected to all of our lives. Enjoy it Frank because that is reality not the Utopia that you are used to!
Mutbila fast becoming irrelevant.
Frank is not fast becoming irrelevant but he is already irrelevant. Even his visage looks very miserable like someone who is not sure of himself. It’s not only clothes which wear out, abantu nabena balapwa. He had his time, let him rest.
The old guy knows he only has strength enough for one punch. He hopes to hit the current government with that feeble punch and collapse into the hands of the next government after August. What a shame!