THE IDEA OF PARAMOUNT CHIEF FOR TONGA SPEAKING PEOPLE: POSSIBILITIES AND IMPOSSIBILITIES
At the Last Lwiindi Tradition Ceremony of the Tonga Speaking people of Monze District echoed the need for President Hakainde Hichilema to help the Tonga Speaking people realise this long call by some people to recognise Senior Chief Monze as the Paramount Chief of the Tonga Speaking people of Southern Province.
The President did not make any commitment or even made mention of the request when it was time for him to make his speech.
For the sake for those who may not know, Zambia, by law, has four Paramount Chiefs namely:
1. *Paramount Chief Litunga* (His Majesty the
King) of Western Province (Barotseland) of
the Lozi Speaking people;
2. *Paramount Chief Chitimikulu* (Mwine
Lubemba) of the Northern Province of the
Bemba speaking people;
3. *Paramount Chief Gawa Undi* of the
Chewa Speaking people of Eastern
Province;
4. *Paramount Chef Mpezeni* of the NGONI
Speaking people
These are Paramount Chiefs presiding over a people with similar custom, culture, language and traditions.
Out of the 10 provinces only Eastern, Northern, Western provinces have Paramount chiefs domiciled in these provinces with Eastern province hosting two (2), Gawa Undi and Mpezeni.
The remaining 7 provinces only have senior chiefs.
These Paramount chiefs were recognised by the Chiefs Act of 1965 during the UNIP government which reduced the status of King Lewanika to that of a Paramount Chief, by law.
Before the 2016 Constitutional Amendment, chiefs were recognised and conferred by the politicians in power esp by the President-using Recognition Orders-before assuming office, sometimes, against the tradition, culture and customs of the people concerned.
However, the 2016 Constitutional Amendment in Article 165.(1) excluded the role of the President and any politician in recognising or conferring on any person the position of paramount chief or ordinary chief.
This role was left to people concerned to do so in line with their custom, culture and traditions.
The Constitution therefore guides that *the institution of chieftaincy and traditional institutions are guaranteed and shall exist in accordance with the *culture, customs and traditions of the people to whom they apply*
In clause 2 of Article 165 stresses that Parliament shall not enact legislation which (a) confers on a person or authority the right to recognise or withdraw the recognition of a chief; (b) derogates from the honour and dignity of the institution of chieftaincy.
Therefore, the appeal for a paramount chief for the Tonga Speaking people of Southern Province, as the law stands, should be directed to the general citizenry of the people of Southern Province.
The people of Southern Province must use their tradition, custom and culture of the Tonga Speaking people or the House of Chiefs than to the President.
The impossibility and the possibility are found in whether or not the make up of the Tonga Speaking people has same or similar custom, culture and traditions.
If they have, then it is simple to advocate for the Paramount Chief who must be decided by the People to who the culture, custom and tradition apply.
For now let us spare the President. This is purely our baby as citizens of Southern Province and their traditional leadership to sort out and recognise and confer one of our senior chiefs as paramount chief for the Tonga Speaking people of Southern Province.
We can debate. If you are Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Mbunda, Kachokwe, and your other relatives stay away from this debate. It is Ours your Kings.
I submit
McDonald Chipenzi