WE HAVEN’T COME TO LIE TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE
We paid a courtesy call on Chief Namakaya of Sikongo District in Western Province. Everything that our elder said touched our hearts deeply. The aim of our visit was to look into the concerns that the Chief had.While political leaders and their parties come and go, our Chiefs and Church Leaders will remain the authentic leaders of our people. So why leave them out of the governance structures?
Chief Namakaya bemoaned the lack of support from government saying that government has abandoned him and his people. He lamented how his palace is in a dilapidated state, saying:-
“In my entire life, I have never seen a president visit me officially in my palace but today you have come to visit; I hope you are going to perform efficiently. To me, your visit is more like a miracle. With what has happened, I pray you perform nicely. Previously, Chiefs were being paid and were well taken care of but right now, they have literary become like villagers. Even if you look at my feet, you can tell that we aren’t living well, we aren’t honoured as chiefs. We are literary neglected”.
“We always wish that the those who want to rule us should look at our plight. If you look at the chairs you are seated on; these aren’t chairs that a chief should have. But all those who rule don’t consider our plight, this is my misfortune. So, I’m grateful to you because you are still contesting to stand and I’m sure we are going to unity. As time goes, we are going to see how you will perform. I’m wishing you all the best luck from God that he should be with you and you go through”.
In my response to the Chief, I pointed that changing of government without changing the way to govern will not build the country.
If you our Chiefs fail to rule our lands, can a politician on his own can manage? No, the politician will fail, even though he has a good heart, he/she will fail.
Let’s start afresh, we need to change not only changing the new regime no but what’s important is to change the way of governing.
If you change only the government and not the way of governing, we won’t go anywhere. Even me if you decide to put me in power in 2026 and if I don’t work with you then there is nothing that will be done.
We told the Chief that we haven’t come to lie to him that we will have the power to change the way that they are living. But changing the way we live is in our hands.
Fred M’membe
President of Socialist Party