27 October 2009
LUAPULA Royal Foundation (LRF) has pledged total support for President Rupiah Banda for the mature manner he has led Zambia since he became president.
The LRF is happy with Mr Banda for continuing with Zambia's development projects aimed at bettering people's lives in the country.
In an interview yesterday, spokesperson for the LRF Chief Chisunka said as traditional leaders, the royal highnesses were aware that development could only be initiated and achieved once they worked with the Government of the day and not the opposition.
Chief Chisunka said President Banda had continued with the development projects left by the late president Levy Mwanawasa hence he should be given support.
He also described as immoralfor some people to blame the president for the decision by the judiciary to acquit second Republican president Frederick Chiluba.
And the LRF has directed all members of Parliament (MPs) in the area to make people understand the stance taken by the chiefs over those agitating for the persecution of the former president.
He said the people of Luapula Province should from now on, stand solidly behind President Banda.
He said it was immoral to blame President Banda over the acquital of Dr Chiluba.
Chief Chisunka said President Banda had shown that he was not the type of leader who used the State to drag people to court on tramped up charges.
"Some people may think we are supporting President Banda because of Dr Chiluba's acquittal but I must say they are mistaken and they should understand that as traditional leaders we are supposed to work with the Government of the day and not the opposition political parties. Mr Banda should be supported for the mature manner he has led this country," Chief Chisunka said.
The LRF has since directed all MPs from the province to ensure what had been resolved was understood by all.
They commended the president for not interfering with the course of justice in Dr Chiluba's case.
"All the MPs have been charged with the responsibility to ensure what we have resolved as LRF is understood by all. We want to make it abundantly clear that we will not take kindly to anyone who will continue persecuting the former president and we shall from now on stand solidly behind President Banda," Chief Chisunka said.
He said Luapula would no longer remain silent on this matter because the province was now convinced that the enemies of Dr Chiluba had no respect for the law, neither had they respect for Luapula Province.
The LRF warned politicians who promised to unconstitutionally drop Dr Chiluba's charges during the 2006 campaign to realise that the people in the province had not forgotten what he called cheap promises.
"We want to warn that Luapula is not for sale, nor will the people of Luapula forget those presidential candidates who lied that they will drop Dr Chiluba's charges when they become president of this country. We want to state that Luapula will move with one voice and our votes will show them that they are not qualified to lead this country," Chief Chisunka said.
He said political manipulators must remember that lies had their limit and that once people discovered that they were liars, they would reap fruits of deceitfulness.
Chief Chisunka said the LRF was aware of leaders who wanted to sacrifice Dr Chiluba for political expedience and that it was also aware of those who wanted Dr Chiluba jailed because the former president denied them jobs at State House when he was president.
He said since justice had prevailed over Dr Chiluba, the LRF demands that justice be respected because Dr Chiluba had suffered enough and that anyone who would want to touch the former head of State must be prepared to fight the people of Luapula Province.
The LRF wondered if corruption in Zambia would only be fought and won once Dr Chiluba was incarcerated as some people were agitating.
Some prominent Chiefs in the LRF include Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile, Chief Kashiba, Chieftainess Kanyembo, Chief Lukwesa all of the Lunda people. Others are Chief Milambo of the Ushi, Chief Nsama of the Ng'umbo, Senior Chief Mushota, Chief Chama, Chief Munkanta, Chief Katuta Kampemba and Chief Mulundu all of the Chishinga people.
The rest include Chief Kasomalwela and Senior Chief Kalasa Mukoso of the Ushi people.
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