SENIOR Chief Nkula of the Bemba people of Northern Province has said it is taboo to be discussing the succession of the late Paramount Chief Chitimukulu when his body is still lying in state.

Reacting to wrangles that have erupted over the succession of the late Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, Senior Chief Nkula said it was a taboo in the Bemba tradition to discuss succession while the body of the chief had not yet been buried.

Last week, Senior Chief Mwamba accused Senior Chief Nkula of going round telling people that he was the heir-apparent to the late Paramount Chief Chitimukulu's throne.

But Chief Nkula instead accused Chief Mwamba of being bent on ascending to the throne which made him fall out with his older brother the late Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Chilufya when he was alive.

"Indeed for him to discuss succession when his brother is still lying in state is sacrilege. This is indicative of an inner joy over the death of his brother. His brother saw this even when he was alive," he said.

Chief Mwamba also accused Chief Nkula of having lobbied Republican President Michael Sata to install him as the new Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.

But Chief Nkula said it was wrong to drag the name of the President into the succession debate and that fortunately the President himself understands the Bemba tradition too well.

According to the Bemba Kingdom, in the absence of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu the 37th who died last year, the Regency now rests with sub Chief Chimba.