By SARA MWANZA –

.President Lungu

CHIEFS of Luapula Province have castigated people doubting President Edger Lungu’s nationality, saying it is madness to make the claims without providing evidence.
Chief Mulundu of the Lunda speaking people of Luapula, Chief Mabumba,Chief Kalasa and Chief Mibenge of the Ushi speaking people said separately during those alleging that the president was not Zambian should prove it or stop hallucinating.
Chief Mulundu said only an insane person would doubt the President’s nationality without providing substantial evidence.
He said this yesterday when Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya, Community Development and Social Welfare Minister Emelyn Kabanshi and Water Development and Environmental Protection Denise Wanchinga paid a courtesy call on him.
“Ubu bushilu (this is madness). How can one just wake-up and start spreading rumours that the president is not Zambian?” he said.
He challenged those claiming that President Lungu was a foreigner to provide evidence or stop spreading falsehoods.
“At first it was the first republican President Kenneth Kaunda followed by Fredrick Chiluba, who they accused of not being Zambian, and now they are accusing President Lungu. If they have nothing to say they should just keep quiet,” he said.
Chief Mulundu further called on his subjects to be worry of political leaders who were championing political violence.
Chief Mabumba said what was happening in the political arena was disgraceful and painted a negative picture of the country to other countries.
He said almost every one of Zambia’s past leaders had been accused of being foreigner and wondered who would be a true Zambian president.
“Even if we are going to have one from Southern Province we shall say that he is from Zimbabwe or South Africa and this is very unfortunate.
Even outsiders must be worried about what is happening in Zambia,” he said.
Chief Mabumba further thanked President Lungu for handling the matter in a mature way.
“It is disappointing that the person who started this (campaign) is a learned person and understands the law,” he said.
Chief Mabumba said it was disappointing that opposition political parties had continued practising politics of insults.
The Chief urged opposition political parties to bring out real issues and not just continue hallucinating.
“Let us concentrate on real issues that will develop this country that will help us to unite the nation and not devide because of tribes,”Chief Mabumba said.
Meanwhile, Chief Kalasa questioned the motive of people who were championing the above agenda.
He said it was unreasonable for people to start questioning the President’s parentage, when he had been in Zambia since time immemorial.
And Chief Mibenge also of the Ushi people challenges the opposition to acknowledge the transformation the country had experience under the leadership of Mr Lungu.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya said the Patrotic Front government valued the wise counsel from traditional leaders.
He said it was sad that opposition political parties have continued to praise baseless politics and failing to provide constructive criticism.

For more stories visit: www.timesepaper.com