Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Chairman for Elections Ackson Sejani says that the culture of parading chiefs by politicians to politically pressure villagers should come to an end.
Commenting on the parading of chiefs from Southern Province at a political gathering by President Michael Sata during his visit to Chief Chikanta’s area Sejani said it was sad that chiefs had to endure political harassment from politicians.
“This culture of disrespecting out traditional leaders by coercing them into making political pronouncements is a disgrace to the institution of chieftaincy. First you weaken them by stripping them of authority and then you now auction them on the political market that is very sad,” he said.
“Chiefs are rulers over all people so if you force them to make partisan positions you lower the integrity of their positions.”
Traditional leaders have been largely been used as tools for political manipulation by politicians in Zambia, who are known to shower them with gifts and cash in the lead up to elections.
On his stop in Southern Province on Wednesday Mr Sata appealed to traditional leaders in the province to give him PF Members of Parliament. The province has two looming by-elections in Sinazongwe and Itezhi Tezhi (recently taken to Central Province) following the expulsion of two opposition UPND MPs Richwell Siamunene and Grayford Monde.
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