Who exactly is Micheelo Chizombe, and why has he suddenly developed interest in contesting for Mazabuka Central Constituency?
Mazabuka leadership is not a retirement package for political tourists. Buying a house in Mazabuka does not mean you understand Mazabuka. Staying somewhere for a few years during school does not mean you carry the daily struggles of the people.
The truth is simple: Chizombe does not stay in Mazabuka. He does not stay in Magoye either. Yes, his parents may come from there, but he himself has spent most of his life away. He only came to Mazabuka for school, stayed for about five years, and then disappeared for over 13 years. The problems the people faced then are not the same problems they face today.
This is not about youth leadership. It is about political ambition and hunger for power.
The same Chizombe reportedly wanted to contest in Kanyama but quickly realized that people there would not entertain recycled politics and political experiments. Now he has shifted focus to Mazabuka Central, assuming people here can easily be manipulated with slogans and courtroom drama.
Taking people to court does not make someone a democrat or a good leader. In many cases, it exposes intolerance and control tendencies. How can someone claim to believe in youth empowerment while remaining NACOSU chairperson for almost five years without creating room for others? He is no longer even a student, yet he still wants to dominate student leadership structures.
If he truly believes in grassroots leadership, why not go and contest in Magoye where he supposedly grew up and built relationships? Why come to Mazabuka Central and pretend to understand communities and compounds he has barely lived in?
Mazabuka is not short of capable leaders. We have sons and daughters of the soil who understand Highlanders, KLB, Hillside, Ndeke, Nakambala, and every struggle our people face daily. Leadership must come from understanding the people, not from political convenience.
Ask him simple questions:
Does he know where the studio is in Highlanders?
Does he understand the daily water challenges?
Does he know the market struggles?
Does he understand youth unemployment beyond speeches?
Mazabuka Central needs representation, not political tourism.