CHITIMUKULU TO BEMBAS: STOP INSULTING YOUR CHIEF ON SOCIAL MEDIA
CHITIMUKULU TO BEMBAS: STOP INSULTING YOUR CHIEF ON SOCIAL MEDIA
PARAMOUNT Chief Chitimukulu has urged Bembas to restore respect for traditional leadership and stop using social media to insult him, warning that such conduct damages the dignity of the Bemba people and the institution he represents.
The 82-year-old traditional leader said he was particularly concerned by what he described as disrespect from some young people who use social media to attack him despite his age and position as Paramount Chief of the Bemba people.
Chief Chitimukulu was speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Ng’wena Statue, where he expressed concern over what he described as a decline in respect within Ulubemba.
“There is one thing that is worrying me, one thing that lacks in Ulubemba is respect. Respect comes with respecting the chief. I am Chitimukulu, but if they see how you are insulting me… I am 82 years old,” he said in Bemba.
The traditional leader questioned why some young people expected him to engage in political debates or trade insults with them on social media.
He said his position demanded restraint, silence, prayer and diplomacy, rather than publicly responding to every criticism directed at him.
“Some people who are writing on social media- my grandchildren are even older than them, they are insulting me. They want me to be talking about politics and insulting. How can I insult? How will I be respected?” he said.
‘I CAN’T DISCUSS ISSUES PUBLICLY’
Chief Chitimukulu said his leadership approach was also influenced by the need to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive national and traditional matters.
He said when issues required discussion with Government, he preferred to seek an appointment with the Head of State rather than discuss sensitive matters in public.
“I need to have an appointment with the Head of State to resolve issues. I can’t discuss issues publicly. Should I reveal secrets to you? You can write anything, but you are destroying the Bemba tribe. It’s embarrassing,” he said.
The Paramount Chief also highlighted the international recognition he had received, citing honorary doctorates awarded to him outside Zambia.
He said the University of New Mexico conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2019, while he received another honorary doctorate in West Africa in 2020.
He further said an institution in Indonesia had honoured him as a professor two weeks before his speech, explaining that the recognition was based on his leadership rather than conventional academic qualifications.
“I am now a Professor without actual academics. What they are seeing is leadership,” he said.
CHIEF CALLS FOR CULTURE AND SELF-RESTRAINT
Chief Chitimukulu called on Zambians to turn to prayer amid the challenges facing the country, saying he believed God was ultimately responsible for redemption.
He again criticised the use of social media to attack traditional leaders and questioned whether younger people understood the experience that comes with age.
“You respect me here but insult me on social media. There’s no other chief that is insulted like the way Bembas do. Should I be following you younger ones? What experience do you have in life? Eighty-two years is not a joke,” he said.
The Paramount Chief also stressed the importance of culture and self-discipline, saying traditional values play an important role in regulating how people conduct themselves.
“We must instil culture in citizens so that they have self-restraint. Culture regulates how people live. Of course, cultural norms evolve sometimes. If there is no culture, we will be living anyhow and speaking anyhow,” he said.
PRAISE FOR KASAMA COUNCIL AND ZAMBIA ARMY
Chief Chitimukulu thanked the Kasama Municipal Council for contributing K126,000 towards the construction of the Ng’wena Statue.
He said the project demonstrated the importance of preserving Bemba culture while acknowledging that cultural practices can evolve with time.
He also commended the Zambia Army for participating in the project, saying its involvement demonstrated that the military could contribute to cultural preservation and community development.
According to the traditional leader, the relationship between traditional communities and the Army had evolved, with the institution increasingly engaging communities at the grassroots level.
Chief Chitimukulu further commended Government for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), saying the additional resources had enabled the Kasama Municipal Council to make a significant contribution towards the cultural project.
He said the council’s contribution demonstrated Government support for initiatives aimed at promoting and preserving Zambia’s cultural heritage.