ZRP DEFENDS ELEVATION OF CHIEF MUKUNI TO PARAMOUNT CHIEF STATUS
ZRP DEFENDS ELEVATION OF CHIEF MUKUNI TO PARAMOUNT CHIEF STATUS
Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) President Wright Musoma has defended President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to elevate Chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people to Paramount Chief status.
Mr. Musoma says opposition political parties should not develop a culture of condemning everything done by the government simply because they are in opposition.
He argues that the elevation is not about the individual occupying the throne, but about according the Toka-Leya Chiefdom the status of a Paramount Chiefdom.
Mr. Musoma says the status will remain with the chiefdom even when the current traditional leader leaves office and is succeeded by another chief.
He further argues that traditional institutions, like kingdoms, evolve over time from villages to chiefdoms and eventually to kingdoms.
According to Mr. Musoma, elevating Chief Mukuni is particularly significant because the Toka-Leya chiefdom is situated in Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital.
He believes the move could create an additional tourism attraction by allowing visitors to experience the traditional institution and potentially visit the Paramount Chief’s palace alongside other tourist attractions such as Victoria Falls.
However, Mr. Musoma says President Hichilema must also demonstrate fairness by restoring Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda Kingdom in Luapula Province to Paramount Chief status.
He says the process of elevating Mwata Kazembe was initiated under the late President Levy Mwanawasa and should now be concluded.
Mr. Musoma has consequently urged President Hichilema to act expeditiously on the matter, arguing that having both Chief Mukuni and Mwata Kazembe recognised as Paramount Chiefs would benefit the country.
He says there should be no unnecessary controversy surrounding Chief Mukuni’s elevation, as the President has constitutional authority over the recognition and elevation of traditional leaders.