APOLOGISE, PF TELLS HH

By AARON CHIYANZO in MungwiHAKAINDE Hichilema should take it upon himself to apologise to Paramount Chief Chitimukulu for the demeaning insults directed at him by his confidantes James Lukuku and Patrick Mucheleka.Unless such an apology was rendered, all Bemba chiefs would continue to snub him, because irreverence to one was an insult to all Bemba chiefs. PF Media Director, Sunday Chanda said in an interview yesterday, that the party was not surprised that the Chitimukulu had refused to receive the UPND leader in view of his refusal to distance himself from attacks and insults on the Supreme Bemba chief.He was reacting to Para- mount Chief Chitimukulu’s refusal to meet UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema following the letter’s refusal to denounce demeaning statements issued against the traditional leader by his alliance partner, James Lukuku and Mr Mucheleka.On Sunday Mr Hichilema was rebuffed by Chiftainess Chandamukulu for insulting language directed at the Chitimukulu. His attempts to pay homage to the chiftainess were rejected as he was deniedaudience.The traditional leader said the refusal by Mr Hichilema signified that the utterances had his blessings.Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said this when President Edgar Lungu paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mungwi.The paramount chief of the Bemba told President Lungu that Mr Hichilema had made efforts to visit him but that he refused to meet him.Mr Lukulu, who is the opposition alliance spokesperson, issued a statement alleging that the Paramount Chief was a “misplaced and wrong” chief who was on the throne illegally.Chitimukulu said NDC leader, Chishimba Kambwili, apologised for Mr Lukuku’s careless talk but Mr Hichilema ignored calls for him to do the same.“Now if Mr Hichilema believes that I am a wrong and mis- placed chief, why would he want to meet me? How does one meet a misplaced chief?” the Mwinelubemba questioned.Paramount Chief Chitimukulu however said he had been meeting other political party leaders who were campaigning for the Lukashya parliamentary by-election.And Mr Chanda said hewould not be surprised if all Bemba chiefs snubbed Mr Hichilema because of assaulting, insulting or demeaning the paramount Chief was a direct assault on all bemba speaking people.He said it was not too late to apologise.Meanwhile, UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma has said the party had taken note of the Chitimukulu’s concern but could not engage him through the press.“We respect Chitimukulu, he is our leader and we will not engage him through the press,” Mr Kakoma said.And President Lungu fumed over revelations that Constituency Development Funds for Malole had not been utilised for two years 2019 and 2020.This was after Paramount Chief Chitimukulu complained to President Lungu over the development.And President Lungu also paid a courtesy call on Chief Nkole Mfumu in Lukashya, who asked for fair share of development for his area from the Head State.