Zambia Political Firestorm: Mpezeni's HH Endorsement Ignites Heated Reactions
Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people has asserted that President Hakainde Hichilema should not be removed after just five years, arguing that no leader can solve all national problems in such a period. Veteran politician Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, however, has refused to engage with Mpezeni's endorsement, likening any such discussion to debating the Pope due to the chief's respected status.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni, the revered leader of the Ngoni people, has voiced his opinion regarding President Hakainde Hichilema's tenure, stating that Zambians cannot reasonably expect to remove him from office after only five years. Mpezeni argues that no single leader could effectively address all of a nation's challenges within such a limited timeframe. When questioned about the Barotse Royal Establishment's (BRE) decision to maintain neutrality in the upcoming elections, Mpezeni emphasized that the Ngoni people operate according to their own distinct traditions and methods.
In response to Paramount Chief Mpezeni's endorsement of President Hichilema, veteran politician Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika has firmly declined to engage in discussion. Lewanika articulated that, as a matter of principle, he would not comment on the chief's stance, comparing it to discussing a highly respected religious figure like the Pope. He underscored Mpezeni's significant status as 'nkosi yama nkosi' (King of Kings) among his people, explaining that he would not participate in media discussions concerning him, thereby preserving the chief's revered position.