Nice urges chiefs to be impartial

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) has asked chiefs to practise non-partisan politics as the country gears up for the 2014 Tripartite Elections. Speaking during a meeting with Mchinji district party and traditional leaders at Kamwendo on Wednesday, Nice district civic education officer Reuben Lungu said it is important that chiefs remain non-partisan. He also said chiefs should refrain from ridiculing ‘briefcase’ parties during political rallies because that could be a recipe for political violence.

“It is unfortunate that there are some chiefs who openly mock other political parties that seem too small. It is my appeal, therefore, that chiefs should guard against their remarks when given the floor during rallies” said Lungu. In her remarks, Senior Group Village Head Menyani Jere said chiefs should regard all political parties as their children. She said it becomes difficult to work with parliamentarians that have won from the ‘small’ parties since they are the ones that were being mocked by the chiefs during rallies.

“As chiefs, we need to treat all parties equally. The tendency of siding with a specific party is not good because it becomes difficult to work with a parliamentarian who has won from the other party; hence, affecting the development of the area,” she said. Her counterpart, senior group village head Chalunda, said it was unfortunate that some chiefs were the source of political violence in the previous elections due to their conduct. The meeting was, among others, aimed at discussing issues that become pertinent during elections, according to Nice.