NRC, VOTERS CARDS SCAM ALERT

NRC, VOTERS CARDS SCAM ALERT

 …Bemba chief accuses govt of selective issuance

 By Mast Reporter

GOVERNMENT is segregating in the issuance of national registration cards (NRCs) and voter registration cards, Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba people of Northern Province has said.

And Senior Chief Mwamba says the Constitution reforms have been rushed and will not reflect the people’s will.

Addressing members of Parliament who paid a courtesy call on him, Senior Chief Mwamba said it was strange that both exercises were done in a segregated manner.

“Icampesha amano cakweba ati ninyenda no kusangwa kuma ceremony nasanga na bamareji balekopa na ba mavoters’ registration balelembesha ku maceremonies. But kuno takuli [what has shocked and confused me is that I have moved and attended traditional ceremonies where I have found officers issuing national registration cards and voters’ cards, but that is not being done here],” he said.

Senior Chief Mwamba said while in Monze District, Southern Province last year at a traditional ceremony, officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security were issuing NRCs and voter registration cards, something which was not happening in other areas like Northern Province.

“I visited Monze last year, eko nasangile ifyo filecitika, naisaya ku Namwala ku Southern Province nasangile filecitika. Nomba kuno eko baletupele nshiku shibili shitatu ninshi capwa. Nomba uku kumbi icilengele chinshi? Uko, batampa bena kale [I visited Monze last year, it is where I found that activity, I also went to Namwala in Southern Province it was the same. The issuance of NRCs and voters cards was ongoing. But here in Northern Province there was nothing like that, and we were only given two days to do that. What is happening?],” he wondered.

Senior Chief Mwamba said some people from Kalomo District called to find out if the NRC and voter’s card issuance was being conducted in his area like it was happening in Kalomo.

“…kwali uwantumiine ukuti shilandeniko, kuno balekopa ama reji, ninshi uko tabalekopa no kulembesha amavoters’ registration? Uwantumiine phone ekala ku Kalomo ku Southern Province. Nomba kuno ninshi cabele fi? [Someone called me asking me if I could talk about the NRCs and voters cards, saying officers were issuing them in Kalomo, when in our area, there was nothing.] That is why sometimes they think I am a mad person, I am not good because I choose to speak on behalf of the people, my subjects. That is why I am here,” Senior Chief Mwamba.

He said he was not scared to speak out on many issues affecting the people.

He said, unlike members of Parliament who could not speak out for fear of being removed, he would continue to bring out issues to those in authority.

And Senior Chief Mwamba says the constitutional amendment process falls short of the people’s will.

He said the process was being rushed and the proposed amendments did not serve the interests of the people.

The receiving of submissions in the Northern Province was not properly done.

Chief Mwamba said the process was done without prior sensitisation and publicity.

“I cannot support such a process. My subjects should have been involved, but you have left them out. They don’t even know about this committee,” Senior Chief Mwamba said.

He said there was no need to change the Constitution, urging the government to concentrate on addressing the pressing economic and social problems the country was facing.