STOP ENDORSING POLITICIANS
…Chief Puta says politicians stop answering calls once elected , while Chiefs gain nothing from endorsements
By Ludia Ngwadzai
SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile-speaking people in Chienge District of Luapula has questioned why some traditional leaders are openly endorsing political candidates who have shown little interest in their welfare and that of their subjects.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Mast on Sunday, Chief Puta urged fellow traditional leaders to tread carefully because chiefs derived no tangible benefit from political endorsements and risked compromising their standing and impartiality in the eyes of their subjects.
“Our position is limited, we are chiefs, there is no promotion and demotion, the people you are endorsing are the ones that are going to benefit and we will remain chiefs”, he said.
Chief Puta said several bills affecting traditional leaders had failed to progress through the House of Chiefs.
He said this was evidence that politicians lacked regard for traditional leadership and its constitutional role in national governance.
Chief Puta said traditional land must be returned to the control of traditional leadership.
He expressed concern that the current arrangement deprived chiefs of the authority they needed to serve and protect their communities effectively.
“If you see, traditional land is in the name of the President. What if you endorse the President, we vote for the him and then he sells all the land in Zambia?” he said.
Chief Puta also criticised politicians for engaging with traditional leaders only during election campaigns and treating them as instruments of political mobilisation rather than as legitimate governance institutions deserving respect and consultation.
He announced that he would not endorse any candidate in the 2026 general elections, saying he was distancing himself entirely from a practice as it was exploitative and demeaning to the institution of traditional leadership.
“These people they do change, they only respect us when they want votes from us. When they come into power, they stop answering calls,” he said.
Chief Puta said he intended to convene a meeting with the chiefs, sub-chiefs and headmen in his chiefdom to urge them to refrain from endorsing any candidate in the 2026 general elections.
He said he could only consider supporting a candidate with a compelling and credible manifesto, which directly addressed land administration concerns that remained a source of grievance for traditional leaders.
“It is not good for us Chiefs to start endorsements as at now, we don’t have to be in the forefront campaigning and announcing political support for these candidates. If someone comes with a good manifesto, I will tell my people to vote for him but for now I choose to remain silent”, he said.
Chief Puta advised fellow traditional leaders across the country to receive all candidates who go to their chiefdoms to campaign, regardless of political party affiliation.
“We are parents to all these candidates, let’s us not choose who to accommodate, let the people choose who they want. If a candidate visits my palace, I will welcome them, that is how it is supposed to be,” he said.
