Villagers besiege Salima DCs office, hold vigil

Dozens of villagers on Monday  besieged the Salima district commissioner’s office and were holding a vigil in a bid to dethrone their chief Kuluwunda.

District Commissioner Rodney Simwaka confirmed the villagers were holding a vigil at his office.

“They say they want to remove their chief from her throne but that is not the way to do it. As government we initiated the process of dialogue and the process is underway,” he said.

He said Local Government Minister Kondwani Nakhumwa will be leading a negotiation team from Capital Hill on Tuesday.

“They should leave these matters to us, they should let the government tackle this issue,” he said.

The villagers looking determined and unfazed say they will camp at the office until the lady chief is removed.

They accuse her of corruption and dictatorial tendencies, allegations she has denied.