We would like to highly commend and appreciate Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speking people for inviting the King of Barotseland to officiate at this year’s Ukusefya Pang’wena Traditional Ceremoy as guest of honour.
From time immemorial, traditional ceremonies have been used by the politicians as platforms to advance their causes……to do politics and mobilise support. This is so wrong! As opposed to rolling red carpets before desperate politicians to allow them do their bidding; this should be a time for people to put their differences aside and come together and celebrate in the spirit of our motto, “One Zambia, One Nation!”
For instance, what has transpired in Lundazi, Eastern province, where former president Edgar Lungu was invited by the Kunda speaking people to grace their Malaila traditional ceremony is very unfortunate. The former president was showered with insults and expletives…..almost lynched in fact, as some patrons demanded that he vacates the place.
“Your time is up as president!” incensed voices could be heard shouting. “Leave immediately…”
There would have been chaos save for quick intervention by the police. We would like to call upon our traditional leaders to resist the temptations of inviting politicians to such important ceremonies which are meant to unify our people. Please, let us allow our people to celebrate in peace and harmony as opposed to being divided on political lines.
Prince Bill M Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst
This is is indeed historic and very progressive and it must be encouraged and done more often. It is a watershed moment which could go a long way in curbing the stoneage tribalism, perhaps more powerful than the lame political platitudes we see from our selfish political leaders. Well done to both Chitimukulu and the Litunga!
Bo Kayama, tribalism is a baby of failed politician. Otherwise, what exists on the ground is peace and harmony as can be seen by intermarriages. Favouritism, on the other hand, according to Sata, is a result of not having enough jobs etc.
I find the article disrespectful to the Chitmukulu, both are paramount chiefs and as such King’s, so if the writter must refer to one as King then he must refer to the other as king as well.
Mate stop being so touchy and negative all the time… I believe the “King” is a direct translation of the “Litunga” as used by this writer. It was never intended to be the comparison of who is more important than the other as you want to insinuate here. He says “King of Barotseland” which means how he is called or viewed by own his own people. I hope that helps.
Historically the “Litunga” was actually the first ‘King’ to preside over a universally known Kingdom as viewed and bestowed in the modern nation, state interpretation. Barotseland was given an autonomous Kingdom. But forget that stuff and just rejoice in this historical moment.
These titles were created by the colonialists by using certain parameters such as size of chiefdom, how the traditional leader negotiated with the white people. Otherwise Imfumu is Bemba and can mean both King and Chief.
Yeah stop over-examining the little thorns on the path when we have giant mountains ahead to climb. The Litunga is a title just as the Chitimukulu is a title. King arises from our having adopted the English language for communication. We shouldnt bother about the semantics
@ Deja Vu “Chief” was a title imposed on our rulers by the colonisers to differentiate them from European leadership titles of Prime Minister, President, King fimofimo.
Since we have chosen to adopt these titles perhaps the house of chiefs or parly should debate the issue.
Ba wesu, ca kutotela. This is the way Zed should be rolling.
The article is not about the meeting of these two great traditional leaders but about this man’s hatred for Edgar Lungu. I have watched videos on Edgar’s visit at the Kulamba, nowhere is Edgar insulted. This man’s hatred is too deep. In any case did he attended anyone of these ceremonies? Simultaneously?
If we can put Politics aside and stop listening to bazungu who’s main agenda is to steal our minerals then we can develop our country….lets
Unfortunately Politicians are controlled by imperialist who want to divide us so that they can come in and steal our minerals….imagine Political parties becoming sworn enemies…..and useless ambassadors meddling in our affairs…..WE SHOULD UNITE AS ZAMBIANS AND STOP CALLING OTHER TRIBES AS ” A CLIQUE OF THIEVES” to impress Bazungu…and by the way copper( from Zambia)destined for China has gone missing in Durban
Who was the exporter of that copper?
My heart ached when I saw the main road in NWP full of sand yet this is the province where precious minerals are mined.
This is an important gesture and can be seen as unifying the country and away from rhetoric politics. It should be like, traditional leaders taking the lead in such event and keep the politicians away. At lease we will be witnessing some sanity on the traditional leaders tend to engage themselves in the manner. Well done.
I feel good my mother hate lozis despite myself marrying a lozi lady but this act by Chitimukulu will go along way uniting Old folks (lozis and Bembas)
On one hand people are promoting unity and advancing, and healing the nation (Lozis and Bembas) on the other hand one politician is fighting the other and dividing the nation. Shame!!! Ati wakulekafye!
Like that Mambwe District Commissioner who ordered the not to stop Upnd cadres who wanted to assault Edgar Lungu.
Correct me if I am wrong. I thought removal of carders is one the things that has been highlighted as an achievement in the last two years of being in power. So then, where did those carders come from to destabilize the Malaila traditional ceremony? Carders don’t just appear from thin air, to distalbilise such an important gathering. There was planning, they met and objectives and instructions were given. If the party want to be taken seriously with the so called banning of carders, party leadership at highest level must summon those involved. Videos are there so it should not be difficult to know who was involved. Punish those involved, use them as an example then the nation will know you’re serious.
Indeed well done your royal highness, you gesture will go along way in braking the barriers that may have emerged. Solid leadership you have exhibited, your name and action will be immortalised in song and dance by people of both kingdoms. Long may you reign.
They should have lynched Mataware Jameson Lungu, ka mambara kaja kazisunge!
@ Kaunjami
You sound very ignorant and retarded…you need help
…
Chief chitimukulu is now rightly acting like a senior Chief instead of a paid PF cader as was the case under lungu…………
For your information the founder of PF Michael Sata had refused to recognize Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu. When Sata kicked the bucket all presidential candidates including HH made it a campaign point….to recognize Mr Sosala as Chitimukulu.
@ Spaka you need to grow up my friend….RESIST HATE….thats all I can say to you
I;ve previously told you Spaka is a retarded tribalist. Right now he is unhappy that two of Zambia’s biggest tribes are coming together. He’d rather see tribal warfare for he thinks thats when his ambitions can be fulfilled-as a tribalist leader. Most tribalists dont see a future within republican objectives because they are too narrowly focused
I know the truth hurts……..
But it is true,………
chitimukulu was very devisive under lungu, even refusing to meet the opposition……….
While positing truly tribal posts………
@Kanjimaano
No idea who the exporter is but it has been recovered and 3 foreign nationals have been arrested in South Africa….(foreign nationals in South Africa)…copper sheets valued at 6 million rands
“Chief” was a title imposed on our rulers by the colonisers to differentiate them from European leadership titles of Prime Minister, President, King fimofimo. Since we have chosen to adopt these titles perhaps the house of chiefs or parly should debate the issue.
IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, WHAT ROLES DO TRADITIONAL RULERS SERVE APART FROM FOSTERING TRIBALISM?
ARE THEY NOT AN ANACHRONISM?
EVEN IN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF ZAMBIA, THEY SEEM TO ONLY HAVE RESIDUAL OR TOKEN POWERS AT BEST.
ALL POWERS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF ZAMBIA ARE VESTED IN DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PERSONS.
ONE WOULD ARGUE THAT IF TRADITIONAL RULERS WERE DONE AWAY WITH, YHE CANCER OF TRIBALISM WOULD GRADUALLY WITHER AWAY IN THE LONG TERM!
ABOVE, I SHOULD HAVE SAID MOST, RATHER THAN ALL, POWERS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF ZAMBIA ARE VESTED IN DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PERSONS.
CONSENTS OF CHIEFS ARE STILL REQUIRED FOR INSTANCE IN THE ACQUISTION OF MINING RIGHTS (LICENCES)
There is one important factor in all this. This is happening under the rule of HH. It is not by accident or coincidence. Tule tasha. HH is trying
They will still call them manyukunyuku or bañete when they get back to the plains!!