Unity essential to national development

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 17:33:21 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA
UNITY among the people is an essential element for facilitating sustained development in the nation, says Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister Lawrence Sichalwe.
Mr Sichalwe said there was need to promote cultural and traditional values which were the core foundation on which each and every nation was built.
He said culture was a unifying factor that had always brought together people from all walks of life.
He said Zambians must proudly guard their cultural heritage and use it as a vessel that offered a unique identity as a nation.
“A nation without culture or tradition is a dead one; that is why it is important as Zambians to jealously and proudly guard our cultural heritage and use it as a vessel that offers a unique identity that we can exploit and market the world over our economic benefit,” he said.
Mr Sichalwe was speaking during the fundraising dinner dance for the upcoming Kazanga traditional ceremony of the Nkoya speaking people of Kaoma’s Western province.
The Minister reiterated that traditional ceremonies did not only remind people about where they were coming from but also played an important role of fostering unity among the people.
He said the government had always provided both moral and logistical support as it valued and cherished the culture and traditional heritage.
Mr Sichalwe said his ministry also had proactively engaged and supported all activities that promoted Zambian cultures and traditional affairs.
And Kazanga Cultural Association Chairperson Laytone Kaushiku appealed to corporate world to continue to be apportioning sponsorship to traditional ceremonies across the country, he said was imperative because it enhanced development in various chiefdom.
Mr Kaushiku said all was set for the ceremony to be held on July 2 and 3, at Mangongi royal village in Kaoma.
He said traditional ceremonies were important platforms for development because they provided opportunities for chiefs and policy-makers to interact and exchange ideas of mutual benefit.