Govt politicizing traditional ceremonies- ZDDM

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:43:17 +0000

Traditional ceremonies should not be because these events are supposed to unit tribesmen irrespective of their political affiliation.

Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) vice president Charles Kafumbo said the PF provincial hierarchy parade at the just ended Lubinda Ntongo Traditional Ceremony of the Kaonde people in Solwezi was undermining the cultural importance of the event.

“Traditional ceremonies have been reduced to political campaign rallies by the ruling PF government, where they unveil party hierarchy in the case of what happened at the Lubinda Ntongo Ceremony on Saturday,” Mr. Kafumbo said.

He explained that if it was a real traditional ceremony, there should have been invitations sent to various political parties, and the programme should have been free from  political interference.

“Everybody should have been invited instead of just having the republican vice president Guy Scott and the provincial PF leadership,” He said.

Mr. Kafumbo added that the ceremony was meant to be a cultural get together of the various stakeholders in the country but was surprised to see the whole PF provincial leadership at the helm of the event.

Mr. Kafumbo expressed much disappointment at the organizers -Sakwa yaba Kaonde seemed to have concentrated on the political invitees instead of addressing social issues affecting the people of Solwezi and the Province at large.

“Even the vice president’s speech did not cover or discuss real issues affecting Chief Mumena’s Kingdom such as the poor road network and the various health care problems among others,” he said.

Mr Kafumbo complained that the people of Solwezi deserved to hear from government the developmental programmes planned for their area, especially that the major mining activities which directly contributed to the national economy were linked to the Northwestern province.

“We expect government to define an economic agenda for the problems on the developmental projects in the area, construction of roads, schools, a university,” he said.

Mr Kafumbo has since advised the organisers of the Sakwa yaba Kaonde and Lubinda Ntongo traditional ceremonies, including the forthcoming Likumbi Lya Mize to be professional and organise the cultural events in a manner which would bring about development for the region.

“We hope the organisers of Likumbi Lya Mize will be professional, and will focus on culture and development instead of making another political rally,” he said.

Mr Kafumbo who hails from the district has called on all Kaonde people to support the cultural events in the area.