Thu, 14 Sep 2017 14:34:00 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
THE Lala and Swaka speaking people of Central Province are upset with Government for not attending the Ichibwela Mushi traditional ceremony which took place on Saturday, says Imbalasa Ye Lala Ne Swaka Cultural Heritage chairperson, Mambwe Ngandu.
Ms Mambwe said chiefs and the traditional leadership in province were not amused that no government official had been delegated to grace the event.
She said the gesture had sent a wrong picture that the government did not value the traditional ceremony of the Lala and Swaka in Mkushi, Luano and Serenje Districts.
Ms Mambwe said this was not the first time that government had missed to attend the ceremony and wondered if it considered the ceremony irrelevant.
“As the Lala and Swaka speaking people of Mkushi, Luano and Serenje Districts and chiefs as well as the general traditional leadership we are upset that Government did not send any official to grace the Ichibwela Mushi traditional ceremony which took place on Saturday,” she said.
She said there was need for a good road network from Mpula to Masansa via Luano to Kabwe and Mkushi Boma Chiponya to Masansa as per campaign promise by the PF.
Ms Ngandu said the area had lagged behind in many areas and yet contributed about 50 percent to the food basket in Zambia.
But Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Lawrence Sichalwe said he would probe the matter while awaiting an official report from the provincial administration office who were tasked to handle the event.
He said it was regrettable and that it may have been an oversight as most officers would have been diverted to Vice President Inonge Wina’s program who was in Itezhi Tezhi District officiating development projects.
The minister said the Permanent Secretary in his ministry had tasked the provincial office to officiate at the ceremony.
