Tue, 26 Sep 2017 10:31:43 +0000
…Govt free to attend traditional events without invitation
By Aaron Chiyanzo
ANY traditional ceremony that is seen to be divisive and promotes hatred amongst citizens risks being banned, however, government should endeavour to attend such functions even without invitation, says former UPND vice president for politics, Canisius Banda.
Dr Banda said that the traditional ceremony which Senior Chief Mukuni hosted did not belong to him alone, but was owned by his tribe and the people of Zambia.
He emphasised that a traditional ceremony should be conducted in line with the unity, peace and coexistence provisions of the republican Constitution.
Dr Banda warned that any traditional ceremony that was seen to be divisive and foments hatred amongst citizens, whose conduct was at variance with the constitution, runs the risk of proscription as it could be banned.
He told the Daily Nation that a chief should always be in the forefront to promote unity, diligence, love and the peaceful co-existence with others.
Dr Banda, who was reacting to complaints that Senior Chief Mukuni did not invite government officials and selected chiefs to the traditional ceremony held over the weekend, said that whoever holds the office of a chief should conduct themselves in accordance with the expectations of his tribe and other tribes.
“Any chief that deviates from these dictates of his office then becomes a danger not only to his people but to other tribes and himself as well.
No one should take offence at having not been invited by Senior Chief Mukuni to the ceremony of his tribe. Instead, those not invited who expected to be invited, must learn something from this gesture. Senior Chief Mukuni is telling them something,” he said.
