Maravi

Levy reverses cancellation of chief Mumbi’s installation

Levy reverses cancellation of chief Mumbi’s installation
By Brighton Phiri in Petauke
Sunday November 11, 2007 [03:00]

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa yesterday reversed his decision to cancel the installation of chief Mumbi of the Nsenga people of Petauke district. Eastern Province minister Charles Shawa confirmed that State House had called directing that the ceremony be cancelled. Panic gripped the organisers of the ceremony who included commerce deputy minister Dora Siliya when word went round that President Mwanawasa had directed the cancellation of the ceremony.

At the time of the phone call at 10:35 hours, Shawa was leading a government delegation to chief Mumbi’s palace.

The delegation stopped their movement towards the palace and started heading back towards Chipata when they received another phone call at 11:40 hours from State House directing the government delegation to go ahead with the ceremony.

Shawa explained that the President had made the first phone call directing the cancellation of the ceremony because of squabbles between chief Mumbi and senior chief Kalindawalo but that after realising that he was misinformed, he decided to let the ceremony go ahead.

Earlier, senior chief Kalindawalo announced that the ceremony would not take off because he had not sanctioned it and vowed not to attend.
This was after a government delegation paid a courtesy call on him urging him to rescind his decision. Senior chief Kalindawalo later decided to attend the ceremony after Shawa convinced him.

The ceremony was delayed because of the happenings. Senior chief Kalindawalo joined Shawa’s delegation at the ceremony to a cold welcome. When he was introduced, senior chief Kalindawalo said he had attended the ceremony because of the brotherhood of the Nsengas but that his differences with chief Mumbi were yet to be resolved.

Chief Nzamane of Chipata asked the Nsengas to be selfless.
He said chiefs should not be boastful and show lack of love for each other because the province would be robbed of development.
He said chieftainship should not get to their heads to the extent that they begin to fight each other. At this stage the ceremony was temporarily suspended as former senior chief Kalindawalo who was dethroned through a court ruling arrived at the ceremony to a thunderous welcome and ululations.

And chief Ndake of Nyimba called for unity among Nsenga chiefs and that all traditional leaders from Luangwa, Nyimba and Petauke should work together.

The ceremony took place at chief Mumbi’s palace.

Labels: CHIEFS, PETAUKE

posted by MrK @ 2:33 PM