Cold reception greets Rupiah at Mize

Cold reception greets Rupiah at Mize
By Lambwe Kachali, Zumani Katasefa and Mwala Kalaluka
Monday September 29, 2008 [04:00]

TRADITIONAL activities almost came to a standstill on Saturday at Mize capital in Zambezi district where the Luvale's Likumbi Lya Mize annual traditional ceremony is held when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema arrived at the main arena.

And local government deputy minister Benny Tetamashimba was yesterday jeered by a section of the crowd that attended Vice-President Rupiah Banda's rally in Kabompo's Manyinga area after he made reference to Hichilema in his address to the people.

There was stampede when Hichilema arrived at Mize, as the audience trooped to take a glimpse of him.

Hichilema, who arrived at about 16:30 hours after Vice-President Banda had left, brought all entertainment activities to a standstill as people chanted, 'we want real change, we are tired of old and grey-haired politicians. HH is the best man for Zambia'.

The stampede was worsened as the 'Makishi' masquarades pushed themselves through the crowd to greet Hichilema in a traditional dancing style, during which time a young boy was trampled upon by the crowd but was quickly rescued by police officers.

The Makishi masquarades and other individuals maintaining order had a tough time controlling a crowd of villagers that broke into political songs in praise of Hichilema immediately he arrived at Mize.

The villagers crowded around Hichilema and walked him from the main entrance to the main arena while singing praise songs.
The villagers shouted: “HH is the best man for Zambia”. They continued singing praises even as Hichilema entered the main arena and took his seat.

Earlier, Vice-President Rupiah Banda was received with a cold shoulder at the same ceremony, with some residents saying he was not a genuine leader. Senior chief Ndungu and other government leaders who were present just watched the villagers who diverted their attention from the traditional ceremony to Hichilema.

Hichilema and his entourage also had a meal at Mize palace before he left.
Speaking earlier during the ceremony which was attended by Luvale chiefs from Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, Vice-President Banda said the government desired that love and unity should continue even as Zambia goes to the polls on October 30, 2008.

“This year's celebration is special because we are launching the Makishi after it was proclaimed a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The Makishi was declared a masterpiece of humanity two years ago and awarded a diploma. I congratulate Your Royal Highness and the Luvale people for this well-earned recognition and for your rich cultural heritage,” said Vice-President Banda.

Vice-President Banda said the Likumbi Lya Mize signified the rich history and culture of the Luvale people, adding that the world had embraced the Makishi as its own heritage.
He said the government believed that the cultural sector was key to tourism and therefore occupied a place of importance in culture.

“Ceremonies of this nature are important safeguards of our cultural heritage. This is one sure way of preserving our intangible cultural heritage and encouraging the transmission of traditional knowledge to future generations if well marketed. The cultural industries will contribute to employment and tourism development,” he said.

Vice-President Banda said the government had established a national culture policy and was also reviewing the current legislation to conform to the current thinking of the rebirth of African culture and its integration into the mainstream development.

“It's worth mentioning that government has designed a comprehensive marketing strategy to market traditional ceremonies both locally and abroad. Once this marketing strategy is fully implemented, our traditional ceremonies will become focal points for economic development in the rural areas. We therefore wish to encourage Your Royal Highness to work with us as we together seek to deepen the economic importance of traditional ceremonies,” he said.

Vice-President Banda also said the MMD government endeavoured to develop North-Western Province by opening mines and thereby improving people's quality of life. He also said the government had constructed clinics in chiefs Kucheka, Nyawanda's areas and in Chinyama Litapi. He said at Kucheka, the clinic was being rehabilitated and solar panels and radio communication equipment had been installed.

Meanwhile, Hichilema has warned Zambians against voting for old politicians like Vice-President Banda and Patriotic Front president Michael Sata, saying they are engulfed by political greediness.

And addressing a big rally before proceeding to the ceremony’s main arena, Hichilema said the people of North-Western Province had been denied the required development despite the area being rich in mineral resources. He said greediness, selfishness and lack of long-term vision on the part of the current crop of politicians had made the lives of majority Zambians miserable.

He warned people against voting for Vice-President Banda and Sata, saying they had nothing tangible to offer to the poor as their main preoccupation now was to accomplish their selfish political interests. He assured North-Westerners that once elected as Republican president next month, he would make sure that they benefit from the mineral resources in the area.

“All that Rupiah and Sata want to do now is to amass wealth which they couldn't manage in both administrations of Dr Kaunda and Dr Chiluba. Be mindful that their greediness and self-centeredness has plunged you into this unacceptable poverty. I will make sure that all the mining companies in North-Western Province, some of the shares are given to the community development trust through which the royal establishment and the whole population would benefit,” Hichilema said.

“I want employment to go to the local people in the mining sector as a priority. I will make sure contracts in the mining sector go to local companies and local individuals as much as possible and where training is needed, they must be given training to provide the support that is required, including the mining professional training which is very important.

Beyond that, I would like the oil exploration expedited to ensure that the local community benefit from that, which will also make the country reduce fuel cost. We need to reduce the oil duties further so that the pump price can come down.”
Hichilema said it was sad that despite the province having so many waterfalls; residents were still grappling with electricity shortages.
Earlier, Hichilema met and greeted Vice-President Banda and his entourage at the Zambezi pontoon.

And during a public rally held at Sikufele Basic School in Manyinga yesterday, Tetamashimba - who is also Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament - said Hichilema had caused the closure of two Barclays Bank branches in Solwezi and Zimbabwe.

“How can he come and say he wants to develop the country?” Tetamashimba asked the crowd that disagreed with him by murmurs.

Tetamashimba was forced to pause for a while as the crowd kept murmuring.
When information minister Mike Mulongoti stood up to address the crowd, his first reaction was on murmurs from the people in the audience over Hichilema.

Mulongoti said: “We heard some people murmuring. When you are receiving information, you must receive this information and cross-check that information. If you receive information and you don't cross-check it, you are killing yourself.”

Mulongoti said Vice-President Banda was the best candidate for the presidency because in the two years that he served with President Mwanawasa, no controversy was heard from his office.

“He served him with loyalty, he served him with dignity,” Mulongoti said. “We need a sensible man. We need a mature man. We need a leader who will listen to you, not a leader who will insult you.”
Mulongoti said if Vice-President Banda did not do well by 2011, then Zambians could vote another political party.

And Kabompo East MMD member of parliament Ronald Mukuma, who is also labour minister, was also jeered by his own constituents when he was introduced to them by Tetamashimba. However, the crowd applauded Kabompo West MMD member of parliament Daniel Kalenga when he was introduced by Tetamashima.

And Vice-President Banda urged the people of North-Western Province to make sure they crush the head of ‘the snake’ in the forthcoming presidential poll so that it never rises again.

“Do what you did in the last elections, save the people of Zambia from the terrible fear that gripped them when they heard that the other political party I don't want to name was leading in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces,” Vice-President Banda said. “Most people were terrified because they knew that the leadership of that man would cause division.”

He said one chief he talked to in Kabompo said that they had closed themselves in-doors when they heard on radio that that leader was leading.
In an apparent reference to Sata, Vice-President Banda said the chief's family felt they were trapped in a house by a snake with red eyes.

“All the parts of this country felt the same way but fortunately the votes from this province had not been counted. When they counted the votes from here, they made sure that ‘the snake’s’ head was crushed and it will never rise again. Do it again this time. Vote properly and wisely as you have always done,” Vice-President Banda said.

He said the wise people of Zambia would not accept to be ruled by a person who talked without thinking. Vice-President Banda - who described himself as a 71-year-old farmer and former diplomat - thanked God for the long life he had given him and the good health that he kept enjoying, which he said would possibly lead him to becoming Zambia's next president.

He said as a senior citizen, his campaigns would be about himself and not about anybody else. Vice-President Banda said as a man late president Mwanawasa left behind to look after the country, he owed it to the people. He said the difference between him and other candidates in the race was that he had only three years to fulfill the mandate of the MMD.

“I am an old man and I am in a hurry to do all those things I have committed myself to in front of you. Because I am a senior citizen, because I am an old man and because I have been brought up by this country, it is my duty to leave behind a good legacy,” said Vice-President Banda. “I believe that I have the necessary experience to keep this country together, united.”
The rally was relatively attended, although mostly by children.