Shimunenga organisers sideline Chizyuka
Shimunenga organisers sideline ChizyukaBy Allan Mulenga and George Zulu in Namwala
Monday October 20, 2008 [04:00]
CONFUSION reigned on Saturday at the official opening of Shimunenga traditional ceremony of the Ila people of Namwala district when the organising committee and senior government officials sidelined Namwala UPND member of parliament Major Robby Chizyuka.
Maj Chizyuka, who was spotted around 10:00 hours at the Shimunenga shrine (Kukonkaula) performing dances alongside other guests, was conspicuously missing from the list of speakers at the ceremony in Maala.
When the procession moved to headman Kande’s village, a custodian of Shimunenga ceremony around 11:00 hours where speeches were delivered, people wondered why Maj Chizyuka was not among the list, thereby causing concern among the crowd which included the Maala Cultural Group.
Later the cultural group started singing praise songs for Maj Chizyuka, whilst charging towards the high table where the guest of honour, presidential affairs minister Cecil Holmes, was seated.
The move sparked anxiety prompting Namwala District Commissioner Eunice Nawa to order the cultural group to move in front of the high table and stop singing about Maj Chizyuka.
In an interview soon after the incident, Maj Chizyuka accused the organising committee and senior government officials of politicising the ceremony.
Maj Chizyuka complained that the committee which comprised government district officials deliberately overshadowed his presence at the ceremony.
“They (organising committee) have been working with senior government officials at the district to avoid me because they are scared of the political battle that I have mounted upon the MMD,” he said. “But the funny thing is that my people did not get carried away by their action. They continued singing praises for me because they have seen what I have done in the area,” he said.
Maj Chizyuka described the act by Nawa as ‘stupid and obnoxious,’ saying as a civil servant, she was not supposed to engage in politics.
“I wonder what she was thinking to act in such a manner because I understand she went there to attend the ceremony in her capacity as DC and I was there as an MP,” said Maj Chizyuka.
And Holmes noted that it was wrong for the organising committee to ignore the area member of parliament at such an important function, saying despite coming from an opposition party, he was the custodian of developmental activities taking place in the area.
“I expected that before I deliver my speech, the area member of parliament would say something. But I am surprised that he has been denied a chance of talking to the people. Therefore, I urge the organising committee to consider him on the programme next year as he is an important person in the development of this area,” said Holmes.
And when contacted for a comment, Shimunenga district organising committee coordinator Patrick Kalaluka expressed ignorance over the matter.
“I don’t know what happened and I cannot comment about the matter,” said Kalaluka.
Labels: ROBBY CHIZYUKA
posted by MrK @ 2:43 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home