(TMES) RB winds up Chipata visit

RB winds up Chipata visit
By Times Reporter

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday wound up his four- day visit of Chipata where he had gone to grace this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni. The president who graced this year’s ceremony together with a special guest, African National Congress (ANC) party president, Jacob Zuma left Chipata Airport for Lusaka at 12:00 hours aboard a Zambian Air Force (ZAF) plane.

Mr Banda who was accompanied by his wife Thandiwe was seen off at the airport by Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda, Permanent Secretary, Eularia Syamujaye and Lusaka Province Minister, Lameck Mangani including other senior Government and MMD party officials.

During his stay in Chipata, the president had two separate private meetings with Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa at his palace in Katete and together with Mr Zuma called on Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni at the Laweni before proceeding to the ceremony at the main arena at Mthenguleni

During the ceremony, President Banda and Mr Zuma unveiled a statue of a Ngoni warrior, which was erected in the middle of the arena.

Chipata Municipal Council conferred Mr Zuma, who was accompanied by a prince and a princess to King Zwilitine of the Zulu in South Africa, including some Zulu Impis, with an honorary award of free man of Chipata.

The award was bestowed on him in recognition of his tireless sacrifice, contribution to humanity including the role he played during the struggle for liberation of South Africa.

The ANC leader who arrived in Chipata on Saturday morning returned to South Africa the same evening.