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Mugabe, Kabila expected to grace Lwiindi ceremony

Mugabe, Kabila expected to grace Lwiindi ceremony
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Livingstone
Sunday, May 24, 2009 4:10:52 PM

PRESIDENTS Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rupiah Banda will grace this year's Lwiindi traditional ceremony of the Toka Leya people of Southern Province.

Confirming the three presidents’ expected presence at the annual traditional ceremony, chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of Kazungula and Livingstone districts in Southern Province said this was part of the unification process of the people that had similar ancestral roots.

He said the Mukuni family also had relatives in Zimbabwe who had been invited for this year's ceremony.

"In Zimbabwe Matebele North we have chiefs who are related to our dynasty, so President Mugabe is coming with those chiefs. We are uniting ourselves. Remember 7th July is Unity Day so it’s unity for bene Mukuni family,” chief Mukuni said.

Asked if presidents Kabila and Mugabe had accepted the invitations, chief Mukuni responded in the affirmative.

"In principle yes; President Mugabe and President Kabila have agreed because the invitations were actually through their chiefs who said they wanted to come with their presidents if we can facilitate here," said chief Mukuni.

Chief Mukuni’s invitation of Presidents Mugabe and Kabila follows the recent attendance at the Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province in February this year by then president-in-waiting of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, at the invitation of President Banda.

In 2007, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, his Mozambican counterpart Armando Guebuza and the late president Levy Mwanawasa graced the Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique which is annually held at Mkaika palace of Paramount chief Undi in Katete district in Eastern Province.

In 2008, DRC Katanga region governor Moses Katumbi attended the Mutomboko traditional ceremony of the Lunda people of Luapula Province at Mwata Kazembe's village, Kazembe, in Mwansabombwe.

Labels: CEREMONIES, JOSEPH KABILA, LWIINDI, MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 3:13 PM