Maravi

Sikota urges inclusive commemoration of Heroes, Unity days

Sikota urges inclusive commemoration of Heroes, Unity days
Written by Agness Changala and Mwala Kalaluka
Monday, July 06, 2009 12:04:17 PM

VETERAN politician Sikota Wina yesterday said freedom fighters in the country’s rural areas have been left out in the commemoration of Heroes and Unity days. And a former councillor in the UNIP days, Patrick Makukisi, also complained that Heroes and Unity days have been turned into an event for the urban-based freedom fighters.

Wina said in an interview that it was extremely important to re-organise the commemoration of the days to encompass the rural liberators because they were the true freedom fighters and owners of the struggle.

“Let the celebration go to the people in rural areas because it belongs to the nation,” Wina said. “I was so touched when I went to Ghana to see the change of currency and they were using Nkwame Nkhrumah’s portrait on its currency as a sign of tribute, when most of them seem to have forgotten these most important events.”

Wina said as Zambia celebrates Heroes Day today, it was important for the leadership to enhance service delivery to the people for the country to continue to be peaceful.

He noted that Zambia was one of the few countries that had not experienced any trauma of bloodshed since its independence as a result of peace. Wina also said it was a wonderful thing to celebrate the day because Zambia was renewing its dream of a united nation and delivering the promises of its founding fathers.

And Makukisi, who witnessed the forced relocation of the Tonga-speaking people from the Gweembe Valley to pave way for the construction of the Kariba Dam, said rural-based freedom fighters had not been sufficiently recognised and considered.

“We have Heroes and Unity days for the haves and the have-nots have nothing in terms of recognition for the job well-done of liberating the country,” Makukisi said from his base in Siavonga’s Lusitu area. “My observation is that there should be consideration and recognition of those people who fought, not only those in town. Those in town are just political.”

Makukisi, who is now a senior advisor to chief Chipepo of Siavonga, said there were some rural-based freedom fighters that were wallowing in poverty despite losing their limbs during the liberation struggle.

“There is one old man in Siavonga who lost his legs during the fight for independence and I want the government to support him with a wheelchair or something else,” he said. “The rural people must be considered ...”

Makukisi said the people in his area gave up their land to pave way for the construction of the Kariba Dam before the country’s independence from Britain, but had not benefited from that displacement.

“Up to now, we are languishing in poverty,” said Makukisi, a former Zambia Air Force officer.

Labels: HEROES DAY, NATIONAL UNITY DAY, PATRICK MAKUKUSI, SIKOTA WINA

posted by MrK @ 11:06 AM