Maravi

Vera avoids shaking hands with Chiluba, Regina

Vera avoids shaking hands with Chiluba, Regina
By Christopher Miti and Chibaula Silwamba in Mtenguleni
Wed 03 Mar. 2010, 04:30 CAT

VERA Chiluba Tembo on Saturday avoided shaking hands with her former husband Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina at Mpezeni's temporal residence Laweni when the former head of state went to pay a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Ngoni people.

And Vice-President George Kunda said Zambian languages and customs are under threat because of modern technology. Meanwhile, Mpezeni has suspended the Lusaka Nc'wala Ceremony Organising Committee for allegedly leaking information that South African President Jacob Zuma and President Rupiah Banda would not attend this year's Nc'wala traditional ceremony.

Vera, who is also environment and natural resources deputy minister, was among senior government and MMD officials that queued to welcome dignitaries at Laweni, a temporal house where Mpezeni stays two nights before, during and immediately after the Nc'wala traditional ceremony.

As Chiluba and Regina approached the Laweni yard, Vera quickly stepped out of the queue and joined the Ngoni Impis who were singing and dancing on the other side of Laweni.

After Chiluba and Regina greeted the officials, met Mpezeni and left the Lewani, Vera returned to the queue and welcomed other dignitaries who were going to pay courtesy call on the Paramount Chief.

When Vice-President Kunda arrived at Laweni, Vera got an animal-skin-made Ngoni traditional headdress and dressed it on the Vice-President's head.

When approached later at the Nc'wala main arena for an interview to explain about what happened at Laweni, Vera refused, saying: “Tawelela mwambo kuno. Mwauona mwambo. We have come for the ceremony. You have seen the ceremony.”

And Vice-President Kunda observed that Zambia's languages and oral traditions were under threat because some parents were failing to teach their children to use them.

“As parents, we must ensure that the television, internet and other media teach our children our traditional and culture and heritage,” Vice-President Kunda said.

He said the government valued the role that chiefs and other traditional rulers played in safeguarding the country's cultural heritage.

“It is this cultural norms and practices which define our identity as a people. I must take this opportunity to assure your royal highnesses Inkosi-yamankosi and other royal highnesses in Zambia that we in the MMD government shall continue to give respect to their royal highnesses,” said Vice-President Kunda.

And Mpezeni, speaking through Rasford Ngoma, commended President Rupiah Banda and his government for sustaining the economy despite the global economic crisis.

He urged the people and the governments of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to take advantage of the growth triangle initiative.

“This is a good idea,” Mpezeni said.
He said Eastern Province is a major agricultural producing area and had great potential for being the bread basket for Zambia provided the government continued with good policies to support the agricultural sector.

Mpezeni asked the government to upgrade the Great East Road into a dual-carriage way to cope with the anticipated increased vehicles in view of the commissioning of the Zambia-Malawi railway line, which is expected to be done soon.

Mpezeni said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) must buy all farm produce.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony, Mpezeni announced that the Lusaka Nc'wala Ceremony Organising Committee headed by Ruskin Jere had been replaced by a new committee to be headed by Meanwood's Robinson Kaleb Zulu and would be helped by Rasford Ngoma.

According to sources close to Mpezeni, the committee was suspended following a statement by a self-proclaimed Ngoni elder Rabson Jere that President Zuma was not coming for the ceremony despite being invited.

The source said Jere's statement angered Mpezeni and other Ngoni chiefs.

Mpezeni suspected that the information about President Zuma's failure to attend the ceremony was leaked by the Lusaka Nc'wala Ceremony Organising Committee hence his decision to suspend it.

President Banda did not attend the ceremony because he is in China for a state visit until March 4, 2010.

Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, REGINA CHILUBA, VERA CHILUBA

posted by MrK @ 7:14 PM