Maravi

Muteteka warns people provoking Solis, Lenjes

Muteteka warns people provoking Solis, Lenjes
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 01 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT

THOSE provoking the Soli and Lenje people may not properly settle in Lusaka, says Moses Muteteka.

During a special indaba on the controversial proposed development project of the burial site of senior headman Mwalusaka, after whom the capital city Lusaka is named, Muteteka, who is Lenje and member of parliament for Chisamba Constituency, advised the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) and Chita Lodge to heed the position senior chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamba II of the Soli people and senior chieftainess Mungule of the Lenje had taken that the proposed development must not take place at the site.

"I am not speaking as local government deputy minister but I am speaking as a pure Lenje. I am happy that as part of the blood, I am also in the government. So I will help my government to clarify this issue and I will also help my royal highnesses to understand this issue and one day they will speak out and chiefs must be respected," Muteteka said during a public hearing on January 24, 2011 in Nakatindi Hall at Lusaka City Council.

Muteteka demanded that outsiders must respect the original inhabitants of Lusaka.

"Further, I want to make reference to what is happening in Barotse Royal Establishment. This is how things start. And if you provoke the Lenjes and the Solis here in the capital city, you may not even settle here properly. We are also people who can be upset," Muteteka said.

"We are human beings but please respect each other. As much as we will respect your tradition, if you come from where there are elders, we also have them as you can see them seated there."

Mwalusaka and his people were inhabitants of an area covering present-day National Assembly, Manda Hill Shopping Complex and the entire Olympia Park suburb. The name Lusaka was derived from Mwalusaka. When developments started, Mwalusaka villagers were relocated to Mungule chiefdom in Chibombo district in Central Province. However, the graveyard of Mwalusaka and some of his people was preserved.

Over the years, several human skeletons have been excavated at the site and the NHCC planned to set up a site museum.

In 2008, the NHCC signed a lease agreement with Chita lodge to develop the area, a move that infuriated senior chieftainess Nkomeshya, chieftainess Mungule and Lenjes that want the burial site to remain sacred.

Former vice-chairperson of the Anti Corruption Commission, Christine Mulundika, a great granddaughter of Mwalusaka, demanded that NHCC aborts its plans to lease her ancestors' burial site.

And Chita Lodge's James Chungu said in developing the historic site, he would want to respect and portray the history of Lusaka and the Soli people.

Chungu said he had not started developing the site because he was still in discussions with NHCC.

Labels: CHIEFS, MOSES MUTETEKA

posted by MrK @ 6:56 PM