GBM pledges K50m to N'cwala ceremony
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 25 Dec. 2012, 12:00 CAT
DEFENCE minister Godfrey Mwamba has pledged to give Ngoni's K50 million as they seek K600 million to host next year's N'cwala tradition ceremony.
Speaking when he officiated at the annual N'cwala golf tournament held at Chainama golf club on Sunday evening, Mwamba said the government wanted to see successful hosting of the traditional ceremonies.
"President Michael Sata has taken keen and personal interest in building mutual relationships with our traditional leaders cutting across the breadth of this country," Mwamba said. "The initiative taken by the N'cwala national organising committee to raise funds towards the successful hosting of the N'cwala ceremony in 2013 is commendable. I am aware that the budget is K600 million and I wish to urge all business houses to please support the venture by donating generously to when called upon."
Mwamba also said the government would execute President Sata's directive to upgrade infrastructure at Mtenguleni palace which hosts N'cwala.
And chairman for N'cwala national organising committee Noel Nkhoma said Ngonis expected a repeat of last year's feat which saw over 1, 500 persons attend the ceremony in Chipata.
"Our budget is around K600 million which a large portion will go towards infrastructural development at the Mtenguleni arena, most especially the access roads and building permanent and modern toilet facilities," Nkoma said. "Last year, we had over 1,500 people converge for the ceremony and this coming year, we expect well over that number and as such, a lot of resources will be required for the event."
Nkoma said Ngonis were happy about government's plan need to upgrade facilities at Mtenguleni.
"I wish to urge the government to quickly fulfil the presidential directive on the works at Mtenguleni Arena before the next ceremony," said Nkoma.
The tournament was sponsored by among other companies Samsung Technologies, Aupie Group, LaFarge Cement, Parmalat Zambia, MultiChoice Zambia, Southern Sun Ridgeway, Euro-Africa Bus Services for the support towards raising the required prize money.
Over 150 golfers participated at this event which targeted to raise K50 million and was attended by chief Madzimawe and Chainama Golf club chairman Chriticles Mwansa.
In team category, Ease Concepts won first prize at 114 points, Zambia Army was second at 102 points while Euro Africa was third at 98 points.
In individual category, Davy Njobvu won with 39 points, Mackson Mbale was second at 38 points while Veronica Mpheneka was third at 38 points.
Labels: GBM, NC'WALA
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Moosa commends Sata's advice to chiefs Nzamane, Madzimawe
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 07 Feb. 2012, 12:59 CAT
FORMER Petauke district council chairperson Osman Moosa says every chief should be concerned with President Michael Sata's warning letters to senior chief Nzamane and chief Madzimawe over the alleged threats on Paramount Chief Mpezeni for supporting calls to remove former president Rupiah Banda's immunity.
Commenting on the alleged impasse that had ravaged the Ngoniland and the subsequent warning letters from President Sata to the two traditional leaders, Moosa, the immediate past MMD Nyika ward councillor, commended President Sata on his advice to the two chiefs for their alleged threats on the paramount chief.
"Every chief should be touched with the contents of those letters. They should never think it's only for Ngonis. The letters are from the Republican President and it's law. May I appeal to my chiefs in Petauke to love each other and move forward as a team for the development of the district," Moosa said.
He said he would be a sad person to see any of the traditional leaders in Petauke having their recognition as chiefs withdrawn.
"Remember law is law and it should be respected all the time," said Moosa.
Recently, Paramount Chief Mpezeni supported countrywide calls to have Banda's immunity removed.
But few days later, President Sata warned senior Nzamane and chief Madzimawe to stop intimidating the paramount chief over his comments following reports that the two traditional leaders were allegedly inciting subjects against Mpezeni.
President Sata has since written warning letters to the two traditional leaders over the matter although they both denied the allegations.
Armed police officers were also deployed at the Paramount Chief Mpezeni's palace.
Meanwhile, the MMD in Eastern condemned what it termed ‘politicisation' of the traditional leadership.
The Ngonis are currently preparing for the annual Nc'wala traditional ceremony that will be held at the end of this month.
Labels: CHIEF MADZIMAWE, CHIEF NZAMANE, CHIEFS, MICHAEL SATA, NC'WALA, NGONI, OSMAN MOOSA, PETAUKE
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Zuma won’t attend Nc’wala ceremony, says Ngoni elder
By Sututu Katundu
Fri 12 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
A NGONI elder Lidoda Rabson Jere of Mfumbe in chief Nzamane’s kingdom has expressed delight that this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony will not be marred by politics. In an interview yesterday, Jere said reports that South African President Jacob Zuma would grace the occasion were not true as he had turned down invitations sent to him.
“Whatever was reported by chief Madzimawe in the press has no truth in it. Zuma can’t come. He is not scheduled to come to Zambia anytime this month,” he said.
Jere said even President Rupiah Banda would not attend the ceremony as he had other programmes to attend to and seeing that this was not an election year, he would only attend next year.
“I am happy that this year’s Nc’wala ceremony will be free of political interference. Last year’s was overshadowed by political interference. Zuma gave a long speech and the people were not happy. He just came to campaign for his foreign policy,” said Jere. “Even Banda knows very well because this is not an election year, he will come in 2011.”
The Nc’wala traditional ceremony organising committee recently said they had invited President Zuma and King Mswati III of Swaziland to grace this year’s ceremomny.
Labels: CHIEF NZAMANE, JACOB ZUMA, LIDODA RABSON JERE, NC'WALA
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Nc’wala ceremony: the historic annual event
Written by Christopher Miti and Chibaula Silwamba in Chipata
Monday, March 09, 2009 10:59:11 AM
THE Ngoni people of eastern Zambia trace their origins from the Zulu people of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa.
It is for this reason that this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province will go in the archives as a historic annual event that brought together these people and their relatives that remained in KwaZulu Natal Province, during the time of fierce tribe fights that led to formation of breakaway tribes and northward migrations.
Historians note that the Ngoni people, who are believed to be the descendents of the Zulu people of South Africa, after their ancestors broke away from Shaka Zulu, the great warrior ruler of the Zulu people, in about 1817.
It is believed that after being defeated by Shaka Zwangendaba left with a few of his followers northwards to present-day Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.
Zwangendaba established his empire using the Zulu war techniques to conquer the tribes he found, after which he integrated those people into his Ngoni tribe.
However, after Zwangendaba's death in 1848 in Tanzania near Lake Tanganyika at a place called Songeya, there were succession disputes that led to the formation of at least five breakaway groups that went in different directions with their followers and settled in various countries.
Zwangendaba’s son, chief Mtaiven went to Kenya, Mbwelwa went to Malawi, Zulu-Gama remained in Tanzania while Mpezeni went and conquered the Bemba land in Zambia before making his way to Chipata, formerly Fort Jameson, where he and his Ngoni group settled.
After conquering the Bemba people, the Bemba chief gave Mpezeni a woman to be his wife who gave birth to Mwamba, who subsequently became one of the chiefs for the Bemba people.
It is this attachment that created the cousinship between the Ngonis and the Bemba.
After settling in Chipata, Paramount Chief Mpezeni – whose actual name is Nsingo - continued with the Ngoni militancy and fiercely fought the white colonialists.
However, the British colonial government soldiers finally managed to kill Nsingo.
Despite leaving the ancestral land in South Africa many years ago, the Ngonis of Eastern Zambia have maintained some of the cultural practices of their Zulu ancestors and of course there is a minor similarity in their dialect.
But over the years, the link between the Ngonis of Zambia and Zulus of South Africa has not been tight.
It is for this reason, that Paramount Chief of the Ngoni people, fondly called Inkhosi Yama Nkhosi Mpezeni, decided to invite South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zuma, who is a Zulu.
Without any hesitation, Zuma, popularly called Msholozi – his Zulu family name - agreed to be the guest of honour at the 29th annual Nc’wala traditional ceremony held in Mtenguleni on February 28.
The Nc’wala is a thanksgiving ceremony to God for good rains and abundant harvest. The farm produce are given to Inkhosi yama Nkhosi.
In fact this is the 29th year since the Ngoni re-introduced the Nc’wala tradition ceremony in 1980 after it was banned by the white colonialists because of the Ngonis’ perceived militancy in their practices.
Announcing the invitation of Zuma to the traditional ceremony, “…Zuma will visit Zambia on 28th February 2009 to attend the Nc’wala ceremony of the Ngoni people. He will attend at the invitation of His Excellency President Rupiah Banda and His Royal Highness Nkhosi yamaNkhosi Paramount Chief Mpenzeni of the Ngoni people.”
The ANC further stated that Zuma’s attendance would serve to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Zambia and South Africa, and promote tourism and social interaction.
“Zambia has a special place in South African history as the country generously hosted and supported South Africa's liberation movement. The ANC had its headquarters in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, during its years in exile,” stated the ANC.
And Zuma arrived in Zambia via the Mfuwe International Airport on Saturday morning and flew to Chipata Airport where Ngoni warriors, President Banda, senior government officials, and ordinary people gathered to welcome the iconic leader of South Africa, who spent many years in Zambia during that country’s liberation struggle.
When Zuma arrived, the Ngoni warriors clad in animal skins,and holding knobkerries and shields performed their ground thumping dance while bare-breast women clapped.
Isaac Banda, who is Eastern Province minister, welcomed Zuma in a few words: “You are within your own home. We welcome you; feel free, mingle with us, we need to dine with you on the same table just like we did before we came here in the 1800s.”
Zuma described his visit here as a homecoming and expressed his happiness for the warm welcome and the opportunity to attend the Nc’wala.
Zuma told the gathering: “… Coming to the eastern part of Zambia where the Ngoni peoples are it is again another homecoming to see what I usually see at home, a traditional way that you are wearing.”
Zuma came with the son and daughter of King Goodwill Zwelentini of the Zulu people in South Africa, and two of his children.
President Rupiah Banda said: “[They are here to] come and see where some of their people are in Africa and that is why we are really pleased about this.”
After Zuma was honoured, President Banda said the Ngoni people had not forgotten where they came from, KwaZulu Natal Province, where Zuma also comes from.
“President Zuma, you can see on our faces how happy we are to be able to bestow upon you this freedom of the place where your people when they first came to this country decided to settle in Chipata. They settled here,” said President Banda, who is Ngoni on his maternal side and Chewa on paternal side. “I am proud to say that they never forgot where they came from. They know exactly who you are; they know what you have done.”
Zuma said: “Thank you very much for this honour, I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
Immediately after that ceremonial function, Zuma and President Banda left the civic centre in a presidential convoy to Laweni, a few metres from the arena of the Nc’wala, to pay a courtesy call on Mpezeni who set for this year’s spectacular tradition ceremony that attracts thousands of people from within and outside Zambia.
After meeting Paramount Chief Mpezeni, the two leaders proceeded to the arena to wait for the Ngoni chief to come and start the ceremony.
Indeed the presence Zuma and President Banda added prominence to the already eminent ceremony.
The actual ceremony started just after 12:00 hours.
A group Impis or Ngoni warriors clad in animal skin and wielding spears, knobkerries and shields entered the arena from Laweni in a spectacular manner to the delight of the gathering.
Zuma and President Banda were seen nodding their heads, acknowledging the wonderful performance of the Ngoni warriors.
The arrival of the Ngoni warriors signifies that the owner of the land, Inkhosi Yama Nkhosi Mpezeni, is on his way to the arena for the Nc’wala.
Indeed, a few minutes later Mpezeni, who was clad in a lion skin, made his way into the arena with a large group of bare-breasted women and militant Ngoni warriors.
Mpezeni, with tight security of his warriors, walked round the arena while waving his shield, spear and knobkerrie in the air towards his people.
After walking around, Mpezeni went to take his royal ceremonial seat in the shed. Beside him several Ngoni warriors guarded him.
Two Ngoni Impis, Lasam Zimba popularly known as Bafana bafana Pasha Manene and headman Kampala took to the stage to shower praises on Mpezeni in deep Ngoni dialect.
After that Zuma and President Banda unveiled a statue of Mpezeni that was erected this year at the arena.
A statue, which is about five meters tall and made of cement, shows Mpezeni in a militaristic mood while carrying a spear and shield.
As the two leaders unveiled the statue, the Ngonis broke into ululation and shouts: “Nkhosi yama Nkhosi! Bayethye Nkhosi!”
Thereafter, Ngoni dancers from various areas started performing their dances for the rulers, Zuma and President Banda.
To crown it all the Impis from Zululand, who came with Zuma, gave an outstanding performance and traditional choreography.
People pushed one another to try and see the traditional dancers’ in action.
In his address to the visitors and of course his people, Mpezeni, speaking through Nc’wala organising committee chairman General Adam Chongwe, said he was delighted that Zuma had made it to the annual ceremony.
Mpezeni appealed to Zuma that if he becomes the president of South Africa after the April 22 elections, he should consider cultural exchanges between Zulus in South Africa and Ngoni people in Zambia.
“I would like to be sending the people of Zambia through our government so that they come and learn the Zulu language so that we are able to communicate culturally and by language. The Ngoni people of Eastern Zambia and Malawi would like our brothers in South Africa where we came from to come and learn something from us as you have done comrade Zuma,” Mpezeni said.
But, of course, Mpezeni had a word for the Zambian government.
The Ngoni ruler urged the government to increase the beneficiaries of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), which provides subsidised fertiliser to vulnerable farmers.
President Banda, himself a Ngoni on his mother’s side, the Ngoni people in Zambia and Zulu people of South Africa were blood relations.
He, therefore, expressed gratitude on behalf of Zambian people to Zuma for accepting the invitation to grace this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony.
He told the gathering that the presence of Zuma was significant because the Ngoni people were related in blood with the people of South Africa.
“The world knows that Zuma is already in a long distinguished line of presidents of Africa’s oldest political party or political movement, the African National Congress of South Africa,” President Banda said. “…Zuma is African National Congress torch bearer in the forthcoming presidential election in South. Thus it is very generous of Mr Zuma to have agreed to come to our country at this time to be the guest of honour at this wonderful ceremony.”
And when Zuma rose to give his address, the people shouted in jubilation.
Zuma said the biggest challenge at the moment was for the Ngoni people to reconnection with their colleagues in South Africa.
“I believe it is in us all to ensure that this connection which is made here today grow thicker so that we become one people,” Zuma said. “I believe your Excellency [President Banda] that by facilitating this visit you have played one of the most important political duty to reconnect the people of Africa in this part of the World, you your Excellency following in the footsteps of the first leaders of the modern political methods of this country particularly the name of his Excellency former president of Zambia and first president of independent Zambia president Dr Kenneth Kaunda who after freedom used Zambia as a point of connection and a point from where we could come and fight to liberate ourselves.”
Zuma, who was the leader of the ANC military wing the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), lived in the Zambian capital city Lusaka for many years where the ANC had its headquarters during South Africa’s freedom struggle against the apartheid regime.
Therefore, coming back to Zambia reminded Zuma of Zambia’s contribution to the independence struggles of many southern African countries including South Africa whose histories could not be written and closed without mentioning Zambia and Dr Kaunda.
Zuma recalled: “Zambia during the struggle was a home of many of us from Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as South Africa.”
He said Zambians suffered at the hands of oppressors because of its decision to help other countries in the region to became independent.
“Zambia as a result of the role it played was hated by the oppressors, attacked its citizens died for the sake of the liberation of southern Africa, that action therefore is important with regard to the reconnection on people to people in southern Africa,” Zuma said. “It is important to us as political leaders to recognise an important fact that political power, we now have which was taken from us by the colonialists we should now utilise to reconnect and reunite our people in a free environment.”
He said southern Africans should identify themselves very clearly.
“That is why I am very happy when I heard our traditional leaders from Zimbabwe, saying that they have come to learn so that they can also revive the culture that defines us of who we are, as the Ngoni group,” said Zuma.
During his speech, Zuma switched from English to Zulu but alas, the language barriers still exist, the Ngoni translator could not hear anything in Zulu or simply put, he failed to translater.
At this point President Banda rose from his seat and went to the presidential podium where Zuma was speaking, to start translating for him.
President Banda translated Zuma’s Zulu speech to Chewe/Ngoni.
Historians have recorded that following the lifting of the ban of the ANC in February 1990, Zuma was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiations, and he was instrumental in organising the Groote Schuur Minute between the FW de Klerk regime and the ANC that reached important decisions about the return of exiles and the release of political prisoners.
As per programme, after the speeches, the Ngoni warriors continued performing their dances and other forms of entertainment.
And indeed the other most important function ritual was the Mnikelo or the slaughtering of the bull.
A Ngoni warrior stubs the bull with a spear and it is expected to die at the spot after which they take blood from that bull and give it [blood] to Mpezeni to drink.
After that ritual, Ngoni people, who travelled to the ceremony from all parts of the world, presented their farm produce and gifts to Mpezeni. Zuma and his delegation left shortly after the ceremony. Indeed this year’s Nc’wala ceremony brought together the Zambian Ngoni people and the South African Zulu people together and many people hope that this link will live on forever.
Although this was a one-day ceremony, its importance surpasses its short time it took because it opened the channel of communication and cultural exchanges between the two groups of people.
It is also undisputed fact that Chipata was a hive of activities on this day and this caused traffic jam on Great East Road.
Labels: NC'WALA
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Chief Mpezeni indulges at post-Nc’wala ceremony
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Chipata
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 12:26:05 PM
PARAMOUNT chief of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province Mpezeni on Saturday night 'enjoyed' several beers after which he started dancing with young girls and women during the Angela Nyirenda and Sakala Brothers' music concert.
Mpezeni arrived at the concert at about midnight in the company of his junior chiefs who included Nzamane, Sairi, Madzimawe and Maguya.
The concert was a wrap up of the Nc'wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people, which was held earlier in the day at Mtenguleni where Republican President Rupiah Banda and South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma were guests of honour.
When Mpezeni was arriving at Wildlife Hall for the concert, Moses Sakala of the Sakala Brothers gave a few praise words for the Ngoni ruler.
"We are happy to have Inkhosi ya Ma Nkhosi in our midst," said Moses as the crowd applauded in jubilation.
As a sign of respect and welcome to Mpezeni, Angela sung a song of praise for the paramount chief.
"A Mpezeni mukalele mukale wangu mwana! A Mpezeni mukalele mukale wangu mwana!" She sung as Mpezeni and his junior chiefs walked across the dancing ground to the sofa that had been prepared for him and his delegation.
The revellers, mostly youths, jumped around dancing for Mpezeni.
Mpezeni walked majestically to his seat while waving his hands in the air.
The audience rapturously shouted: "Nkhosi! Nkhosi! Ya wele Nkhosi! Iyi ni Nkhosi! Bayethye Nkhosi! Inkhosi ya Ma Nkhosi! The owner of the land! Welcome Nkhosi!"
At this point, almost everyone stood up either trying to catch a glimpse of Mpezeni or to dance to Angela's song.
Mpezeni and his chiefs walked to the sofa that had been prepared for them, directly facing the dancing stage that was mounted for the performing artistes.
After Mpezeni and his chiefs sat down, a table was placed before him and on it were a bottle of beer and glasses.
As soon as Mpezeni sat down, several people mostly women went to shake hands with him. Among those seen kneeling to greet Mpezeni were MMD Chisamba member of parliament Moses Muteteka.
Mpezeni shook hands with several people who went to pay homage to him but later he just started nodding his head, acknowledging the praises of people that were shouting in jubilation.
Several minutes later Mpezeni rose from his seat and started dancing and several women thronged him to dance with him.
Mpezeni danced rigorously and was seen holding various women.
While holding one woman, Mpezeni almost fell down.
After observing that Mpezeni had become 'uncontrollable' in his dancing with the women and holding one of them, almost falling, some people led him to his seat.
Earlier, a reveller who stood behind the chief's sofa accidentally spilled beer on Mpezeni.
The reveller was opening the bottle of beer but it splashed on Mpezeni who was smartly dressed in a suit and necktie.
Security personnel quickly picked up the gentleman and roughed him up.
A policeman pulled the gentleman away and dragged him out of the venue of the concert.
The policeman was heard warning the gentleman to leave the venue and that he should not return.
"We will not tolerate that behaviour," a policeman shouted at the man as he pushed him out of the gate.
As Mpezeni sat on his seat, several young girls most in wore miniskirts and hipsters danced close to where he sat.
Mpezeni was seen constantly pointing at the girls who were dancing in front of him.
He later went back to the dancing ground to dance with the girls.
The girls wriggled their waists for Mpezeni.
Mpezeni reciprocated in his dance and put his head on the chest of one of the girls he was dancing with as Chief Madzimawe looked on.
As the paramount chief danced with the young girls, people cheered for him while others laughed.
"Nkhosi! Nkhosi ya Ma Nkhosi!" the audience shouted.
Staggering, Mpezeni was even yawning and was seen dozing when he sat down.
At different times Mpezeni danced with Muteteka and MMD Mkushi South member of parliament Sydney Chisanga.
Mpezeni was left still enjoying himself at the concert after 01:30 hours.
Police officers kept vigil to ensure that Mpezeni was safe. Earlier in the day during the ceremony, Mpezeni was clad in his traditional lion-skin attire but changed to a modern Western suit for the evening Nc'wala aftermath music concert that attracted hundreds of people from all walks of life including foreign tourists.
Labels: CHIEF MPEZENI, NC'WALA
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Zuma calls for unity
Sunday Mail, 1 March 2009
AFRICA National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma of South Africa says African leaders should use political independence to unite and reconnect people of southern Africa.
Speaking yesterday when he officiated at the Nc’wala ceremony of the Ngoni people at Mtenguleni in Chipata, Mr Zuma said the relationship of countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) would be more meaningful if the people at grassroots were able to interact through traditional ceremonies.
He said his invitation to Zambia by President Banda demonstrated the warm relationship between Zambia and South Africa.
He said it was an important political duty for President Banda to have invited him to officiate at the Nc’wala ceremony and reconnect the Ngoni people with their brothers and sisters in South Africa.
“The challenge now is how to reconnect with our brothers and sisters after gaining independence. We must remember that oppressors wanted us to lose our identity and forget where we are coming from,” Mr Zuma said.
He said Zambia and South Africa had long enjoyed a good relationship despite the colonialists having created boundaries and divided the ethnic groups into smaller groups for fear that they would be defeated.
He said now that countries were independent the challenge was for political leaders to reconnect the people of Africa and ensure that the connection grew bigger.
“The relationship was interrupted by colonialists who created political boundaries and made their countries in their own form. They did this after our heroic fight but defeated us after using sophisticated weapons and colonised us. But we liberated ourselves at different times,” he said.
He said during the struggle for independence, Zambia was home for various freedom fighters and sacrificed for the independence of Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Now that we have political independence, it is important for political leaders to use this power to reconnect people in a free environment,” he said.
Mr Zuma said, however, that there should be no contradiction between traditional system of governance and modern politics because both worked for the good of the people.
“There must be cooperation between traditional and modern politics,” he said.
Mr Zuma was earlier greeted with a spectacular display of the Ngoma dance at Chipata Airport on his arrival before he met Chipata Mayor Sinoya Mwale at the district council offices.
Mr Zuma was bestowed with an honorary award of Freeman of the municipality of Chipata in recognition of his sacrifice and contribution to the liberation of South Africa.
He later proceeded to Mtenguleni to call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni.
Mr Zuma was accompanied by family members of King Zweletini of the Zulu people. These included a daughter and son of the King and two of his brothers. Others were two royal highnesses of Zimbabwe.
And President Banda said it was important for people to maintain their culture because it defined the essence of human beings.
“Keeping our culture is keeping our essence of human beings. A person is regarded as a person through culture. The Nc’wala ceremony reaffirms our freedom to celebrate and share with the rest of the world the country’s tradition and culture,” he said.
Mr Banda said Government decided to invite Mr Zuma to grace the ceremony because Mr Zuma was one of the distinguished leaders and touch bearer of the next presidential election in South.
“It was important for him to grace the ceremony and it is so generous for Mr Zuma to be the guest of honour here. The world knows that Mr Zuma is a touch bearer in the forthcoming elections and that it is so generous for him to be a guest of honour here,” he said.
Mr Banda said Zambians, and the Ngonis in particular, were related to South Africans. The two leaders later unveiled a statue of a Ngoni warrior in the main arena.
And Paramount Chief Mpezeni said the interaction between South Africans and Zambians, particularly the Ngonis, could make the two peoples explore a lot in tourism.
In a speech read for him by the chairman general of Ngoni Royal Establishment, Mr Adam Chongo, the chief said that Zambians and South Africans should promote cultural exchanges to improve their relationship.
He thanked President Banda for his Government’s continued efforts to develop the district. He cited the Mchinji-Chipata railway as one of the developments that would create employment when it is completed.
He appealed to government to increase fertiliser support to his subjects so that they could produce more crops. He hoped that the district would have a good harvest this year.
Other Zambian paramount chiefs present were Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people and Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa people.
Labels: CHIEF MPEZENI, CHIEF UNDI, JACOB ZUMA, MWATA KAZAMBE, NC'WALA, PANAFRICANISM, RUPIAH BANDA
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Use political power to unite people, Zuma urges African politicians
Written by Christopher Miti and Chibaula Silwamba in Chipata
VISTING South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zuma yesterday said African politicians should use their political power to reconnect and unite the people in a free environment.And Republican President Rupiah Banda yesterday 'turned' himself into a translator for Zuma.
Meanwhile, Paramount chief of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, Mpezeni urged President Banda to remain focused and ignore the people who criticise him unnecessarily.
Gracing the Nc'wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people in Mtenguleni, Zuma said the colonialists had forced Africans to abandon their culture but this was the time for Africans to regain their cultural identities and reunite.
"It is important to us as political leaders to recognise an important fact that the political power we now have, which was taken from us by the colonialists, we should now utilise it to reconnect and unite our people in a free environment," Zuma said. "We are very happy to be received here today by the mayor of Chipata who gave me the honour to be a free citizen of Chipata. This is a big honour for me."
He said the honour bestowed upon him by the Chipata Municipal Council symbolised the need for Africans in southern Africa to reunite.
"I believe the relations of the countries of SADC will have more meaningful relationship if our people at the grassroots levels are able to interact, to exchange and to trade, to be one united region of southern Africa," he said. "The colonialists wanted us to lose our identity, our dignity by oppressing our cultures, by renaming our cultures with other names, so that we forget who we are, where we come from."
He said southern Africans should identify themselves very clearly.
"That is why I am very happy when I heard our traditional leaders from Zimbabwe saying that they have come to learn so that they can also revive the culture that defines us of who we are, as the Nguni group," said Zuma.
After his address to the people in English, Zuma switched to Zulu but the translator, former Chipata Central member of parliament Matthews Mwale, struggled to interpret.
At this point, President Banda rose from his chair and went to the presidential podium where Zuma was speaking and started translating.
President Banda translated Zuma's Zulu speech to Chewa/Ngoni.
As President Banda translated for the ANC leader and presidential candidate in South Africa's April 22 election, the crowd shouted in jubilation.
Zuma, who looked pleased with President Banda's accurate translation, continued speaking in Zulu for close to 15 minutes.
President Banda translated until after Zuma ended his Zulu speech.
Earlier, addressing the crowd, President Banda, who is Ngoni on his maternal side, thanked Zuma for coming to grace the Nc'wala traditional ceremony despite his busy presidential campaign schedule.
"The government and the people of Zambia are excited and grateful that Jacob Musholozi Zuma has graced this year's Nc'wala ceremony. The world knows that Jacob Zuma is African National Congress torchbearer in the forthcoming presidential election in South Africa. Thus it is very generous of Mr Zuma to have agreed to come to our country at this time to be the guest of honour at this wonderful ceremony," President Banda said.
He said the Ngoni people in Zambia were related in blood with the people of South Africa, particularly the Zululand.
President Banda said he was happy to tell the gathering that Zuma was among several South African freedom fighters that spent many years in Zambia during the liberation struggle.
And Mpezeni, in a speech read for him by Nc'wala organising committee chairman general Adam Chongwe, said the Ngoni Royal Establishment would only criticise President Banda when it was necessary and in camera.
"Your Excellency, may I urge you sir that remain focused and forget about people who keep on criticising [him] unnecessarily. It is surprising that even those people who are drunkards and the lazy continue criticising your good fruits that we have seen. I think it's high time that we keep on commending and blaming you where it's due. My kingdom will remain focused and will advise in camera," Mpezeni said.
Mpezeni appealed to President Banda to increase the number of beneficiaries of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
Upon arrival, the Chipata Municipal Council honoured Zuma as a freeman of the municipality.
Labels: CHIEF MPEZENI, JACOB ZUMA, NC'WALA
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My wife has now grown – Banda
Written by Chibaula Silwamba and Christopher Miti in Chipata
Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:44:10 AM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday remarked that his wife has now grown. And President Banda said it would be legendary to meet South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zumaat today's Nc'wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province.
Addressing MMD cadres and Ngoni warriors who welcomed him at Chipata airport on arrival for the Nc’wala traditional ceremony, President Banda said he was growing younger while his wife was growing older.
"Nabwelanaye mwana wanu, mukadzi wanga, wakunyumba. Anyina wanu inde baba. Welanakuno bakuonenkoni patontho kuti baone kuti wakula lomba. Tusiyana; beve okulilako neo nuchepelako; tikakumane pakati.
[Translated: I have come with your child, my housewife. Your mother indeed. Come here madam so that they see that you have now grown up. We are different; she is growing older while I am growing younger; we will meet in the middle.]," said President Banda in local Chewa language.
As President Banda spoke about his wife, Thandiwe, people including his ministers and government senior officials burst into rapturous laughter. And President Banda said the MMD was not corrupt, adding that the party's critics were instead corrupt.
"I just want to say to my party members that please everybody wants to take over the power. They want to take it away from you; they use all kinds of excuses and rhetoric. They are saying this party is corrupt, koma ali corrupt niyeve mambala olabila. [They are saying MMD is corrupt but the one who is corrupt is the same crook who is talking]," he said. "So we have to watch out and to be careful with what we do. That is why yesterday I translated a Nsenga proverb which is: chikomela a galu kuluma mbuzi koma yomwe kuti ikateko ati iyai yanilumilanji? Lomba zulo ina azwatula. [Proverb: It's good for a dog to bite a goat but when the goat bites a dog, they say no it's wrong. So yesterday I bit them."
He warned that he would continue instilling discipline in MMD members.
"We want a party that is disciplined. I am prepared to rally behind its principles that we believe in. If you saw the meeting that took place at State House yesterday [Thursday], it feels very good that our party is still so strong even in Lusaka and everywhere," President Banda said.
President Banda praised MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande for organising MMD cadres to march to State House on Thursday, where he [President Banda] sacked energy deputy minister Lameck Chibombamilimo and science deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa.
And President Banda disclosed that he would today take Zuma around Chipata town so that people could see him before taking him to Mtenguleni for this year's Nc'wala traditional ceremony.
"Tomorrow [today] we will be receiving a very important son of our continent. You know that Jacob Zuma is one of the leaders of South Africa's Africa National Congress (ANC). We can say that the ANC is a political party that has been in existence for over 103 years. The ANC has been through all kinds of problems until they took over that country. We in Zambia can learn a lot from the ANC," he said. "So tomorrow you must come in our big numbers, I will take him to the centre of Chipata so that other people can have a chance to see him. It is legendary to see someone like him and I hope that many of our people here will turn up well to meet [him]...those who will not go to the ceremony. After that, I will take him to the Nc'wala ceremony where I am sure the Ngonis will just go crazy to see the roots of their tribe.
"He has retraced the steps that our forefathers [took] because I am on the middle, my father was a Chewa and my mother was a Ngoni like you old man here. You remember my mother."
President Banda said this was a wonderful occasion for him.
"So I look forward tomorrow to real enjoyment, to relax," he said. "I want to assure you that tomorrow's ceremony will be bigger and more enjoyable than any other one that has taken place because comrade Zuma is a great Ngoni dancer, I am sure he will demonstrate to us his machine gun, we shall see tomorrow, we are looking forward to it."
President Banda said Zulu dancers had already come to Chipata for the ceremony.
"So we will be able to see the origins of this dance and they too will be able to see what we the Ngoni people have kept since we came here many hundred years past. They will see that we are still there with our Ngoni culture," he said. "Where are my twins, they are now grown up. I don't know where they have gone. I have brought them so that you can see your children that they have grown up. They also want to see Nc'wala tomorrow."
He said Zuma would come with his son, daughter and three princesses of the King of Zulu people of South Africa.
"We shall enjoy tomorrow's ceremony," President Banda reiterated.
And Eastern Province minister Isaac Banda thanked President Banda for government's support to the people of Eastern Province during this rainy season through the Agriculture Support Programme.
"I wish to inform you that we worked hard and our fields are green and healthy in anticipation of a good harvest except for some parts in Chama and Lundazi where we experienced some long dry spells," Banda said.
However, Banda observed that there were gaps in the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) distribution process but those were administrative and were being sorted out.
"Consultants have been engaged to carryout a feasibility study for the re-designing a 300 kilometres of the Great East Road from Luangwa Bridge to Mwami border. So far, 38 million Euros is earmarked to be spent on this project," said Banda.
Eastern Province MMD chairperson Kennedy Zulu said the party would deal with anybody that would want to destabilise the party in the province.
"We the people in Eastern Province as your relatives, we thank national executive committee for appointing you as acting MMD party president until the 2010 convention. We have confidence that you will run the party well and we pray to God that he gives you intelligence to run the party. Mr President, Eastern Province is the stronghold of the MMD," he said. "We in Eastern Province, we will try with all our might to ensure that no one destabilises your popularity in Eastern Province. Whoever will come to destabilise this party here in Eastern Province, we will ‘work’ on them. You will just read in newspapers what will have happened here in Eastern Province."
At this point President Banda shouted, "How are you going to ‘work’ on them?"
Zulu responded: "We will deal with them politically, your Excellency."
Labels: NC'WALA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Police up patrols ahead of Nc’wala
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday, February 26, 2009 8:32:09 AM
POLICE in Eastern Province have intensified road patrols ahead of the Nc’wala traditional ceremony scheduled for this Saturday. Eastern Province police commanding officer Mary Chikwanda said her office would deploy a lot of police officers at Mutenguleni to maintain law and order.
“There will be a lot of people during this ceremony and as police, we will ensure that things move as expected. Drunken drivers will be arrested as we will also deploy a good number of officers at the ceremony,” said Chikwanda.
And Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale has ordered vendors to move out of the streets so that the town is clean during the Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people.
Mwale said the district would be hosting a big ceremony and that the council would therefore ensure the town was clean.
He said the council was prepared to punish vendors that would not adhere to the directive through prosecution in the courts of law.
“The law allows us to prosecute the vendors that do not comply, so we will start taking them to court but as usual people will start complaining about that. My appeal to the vendors is that let them move out of the streets and go to the designated markets,” Mwale said. “We don’t want to see a situation where somebody has invested some money into a business then we go and confiscate their commodity and destroy it then at the end of the day it is the street vendor who loses, so let them abide by the council’s directive.”
He said the council would take the exercise of getting rid of street vendors in town as a continuous undertaking.
“I have put it that by the time the district will be hosting the ceremony, it should be clean because as you know, we will be receiving a lot of visitors,” said Mwale.
This year’s Nc’wala ceremony will be graced by President Rupiah Banda while South Africa’s ruling party African National Congress president Jacob Zuma has also confirmed his attendance at the annual event.
Labels: NC'WALA
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