MPEZENI SNUBS GOVT MINISTERS AT MUTENGULENI
…says there is political tension and division in the country created by politicians
Daily Nation Zambia
PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni Speaking people of Eastern Province has urged politicians to embrace peace, unity and forgiveness.
And the Paramount Chief is said to have refused to meet Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo and his entourage Saturday morning at Laweni palace when they paid a courtesy call on him.
According to Ngoni senior chiefs and Indunas close to the developments of Saturday at Laweni, Nkombo in the company of other ministers, among them deputy speaker of the National Assembly Moses Moyo, Eastern Province Minister, Peter Phiri, Muchinga Province Minister Juma Sikazwe, Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa, Water Development Minister Mike Mposha, Small and Medium Enterprise Minister Elias Mubanga, Permanent Secretary Special Duties Patrick Mucheleka, Provincial Permanent Secretary Paul Thole and his deputy Princes Beauty Undi Phiri went to pay a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni but the King of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province refused to meet them.
The senior Chiefs said when Mr Nkombo and his entourage arrived at the palace, Mpezeni was with Mwata Kazembe from Luapula in Mwansabombwe holding talks with other chiefs.
But when he was informed about their presence, Paramount Chief Mpezeni angrily refused to meet them, saying “Ala bauzyeni to go. I am busy.” (Tell them to go).
“Paramount Chief Mpezeni refused to meet the Mr Nkombo and his entourage. He was angry to learn that the President Hakainde Hichilema will not attend the ceremony despite Inkhosi officially inviting him on his own. You know this event was the most important one because the ceremony had clocked 40 years from the time it was revived, and at the same time Paramount Chief Mpezeni had clocked 40 years on throne, He is the longest serving Paramount Chief in the entire Zambia,” one of the Senior Chiefs said.
He explained that what was so upsetting and annoying for Paramount Chief Mpezeni was that State House on Tuesday communicated directly to inform him that President Hichilema would be available at the ceremony.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni was however infuriated after he was told on Friday night that President Hichilema would not be able make it because of the outbreak of Cholera in the province.
“Paramount Chief Mpezeni had put in a lot in the preparation to accommodate the President of the Republic of Zambia and to be told at the last minute through a press statement by Health Minister Sylvia Masebo that the President was not attending the ceremony because of Cholera was an insult to the Ngoni Speaking people of Eastern Province and the Chief himself. He did not want to have anything to do with Government officials and in fact, he did not want anyone of them to attend. That is why on Friday, the provincial administration panicked,” one of the chiefs who was with Paramount Chief Mpezeni said.
“If you saw yourself, among the delegates, we had diplomats, former Vice President of Malawi and dignitaries from Mozambique who came all the way to attend the ceremony. And for government to tell Inkhosi at the last minute that the President could not come because of cholera is an insult…,” they said.
And speaking during the ceremony which was well attended, Paramount Chief Mpezeni urged politicians to promote love, peace, unity and forgiveness in order to foster national development.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni has urged Zambians to reflect on the four decades of his rulership in order to appreciate where the country is coming from politically, socially and economically.
“The theme for this years’ Nc’wala Ceremony is love, peace and unity, this ceremony brings together not only the Ngoni speaking people of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique but all other tribes, people from all walks of life in Zambia, African and the world over. This year’s ceremony is particularly important and special because it commemorates 40 years of the revival of the Nc’wala ceremony after a prolonged ban by the BSA during the British Anglo war which took place in 1899 and 1890 and that it is also my 40 years of being on the throne as the Inkhosi yama Nkhosi of the Ngoni people.”
“So, as we celebrate this event this year it is important that we reflect what has been done in my four decades of my ruler-ship enhance the theme 40 – 40 on the throne of peace, love and unity. I am proud to announce and confirm that I am the longest serving Paramount Chief in this country, and during this time I have served all the seven presidents of this country a rare privilege that I cherish the most,” he said through his Induna.
He said for Zambia to prosper, politicians should defend and sustain the desire of unity, love and peace for all.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni urged Zambians to learn how he managed to remain relevant in the 40 years he has been on the throne by promoting peace, love, unity and forgiveness.
“I strongly urge all politicians to defend and sustain the desire and dream of the founding father of this nation that we remain united under the slogan of one Zambia one nation. One may ask, what lesson and advice do I bring to the Zambian people after 40 years at the Ngoni throne? I have come to learn that the hope and future of Zambia lies in peace, unity, love and forgiveness. And giving thanks to God Almighty for giving us this peaceful land we call Zambia. To me this is the main secrete to the slogan of one Zambia One nation.”
Paramount Chief Mpezeni pleaded with Zambians to thrive for unity, peace and love in order for the nation to succeed.
“Zambians please always remember to thrive for unity, love and forgiveness common goal for success, we need to remain united as a people if we are to develop individually and as a whole, we need to help each other too,” he said.
He expressed sadness at the level of division, and political tension the country is experiencing created by politicians now.
The traditional leader urged political leaders to exercise forgiveness and reconcilliation and move the country forward.
“I often feel sad these days when I see political tensions, divisions, amongst you politicians but as a traditional leader with four decades of experienced on the throne my humble advice to all the political leaders is that you must be slow to anger. Be quick to forgive, learn to reconcile, and move with the spirit of one Zambia one nation,” Paramount Chief Mpezeni said.
This principle should be applied at all levels of our society. In the last 40 years I have also received messages of hope from people of Zambia from all walks of life, the church, politicians and the common man. They all seek my counsel because we are all Zambians and we live in the same space. We should therefore learn to live in peace with each other. Zambians in general wants peace, love and unity. Our political differences do not mean that we do not share and eat a meal at the same table.”
“To signify peace, unity among all our people, I propose that the great east road that leads us from Lusaka to Chipata to the boarder with Malawi, in the spirit of demonstrable unity, should be renamed Umodzi High Way,” said Paramount Chief Mpezeni.
Mr Nkombo was only allowed to greet the people after the speech by the guest of honour, King Zulu , was read by a representative.