PeP STATEMENT ADVISING PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA TO STOP HARASSING THE BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT OVER THE ISSUE OF GUEST OF HONOR AT THIS YEAR’S KUOMBOKA TRADITIONAL CEREMONY
Liberty House, Lusaka
16th April 2024
1. As Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) we are saddened by reports that President Hakainde Hichilema has been sending numerous Government officials to harass the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) over their decision to invite Mwine Lubemba Paramount Chief Chitimukulu as the Guest of Honor at this year’s Kuomboka Traditional Ceremony, as the President feels that it is him that must be the Guest of Honor.
2. It must be noted that this ceremony is owned, planned and managed by the BRE, therefore any decisions that the BRE makes as to who should be Guest of Honor, must be respected without question by all stakeholders including President Hakainde Hichilema and his Government.
3. Additionally, we wish to remind Mr. Hakainde Hichilema that there is no law in Zambia that makes it mandatory for traditional ceremonies to always designate the Head of State as the Guest of Honor.
4. Lastly, we wish to advise President Hakainde Hichilema to embrace humility and attend this year’s Kuomboka Traditional Ceremony as a common guest, so that he can appreciate and learn from the joint efforts of His Majesty the Litunga and Paramount Chief Chitimukulu to unite the country through cultural exchanges.
ISSUED BY:
Sean E. Tembo (SET)
Party President
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP)
Lusaka, Zambia
This is what happens when you feed on wrong information without verifying it.
There is no quarrel between HH and the BRE. The BRE knows full well that their is no independent political nation called Barotseland. There is a region of Zambia that goes by that name.
Whether HH attends Kuomboka is neither here nor there. He has representatives who are already in Mongu.
Let’s discuss progressive issues. This one is like listening to rain falling on metal roofing.
Oh clap up about this Barotsie nonsense. Why were you not making noise about it with the past governments. HH has shown you people how to govern Non of you offer solutions just jealous accusations and criticism.
As the President likes to tease: “…Tik Tok, Tik Tok…by some people and they never get tired of talking…” In my view the President is always in between a “Rock and a Hard place”, whether he attends the Kuomboka as a common guest, or attends as Guest of Honour or he doesn’t attend at all, he will still get bashed by the Opposition. Wynter, Hamududu and Andyford are rarely heard and when they have something to say to the public, the sensible citizens tend to pay attention but for these other daily Noise Makers, I reserve my comments.
Chitimukulu will be flown to Mongu in a ZAF plane. How can HH harass him at the same time allow him to use a Government plane. What hatred is this ?
I am surprised that Mr. Sean Tembo has reacted to unverified information regarding this matter.