Storm In Teacup (Ncwala 2022)
By Dickson Jere
To pull off such a successful event is no mean achievement – I mean the 2022 N’wala ceremony! The attendance was unprecedented! Kudos to the organizing committee as well as various government agencies and sponsors who made it happen. Such big events, always, are a nightmare. Protocol gaffes here and there are doted especially when the President of the Republic is in attendance. Having both part of the Ncwala Organizing Committee before and later on part of the State House Presidential close-party, I speak from my little experience.
In 2017, FAZ President invited me as a VVIP to watch the Under 20 AFCON finals at Heroes stadium. Few minutes before the game, a protocol officer politely requested me to move out of my seat because the President was coming with a bigger delegation than earlier anticipated. I needed to give room! Having worked in the Presidency, I obliged to be moved from VVIP stand to VIP. I felt embarrassed but I understood. In protocol, we say “Presidency always takes precedence”.
The team at Ncwala did an excellent job given the circumstances. Efforts were made to make every invited guest to feel special. I gave up my seat when I saw one prominent person standing few meters away from the VVIP.
You see, when a President is attending a public event such as football and Ncwala, so many things are taken into consideration. Protocol, security, movements and all.
So the person who ushered PF acting President Given Lubinda to the VVIP pavilion had good intentions. He recognized him as one of our leaders in the nation. But again even the person who equally moved him out of that seat and good intentions too! The seat was earmarked for a Cabinet Minister who was in the Presidential delegation. Such things do happen in protocol just like I was moved out if the football VVIP pavilion when I had a card. Presidential security and protocol follow certain rules and I was privy to know some of them when I worked in the presidency. An apology could have been rendered by the organizers quietly and another seat found.
Remember the Kuomboka ceremony of 2017? When the Presidential convoy and that the opposition leader then almost collided on a perilously narrow road, I blamed the police. I penned an article in which I questioned why the Presidential route was not cleared and allowed such an unfortunate event. In short, Presidential security and protocol takes precedence! It is what It is! The only thing that who may be affected should be politely explained to and moved to another place nicely.
I like Ncwala and I rarely miss.
Few years ago, I was at the Mutenguleni arena. It was packed and the President was in attendance. The UPND delegation was headed by its Vice President Dr Canicius Banda. He was put far-away from the VVIP. Very far! When I noticed him, I walked to him and asked him to follow me so that I could let him greet the President and other dignitaries. When I met him last year, that was the first thing he reminded!
“Thank you for what you did that day…” he said.
Anyway, let us talk about the ceremony. It was beautiful! We had a good time. It was also historic because it was the first ceremony to be graced by the 7th President Hakainde Hichilema. The ladies looked good in those South African inspired designs. And we, the madodas, wore our animals neatly! Wow…check out the pictures by Presidential Photographer Chellah – I think the Ncwala committee should engage him and produce a pictorial!
The issue of the seating arrangement, for now, is just a storm in the teacup. It is an regrettable incidence but should not take away the bigger picture of the success of the event !
Bayethe!
