Eastern province royal foundation has expressed concern at government’s intention to streamline traditional ceremonies so that it can only participate in one in each of the nine provinces in a year.
Chief Mazimawe of the Ngoni people of Chipata district said traditional ceremonies provide government with an opportunity to explain its policies and developmental programs to the people.
Senior chief Nsefu of the kunda of Mambwe district ruled out possibilities of merging the ceremonies saying all traditional ceremonies in the province were an asset of various ethnic groupings.
Chief Nsefu stated that if government was not ready to continue its support to the traditional ceremonies, then it should let the ceremonies continue without its support.
“Traditional ceremonies were initiated by traditional leaders and chiefs used to manage to host the occasion even without support from government. Government only came in to support, so we can continue to host them as it was before without support from government,” he said.
He stressed that no ethnic tribe could be forced to join another because each one of them has different traditional beliefs and practices.
“My fear is that the merging of these ceremonies may lead to a cold war, because it might lead to the loss of traditional and cultural practices which are of great importance to chiefs because they are a pride of a tribe, he added.
The traditional ruler further noted that traditional ceremonies represented unique beliefs which were not similar to all other tribes hence the need not to merge their ceremonies which were based on different cultural beliefs of their traditions.
And chief Mumbi of the Nsenga people of Petauke district said the six ethnic groupings in the province host ceremonies to portray their unique cultural practices therefore, they could not be merged.
“For instance, the Nsenga celebrate their ceremony ‘Tuwimba’ to pray for the rains so that they can produce adequate agricultural produce while the Ngoni celebrate the Nc’wala to thank God for the harvest among others,’ he said.
Chief Mumbi also expressed fear that if some traditional ceremonies were not held, the affected tribes might feel belittled.
Meanwhile, chief Mwangala of the Chewa people in Chadiza district expressed concern that government was the one that initially supported the resuscitation of traditional ceremonies and wondered why it saw it ideal to do away with some now..
Chief Mwangala said traditional ceremonies provide avenues for respect of the various ethnic groupings because they teach their children to appreciate their cultural heritage.
maybe government should withdraw from all traditional ceremonies
how productive are these so called ceremonies, they are just a drain to our coffers Nzamani its the 21st centuary
Tradition defines our identity the gov’t should lay off!.
Govenment leave traditional ceremonies alone.
Govt shud definately withdraw from Traditional ceremonies bcoz they have jst become political gatherings now.
All chiefs are jst looking forward to reap govt officials.Let subjects organise these ceremonies.
why should government withdraw from these ceremonies iwe. mulekwata amano. we are talking about creating an awareness about our cultural heritage and not eating Musozya here my friend.
The whole relevance of chiefs and traditional ceremonies has to be looked at.Do chiefs and the ceremonies enhance productive cultural values? Not long ago the chiefs themselves came to realise their “irrelevance” by stating that their “resolutions” in the so-called House of Chiefs were not being taken seriously by the gov’t. All they needed to do is look at the constitution which defines their role in the House of Chiefs.It is really a waste of resourses even giving them vehicles.If they were really valued by “their” people, the people would have been looking after them.
#6. Big up bro. U talk sense
No wonder Africans, Zambia in particular have lost their culture coz some don’t even know where they come from
ba anonymous i think the hate u gat on tongas must come from some history am sure a tonga bull did his thing on yo close female folk and she told u off NEVER TO MESS AROUND WITH TONGA BULLS, other wise kulimbe hate ya so …….
Northerns are thiefs that causes tribalism,they should also be reported to animal rights group for eating monkeys!.
Ine i come from a warrior tribe,there’s no way you can merge me with my little subjects,
i have my heritage to protect,
my tribe existed long long before,infact centuaries before the imaginery entity called Northern Rhodesia now Zambia was dreamt up and constituted with it’s artificial borders.
that’s utter nonsense!!!!
anonymous so ndiwe lazaro ka ?ulikuti ?……… ndiwe kulibonesha type sorry mate wachaya chibumba hehehe
If the government can buy vehicles for the chiefs it can afford to support ceremonies. Resources are there.
It is the government that has created a situation for the chiefs to be lazy and depend on it, so contune supporting.
This is the first time any chief in this country has actually talked sense. Most of the time they are bowing to the whims of the government. Our ministers have short memories. They forget that they are there to serve – not to throw their weight about!
Ceremonies were there b4 these political governments and they wanted to win the support of the chiefs that’s y they started supporting them. why stop now continue.. Mulimbe ba government or else stop also buying posh cars for politicians.
Sansakuwa Kanjangu says: Jul 26th, 2008 at 5:20 am
It is an astonishing kind of hereditary stupidity that sees Katangese stinkers on both sides of the Luapula river welded to the habit of electing proven thieves into office all the time. Look at Chiluba, Katumbi etc and now Katele Kalumba will be voted for in large numbers by these tailed low life premates of the Ituri forest we have the tragedy of being called neighbours and fellow countrymen to.MANY THANKS SANAKUWA…
Zambia is on auto pilot that is why the gov’t is coming up with such useless ideas. The gov’t has bought cars for chiefs, installed solar panels and connected others to the national grid. The resources are there. We are told that gov’t has over 1 billion dollars in reserve so why stop supporting traditional ceremonies which cost almost nothing? I think there is more to this story. How can someone suggest that each province should just host one traditional ceremony. I can’t understand the logic because all tribes have their own cultures and traditions which are expressed through traditional ceremonies. This suggestion will bring nothing but trouble to mother Zambia. MMD must go!!
Its good to see that most of our chiefs are very knowledgeable in their own field.GVT should not impose things on chiefs.If gvt cant manage chiefs and their people will somehow do so.
Get smart. Bring tourists to the ceremonies and make them self supporting.
yeah, pipo know your culture, why should the govt stay out it.
tho it has to know its limits as well.