Resolve rows amicably-Kunda prods North west chiefs

Vice President George Kunda has called upon traditional leaders in North Western Province to resolve their differences amicably.

Mr Kunda said such differences in other countries have turned in wars resulting in the loss of many lives.

He said this during a meeting attended by traditional leaders from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Royal Solwezi Hotel in Solwezi, North Western Province today.

In attendance was King Mwata Yamvwa of the Lunda speaking people from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and four other Congolese traditional leaders.

Also present at the meeting were Zambian traditional leaders such as senior chief Mumena of the Kaonde people, senior chief Ndungu of the Luvale people, Chief Kakoma of Mwinilunga among others.

Mr Kunda was also accompanied by Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Gender and Development Minister Sara Sayifwanda, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and other senior Government officials.

The meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the wrangles between the ethnic groups Lundas and Luvales.

Mr Kunda said traditional leaders play an important role in assisting government resolve various issues.

He said Africa has a lot of tribal conflicts in different parts of the continent such as in Rwanda and Somalia.

The Vice President said despite these conflicts, Africans must learn to unite and live in peace.

He called on traditional leaders to put their tribal conflicts aside and focus on development.

Mr Kunda also said he appreciated Mwata Yamvwa’s visit to Zambia as it symbolised unity among the tribes considering that many tribes in Zambia have their roots from the Lunda Kingdom.

He said such unity among tribes creates a bond among people and a platform where developmental ideas are exchanged.

Mr Kunda said traditional leadership was important as it provides governance in areas in which government’s presence may not be needed.

At the same meeting, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lunda King Mwata Yamvwa, thanked the Government for the warm reception his delegation had received.

Mwata Yamvwa said he came to Zambia to attend the Chisemwa Cha Lunda meeting.

He said he was also in the country to hear from Lundas and Luvales and possibly find ways of solving their problem.

The Mwata Yamvwa said it was better to find solutions to problems immediately than to allow them to culminate into a war.

Zambezi was recently engaged in skirmishes following a Kitwe High Court ruling that set the Zambezi River as the boundary between the Lunda on the east and the Luvale on the west, and that both senior chiefs Ndungu (of the Luvale) and Ishindi (of the Lunda) should confine their activities within that boundary.

The recent wrangles were over the emergence of the Luvale’s Makishi from the graveyard on the eastern side in their procession to the west.
[ ZANIS ]