Police IN Chipata District have been put on high alert to control any threat at Chipata General Hospital where the some staunch Chewa speaking people are performing their rituals.
This follows the untimely death of Chief Chikuwe whose body is laying at the hospital mortuary.
ZANIS reports Eastern Province Minister Charles Banda confirming the development in an interview.
He said the development is meant to allow the late Chief’s subjects time to perform their rituals as they mourn their traditional leader.
“We need to ensure that there are no disturbances to allow the Gule Wamukulu which will be performing dances from today till the day when the body will be taken to his farm in readiness for burial,” he said.
He was speaking to journalist shortly after the arrival of the body of chief Chikuwe’s body at Chipata General Hospital mortuary this afternoon.
Mr. Banda noted that President Michael Sata has directed the full participation of government at the funeral of Chief Chikuwe.
And a spokesperson for the Chewa people, Lucas Phiri has advised residents and people who may wish to see how the Chewa people mourn their traditional leaders to do so in a decent manner.
Mr. Phiri who is also Patriotic Front (PF) Provincial chairperson said people should not regard the traditional practice as a form of entertainment but as a way of mourning a traditional leader.
“For this reason, I appeal to people to keep a distance and not join in the performances because only those authorized to do so will be allowed,” he said. He however stated that traditional practice will not disturb other funerals as they will be halted each time other mourners come to collect bodies of their deceased.
Meanwhile, the body of the late Chief Chikuwe of the Chewa people who died at the university Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka arrived yesterday in Chipata district, Eastern Province.
The Body of the chief which arrived at Chipata airport at 12:15 hours aboard a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane and was received by provincial minister Charles Banda, Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika, Chief Chanje, Chieftainess Mkanda , members of the Chewa royal Establishment and several other government officials.
The late Chief Chikuwe whose real names are Shadreck Thengo Tembo died at the age of 81 yesterday, February 27 at the UTH following stomach complications.
He is survived by four wives, several children and several grandchildren.
ZANIS
Zambia has lost a part of History today.
MHSRIP
4 WIVES ? Was it AIDS?
MHSRIP
MHSRIP though I don’t think dying at the age of 81 is untimely.
He dead of natural causes, let us not mislead people. The man was very old, MHSRIP!
81 yearz iz by no meanz probably the right time to die, even from HIV. At that age one haz almost lived a full life. Of course tourists and other localz will want to “see and witness” some fine Zambian tradition being displayed, call it entertainment or anything else.
UTH is a terrible hospital full of witches. very few people survive there and that is why ministers are evacuated to Mill Park. condolences to the chief’s family. At 81, he has died too soon.
May his soul rest in peace.
Ba Lusaka times: How many are several children? this is poor reporting. Better be silent if you do not know the actual number. This news is not just meant for reading with funny, certain people really like details for use.
MYSRIP nfumu..! but wait wait,so polygamy is every where in zambia tho sum *****s raise their eyeblows on others.
REAL MAN SURVIVED BY 4 WIVES, SEVERAL CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN DYING AT 81 YRS IN NO JOKE. THE MAN HAS FULFILLED HIS LIFE ON EARTH MHSRIP.
poor reporting indeed. wat is several children. be factual n nt speculations. no wonder this man wants some of these networks shut down
what’s so untimely at age 81? he also ate well like Lewanika, this is a timely death as we all wish to grow old before we die. I’d like to see the ritual though, should be a celebration not mourning, adyela a bambo
We do empathize with the Chewa people of this great loss.MHSRP.Words can never be enough.
He is survived by four wives, several children and several grandchildren. iliko badoooo. Who is the heir to the thrown???
Sad as his death maybe, the perfomance of rituals at a government hospital is not in order. who knows what the spiritual implications of those rituals may be?
The chief had not yet reconciled with some people, had he? Mpezeni tell us, you know these things better.
But performing rituals all these days at the Hospital Mortuary is NOT good considerate practice.
They Gulewamukulu should have only been allowed an hours or so to do their rituals. This is a very sensitive public institution, and there are critically sick people in the hospital who will be distressed by the drumming, singing and shouting.
Where is humnity in all this? Why can’t these ceremonies be done at the Mfumu’s farm, or better still, take the body to the village or farm, and do the full rituals there.
Ba King Decent #17 – this is a Chewa chief not Ngoni. Gawa Undi is the paramount chief of the chewas and the most important chief in Eastern becoz he has numbers and territory than mpezeni who has the smallest land area. Chipata District is home to both Chewas and Ngonis. For setting the record straight Gawa Undi would never lick satas arse! like this stupid flip flopping mpezeni . . . .
makanja, maria, nyani etc will be performing the great dances reserved for Chewa royalty!
4 wives, he has died of exhaustion