‘Programmed’ cattle disrupt Guy Scott keynote speech

Organisers of the Shimunenga ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala’s southern province were yesterday prompted to apologise to Vice President Guy Scott following confusion that characterised the ceremony when he was delivering his keynote speech on behalf of President Michael Sata.

The confusion was caused after the animals (cattle) which were said to be programmed, were let loose in the process disrupting Dr Scott’s speech.

“We really want to apologise to Dr Scott and his entourage for the confusion caused. These animals were let loose and disrupted his speech because they could not be held any longer as they were programmed and were aware of a certain time to start running around the plains and in the process they caused panic to the people,” said headman Nalukwe.

The ceremony is held on a weekend of a full moon and when the first rains have fallen and expresses the people’s devotion to their divine ancestors.

Mr Scott was presented one animal, a 50kg bag of maize seed and a spear as an indication that he was part of this year’s celebrations and also asked him to next year ensure that Mr Sata graced the ceremony.

And after the situation had calmed down, Dr Scott continued reading the speech on behalf of President Sata saying government was committed to ensuring that livestock diseases were combated nationwide especially in areas where farming was dependent on cattle.

He told the gathering during the Shimunenga traditional ceremony of the Ila people of Maala that stringent measures had been put in place to control livestock diseases in the nation.

“My Government has put in place stringent measures to control livestock diseases countrywide but the exercise against this fight can only be achieved if all stakeholders adhere to the measures,” he said.

He said it was important to put up deep tanks in all areas to reduce on long distances some farmers had to take to find dip tanks.

He said the ministry of Agriculture had been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that all farming inputs including dipping chemicals were distributed on time to allow farmers to have adequate time to prepare themselves.

Dr Scott who was accompanied by his wife Charlotte, Gender Minister Inonge Wina and some government and PF officials, said his presence at the ceremony signified that his government recognised the role traditional leaders played in bringing everyone together to foster unity.

He earlier toured the grave site of the late veteran politician Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and son Baldwin and other family members.

He also toured various developmental projects including the clinic project and the site earmarked for a secondary school to cost of K4 billion.

And chief Mungaila pledged his chiefdom’s desire to work with the Government and praised it for its good policies implemented since it assumed power.

The chief speaking through headman Nalukwe, said his chiefdom was happy that the Government had put in place measures aimed at combating cattle diseases because the ceremony was associated with cattle rearing.

Chief Mungaili asked the government to work on the Kabulamwanda -Kantengwa road which had potential to create economic activities in the province and improve people’s lives.

“Shimunenga is not a political ceremony but we appreciate any support rendered to us by the government during this period because that is also an indication that traditional ceremonies are recognised and respected,” he said.

Area Member of Parliament (MP) Moono Lubezhi described this year’s function as poorly organised as it had so many hiccups and confusion.

She said the announcements made by the PF should be implemented because the Shimunenga ceremony was all about displaying a variety of animals owned by different farmers but that foot and mouth diseases had claimed many animals in the area.

[Times of Zambia]