Thursday, March 28, 2024

Senior Chief Ishindi bans teaching in Luvale in his chiefdom

Share

File:SENIOR Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people of Zambezi being carried on the hammock chair blesses the people during this year’s Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony celebrations held at Mukanda Nkunda palace in Zambezi on Saturday.
File:SENIOR Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people of Zambezi
being carried on the hammock chair blesses the people during this
year’s Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony celebrations held at Mukanda
Nkunda palace in Zambezi on Saturday.

Senior chief Ishindi of the Lunda speaking people in Zambezi district in north western province says teaching Luvale language as a language of instruction in schools is not welcome in his chiefdom.

Senior chief Ishindi says he will not allow Luvale language to be used in schools on the east bank .

He said the continued use of the language in schools as unacceptable.

The traditional ruler said he has to this effect asked education authorities

He since asked those opposing his Lunda language as the only language of instruction in schools to take their children elsewhere where they can learn in Luvale language.

Senior Chief Ishindi was speaking today during a Lunda Lubanza preparatory planning meeting at Zambezi boarding school.

Senior chief Ishindi has also stated that the Lunda Lubanza royal establishment will soon embark on the village registration exercise as part of getting rid of what he termed as intruders in his chiefdom.

But provincial permanent secretary Amos Malupenga who attended the meeting urged the royal establishment to reflect on the call by President Edgar Lungu to promote unity in diversity in the country.

Since government implemented the use of local languages as languages of instruction in schools, parents on the east bank in Zambezi district have opposed the use of Luvale language in schools which is predominantly spoken on the west bank.

67 COMMENTS

    • I have a troubling question regarding these so called chiefs. Can democracy, true democracy co-exist with these chiefs who are just nominated by an accident of birth?

    • @1.1 mungule , I also do not agree with what the so called chief is saying.
      That is why we are lagging behind in terms of development.Let people with “BRAINS” be leaders in these chiefdoms or just get rid of the chief system

    • The Chief is very right, and all Lundas are with him 100%. There will be no time that we shall allow the Lunda people to be undermined, by either the Government, dull analytical people or the Luvales who are jealous of Lunda land because it is fertile whilst the Luvale land is just sand, thereby being unproductive hence their outcry of settlement in our land.
      1. Zambezi district was first called Sandong’u (a Lunda name) before being called Baluvale and now Zambezi.
      2. all those saying against are the same Luvales or their friends because Luvales are naturally corrupt, in most cases those that are corrupt are those that want to get favors for things which they don’t belong to them.
      Come rain come sun shine the decision by Our able, educated, listening Leader shall be defended.

    • what is the main role of chiefs in the country? apart from instigating hateful divisions like this chief is doing and what the S African king did through his speech and being political means of getting to power by some unscrupulous individuals,they are no longer relevant in modern world. i hear some countries like Kenya have done away with chiefdom systems and are managing their political and economic affairs well.It’s high time we also did away with them to avoid tribal conflicts .

  1. This Chief’s negative attitude against the so called perceived intruders has the potential to cause anarchy in Zambezi.The language of play or familiar language is meant to empower the learner and not a particular Chief.I thought this man is well educated but are these the benefits the people of Zambezi deserve ? Its shameful for you North westerners to be majoring in tribalism in this age and era.

    • It is shameful for the chief, not northwesterners. Not all northwesterners think like this. You make a good point but you ruin it by generalizing…

    • Mr Joe please don’t paint us with one brush. As a north-westerner I take offense at your comment.
      Address the matter appropriately

  2. PS Malupenga well spoken ! This Chief is very quarrelsome.When he wanted to dethrone her own Sister Chieftainess Nyakulenga,President Sata almost succeeded in sorting him out.Sata has died and he has started antagonizing people again……He should be well checked again.

    • The government should do something about this chief. If anything, he is pulling the government down. I think kambwili was right when he said, bamo babipa pamenso ngefyo babipa umutima.

  3. This so called chief should learn to decide what his own children need to learn and not speak on behalf of other people.If one is Luvale and Luvale books are in stock and teachers are there,who is he to dictate like that ?Lunda and Luvale children are very innocent.Do not pollute them with your tribalism…..they have the right and freedom to learn what they feel can help them.OK !

    Ministry of education……time for zambian languages,create two classes.Those who want either Lunda or Luvale can choose where to be.Although i am not a North westerner,i know that Zambezi was called Balovale.Why should this dictator marginalize citizens in their own district because of tribe ?

  4. very disappointed with this chief always antagonizing. Its not fair for our Land may the President sort him out. He is the source of those fights in Zambezi. so very different from Chief Kanon’gesha. am happy I come from Mwinulunga with a sober chief not this cantankerous type of chief.

  5. THE chief is on the right path,zambezi east is under lunda kingdom and its logical that lunda is taught ,why is it that lunda is not taught in luapula?its because the widely spoken language is bemba and not lunda just becoz mwata kazembe is lunda.malupenga is talking bullish.

  6. Some outdated cultures are irrelevant in the 21st century. Certain directives ought to come from the national level and serve countrywide equally, The world is a global village and we must move equally worldwide. Modify your constitution and place real issues where they belong, Lets fight ignorance right, left and center.

  7. So if I went Zambezi west I can be taught in Lunda? By the way where are the Luchazis and Mbundas are they gone like the Dinosaur ?

  8. I don’t think languages should be imposed on people. The only language which everyone should be encouraged to learn is English. Reason being that it’s the official language and the language of instruction at higher institutions of learning. Other vernacular languages should just be learned as a matter of choice. This policy of choosing certain vernacular languages and making them seem more important than others is very divisive and should be done away with. Whoever thought getting some local languages and start using them in schools will help this country was not using his head. It was I think a deliberate maneuver by some people to promote some tribes and cultures at the expense of others. I personally don’t want to see my mother language killed by such a primitive policy.

    • I agree with you. The current fiasco was created by Bembas who want to kill off certain languages so that ultimately they can impose their language on Zambia. Minority tribes reject this xenophobia and tribalism by Bembas with the contempt it deserves. We should all stand for our languages against this onslaught.

  9. I don’t think the chief has done anything wrong except calling other people intruders. He should allow any Zambian who wants to live there as long as that person is willing to integrate and respect the local culture. If we truly want to live in the so called global village I don’t think we should start promoting certain tribes leaving others behind. Let’s be realistic and I support what this chief is trying to do. He is the representative of his language and if his language dies then will be irrelevant. Let’s be realistic on certain issues. How will Kaondes feel if one day some ignorant president just works up and says Bemba is widely spoken in solwezi therefore we will start teaching bemba in Solwezi. This is how people start civil wars fellow Zambians.

    • You are right and that the ultimate aim of Bembas. Trust me. Bemba domination over Zambia is the ultimate aim of this new language policy.

    • My fellow Zambians they say too much education opens ones’ eyes and ears to things that will bring depression to the soul.I was shocked at UNZA when I so a document some were in the library it was called THE BEMBANIZATION OF ZAMBIA.It was authored by prof Mubanga kashoki and Pro Chishimba who were instructed by president Chiluba.it was initially classified I don’t know how it got it self in the library.If you read the recommendations you can cry.This project was continued by Sata in 2011.Sata made sure he uprooted all civil servants from other tribes in all high government positions,including foreign missions and replaced them with bembas.Thats why when you see me condemning tribalism in Zambian I know what iam saying.Tribalism has been institutionalized in Zambia starting with Kaunda.

    • Kaunda played a major to the balance of powers in Zambian politics .Why do I say so?Kaunda made it policy to use Nyanja as a media of instruction in all military training colleges or school including LILAYI.He promoted chiefs in certain parts of Zambia to para mount chiefs and left some senior chiefs in southern,central,north western and Copperbelt.The tribal groupings of the Tongas,Lenjes,Luvales,Kaondes,Lundas and Lambas.He called other places as great North road and great east roads.Why don’t we have the great west and south roads ,which are linking as to Bostwana,Zimbabwe ,Namibia and ultimately south Africa?Zambias’ history is the cause of our misery.We need a federal Government to address these evils.My father is Mambwe and my mother is Tonga I am non partisan but stand for the…

    • My submission is that let as not make Zambian languages compulsory in Zambia, let it be taught as option subject. In a democracy lets not force policies on peoples’ throats. I thank you.

  10. Can we think subjectively ,what was wrong with the old system that has lived for more than 45yrs of luvale on the west,Lunda on the east. If I may ask what is wrong by teaching luvale in western province with a good population of mbundas and luvales? Why have 7 tribes out of the 73? Why not allow children learn lunda than introducing luvale if all languages are equal ? Can we stop behaving provocative who ever is in support of demeaning the issue. We shall always support the idea of those not ready to go and learn luvale elsewhere. Viva our senior chief because if govt was sincere we could have seen this arrangement elsewhere especially on the lambaland side by side lamba and bemba.

  11. Awe Chief Ishindi mwaluba. We, the lundas of Mwata Kazembe do not even speak Lunda; we speak Bemba; and the chief does not beat us to speak Lunda. In fact we speak “aushi” centric Bemba and English. Senior chief, please reflect on the negative impact this registration will have on us as your people. We are coming there soon to establish ourselves as sons of Zambia. “Akamana ukupoomapo nipamabwe, efili nemfumu ukutangala, nipabantu!”.

  12. Pipo shud understand what is meant by language of play. Simply put, it is the language children use when playing. Check the last census statistics and check who are many between Luvales and Lindas. The whites when they came found a lot of Nkoyas in Kaoma and called it Mankoya. They found the Luvales as owners of current day Zambezi and called it Balovale. Why didn’t they call it Malunda or Balunda? KK changed de names for unity’s sake. Now that it has come to this, let us return to the old names. Chibangubangu Lsk.

  13. The educated Lunda chief is right. GRZ should not impose other languages in different areas. Use Lunda on the Lunda side and Luvale on the Luvale side. same is true about Bemba and other tribes. people can speak their language in any area, but teaching of local languages should only be done in the language of the area.

  14. The late president had given a directive to ministry of education that Luvale and Linda shud be taught on the east and west banks. PEO northwestern and DEBS Zambezi have been too slow to implement this directive. Books have been sent but can’t be used because of the same chief. Who said Zambezi river is a boundary? Chavuma is on the east and 98% are Luvales – check last census and you want them to use Linda books. Check the last census again and see who the majority in Zambezi between the two. Which river has divided people? A river is just used as a political boundary not tribal. Read your history and see who came early to Balovale. An educated person is judged by his actions and not papers. There are many educated chiefs in the country with degrees. One is even a doctor. Zaza. Lsk.

  15. I agree with Mwata Kazembe Lumbanza and the Chief on language issue. Don’t indirectly promote other languages more than others so as to kill the less used languages.

    • Buck Teeth, you just have an inferiority complex against Bemba coz the language has spread like wild fire more than yo inferio tribe you moron. Ok tell me any place in Zambia where Bemba is not spoken. Plz stop insulting the Bemba tribe, they are just ordinary outgoing friendly loving people unlike you ingroup thinker, you nincompoop chi Buck Teeth

  16. Jorick ishidi was educated at balovale secondary school now zambezi secondary.Before he was born,he found luvale on the both the east bank and west bank.Why does he feel insecure with children learning the other language ? Who gave him authority to mess up peoples children ? Let him be kolopad and a reasonable leader who can bring harmony be installed.It is sad Sata is dead and he wants to take advantage.

  17. In the Luapula the Supreme Ruler is Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda, but we all speak Cibemba related dialects like Ushi, Chishinga etc. Can the Chief oppose the teaching in Bemba which is the language of the majority?

  18. A river is a natural phenomena and should never be used to divide people.Ishindi should indeed reflect seriously.God is watching over you every second.What would you ever gain by claiming the whole of the so called east bank and then lose out on judgement day ? I agree with the suggestion that the two languages should be taught side by side.

    • Dr John Phiri when he served as Minster of Education ably articulated this issue of tribes. He said some are just dialects, meaning they are similar. Therefore only the 7 languages will be taught in schools. Tribes been grouped in the regions. In SP for instance is Tonga the only language, answer is no and same for WP,EP, NP etc. So stop demanding e.g for Lamba to be taught etc

  19. Who is this PEO and DEBS who resisted the King Cobras directive to have the two languages co exist ? They should be kolopad with immediate effect for causing confusions on an issue which is straight forward.

    Language teaching is meant to empower a learner and not a chief.You education people should sensitize that primitive chief who is barking like a rabbi ed dog.

  20. as a lunda i am disappointed in this so called chief . these are the type of people that cause xenophobia . he should be removed . we are one zambia , all tribes are welcome in any part of the country , no discrimination .

    • Thank you Kimberly. I’m equally very disappointed. Not just because I’m Luvale but the effect that these words could have, especially in light of what has happened before in Balovale (Zambezi) in the past. We should not forget the trouble of ’98.

  21. THIS REGION HAS A PROBLEM. IT IS THE ONLY PROVINCE WITH THREE LANGUAGES OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED, KAONDE, KALUNDA, KALUBALE. BECAUSE THEY LACK UNITY. NO WONDER IT IS AMONG THE LEAST DEVELOPED. EVEN WITH LOTS OF MINERALS UNDER THEIR FEET. BRIEFCASE INVESTORS ARE WRECKING HUGE PROFITS FROM MINING BY CAPITALIZING ON SUCH DIVISIONS. POOR CHIEFS ARE GIVEN OLD BROKEN DOWN CARS IN EXCHANGE FOR MINING RIGHTS. CHIEF KASEMPA AND CHIEF INGWE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING OVER A MINE. THIS SHOULD END OTHRWISE POVERTY WILL BE YOUR LOT FOREVER.

    • NWP has the most languages because there’s no dominant tribe and the tribal groups are small and dispersed in different areas. NWP has the least population and registered voters in Zambia. That’s their history. You cannot change that. It is not about lack of unity.

  22. Political leaders should never under play the depth to which this tribe /language issue goes. This has to make us realise that regardless of how small the tribe grouping in Zambia is, it deserves to be recognised and respected fully and there should never be any tribe because of it largeness to assume that it owns Zambia single handedly, or else we are better off subdividing the country into small bits.

    • I was told by a Dutch man that even in their Country Netherlands, they have many dialects but they decided as a Country to just adopt one, the commonly spoken and made it an official language.

      In Belgium they have 3 languages as you move from one region to another. What can work for Zambia

  23. We had an uneducated president with very little understanding of issues. He could not foresee the consequences of his decisions and blind people were supporting every nonsense the guy was uttering. He also had a very foolish education minister even though educated. Together, the fools thought that there was something wrong with the languages being used to teach at primary schools. We allowed a person who had never sat on a desk at school to determine how children should be taught. Shame on us Zambians especially the learned.

    • Mambwe,
      The suggestion to teach the local languages from grade 1 to 4 was not Sata’s idea for yo info. Discussions on this started way back during the MMD. You can ask yo DEBS how long this process/ discussions/ consultations took. By the time Sata came into Office, they were just finalising/ implementing and it looked as if it was Sata. Please don’t be deliberately too ignorant about these things accusing na bakaele. God will judge you, hatred is sin the Bible teaches to love one another even you perceived enemies

  24. Politicians should never try to impose their will on the people. This young Malupenga who was imposed on NWP will be gone from NWP and even from the earth in the next 50 years but the Lunda Kingdom will still be there with the current Chief Inshidi or with someone else. Inshidi is not saying that one can’t speak Luvale in Lunda Kingdom but language teaching should be in only English and Lunda. This same should happen in Luvale land. If kafupi and Cobra’s strategy was to use Luvale as a test case before introducing Bemba or any other language in the Lunda kingdom, they were mistaken. The same will not happen trying to impose another language in Mongu other than Lozi.

    • Iwe forget about ‘kingdom’, you are even saying kingdom sure. Plz don’t drag us backward. The era of kingdoms is long over. We are in a democratic modern era and those chiefs who are good for nothing will be done away with. They are ceremonial just for culture and traditions. Infact they promot immorality during their so called traditional ceremonies.
      They don’t even encourage education

  25. The issue here is between Luvale and Lunda. I do not see any need to condemn Bemba. It should also be noted that there is little difference between Bemba language and Lamba. So let us be careful in the way we comment on this issue.

  26. With this kind of xenophobic thinking, this chief is likely to resort to genocide. The president should keep his eyes on the ball as far as that district is concerned. Sata had managed to tame the troublesome chief. What is he going to do to the so called intruders who have settled in his chiefdom? Tell them to leave? So other chiefs in the country should also do the same to his people? The country must by now be tired of that chief and his outbursts. Funny enough, it is always negative news coming from that impoverished district.

  27. Please Chief Ishindi, when are you going to talk about development like you fellow Chiefs Mumena, Kanongesha, Ntambu and Munjimanzovu? Whenever you open your mouth, its about Luvales, why do you have a hatred for Luvales? Learning Luvale will not make a Lunda become a Luvale or the other way round, its just a language for communication. It is folly for some people to think a river is a boundary, who said so? a river is a natural resource meant to benefit all not a boundary. It may be used as a political boundary and not a language boundary because its natural that you find the same people on both sides of a river. Are there no Lundas to advise this Chief. How do you fight everyone. I wished he was my Chief, I would have advised him. Don’t derail Government programmes. Cage him. Hanga…

  28. I agree with Ihaku. Luvales are corrupt. for instance if you if you are from another tribe and you visit or come and work in Zambezi district you will be corrupted by giving you a Luvale Beautiful girl of your choice or an Animal(s) as an inducement, I stand to testify to this. I also attended a meeting of all chief from Lunda&Luvale at Zambezi motel, Snr.chief Ndungu failed to deliberate ended up in causing fight with Snr.chief Ishindi who was at the time more of an intellectual. My advise to the Lundas is stand for what belongs to you and guide it jealously.
    Chief Ishindi again I salute him for standing for his people, relent not Sir in light and dark moments. God who gave you that land will stand by you always.

  29. Mr. Lubasi you are right on the statement that Luvales are corrupt. like you said and I caught (“for instance if you are from another tribe and you visit or come and work in Zambezi district you will be corrupted by giving you a Luvale Beautiful girl of your choice or an Animal(s) as an inducement,’) I stand to testify to this also. I also attended a meeting of all the chief from Lunda&Luvale at Zambezi Motel, Snr.chief Ndungu failed to deliberate ended up in causing fight with Snr.chief Ishindi who was at the time more of an intellectual.’ basically I also happened to be there. True to your words l was surprise with the behavior for Snr.chief Ndungu. Also Luvales are more of Rudy to the Lunda Authority Hence, the Lundas Reaction, for me its Inevitable.

  30. Us Lundas of Mwinilunga are realistic and we could have told Ishidi off.We have no problems with our Luvale brothers and Sisters.Jorick Ishidi and a few of his puppets need to be caged before they can cause anarchy in Zambezi.
    This chief is not liked even by us.He thinks he is more superior than our own here.Govt should just degazette him.The whole of NWP can celebrate.

  31. This primitive chief is jealousy of the Luvales who are hard working,industrious and own almost all businesses at the township.He attempted to establish a filling station which he has failed using borrowed CEEC loan.He is subletting it to new owners who have pumped in some money.He is just dull….his heart is full of evil.

  32. Stop misusing the Lubasi name ! Use your Kalunda tribalistic name.In western province,luvales are our relatives and we don’t fight.Did they do corruption by giving out your dirty mother ? corrupting for what ? You are just failures in life because of your bad hearts and God does not bless you.

  33. Chief if I may address this directly to you. Yo can have the language just like in schools they offer French and English (bilingual) and not losing the mother tongue. In doing so you are getting rid of your culture and a part of your heritage which makes you, your community and your people. Tourists coming to see you will want to see the host authenticity and not a duplicate. In tourism we call this: Demonstration Effect. The phenomenon of local residents adopting the styles and manners they have observed in visiting tourists. I hope this will help in your final decisions. Thank you!

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading