President Edgar Lungu says he is confident that the House of Chiefs Committee that he appointed would address the land wrangles in Zambezi district between Senior Chiefs Ndungu and Ishindi.
President Lungu who held a meeting with the two traditional leaders at Zambezi Council Chamber today pleaded with them to dialogue while waiting for the House of Chiefs to resolve their tribal disputes and finds a lasting solution.
The two traditional leaders became highly charged in the Meeting as they came face to face with each other for the first time in a long while.
President Lungu vowed that he would not allow tribal conflicts under his reign because Zambia was founded on the One Zambia One Nation motto of embracing love peace and unity.
Mr. Lungu said he did not understand why there was conflict in the Zambezi district when all other parts of the country were embracing other tribes.
He cited the Kaonde’s who had accommodated other tribes in Solwezi and Kaonde Lambas in Central province.
And the two Senior Chiefs gave the Head of State a brief customary background of boundaries and pledged to support government and its progressive policies of developing the area.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has commissioned the commencement of the rehabilitation of Zambezi and Chavuma township roads.
He reiterated government’s commitment to open up the two districts to the rest of the province through a good road network.
While in the two areas, several opposition MMD members defected to the ruling PF.
President Lungu who welcomed the defectors, has since directed PF secretary General Davies Chama to mobilise party activities in North-Western province.
He expressed gratitude that the ruling party was growing on a daily basis not only in the North-Western province but the country as a whole.
And president Lungu has since returned to Lusaka after a three-day working visit to the North Western province.
The President was welcomed at the Zambia Air Force City airport by Service Chiefs, senior government and PF party officials.
This is the second visit that President has undertaken to the North Western province in two weeks.
Now how did ba Lungu feel when the two chiefs started quarrelling in his presence. He should have waited for the people he has assigned to mediated in the case to complete their work and report to him, thereafter he could have taken the nesxt step
Ba Lungu be careful, this Luvale- Lunda issue is more complicated than you think. If you don’t handle it properly, like you seem to just want to recruit more PF members and get votes, it will blow in your face. These are long time issues that need to be handled seriously than just politicking.
Edgar go back to work, stop being so frivolous over tribalism. Go deal with Chinese and Americans, not our tribes. Land issues has been there ever since.
Imagine the whole president chairing a land dispute issue among head men…this is why you have the House of Chiefs and Cabinet ministers. Please Lazy Lungu go to State House and do proper work not lazying about commissioning things….if you really want to settle land disputes go to Western Province.
Lundas and luvales have a big problem. The only solution is to degazete the two senior chiefs until they resolve their problems and in the meantime let the president apoint some headmen from kaonde land to go and rule in Zambezi west and east as chiefs period.
Your comment does not make sense at all instead it shows disrespect to our Chiefs and God who appoints leaders is watching so be careful do not think that you are hidden from the eyes of God. Give proper solutions and not nonsense.
The problem is not with the people, it’s govt’s failure to implement education policy which is so clear:
Kaonde – (Solwezi, Kasempa, Mufumbwe).
Luvale – (Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi
Lunda – (Mwinilunga and some parts of Zambezi) based on the language of play in the school catchment area.
People have provided the language of play in each school catchment area of Zambezi. Based on this criterion Luvale appears every where. Now what is the problem with policy implementation if the rule is satisfied.
The Policy does not mention chiefdoms, rivers, trees, mountains, etc as mechanisms for language boundary but just language of play in catchment area.
Luvales have also gone further to allow the use of Lunda in their own Zone (Kabompo), even when the policy dictates that Kabompo must…
Since time immemorial our chiefs have been a source of underdevelopment and if I had my way I would ban the whole lot.
Witness how they enslave their subjects and how they sold them into slavery to Arabs and whites
Even today all they talk about are improvements to their palaces.
Away with feudalism.
Are you not aware that the difference between Chinyama (Luvale’s) and Luweji (Lunda’s) was caused by a Luba (Kaonde). Consult widely.
We were not going to have all this without that Kaonde man..
Yes, get some good Kaondes and Tongas to go and discipline their Mbuyas. The Lozi’s should do the Training of Trainers working with facilitators from Bembaland and Ngoniland!! That is One Zambia One Nation.
Chief Ishindi is the major culprit in this tribal wrangle.How can he claim Zambezi boma is his and Luvales should not be there ? It is a well known fact that Zambezi was Balovale.The colonialists found Luvales who were the early inhabitants of the Land.The next Lunda Chief to arrive was Chief Ishima.Why should Ishindi victimise the people who welcomed him in the area ? Govt should deal with him and the district will see peace.
In my view,Ministry of Education has not been fair in one of the contescious issue.Late President Sata who understood the History of this Country ruled fairly that Lunda and Luvale should be taught side by side in schools which seemingly are dominated by both languages.The two PS’s at MOE ignored this wise counsel and behaved like colonial masters who thought Zambezi river should be the boundary between the two tribal groupings.How can you stop a Luvale from learning Luvale at former Balovale primary or Balovale secondary school(only boarding school in the district) because it is on the eastern part of the river? Does it make sense Mr Nkosha or Dr Nkanza (although you are Lunda ) ? Be fair to ensure that both children benefit educationally ?
Correct. The Ministry of Education is to blame. The policy is clear:
Kaonde – (Solwezi, Kasempa, Mufumbwe).
Luvale – (Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi
Lunda – (Mwinilunga and some parts of Zambezi) based on the language of play in the school catchment area.
People have provided the language of play in each school catchment area of Zambezi. Based on this criterion Luvale appears every where. Now what is the problem with policy implementation if the rule is satisfied.
The Policy does not mention chiefdoms, rivers, trees, mountains, etc as mechanisms for language boundary but just language of play in catchment area.
Luvales have also gone further to allow the use of Lunda language in their own Zone (Kabompo), even when the policy dictates that Kabompo should be Luvale.
So who have…
The Zambezi story is more or less like the story of the camel and the master.Chief Ndungu made a mistake of allowing Ishidi to settle in Balovale district.Today Ishidi has grown big teeth and feels even the crown land which is the township is his alone…..it is difficult to trust a human being.This is the same chief who stopped the construction of a cultural village to boost tourism during the Mwanawasa era because he thought it would favour the Luvales.What kind of thinking is this where a simple chief can block development and govt is watching ? Its incredible indeed.
Liv, Jane and Banda, your Sata and your PF are the ones the one who have created problems in Zambezi. Don’t force the teaching of Luvale in Lunda land and Luvale in Lunda land. Does the calling of Barlotseland mean that the areas claimed to be Barlotseland belong to the Lozis?
Yes, Lozi’s have dominion over Barotseland. Other tribes and chiefs are accommodated into Barotseland but the language of instruction is Lozi despite the settlement of other tribes there.
Also remember (or ask your parents) that Lunda district is now called Mwinilunga, and the same principle is at play. In Lunda district (Mwinilunga), teachers instruct in Lunda because that is Lunda land.
Further remember that in Kaonde land (Solwezi), children are instructed in Kaonde despite accommodating Lunda chiefs in that district.
Know also that Lundas are accommodated in Bemba land, in which case Bemba takes dominion.
The same principle is true with Balovale district which has also accommodated other tribes/chiefs. The language of instruction should be Luvale because that is Luvale land.
The Barotseland example is irrelevant in the Zambezi issue.What people are saying is that Zambezi is for both tribes and they have to co exist despite certain colonial historical biases.It is not in order to disadvantage one tribe at the expense of the other.There is only one boarding secondary school on the east bank.You the so called Tumelu,is it correct in your parochial view to promote only Lunda just because govt has not built another boarding school on the west bank ?….Abash colonialist mentality ! Zambezi boarding (Balovale formerly ) for example is for all Zambians despite its historical location.
Lozi’s have dominion over Barotseland. Other tribes and chiefs are accommodated into Barotseland but the language of instruction is Lozi despite the settlement of other tribes there.
Lunda district is now called Mwinilunga, and the same principle is at play. In Lunda district (Mwinilunga), teachers instruct in Lunda because that is Lunda land.
In Kaonde land (Solwezi), children are instructed in Kaonde despite accommodating Lunda chiefs in that district.
Lundas are also accommodated in Bemba land, in which case Bemba takes dominion.
The same principle is true with Balovale district which has also accommodated other tribes/chiefs. The language of instruction should be Luvale because that is Luvale land.
Good effort Mr President
I dont think so because gvt is failing to implement policy.
The education policy is clear:
Kaonde – (Solwezi, Kasempa, Mufumbwe).
Luvale – (Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi
Lunda – (Mwinilunga and some parts of Zambezi) based on the language of play in the school catchment area.
People have provided the language of play in each school catchment area of Zambezi. Based on this criterion Luvale appears every where. Now what is the problem with policy implementation if the rule is satisfied.
The Policy does not mention chiefdoms, rivers, trees, mountains, etc as mechanisms for language boundary but just language of play in catchment area.
Luvales have also gone further to allow the use of Lunda language in their own Zone (Kabompo), even when the policy dictates that Kabompo should be…
Alternatively,the best solution is to ask His Royal highness Senior Chief Kanongesha in Mwinilunga to provide some land for Ishindi.The problem is once assisted by our Chief,he may claim that he is the paramount chief of all Lundas.He has that fake superiority complex.
TOTAL NOSENSE Please learn to respect our traditional leaders.
In fact Mwinilunga is the only true Lunda district in Zambia. Remember that for a long time and after their own independent research, white colonialists and the Rhodesian project called Mwinilunga the “Lunda district” while they called Zambezi the “Balovale district”.
So there will be no harm in chief Ishindi returning to that which is his own. Ash to Ash, soil to soil, the spirit to its own creator where it originates.
It’s sad but I would like people who are knowledgeable on this issue to educate us. Not the ranting of the first two blogs. They have not helped by their belittling the efforts by Edgar. People should be serious on such matters.
Question is why did Ndungu choose to settle on the other side only to realise it was not fertile.
Only snr Chief Ndungu can help us on this question
The owner of land can choose to settle anywhere but a stranger forces himself even in what should be state land.
Hope this has answered your question
The reason is simple. Luvales keep a lot of cattle and the best grazing land is on the west bank.These people are also good fishermen and the best rivers/streams with good fish is on the west bank.No wonder they are the richest owning alot of trading shops and good houses at Zambezi boma.Apparently this appears to invoke some jealousy in one of their senior neighbors and a few others.The majority of the people in Zambezi are peaceful and loving.During funerals,weddings and traditional ceremonies ordinary Lundas and Luvales co exist and help one another.The buck still stops at Chief Ishindi.
You forgot to say that their neighbors specialize in poaching and collection of honey on the east bank.There is no pure family in Zambezi which can claim not to have either Lunda or Luvale blood.They are one and the same.The source of conflicts is just one famous Chief well known for promoting hatred.The earlier he is sorted out the better for the place.ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION……..WELL DONE PRESIDENT LUNGU….YOU ARE A PEACE MAKER AND YOU ARE A BLESSED PRESIDENT INDEED.
No one is claiming for fertile land anywhere.All that people want is fairness in the utilization of public institutions such as schools,hospitals,churches etc.For instance the same Chief stops people from preaching in churches using other languages.Is this not primitivity of the highest order ?
Ha ha ha ! then he is a threatened creature not fit to live with other human beings.Govt should cage him.In Mwinilunga,where i lived at one time,this Chief is not liked despite being a relative to the people there because he is as stubborn as King Nebuchadnezzar.He thinks he is more Senior than Snr Chief Kanongesha who is well respected by both Lundas and Luvales in this Country.Ask him as to when he last visited Mwinilunga ?
Lozi’s have dominion over Barotseland. Other tribes and chiefs are accommodated into Barotseland but the language of instruction is Lozi despite the settlement of other tribes there.
Also remember (or ask your parents) that Lunda district is now called Mwinilunga, and the same principle is at play. In Lunda district (Mwinilunga), teachers instruct in Lunda because that is Lunda land.
Further remember that in Kaonde land (Solwezi), children are instructed in Kaonde despite accommodating Lunda chiefs in that district.
Know also that Lundas are accommodated in Bemba land, in which case Bemba takes dominion.
The same principle is true with Balovale district which has also accommodated other tribes/chiefs. The language of instruction should be Luvale because that is Luvale land.
Is it true that this same stubborn Chief was educated at Balovale secondary school before he got a job as a junior health assistant in Kaoma ? I live in Lusaka and i have never heard Chieftainess Nkomeshya claim that Soli should be taught in schools.Chinyanja is being taught.P.S Nkosha and Nkanza tell us why Luvale can not be taught in Balovale.Is it because of your blurred colonial mentality of thinking a river should divide the people ? Get back to UNZA and learn the historiography of Zambia,the biases of colonialism and so on.Either Dr Chiputa,Dr Choondoka,Dr Kalusa,Dr Krishna or Professor Phiri can give you a good lesson and you will avoid misrepresenting govt in the educational sector.
……..Mr. Lungu said he did not understand why there was conflict in the Zambezi district when all other parts of the country were embracing other tribes……….
How can a president say this as if he is a visiting envoy from another continent?
Can the president mention any single area in this country where the govt is still following the recommendations of the Mac Donnell Commission and there is no conflict?
Or can he mention any country in Africa and beyond that was engineered by the Rhodesian Project and has no internal conflict?
Lunda-Lubale are one.I advise you read grad 7, 9 HISTORY. There are answrs. Isue is Chief Ishindi is the Senior most chief among the Children of Mantianvwa. Thse includ both Ndungu and Ishindi. Setling in Zambzi by both was done many years ago. The whites namd the district as balovale boma cause the first person they ecounterd was a luvale. Was asked what place was it, simply replied balovale. So the name Balovale boma. The district is vast. Health facilities and education were first estblishd on the east. So the luvales had to migrate enmass to the eastern side with a view to dominat. Division comes in on languge usage in chiefdoms. A ruling was pased in cort chiefdms are demcated by Zambezi river. Solution-creat west BANK distristct,build bridge acros,hospito,bodn sch, offices. Simple
It’s so painful for any tribe to be labled tribal. So the president is just puting fire to this isue. He should just wait for his commission to give him recomendtions. Lundas and Lubales are one although their languges are distinct. Politicians are the ones bringing divisions. Usage of languge in schools is what has exhumed these difrences. If Politicins will say East use Lunda and west Lubale, it will be half solution. We need to go back to using English in sch. as a medium of instrutions not local languages. Already I have heard lambas complaining in the media about the use of other languages in lamba land schools. Lungus, Namwangas, Lenjes, Solis, Tumbukas, Nsengas, Bwiles, Lunda-Kazembes,Mbundas will demand to hve thir languges usd in thir chifdoms. Reveting to English is only…
It is a lie to insinuate that Ishindi is the Senior most sons of Mwatayamva.That is immateial because we know that they are actually related.The question is why should this man think he owns schools and other public institutions in Zambezi ? how many buckets full of honey did he sell to contribute to the budget ?Nkanza and Nkosha should be fired by the President for not interpreting the educational policy correctly.If Kabompo is deemed Luvale zone,why are certain schools allowed to teach Lunda ? Using common sense,the Luvales have allowed Lunda in those few schools to benefit the learners which is fine.Now why should the two PS’s say Luvale should not be taught in the east bank in Balovale? Nkanza from Chitokoloki is using Nkosha to make wild pronouncements with potential to spark war.
This problematic Chief is good at intimidating people with his sikolodigo history he has created.When he visited MOE recently,the education officials were intimidated and coerced to make useless pronouncements without following policy.
If official at the MOE are accepting to be forced to do wrong things then they must be useless. How can a technocrat abadon policy guideline and resort to following a villager from Mukandakunda.
Yes i agree with you because i lived and worked in Kabompo and Zambezi and i know the type of a leader Ishindi is.His actions clearly shows that Balovale is not his.In the bible, i would equate him to that woman who claimed for a child who was not hers and was ready to have the baby slit into two even when she knew that would cause death to the child.
As their tribal cousin,i would also ask him : how many pieces of game meat did he sell to contribute to the construction of these public institutions.If resources used were for govt,let both Luvales and Lundas benefit.
President Lungu should just dethrone this fellow for the sake of peace.Sata almost succeeded in doing the right thing.The issue of commissions of equiry on a straight forward matter especially in educational matters….??
Excellent!!!
The best is to get rid of this ishindi chieftainship all together from Zambia, after all the real chief ishindi is there in Angola.
If Ishindi was a son of Mwanti Yanvu, the question is which Ishindi is the true son: the one in Congo/Angola or the one in Zambezi/Zambia?
Because a single chieftainship can only have one living chief (not parallel structures.
If he will argue let him visit his fellow Lunda chiefs in Mwinilunga to convince them about the origin of his Ishindi (Zambia) chieftainship. Why does he run away from his fellow Lunda chiefs and cause confusion among Luvale’s.
SATA ALREADY MADE A WISE DECISION FOR BOTH LUVALE AND LUNDA TO BE TAUGHT IN ZAMBEZI.WHY ARE YOU STILL WASTING TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE OF ONE INDISCIPLINED CHIEF THEN OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN SHOULD SUFFER IN THEIR OWN LAND ? SLAVERY ENDED MANY YEARS AGO AND STOP INFRINGING ON OTHER PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS.
DONT TALK ABOUT ZAMBEZI RIVER…..IN KALABO,LOZI’S ARE ON BOTH EAST AND WEST BANK.LOZI’S ON EAST BANK SHOULD NOT FEEL THEY ARE MORE LOZI’S THAN THOSE ON THE WEST….DONT GET CONFUSED BY ONE WHITE COLONIALIST IN THE NAME OF BRUCE MILLER WHO TALKED ABOUT ZAMBEZI RIVER WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY CAN SETTLE ON EITHER SIDE OF A RIVER…..ABASH COLONIAL MENTALITY.
@Musana, you would be a fool to allow a settler get the best of your land because you are the owner of the land what thinking is that if that place was one,then the government should have developed both. Why do you call these places West Bank and East Bank? simple they have boundaries.
But is the current debate over land ownership or use of language. Why do you mix chiefdom boundaries with people’s liberties to use the language of their choice.
Have you not heard that in Lusaka which is a Soli chiefdom people use Nyanja, in Luapula which is a Lunda chiefdom people use Bemba, in Kabompo which is Luchazi chiefdom children learn Luvale?
What is the problem with understanding this principle?
The West and East demarcation you are talking about is for political administration (east constituency and west constituency) and not language usage boundary.
Now suppose if there were three constituencies, which tribe and language is going to be assigned to the third constituency?
Why do you have tribal lenses to everything in life?
@ I meant you would be a big f.0o.l
The Muzungu who had first contact Luvale man and called the boma Balovale was to blame this mess.The boundary between Lundas and Luvales is clear.The problem is Luvales came to settle on Lunda side later and started dominating and claiming they are the owners and this is what brought problems.Its having a visitor in a who takes over the owners responsibilty.Bazungus had Luvales who were visitors on eastern side as servants cos Luvales were easy goers and could work in Bazungus toilets while Lundas were/are very reserved people and Luvales interacted wth Bazungus and called the Boma Balovale not because its was for Luvales thats why this name was changed after independence. today people fromNw are called Bakalubale cos Lubales worked in toilets and were known for that more than others.
Go to Lozi website you will find history of Lundas.Chief Nshindi is not stubborn but knows his history.His father was too soft and allowed Luvales to settle on Lunda side and they turned against him.Anybody in Zambia can live anywhere but whats bad is if the settler in that place starts claiming he is the owner because the Muzungu he is woking for happens to learn his language and names street where they live by name of his servant and this is what happened to the name Baloval THAT WHY IT WAS CHANGED AFTER INDEPENDECE.Its colonialists mistake.Luvales chased a Lunda chief from Chavuma which was Lunda land and todayChavuma is considere as Luvale land.You can blame chief Ishindi.
Chief Ishindi is not stubborn but history has taught him to be what he is.His father was too soft hence allowed alot of Lubales to settle on Lunda side and even make their masters call the Boma which was on Lunda side Balovale.This was the genesis of the problem.The western side is bad but eastern side is good and this second cause of problem.Yes Lundas and Lubales have settled in Solwezi but they accept its Kaonde land and Lundas could accept Lubales only if Lubales accept its Lundaland instead of taking over evrything.Yes Luvale is easyble to learn to speak than Lunda and Luvales are more sociable than Lundas thats why NW people are called Kalubales even when they are not cos LUBALES worked as domestic workers pre-independence more than other NW tribes
Sunday Chanda,
its nonsense and unfortunate that you did your research using G7 books.
Go back to school and do wide and deep research to understand the African history, esp the origins, migrations and recognitions of existing chieftainships in central and southern Africa. Research findings, administrative protocols and treaties used by early white settlers to occupy territories, establish and name districts are available in the UK public libraries and major universities in Europe.
You must know that whites were not so shallow as to just bump into one person and use his views to create and name districts. The documents mentioned above will tell you how they went about this process. Are you saying the creation of Mwinilunga as a Lunda district was a mistake?
Also know that chief Ndundu (and other relations of Chinyama) are NOT among the children of Mwanti Yanvu (the forefather of the current Lunda chiefs). Do your research deeper beyond G7 on this before you post comment to avoid embarrassing yourself.
You must also know that Luvale migration into Balovale land was not after creation of the Sec School and hospitals, because the secondary school you are mentioning was establish in 1965 where as the whites created Balovale district in 1907 (more than half a century earlier).
Ask yourself why white Missionaries in Balovale had to learn Luvale in order to preach the gospel in the communities where as their colleagues in Mwinilunga had to learn Lunda to do the same work.
Take it easy Musana,you will develop BP for nothing, why is it that you are the only one frothing at the mouth over this issue? Do the missionaries in chitokoloki speak Luvale.Relax man you are so immotional !!
Wajimona, my brother, this issue is annoying indeed, because it’s sad to hear that our poor people who are already hard hit with economic hardships, are being victimized by a selfish and meaningless individual. What contribution does Ishindi add to people’s economic wellbeing for him to victimize them? For instance, how much income would be lost from your business if Ishindi never existed? It’s just nonsense!
As for language use my brother, maybe now that missionaries are now using Lunda at Chitokoloki in the light of this current madness.
But I have never come across any literature that George Suckling translated in Lunda at the time of setting up the mission at Chitokoloki, but I have many of such in Luvale. Share with me any Lunda literature done at Chitokoloki by then.
It is also a common fact that Luvale was the language used at Chitokoloki Mission Sch following its establishment in 1914.
This was the case with all the mission schools which were opened on either side of Balovale District (Chavuma, Zambezi, Kabompo) including the first Government school established at Balovale Boma in 1945.
Lunda was only introduced in 1948 in the teaching of pupils at lower primary schools. Am sure you know what happened in 1948 that facilitated the inclusion of Lunda.
At secondary school, Zambian Languages have been optional subjects for a long time.
So where does the madness of chasing people from churches, homes, farms, etc coming from?
Know also that even after the Rhodesian project made scam recognitions and created questionable chieftainships to advance their business aspirations, no restriction was ever made on people to use language in accordance with such fiddle chiefdom boundaries. Because the zoning of the whole territory under Rhodesian project was aimed at making it easy to collet Loyalties using the royal palaces they established as revenue centers, where chiefs were given stamps and receipt books to collect tax (indirect rule). It had nothing to do with cultural dimensions but purely business. Hence Luvale was used in Kabompo where they took Luchazi and Mbunda/Lozi chiefs. Bemba was used in Luapula were Lunda chiefs were recognized, Nyanja was used in Soli land, etc.
So who told you that if a person was brought from Lufwiji in Angola and was recognized as Lunda chief (for the purposes of revenue collection) in Zambezi East then only Lunda should be used in that territory?
And finally, there has never been any court ruling that restricts use of language to localities or boundaries of a chiefdom in Zambia. You must be talking about something else maybe not language usage.
The big problem is that, the other chief comes from DRC and the other ANGOLA. its KASAI Vs MUMBUNDA
In a nutshell,it is clear that the earliest inhabitants of Zambezi were the Luvales.Ishindi was brought from Lufwiji in Angola recently and in reality the original one is still in Angola.The decision by late Sata to have both languages learnt by pupils side by side is the best ever…and its the way to go.
President Lungu should warn ishindi that further confusions in Zambezi will lead to serious consequences.
The two PS’s who disrespected Sata’s directive to implement ishindi’s directives should be disciplined.The large Luvale speaking group in NWP and Western….Luvale,Luchazi,Mbunda,Chokwe,Mbundu currently look at the two officials as traitors and have no confidence in them any more.