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Shawa dismisses Chitimukulu’s death rumours

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Chief Chitimukulu
Chief Chitimukulu
Northern Province Minister Charles Shawa has dispelled rumours alleging that Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people has died.

Mr. Shawa said contrary to the rumours going round, his Royal Highness Mwine Lubemba who is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka was receiving the best treatment from medical personnel.

Briefing the Press in his office in Kasama yesterday (Saturday), Mr. Shawa said he was concerned that some people were spreading falsehood that the Paramount Chief was dead when in fact he was in a stable condition.

The Minister has since appealed to the people of Northern Province to pray for the quick recovery of the paramount chief.

He said he was in constant touch with the Chief and always pays him a visit whenever he is in Lusaka.

Mr. Shawa has also paid tribute to medical personnel at Kasama General Hospital for making a timely decision to evacuate the paramount chief Chitimukulu to Lusaka.

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was last week evacuated to the University Teaching hospital following recommendations by medical personnel at Kasama General hospital.

ZANIS/ENDS/HM/CLM

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

114 COMMENTS

  5. #1 you right lets wait & see coz i know ifyabufumu limbi chishinka
    natoba akaputi kuchulu naunotulepeema euleuleta.when the chief dies
    they do no let the people know until they appoint MULINDA CHIPEMBWE.

  8. We pray and hope mwine lubemba is fine. howeva,i do hope tht he has a properly outlined succesion plan coz history has taught us tht th death of a chief in zambia is th beginning of serious succession wrangles. even kapasos try their luck.

  9. Shawa, the Bembas do not announce the death of a chief there and then. It takes up to a year. Don’t break tradition please. I will not be surprised if you have forced your kuli babenye just to prove.

  12. “Theres no smoke without fire” i doubt if my chief is stil breathing coz the other time was taken to South Africa how come today is in UTH? Does it mean UTH is now better than it was few months ago?

  14. Negative rumours are always quick to spread whenever a leader is unwell. We all hope his condition is not that bad.
    Na ba pole bwangu mukwai Bashilubemba Kana besa.^:)^

  16. #2. You will be the first to complain if yet another leader were evacuated to South Africa. Let us rejoice in the fact that our doctors at UTH are being accorded the respect they deserve for once. Hopefully he is still alive and getting better.

  19. Very suspicious. 1. No smoke without fire. 2. Under the bemba culture death of the Chitimukulu is shrouded in secrecy. His death is only officially announced ages afterwarss. So even if it is true his dead we should not expect any confirmation from the royal estabishment or even from grz as they wil try to respect the tradition. But what I find fishy in Shawa’s response is that ‘he visits him at UTH when ever he is Lusaka’ yet the article says his been in UTH for only a week. So how many times as Shawa been btwn Lusaka and Kasama in the last week and each occassion got round to see his royal highness? Quite suspicious!

    By the way any Zambians in Cape town? if so txt me on +27797390487

  20. “Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people” No, that is not true. He is paramount chief of the Bemba people. Bemba speaking people would includes other tribes in Northern and Luapula provinces who speak Bemba or dialects of Bemba. Simply put, not all Bemba speaking people or tribes belong to the Bemba ethnic group.

  21. iwe kapoli shawa. niwebo nani to talk of MWINE LUBEMBA. this is not politics kapoli iwe. this is the problem of bringing bakapoli ba mulya mbeba in the wrong place. please follow culture and step back waya sana. i speak as wakumaba on behalf of vimbuya vilichelele. mwambo wakana bakulu please. nidale yayi

  22. #16 you should know the basis of #2 comment, Chief Mushili has just been evacuated to SA why not mwine Lubemba, the precedence has already been set tata.Iam sure mwine Lubemba natusha kale, they are just waiting for some formalities according to the Bemba tradition.Because if he was alive Iam sure by now he would have been evacuated to SA and not UTH ( A hopital without a name but just a title)

  23. #20 Malaika

    There is nothing wrong with the title “Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people”. It is justified. Allow me to explain:

    The Bemba undisputably form the largest tribe in the Northern province and the tribe indeed represents ALL other Bemba-speaking groups in the whole country.
    As early as the 17 century, the Bemba successfully conquered, subjugated and assimillated previous immigrants such as the Lungu, Tabwa and Fiba. These tribes have since been attached to the Bemba clan and are an ethnic affiliation of the Bemba tribe under the jurisdiction of Chitimukulu, the Paramount chief.

  25. #24 I thought it would not post. Please Bloggers especially Malaika ignore the comment. test 123!!

    Prayers bane: All languages are welcome [-o<[-o<

  26. #23 Nine Chale

    Nomba I saw you comment too late Mudala wandi. Otherwise I would not have
    panicked pa Numbala 24 !

    Anyways Bloggers please read 23 and 24 together.

    :d

  27. We pray for mwine Lubemba for quick recovery.
    Balitipwa bonse who are spreading the rumours.
    SHAWA should also shut up,he is not the right person and he does not qualify to dismiss the rumours about the death of Mwine Lubemba.It is an abomonation for commoner like Shawa to be the mouth peice of Shimukokota nsono,usheta na menshi,umwine lubemba.

  29. Iye mwe lesa,too bad he was a very good paramount chief of us bembas.May his soul rest in peace.Tulelosha pa Zambia again,mwe lesa twafweni fwe bana benu.

  31. As Zambians we should learn to melt away our ethnic identities that divide us. We should consider all chiefs to be our national leaders regardless of where we come from. we should be proud of our national heritage. The paramount chief is not well and we pray for his quick recovery. It is only a few months ago when he was evacuated to South Africa.

  32. Let him show up in public or allow the press to visit him..Otherwise we can conclude that he is DEAD..Very dead, Chiefs dies also.

  35. If the man was a politician they would have flown him to South African for the best medical services. We have an animal farm society in our Country.

  36. If this dude is not dead then according to bemba tradition he will live for a very long time coz tradition has it that once you are accused to have died and you have not then you have to live to see your grand childrens children, so i think this dude will live to be 250 years and not only will he enter into the guinness book of world records but will also break the record set by abraham in the bible who lived to be about 180 years.So it is better once he comes out of Uth to start calling him paramount chief Abraham.Wish him a quick recovery :-h

  37. Let the government take him to South Africa so that he can be treated just like the way it does with the ministers whenever they are sick.

  38. Chief mushili is already in South Africa why not taking tha paramount chief also to South Africa? Be fair bane take him also that side for proper treatment of our chief.Get well soon.

  40. Zambia should be turned into a province of South Africa so that all Zambians can have access to the same medical facilities as politicians.

    Let me take this opportunity to wish his Royal Highness Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu a speedy recovery.

  44. THUGGERLY CULTURE IN PF

    Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda has said the actions of Mumbi and Mulobeka were embarrassing and took away a lot from PF. He said if PF did not harmonise relations within their party, it was eventually going to lose people’s confidence as a government in waiting.

    “The party members must behave in a manner that people expect them to behave not the embarrassment that they have so far shown and the lack of respect for one another,” he said.Habasonda wondered why PF members could not find a better way of addressing their differences instead of getting to an extent of fighting.

  50. LT why issue ichi chi ma article. How far are you from UHT sure? It is not fair. Nomba ama speculations aya tayawama iyo. Either my Chief is still alive or he has kicked the backet. So please do something to verify!!

    UTH is not far from you. Call them :)]

  56. # 10, please you should quit dobo! By-elections??? So when your Mpezeni dies, hopefully soon, will you hold election? 🙁

  58. Jam@co,

    Royal Highness Mwine Lubemba who is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka was receiving the best treatment from medical personnel.

    Why not evacuate him to RSA ? VJ just went there for an ‘ear job’

  60. #57 Simon

    Only the Royal Councillors (Bakabilo) who form the Bemba Aristocracy are intitled to announce matters concerning the illness or even the death of the Paramount Chief.

    However, even after the death of the chief, there is no vacancy as such because the Bemba have developed a complex political system where power is centered around kinsmen of 2 different houses.
    There is not only the supreme House of the chief, but also the House of Katongo (inganda yakwa Katongo) who also uphold the chieftainship.

  62. If this is a rumour, it must have started by the Ngoni’s and other Easterners.

    Kalebalika mulopwe. We mwine Lubemba, Chitimukulu, Shimukokota nsono! We wenda pa myepu! We mwaume wa milimo, we ushipiba! We olola ifyumbu ifyaongama! Taa! Lesa akusungilile nga utusunge fwe lukuta lobe.

    If it is true, bane, then let us pray that there will be no succession wrangles…
    Bless you loving people of Zambia.

  64. #60 Nine Chale: That info sounds interesting.
    Kindly shed more light on the Bemba political system re succession to the throne? Ukusefya pa ngwena would be another topic I need to understand more… Thanks in advance.

  65. Chewe the Virgin

    :-j:-j:-j:-j.That name ilangumfwisha bwino.Otherwise How are you lelo? Hope you went ku church coz God is the one who has made it possible for you to remain a Virgin.:-j:-j:-j:-j:-j

  66. Nine Chale

    Mwapoleni kanabesa? Iam overwhelmed with nthe info you have poured out.Too bad Yalikala uko ku gelemani otherwise Nganimwe twacivotela to succeed our Chitimukulu in case something happens. :-j:-j:-j:-j

  68. Martworld Nice guy mulishani mwe mulopwe? If havent seen you boyi ninshi kumfwa kwati i was not bloging at all.But like this am done now. #62 taumfwa we mwaume,umubembe mwine mwine.

  69. Chewe the Virgin

    Same to me Mudala,Nga namonafye your name kwamba nokuseka before going through your comments.You really mean alot to me Bro.

  72. CM

    Twatasha mwemfumu namalumbo yenu ayo.

    Imwe mwe fyaku Chipata respect yourselves mwaumfwa ka.You just want to come and eat mbeba pacililo tamwakashimone eco mwapwila ishenu uko.If you continue like that I will first chase mum from our province then all the easterner living in lovely provinces like Northern and Luapula. :-j:-j:-j:-j:-j

  74. #71 yes am a Virgin.Fresh from the farm,most of the time i bath with cold water and i try by all means to avoid films that would contaminate my mind.Thats how i have survived.

  76. Chewe the Virgin

    Great answer Man.Ala its difficult for pipo to believe you.That is why I like you so much coz we have most of things in common.

  78. Umutende ba Chewe, Matworld, CM and the rest.

    It’s a pleasure for me to talk about these things. I did a lot of reasearch on fundamental characteristics of the Bemba as part of my studies. I will continue propounding.:)

  81. Chewe the Virgin
    Just wanted to know if you have morols,now days it is difficult to be a virgin.Am a girl and am a virgin,my boy friend cant believe it.i thought we had something in common.What do you say now?

  83. Simon T,Divid W

    Good to hear that.I tell you its difficult to be believed nowadays,especially that almost everyone is doing it.Some of us we have deciced to remain mute as long as God himself is the witness.Be a good girl and please don’t let your B/freind deceive you Give in marrienge pantu ife bamuna sometimes we can be stupid once we get what we want ninshi we even leave you,and you will be left alone.Continue taking care of sweet self.

  84. #81,simon wether you are a man or a lady only God knows.I know its difficult to find a girl who is a virgin like me.And people have been telling me that am just dreaming if tell them that i want to marry a virgin. And nowadays i have changed my stand on that,i would marry a lady even if she is not a virgin,as long as she didnt play too much.But would really thank God if i were to find my fellow Virgin.

  85. Simon T,Divid W

    Good to hear that you are.I tell you nowadays its not easy to be believed that you are one of them coz its like almost everyone is doing it hence those doing it thinks their can never be one not doing it.Some of us we have just decided to remain mute about it only Our God knows our status.

  86. Chewe the Virgin

    Iam know getting concerned.Are we brothers? Coz it seems we think the same.I also had that thought ati ine ni virgin,but nomba Iam ready for anyone.

  88. Simon T,Divid W

    My advise to you is don’t let your boyfriend take advantage of you.If you are to give in please make sure that the end will be marriege because some of us men we are just interested in Sex after getting what we want ninshi twabutuka.Just be careful my dear especially that you are a V iam sure alekumininafye amate. :-j:-j:-j:-j

  89. #64 CM

    The issue of succesion (ubupyani) is a very complex one but I will try to explain in a few words:

    As I said earlier, there is no real vacancy in the Bemba state after the death of Chitimukulu because the House of Katongo are a permanent, co-existing jurisdiction.
    The Sacred or Royal Relics (Ababenye) however, belong to the House of Chitimukulu (inganda yakwa Chitimukulu) which has supremacy over the House of Katongo. Only male members of the House of Chitimukulu can become heirs to the throne.

  90. Why should the chief die, he must live forever. I am afraid of by-elections. Is bye or by na elections? Bembas must vote for their chief. I am mistaken I think the whole Zambia. And there must be no age limit because a chief is not a political leader. even babies can vote for him even abena Chipata na bena. How does this sound Zambians? Please naimwe ba chief ikoselesheni ifwe twacina ama bye bye elections. Good evening Zambians?

  91. king cobra and chitapankwa

    always look forward to your contribution.you must be real bembas cos i understand th procedure.out of interest which part of the world are you?

  94. 1 & 2 He is also a leader. If political leaders and seniour civil servants can be evacuated, how about a paramount chief? These are the things we complain about, the unfairness in selecting who goes out. :d/:d/

  96. Is this the repeat of what happened to LPM, they told us to be praying yet they knew the condition or state!!! It took one Micheal Sata’s threats to announce what had happened, then da following day it was hurriedly anounced he was no more!

    Pa Zed it’s One Zambia Two Nationals, meaning: One national Mornigside Or Milpark clinics even for ear infection, the other nationals Mwense General Hospital, Mungwi, Chibolya and Mwinilunga referal Hospitals. Animal farm Books can some one supply one to me!

  97. 89. Nine Chale

    Iwe Nine Chale. Ulikumushi ukwishiba ifintu so? :d

    Bushe kanshi ninshi tawangebelako iwe!! You more real a bemba than I am.

    😕

    Nine Chale ku Gelemani na mano ya bu Bemba. Awe Natemwa mudala wandi.<:-p<:-p<:-p

  100. Had he been Mpezeni, whom we know to be aflicted by (matenda a ????), Banda would have already seen to it that he was evacuated to Morningside Clinic. When he was in Malawi last week, we know that he offered Mutharika to pay for his mother’s cousin, Senior Chief Mkhumba of Phalombe’s medical expences in South Africa using our tax payers money. Now our chieves are being taken to the UTH departure lounge while our money goes to oil Dora and an alien Chief Mkhumba of Phalombe, This is agony sure.

  102. Mwine Lubemba limbi nafwa pantu its like this bally has been on and off the sick bed. Too much juju in the succession process of the paramount chief mwebantu. So the same nonsense will be replayed as has happened from time immemorial. Only Chilufya Mulenga I had a straight forward succession way back in the 1600s. After that all and sundry have attempted to rise to the throne even if they are just remotely related to Bena Ng’andu clan.

  103. Mujibyepi, mwabuka buti, mulumenisha, mudingahi, muli shani bamwana mayo?

    #89 Nine Chale, thanks, tell you, I am enjoying iyi INSAKA ka . No power vacancy after the death of the King! An incredible sound system of governance this is^:)^

    I am made to understand that it is Chitimukulu’s eldest nephew born of his eldest sister (umwipwa mukalamba) who succeeds to the throne. Who in this case are the heirs to the throne? Nine Chale and those enlightened in these matters, could you shed more light. .is a book on such?

    God bless us all.

  104. Iwe Chale walitemwa ubufumu…you must become a chief in your own house first before you ascend to the throne. Good luck my chief Chale.

  105. #103 CM

    The first successor of a chief are his brothers, the the sons of his sisters, as you were rightly informed.
    Then his sister’s daughter’s sons follow in line. This is the sequence as far as my research is concerned.

    Sisters, nieces of sisters or granddaughters of chiefs are called Banamfumu. They also enjoy great privileges and are above all tribal laws.
    You will already have noticed that the matrilineal system is a unique feature of the Bemba. This feature also has a definite impact on how inheritance is treated. Hence the complexity of succession.

  106. #105 Nine Chale is right. Ideally the situation is supposed to be that straightforward. Young brothers can succeed, brothers from your mother’s young sisters also have the right of succession, then the many nephews and grandchildren in the matrillineal line can also lay claim. It is precisely because the clan of Bena Ng’andu has grown so much since the 1500s that there are so many people with a genuine claim to the throne. Of course there also myriads of chancers on the way.

  107. CM

    You asked about literature concerning this issue. There is one book which I read once years ago.
    I think it was written by an English man Joseph Melvin and it is called “The Clans of the Bemba and neighbouring tribes”.
    Perhaps you might it in a library near you.

  109. Our culture surely has been eroded. Thats why we the subjects are able to target shoot at chiefs. How honestly can Shawa a mbuya to the bemba clan be issuing communiqes about Chitimukulu’s health?? Where are the bemba royal establishment. Rememebr one Mbulo Leslie announced LPM demise and later retracted it.Thats why we are mocking the whole thing.The chiefs have become partisan and this is the result. So the bemba’s must put their act together and Tell Shawa to back off before he erranously announce the chief no more!!!

  110. #107 Nine Chale santi yama.
    I have got that book by Joseph Melvin Doucette under my ose here. I bought it a few years ago when I wanted to understand and appreciate my clan ‘Abena N’guni’ (Bird clan) and I went straight to pg 68. Now I will read the whole book.
    Joseph dedicates this book to ‘…the teachers and youths of Zambia that they may continue to study their culture and pass it on to future Generations’
    May be I will also find something on the special Bemba dance
    ‘IMBENI’

    Nakunkula bane, Kalebalika ba mwana mayo. -=d>

  111. Imfumu walinaka! die so that others can take over. by bemba tradition, the chiefs death can only be announced after 1 yr. so the ka chief is dead for real.

  112. Ukukonka Itambi ShaluBemba, Ba Shawa tabakwata insambu shakulanda pamfwa ya Mfumu. Fwene Lubemba talikwata inkonka iyo tubikwilamo imfwa iyachidama ngeyi. Ngacakweba ati Chiti-mukulu nafwa, Bashimwalule bafwile basenda umubuli nokutwala kuMwalule uko ifyatambi fifwile fyacitika. Panuma yaifi elyo batumu kabilo uku kumushi mukwishibisha abena Chipango ati Chiti aletusha. Nomba BaShawa ninani wamipa amaka yakulanda pali uyu mulandu??? Mufwile mwafuta baShimwalule patu mwasebanya ulebemba/

  113. Nine Chale does not understand the leanage of the the Bemba Chieftainship. The Chitimukulu succession is based on promotion of brothers who are also Chiefs. The Bemba’s do not allow son to take over from their father, this is applicable to the Lunda’s of Luapula under Mwata Kazembe.

    The original leanage of the Bemba is
    Chiti Mukulu
    Mwamba
    Nkula
    Nkole Mfumu

    and the line continues…. Daughter will never ascend to be Chiti’s unless in extreme rare cases where there are no male relatives that qualify.

  114. #113 Kancule, Nakukunkula pali ili lyashi. I earlier asked for literature on such. Would you know of recorded history of the Bemba people including their ascension to Kingship?

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