Vice President Mutale Nalumango has called on traditional leaders to use the Lwanza platform to promote a message of love, unity and national identity and to discourage violence and hate speech.
Ms Nalumango said as the country heads towards elections political competition should never divide communities or lead to violence.
Speaking through former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga at a fundraising dinner dance for the 2026 Lwanza Traditional Ceremony in Lusaka last night, Ms Nalumango said elections must not make us enemies, because before and after elections, we remain one people and one nation,
She called on citizens, especially young people, to vote based on values and development record rather than tribe or rhetoric, saying President Hichilema’s government had delivered inclusive development through free education, recruitment drives and infrastructure across all provinces.
Ms Nalumango also urged Zambians to embrace culture as a driver of peace, unity and economic growth, saying traditional ceremonies remain vital to national identity and development.
Ms Nalumango said culture was identity, dignity and social cohesion and should not be abandoned for Western influences.
Ms Nalumango said this year’s Lwanza Traditional Ceremony will be held from July 10-12 at Hamwala Arena in Bweengwa Monze District.
She said that this year’s theme is embracing culture to enhance peace and unity for economic development.
Ms Nalumango said President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration had made deliberate efforts over the last five years to bring traditional leaders and different tribes together to celebrate ceremonies across the country as part of the One Zambia, One Nation agenda.
“Culture is not backward, it is identity and dignity. Culture is social cohesion and culture can be an important driver of our economic development,” the Vice President said.
She invited Zambians from all provinces to attend the Lwanza ceremony, noting it comes after a favourable farming season and a bumper harvest.
She urged farmers to take advantage of the Farmer Input Support Programme and to sell surplus produce to the Food Reserve Agency and export markets to strengthen the currency and national food security.
During the dinner, Mr Mulenga announced a K100,000 contribution to the event on behalf of himself and Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources.
He said the Vice President would make her own contribution at a later date.
Representing Senior Chief Hamsonde VII, Miltone Maungila said the fundraising event was critical to ensuring a successful hosting of the ceremony on July 10, 2026.
“Tonight’s event is very important, as it will help ensure a successful hosting of the Lwanza Ceremony 2026,” he said.
The chief added that ceremony is a celebration of culture, customs as it brings people together and strengthens the community bonds.
Meanwhile, Lwanza Organising Committee Chairperson, Jilly Chiyombwe commended the Vice President for attending through her representative and said government’s presence showed recognition of the role traditional ceremonies play in preserving identity, promoting peace and supporting economic development.
“Culture is the soul of the people. It is what binds generations, defines values and gives people their identity and a rapidly changing world, traditions remind us of who we are and where we come from, “he said.
He said the Lwanza ceremony had grown into a platform for cultural preservation, tourism, local enterprise and partnerships, and described this year’s edition as a celebration of hard work, agriculture, community and resilience after a difficult drought period.
Mr Chiyombwe made a passionate appeal for more support from individuals, institutions and the private sector, saying every contribution would help make the 2026 ceremony more impactful than last year’s.
