`Chitimukulu invitation was mischievous’
DO NOT invite noble and neutral chiefs to traditional ceremonies which are turned into a circus for opposition political parties, Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) leader Wright Musoma tells off Southern chiefs. Mr Musoma was reacting to the failure by Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba to attend the Lwiinde Gonde traditional ceremony where he was invited to officiate as guest of honour. He reiterated that in as much as it had remained a mystery why the paramount chief did not attend the ceremony, it was wrong to invite him to a ceremony organisers knew too well was already taken over by UPND. Mr Musoma charged that the Lwiinde Gonde traditional ceremony was well known to be one of the platforms UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema had been using to attack government. He questioned why a noble and neutral traditional leader would be invited to officiate at a ceremony which was always turned into a political rally. Mr Musoma said that in as much as it was good for chiefs to mingle, create synergies for the sake of unity, involving neutral traditional leaders in political stunts was unacceptable. “Paramount chief Chitimukulu obviously knows what happens at Lwiinde ceremony. HH always turns the ceremony into a political rally where he attacks government, that should not be allowed because tradition and politics should not mix,” he said. According to the Lwiinde Gonde organising committee, the Bemba paramount chief was reportedly out of the country and could therefore not attend the ceremony. However, sources close to the Bemba royal establishment said the chief could not attend because of the short notice of the invitation which also clashed with the Ilamfya, which is the meeting of Bemba royal establishment. According to Bemba royalists, the Mwinelubemba failed to attend the Tonga ceremony because he was attending to the Ilamfya, which is a royal council meeting. The annual ceremony was attended by opposition UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Mr Geofrey Mwamba, several party members of Parliament and cadres.