Another Lungu book penned
THE ascendancy of President Edgar Lungu to power is an amazing story that deserves to be written a hundred times and it is no surprise authors are taking turns to represent it from diverse angles, Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela has said.
Speaking in Lusaka during the launch of Umutekatima
Book authored by Journalist Bangwe Naviley, Mr. Chitotela said trusting President Lungu with power was the best decision that Zambians made.
“The story shows that Zambians have a heart for humble leaders who have inspired wisdom and a clear indication that President Lungu’s ascendancy to power is an incredible story that authors can write a hundred times but still carry the impact it deserves as evidenced by the books that have been written before and the current one which is in the local language.
“Let me also commend Bangwe Naviley for writing this book titled Umutekatima which is Bemba, for such an innovation to explain the profile of the President in vernacular.
It is gratifying to note that UNESCO is interested to add some input on Mr. Navilley’s future publication in Lala which will highlight the Lala living heritage and linguistic diversity,” Mr. Chitotela said.
And Mr Naviley said he generated the book because he covered 90 percent of President Lungu's assignments from the time he was Home Affairs Minister, Defence and Justice Minister, PF secretarygeneral and the whole marathon to the Republican Presidency.
Mr. Naviley said the book was also authoritatively factual because an effort was made to touch all the districts of Zambia during the time he worked as a reporter at ZNBC where he witnessed progress on the ground. “Umutekatima explains, among others, the calmness that President Lungu exhibited during the time of injunctions and counter injunctions during the run up to his presidency, which forms part of the collective public history.
This book also contains information about some of the works that the President has done so far.
“Publishing a book in vernacular is also in line with the call by UNESCO to preserve Intangible cultural heritage such as languages and the rich living heritage, riddles and proverbs included.
There is a general concern that local languages are diminishing with their inspired wisdom.
This is why we must double efforts to preserve the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the benefit of future generations,” Mr. Naviley said.
He said the book is written in Bemba language because it is one of the languages he is competent in and that ideas to translate into other languages are welcome provided resources are available.
He has thanked Book World for accepting to market and sell the publication.