18 countries eye centenary celebrations
A REPRESENTATIVE of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York in the United Kingdom, is scheduled to attend celebrations to mark 100 years of the end of the 1st World War which ended on November 25, 1918 in Mbala, Zambia.
Authorities in Northern Province have confirmed that the Duke of York and a grand son of WW1 Germany East Africa Commander General Von Lettow Vorbeck have confirmed their participation in the centenary to be hosted in Mbala on November 25 this year. Britain, Germany, India, Ireland, USA, Japan Ghana, Namibia and Rwanda have also confirmed their participation in the centenary which is to be held alongside the Northern Province Tourism and Investment Expo. Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga said in a press statement in Kasama that over 18 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the event. General Lord David Richards of the Herstmonceux, Deputy Grand President of the Royal Ex Servicemen league will be representing Prince Andrew who is the president of the Royal Servicemen of the British Monarchy. The Grandson of General Vorbeck who led the illustrious East Africa Germany campaign in the WW1 and their surrender in Mbala Han Casper Graf Rantzau has also indicated the desire to attend the event. Although not yet confirmed, France, Russia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Nigeria , and South Africa are also expected to be part of the commemorations. Mr. Kamanga also said delegations from the Russian Society for Military History and Commonwealth War Graves Commission are also expected to attend the event which would be held over a five (5) day period. According to a tentative programme, the event will commence with the re - enactment of the receipt of a telegraph notice of the end of the war by the then Kasama District Commissioner Hector Croad on November 14, 1918 at Chambeshi Bridge in Kasama.
Britain, Germany, India, Ireland, USA, Japan Ghana, Namibia and Rwanda have also confirmed their participation in the centenary which is to be held alongside the Northern Province Tourism and Investment Expo. - Elias Kamanga