CONFUSION AWAITS KUOMBOKA
But Cornelius Mweetwa, the Information and Media Minister when contacted said President Hichilema would be in Mongu this weekend for the Kuomboka traditional ceremony.
Mr Mweetwa when reminded that the BRE had invited the Mwinelubemba, the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu as the guest of honour and that the head of State had not been invited refused to comment, stating that he was only informing the nation that the head of State would be in Mongo over the week end.
“I can confirm that President Hakainde Hichilema will be in Mongu over the weekend for the Kuomboka traditional ceremony,” Mr Mweetwa said without giving further deatials.
However, the BRE has said it had decided not invite President Hakainde Hichilema and that it was their expectation that he was not going to Mongu for the ceremony.
The Ngambela said the government had not even informed the BRE of the purported visit of President Hichilema to Barotseland.
He said the invitation of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was a reciprocal one after the Bemba Royal Establishment invited the Litunga, the King of Barotseland to grace the Kusefya pang’wena traditional ceremony last year.
He said the Kuomboka ceremony would be a special one in that it would be the first time the two traditional leaders will celebrate together.
“I am pleased to inform the people of Barotseland that preparations for the Kuomboka ceremony are going on well and advanced. We are appreciating all those who have stood with us in planning and executing the various works towards this important and colourful ceremony,” the Ngambela said.
The BRE is delighted to restate and reaffirm that the guest of honour for this ceremony will be Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, the Mwine Lubemba Kanyanta II. We wish to extend our warm welcome to his entourage as they arrive on Thursday, April 18, 2024. This is an exchange visit, the Mwine Lubemba invited the Litunga at Kusefya pang’wena ceremony last year. Now the Litunga has invited the Mwine Lubemba as guest of honour to the Kuomboka ceremony. We are grateful that Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has accepted this invitation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Patriots for Economic Progress president Sean Tembo said he is saddened by reports that President Hichilema has allegedly been sending government officials to harass the BRE over their decision to invite Paramount Chief Chitimukulu as the guest of honour instead of him.
Mr Tembo said it should be noted that the Kuomboka ceremony was owned, planned and managed by the BRE, therefore any decisions made as to who should be guest of honour, should be respected.
“We wish to remind Mr. Hakainde Hichilema that there is no law in Zambia that makes it mandatory for traditional ceremonies to always designate the Head of State as the guest of honour,” Mr Tembo said.