By Staff Reporter
Paramount chief Mpezeni’s spokesperson Ambassador George Zulu says the chief was not happy when he was informed that President Hakainde Hichilema would not attend the N’cwala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Privince.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Amb Zulu said the chief and the head of state, however, managed to resolve matters after the latter called on Saturday morning before the main events at the main arena.
“When the paramount chief heard that the President was not coming and that (Local Government minister) Garry Nkombo would be the guest of honour, he was not happy because the President was ready to travel up to that moment. When Nkombo said I have come to represent the President, the (royal) court went into a meeting and agreed that this is not good. We should not allow government officials to be guest of honours until the President called and the two managed to have matters resolved, ” Amb Zulu said. “I was given fresh instructions that the event could go on with Garry Nkombo as the leader of government and the King of the Zulu people, King Misizulu from South Africa as guest of honour as there was a speech which I read for him.”
Amb Zulu said the initial arrangement was for King Misizulu to come and officiate at the event as guest of honour but logistics could not allow and therefore the invitation was sent to the President, “although at a late stage.”
He insisted that the chief and the President managed to strike a compromise.
The government said President Hichilema could not attend the event because of the efforts which were already underway to bring Cholera and Covid-19 under control.
But PF presidential aspirant Chishimba Kambwili said Health minister Sylvia Masebo must be ashamed for having been used to lie for the President, saying the unverified information he had was that President Hichilema did not take kindly to hief Mpezeni’s statement that he was also going to invite former president Edgar Lungu to the event.
But Amb Zulu said the paramount chief did not mention Lungu when he went to invite the head of state.
“Edgar Lungu is from Eastern Province, if he wanted to come he could have come. But we could not give him the invitation. In what capacity were we going to give him the invitation if we couldn’t invite the Bishop? Why? Because this is their ceremony. What happened is the paramount chief went to invite the President. Full stop,” Amb Zulu said. “Initially the paramount chief felt sad (at President Hichilema not attending the ceremony) because he expected a lot but the President talked to the chief and settled it out on Saturday before we went to the arena and the chief understood the explanation of the President. Not this you are hearing that he was ready to kill someone. This Koswe stuff will be there always.”
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