Govt praises Basoli for positively contributing to Lusaka city

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—Vice President, Guy Scott, has praised the Basoli Royal Establishment for the invaluable contributions it made to the great city of Lusaka.

Dr Scott acknowledged Senior Chief Nkomeshya Mukambo II and the entire Basoli royal clan including the ancestors who settled and founded Lusaka in the ancient years of 1900s.

Dr Scott observed that there is extreme peace in Lusaka and the peace has continued to prevail for many years now since Lusaka was declared the Capital of the Republic of Zambia in accordance with the Government Notice No. 48 dated 31 July 1913

The Vice President was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially launched the Lusaka 100 years at Southern Sun Hotel. Lusaka has been Zambia’s capital city from 1913 up to date.

Dr Scott complained that the relocation and settling of the Soli people from one place to another could have contributed to flooding which Lusaka was experiencing, but quickly disclosed a U$D350 million for working and repairing the drainages in the Capital City.

And speaking earlier, Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukambo II bemoaned the lack of consultation from the previous MMD government and the Lusaka City Council on the naming of some of the streets, roads, shopping malls, learning institutions and health posts among others.


Chieftainess Nkomeshya further lamented the mispronouncements of some township name and misrepresentation of village headmen among other alleged mistakes by the local authority and government.

“I need to be consulted as a head of the Soli tribe in Lusaka. Some headmen in my chiefdom have been wrongly attributed, names of roads and townships mispronounced and many other things,” she lamented.

The traditional leader hoped that the new Patriotic Front government will be realistic, consultive and probably give back what the Soli people lost during the century period (100 years) now and beyond.

She demanded that the Capital city strives to be clean so that it matches with other great capital cities in the world, noting the co-hosting with neighbouring Zimbabwe of the UNWTO Conference in August this year.

And Lusaka 100 years Organising Chairperson, Timothy Mushibwe, challenged the media to highlight more stories on Lusaka.

Mr Mushibwe lamented that Lusaka has not been fully written about and yet there are so many historical sites the City is endowed with, hence calling journalist to be proactive and write stories on Lusaka.

He said his Committee seeks to bring together individuals, corporate organisations, civil society organisations as well as government in acknowledging the history of the great Lusaka of City.

He disclosed that a number of activities, among them motor and bike racing, live musical concerts, marathon walk, tree planting and sporting events have been lined up ahead of the July 31, 2013 celebrations.

Mr Mushibwe is deputised by Wina Wina who is also the Media Liaison Officer and eight other committee members

Lusaka Mayor, Daniel Chisenga, said there is need for Lusaka to look more relevant and appealing to both the local people and the tourists.

Mr Chisenga disclosed that the local authority will soon embark on a naming exercise project and pledged that the Council would work closely with the Lusaka 100 years Organising Committee before it undertakes any project.

“We are very proud as a City to be associated with Lusaka 100 years but we want Lusaka to be more relevant and identified,” Mr Chisenga said.


Those who witnessed the Lusaka Celebrates 2013 Centenary include veteran politician, Sikota Wina, Lusaka Province Minister, Freedom Sikazwe, Attorney General, Mumba Malila, Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Nixon Chilangwa, members from the Basoli Royal Establishment senior government officials and sponsors.

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