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—-President Michael Sata has urged the Ngoni people of Eastern Province to turn their warrior instinct into massive assault of poverty.
Speaking in a speech read for him by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, at the Nc’wala annual traditional ceremony in Chipata today, President Sata observed that the Ngoni people are hard working and capable of fighting poverty among the local people.
He said in the history of African people, the gallant and heroic action of the Ngoni ancestor, Shaka Zulu stands out as the most galling resistance to foreign domination.
Mr Sata said Zambia has a large chunk of land with rich soils and in almost all the years with good rainfall which can be a renewable resource if well looked after.
Mr Sata said the ceremony has significance for the Ngoni people as it cements their ancestral connections and spurs them to perform many feats in several spheres of life.
He observed that the Ngoni are a proud people with confidence in themselves which makes them make independent decisions based on their own values.
“That is why we have turned up in large numbers from many corners and a broad spectrum of the Zambian society,” he said.
And Mr Sata has urged the Ngoni people to stand up and defend him against some quarters that have been attacking the head of state because he is a tireless warrior for the disadvantaged in the country.
He observed that there are many people who are used as Trojan horses to defend foreign interests invariably for cheap, flatter and illusory stakes.
And President Sata said the PF government has an ambitious agenda to change the country for a better and prosperous place for all.
He said the government will continue to add and improve on the existing network of schools and health and social services.
He said government intends to improve on inadequate road and railway networks which he said are critical to economic development.
The President also said there is need to improve the delivery of farming inputs
to farmers across the country.
“The PF government has done better by paying farmers a lot earlier, we do not want to see a past failure in crop marketing and input distribution,” he said.
President Sata said government intends to equip cooperatives, saying it had already started funding the cooperatives through the Zambia Cooperative Federation which has shown seriousness and commitment.
“The game plan is to let people at local level be involved in activities which include local processing. Reliance on Lusaka based bureaucracy will not go anywhere,’ he said.
“The distribution of inputs, seeds and fertilizer also needs to be improved, “he said.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province has
castigated politicians advocating for the suspension of Zambia from
the commonwealth.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni said it is disheartening to hear that some political leaders are so disenchanted with the government of President Michael Sata that they are advocating for the country to be expelled from the commonwealth.
The Paramount Chief said politicians need to dialogue as a way of resolving conflicts, saying they should create a climate of political accommodation and finding local solutions to resolve local problems.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni said Ngoni people have rich experiences in victory and defeat, saying the experience has demonstrated that magnanimity is a unifying factor in both victory and defeat.
He urged government to continue listening to the people and act accordingly to issues of concern.
He also urged government to continue its mandate through increased direct
cooperation with citizens and other groups.
The Ngoni people held today’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony in honour of Paramount Chief Mbelwa of the Ngoni people of Malawi who died two weeks ago for whom they also observed a minute of silence.
The occasion was also characterized by solemn traditional songs and dance.
Also in attendance were several Ngoni chiefs from Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia among other local chiefs.
Chiefs Affairs Minister, Nkandu Luo, Mines Minister Yanfwa Mukanga, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister, Charles Zulu, Defence Deputy Ministers, Joseph Lungu and Davies Mwila, Home affairs Deputy Minister Elfreda Kansembe and several other government officials were also in attendance.
The Barotse Royal Establishment was represented by Induna Nangana while
Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamabo II of the Soli people also attended the occasion.
