Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe with Zambian President Rupia Banda, during a trip by Mugabe to Zambia. The leaders working to strengthen relations in the southern Africa region.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Edward Mulenga and Richard Mulonga
Courtesy of the Times of Zambia Newspaper
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has said politicians should embrace traditional leaders and learn from their initiatives to accelerate national development.
And President Rupiah Banda has paid tribute to Mr Mugabe whom he described as a brave and selfless nationalist who has withstood pressure from his enemies.
Speaking at the Lwiindi Lo Kuzyola Mukuni Ng’ombe traditional ceremony of the Toka-Leya people in Kazungula District, Mr Mugabe said he was impressed with the level of initiative exhibited by Chief Mukuni in developing his chiefdom.
President Mugabe said Chief Mukuni had preserved culture which had helped bring unity among different tribes in Zambia and neighbouring countries.
He said he did not know Chief Mukuni until President Banda forwarded the chief’s request for elephants from Zimbabwe, which he accepted through the minister responsible for wildlife and environment.
He said the efforts of the chief had led to the promotion of tourism, which was not just about constructing buildings and installing ornaments but establishing business to build up funds for development of the community.
He said not many chiefs possessed such amount of initiative and urged other traditional rulers to learn from the chief’s innovation to develop their chiefdoms.
President Mugabe said organising an event of such magnitude, where various people were united including heads of State for cultural interaction, was not common among chiefs.
“If other chiefs were able to do this in their various areas, development would be easier for government. Let us cooperate with chiefs, let other chiefs visit Chief Mukuni for initiative,” he said.
He thanked Chief Mukuni for inviting him to the traditional ceremony and said Zambian and Zimbabwean people were one, only separated by the Zambezi River.
Mr Mugabe promised Chief Mukuni that because of the friendship he had extended to him, he would also reciprocate and their friendship would grow further.
He also recounted his stay in Zambia at Chalimbana before joining politics to fight for Zimbabwe’s political freedom.
Welcoming his guest, President Banda said Mr Mugabe was a true African and nationalist who believed that Africa should develop itself.
Mr Banda said Mr Mugabe was a dedicated leader who remained hardworking and committed to national development and saluted him for attending the cultural event despite his busy schedule.
President Banda also commended Chief Mukuni for bringing development to his chiefdom and being a unifying factor through the Lwiindi traditional ceremony.
The Lwiindi Lo Kuzyola is an annual traditional ceremony performed by the Toka-Leya people of Kazungula in Southern Province to retrace their journey from Congo and to restate the unity among different migrating groups four centuries ago.
Mr Mugabe left for Zimbabwe last evening.
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