Unto the Swaka a king is born
Published On July 16, 2014 » 3973 Views» By Administrator Times » Features
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•THE newly-installed chief with  his wife.

•THE newly-installed chief with his wife.

BY SYLVIA MWEETWA –

THE  people of newly-created Luano District  of Central Province had every  reason to sing  and  dance  in  celebration  of  the  installation  of  their new Chief Chikupili of the Swaka people.
This  was  after  53-years  of  waiting  to  have their  new chief  take up the  throne  following the  death  of the caretaker chief.
Both  the  old and the young turned  up  in large  numbers  to witness  the  installation of the  new chief which  was  characterised by a  display  of  traditional  dances  including the one from Southern Province which stole the  lime of  spear -wielding.
For others, the  installation of  Boyd  Chomba 29 years old  brought  about  a  relief  considering  that previously, the chiefdom just had a caretaker chief but  ended  up  in that  position for  53  years  until his death  in  2013.
On February 25, 2014, President Michael Sata  in Pursuant to the Chiefs  Act, Chapter 287 of the  Laws of Zambia  issued  a Statutory Instrument  number 23 of 2014  in which  he  recognised  Chomba as  Chief  Chikupili  of  the Swaka people.
June 28, 2014  would go down in the history  of Luano and the country as  a whole  as it marked the  day  of  coronation  day of Mr  Chomba as Chief Chikupili. It was on the same day that  the  Government, through Central Province Provincial Administration,  handed  over the instrument of powers  and  authority  in the  form  of a  date stamp and a flag, among  other items, to the newly-installed  chief.
Acting Central Province Permanent Secretary Ronald  Sinyangwe who  represented  Central Province Obvious Mwaliteta emphasised that the selection of  a chief was  not its  responsibility  but that of the family and maintained that it has no plans  of interfering with that process.
Mr Mwaliteta,  however,  said  the  Government  would always  insist on transparency  in the  selection  process  through the  Chiefs  and  Traditional Affairs  Ministry and maintained that the selection  process would  always remain  the task  of  family members.
“From now onwards,  you will be referred to  as  Chief Chikupili and  your responsibility is  to  protect, care and  provide for them. They are  your  people and you are their  leader, ”he said.
He said  the selection of the Chief Chikupili,  which was  wrangle-free, is a  clear  testimony  that ascending  to  the  throne  could be  peaceful if  the family  tree  is properly followed  which can be  used  as  a guide in the  process.
He challenged  other chiefs  to emulate  the people  of  Chikupili  for the peaceful  manner  it  handled  the selection process  following the death  of the care-taker chief who  was  on the throne  for  53 years and that it was  possible to  avoid disputes if  proper  channels are  followed.
“I want  to pay  tribute  to the  electoral college of the  Swaka people in the manner  they  handled  the selection process  of the successor to the throne  of Chief Chikupili and other royal  highness  on  their  contribution to  see to it that  peace prevails  during and after the installation, ” he said.
He  urged  the  newly-installed  chief  to embrace  all  people  and  uphold  cultural  values  in line with  its beliefs which is  key to traditional rulership  if he has  to succeed  in all  areas of his  life.
“As  Government, we are happy that the selection process  was  peaceful, which  is  the way it should be  and it is  our  hope  that  other  chiefdoms  can  emulate the Swaka people who  have  shown  the  province and the nation as  a whole  that it was possible  to select  a chief  without  wrangles.
He assured the Swaka people  that  the Government was  committed  to partnering with  chiefs  who are  key partners in developing  the  country and  that  its  role is to ensure every Zambian  benefits  from the  national  cake of development.
“My  Government  deems  it important  to strengthen traditional leadership structures  in order to  bridge the  gap  between  Government planning programmes, implementation and  community  involvement on the other hand, ’’ he said.
And  Senior  Chief  Mboroma appealed  to  the newly-installed chief  to  embrace  all tribes and  always  look up to God  for  guidance  as  he  oversees  his  people.
He  called  on him to  be humble  and  respect  those  who have  put him on the throne  and  that  his  role  is  to unity everyone  despite their  colour, tribe or  race which  is  key  to the  running of  a chiefdom.
“This is  your chief and  you will no longer  call him Boyd he is  your  chief  and  from now  onwards,  you should  show him respect  and  to  you  our newly-installed chief,  I wish  to  advise you to remain  humble and embrace  your  people, ” he said.
He  advised  the  chief  to learn from  him having  been on the throne  for more than 40  years to always  seek  counsel  from others  and  should always be ready to listen to the people.
The traditional leader said the  position of  a   chief calls  for  patience as well as rendering a heart  to the  people and that  it would be the  only  way  the area  would be developed.
Earlier, a  representative  for the chief  pledged its  support  to the  government  of the  day  but complained  about  poor  road  network, lack of drinking water  and  shortage  of teachers and  advised the Government to assist in  addressing the challenges that they were  facing.
And  Sabata  Dancing  Group from Southern  Province stole  the limelight  during the installation  celebrations with  their  dance and  display of spears much to the  amazement  of the  people which was also  attended  by  Chief  Kanyesha, Chitina, Mukonchi, Chembe, Kalinde and Mulungwe.
It is  clear  that for any  meaningful development to take  place, there has to be concerted effort which is required by  both  the  traditional leaders  as well  as  those in Government which in turn can  immensely  contribute  towards  improving  the credibility and integrity of  its  planning  purposes.
It was  for this reason that the Governemnt was  encouraging the creation of a chiefdom and  village development  committees to assist in the  planning of their respective chiefdom.
After all is said  and  done, indeed a new king  is  born  in Chief  Chikupili’s  Kingdom and  it is  hoped that  other  chiefs  will emulate  the  peace and stability which was upheld  during the transition period.

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