By JULIUS PHIRI –
CHIEF Madzimawe of the Ngoni-speaking people of Eastern Province has appealed to the hospitality industry  in Chipata to help raise the profile of Zambia by not increasing accommodation rates ahead of this week’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony.
Chief Madzimawe said yesterday that business houses should not take advantage of the Nc’wala ceremony to inflate accommodation rates, as that would scare away tourists.
He said Zambia was always known to be a good tourist destination, and that the hospitality industry should help maintain the image during the Nc’wala ceremony.
“Zambia is known to be a good destination for tourists but inflating accommodation rates will be unfair to the people coming to support the ceremony,” Chief Madzimawe said.
He said lodge owners should provide the best in terms of accommodation without inflating charges.
Chief Madzimawe said all was set for the Nc’wala traditional ceremony which would be graced by President Edgar Lungu.
He said subordinate chiefs under Paramount Chief Mpezeni would start arriving at Kampala’s Laweni dormitory tomorrow in readiness for the traditional ceremony which would reach its climax on Saturday.
The paramount chief was expected to shift from his Ephendukeni palace to Laweni on Thursday while invited traditional leaders would arrive on Friday.
Chief Madzimawe said apart from President Lungu, all political parties had been invited to attend the ceremony.
He said political party attire would not be allowed at the ceremony which was aimed at uniting people.
This year’s ceremony will be the 36th edition from the time it was revived in 1980 by Paramount Chief Mpezeni III, the late Pontino Jere, who was the father of the current Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV.
The Nc’wala ceremony is a traditional ritual of thanksgiving to God for the first harvest of the season.