By JULIUS PHIRI –

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has said traditional ceremonies such as the Nc’wala of the Ngoni-speaking people are an embodiment of the country’s cultural heritage.
Gracing the 34th Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique at Mtenguleni main arena in Chipata yesterday, President Sata said he was happy because the traditional leadership had continued to conserve the cultural heritage of the people.
The President told hundreds of people, who included First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, opposition MMD leader  Nevers Mumba and Mozambique’s Tete Province Governor Paula Auade, that culture and tradition must be preserved as they were a mode of identification.
President Sata said his Government attached great importance to traditional ceremonies because they were vital to national development.
“It is for this reason that my Government recognises the importance of the traditional ceremonies in the country,” Mr Sata said.
The President said Zambia was rich in cultural heritage because of the long-preserved values that ancestors had passed on to the current generation through traditional ceremonies.
He commended Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV and his subordinate chiefs for preserving the Nc’wala traditional ceremony.
Mr Sata said he was also happy that the people of Eastern Province had continued supporting his Government.
Speaking earlier, Paramount Chief Mpezeni, who was represented by Nc’wala National Organising Committee chairperson Noel Nkoma, said he was particularly happy with the infrastructure development which was going on in Eastern Province.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni said the current Government was constructing health posts, schools and roads in the province.
He said he was happy that the Great East and Chipata-Vubwi roads were receiving a facelift while Chipata-Mchinji railway line was being considered for operationalisation in March this year by the Government.
He further commended the Government for the creation of the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.
The paramount chief also commended Dr Kaseba for launching a campaign against early marriages which he said had resulted into a number of young children beng rescued from premature marriages.
He, however, bemoaned the late distribution of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Chief Mpezeni said there was need to revisit the programme in order for the farmers to start getting their farming inputs early.
The ceremony was attended by Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe, Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone, Eastern Province Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson Lameck Mangani, Chief Puta of the Bwile People, diplomats and Ngoni chiefs from Zambia and Malawi.
Zamtel chief marketing officer Evans Muhanga said his company would financially support traditional ceremonies in the country because they were a way of preserving the cultures of the country.