KINDLY allow me to suggest the name change of two districts which were recently created by President Michael Sata.
The two districts I am referring to are Ng’abwe and Shibuyunji both of which are found in Central Province.
My proposal is that Ng’abwe be changed to Lukanga District, while Shibuyunji be changed to Mwembeshi District because Ng’abwe is the name of a chiefdom while Shibuyunji is also the name of a village and the headman.
The above proposal is made because essentially, the two names Ng’abwe and Shibuyunji are not accommodative in nature in terms of other chiefdoms within the new districts.
The foregoing is what has prompted me to come up with this suggestion of names which are inclusive in nature and acceptable to all those who might find themselves belonging and living in these two districts.
The proposed new names are general, encompassing and iconic in nature.
They are names which will not create a possessive attitude but a common sense of belonging to those who hail from these areas where everyone will feel part of the districts, because names promote unity.
We should avoid what happened to Mumbwa District which ended up acquiring a name which has no meaning because someone realised that the original name Mumba was a name derived from Chief Mumba of the Luba people (now called Kaonde) was creating apprehension among other tribes which come from the same area, hence deliberately misspelling it to Mumbwa by the colonialists to create an acceptable name to all the chiefs and tribes who hail from the area.
The suggestions I have made should not be viewed as political, it is purely inspired by what I have been hearing and gathering from the indigenous people on the ground that come from the districts.
Otherwise, the people are greatly indebted to the President for making the two areas into districts.
DERRICK KAPUTULA
Mufulira