ALL is well that ends well. Finally Henry Kanyanta Sosala has been recognised as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu since August 2013 when the Government withdrew recognition of the Mwine Lubemba (overseer of Bembaland).
The problem started when the traditional council picked the de-gazetted Henry Kanyanta Sosala (who was then senior Chief Mwamba) to be the next king of the Bemba Commonwealth against the Government’s directive.
Thus started a long and bitter battle between the Bashi Lubemba (Bemba traditional councillors) and the Government, making headlines in the Press.
The role of Bashi Lubemba is revered because they are the traditional king-makers considering the fact that they comprise both the rulers of the chiefdom and priests of the chiefdoms. Thus the Bemba royal house strikes a poise between the ruling clan (Abena Ng’andu) and the ritual priests (Bakabilo).
So a Chitimukulu can only succeed to the throne with the total approval of a clan different from the Abena Ng’andu. It is in this vein that the decision from the Bashi Lubemba to pick Sosala as Chitimukulu should be respected.
Till recently, Chitimukulu was sitting on a very shaky throne till the inauguration of Zambia’s sixth President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who changed the chief’s predicament.
His royal highness is now the bona fide Chitimukulu of the Bemba people and the Statutory Instrument recognising Paramount Chief Chitimukulu will be published in the Government Gazette this week.
The President signed the Recognition Order under Section Three of the Chiefs Act, Chapter 287 of the Laws of Zambia.
Upon assumption of office, President Lungu directed the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to examine the impasse surrounding the matter.
On Tuesday morning the Permanent Secretary Coillard Chibbonta reported that he was satisfied that the selection was done in accordance with the Bemba traditions and customs and recommended that Henry Kanyanta Sosala be recognised.
The President has since telephoned the Mwine Lubemba to inform him of this decision which has ended amicably after an impasse that has dragged on for almost two years.
However, what is even more admirable in this turn of events is that Mr Lungu has proved to be a man of his word since during his campaign tour of Northern Province last month, he assured the Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE) that he would promptly recognise the Mwine Lubemba once elected into office.
Living up to the ciBemba folklore of Ukufuma ichumi ngana Mwenge (living up to one’s promise) Mr Lungu has done just that. In ciBemba folklore Na Mwenge, who was cornered by a lion, promised the mythical lion to eat her on condition that she first takes the child back to the village. She took the child back home and went back to the lion to be eaten!
Realising that most Zambian chiefdoms are fraught with disputes, among them tribalism, Mr Lungu has also appealed to all traditional rulers to take practical steps to heal the nation of the scourge of tribalism which has been brought to the fore by the just-ended presidential election.
The recognition of Sosala as Chitimukulu is a new chapter in the history of Zambia that has usually seen a sandpapery relationship between the traditional leadership and modern governance.
We wish to see the two systems operating side by side and complimenting each other in national development that will have mutual benefits for both institutions.
Paramount chiefs have been partners in development since colonial days when our former masters recognised this by establishing native authorities that helped in governance.
Mr Lungu is a man of his word who believes in insaka (dialogue) as opposed to using other underhand methods in sorting out issues. OPINION