THE absence of UPND at most Northern regional ceremonies categorises them as a regional party , says MMD president Nevers Mumba.
And Mutomboko organising committee chairman Misheck Kaoma said UPND leaders have not attended the ceremony for over three years despite the many invitations extended to them.
but UPND secretary general Winstone Chibwe described the statement as utter Nonses from the a party [MMD] that was losing ground.
Mumba, who attended the Just-ended Mutomboko ceremony, said national Leaders should not segregate on which regions to priorities when it comes to attending traditional ceremonies.
” A National leader must be able to go to all provinces of the country and get to know their people, culture and leaders. But their segregation correctly tells Zambians that they are a tribal clique,” he said.
Mumba said Zambians were watching and now could see who their national leaders and regional leaders were.
“Zambian are not blind.They are watching.They can see who are regional or tribal leaders from their actions and concentration to particular provinces.Zambians are watching and now they can see which ones are national leaders and which ones are regional leaders,” he said.
Mumba said Observed that Zambia had many traditional ceremonies but good political leaders should at least attend the vital ones or at least send representatives to these big traditional ceremonies.
” As political Leaders, yes we cannot attend all traditional ceremonies but we should make it a mandate to attend some or at least send representatives to these big traditional ceremonies. The country has to build foundation Stone on culture values which define who we are and where we come from. And appreciation of our culture and where we come from is what gives us the identity for today and a motivation for tomorrow.
And Kaoma said UPND President Hakainde Hichilema had never attended the mutomboko traditional ceremony for the past three years.
Kaoma said UPND had demanded that a written invitation be sent to them this year to attend the ceremony. However , they still did not attend or send any representative, according to Kaoma.
” The ceremony is open to everyone but we took it upon ourselves to call them and they demanded that we send a written invitation, which we did. However, no one came and this has been the case for the past three years with UPND.the seem not to be interested in any of the activities or traditions that go on in the North or Luapula, ” Kaoma said.