SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
PRINCE Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Zulu Kingdom of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa will grace this year’s N’cwala Ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has announced.
In a statement issued by first secretary press and public relations, Zambia’s High Commission, South Africa Naomi Nyawali, Mr Mwamba said this follows an invitation by the Nc’wala organising committee.
Mr Mwamba said that Prince Buthelezi who is from the Zulu Royal Establishment expressed gratitude to the Royal Highness Paramount Chief Mpezeni for inviting him to be the guest of honour at this year’s N’cwala ceremony to be held on February 23.
Mr Mwamba explained that in a letter addressed to his office, Prince Buthelezi confirmed his accepting the invitation.
“The Prince says he will also pay a courtesy call on His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji before proceeding to Chipata for the ceremony
“The Prince becomes the first official from the Zulu Royal Family to grace the ceremony in recent years,” Mr Mwamba said.
And Mr Mwamba has hailed the deepening cultural ties between Zambia and South Africa.
He said the Ngoni speaking people of Zambia and the Zulus of South Africa had a lot in common due to the fact that they shared the same ancestral origins.
Mr Mwamba noted that there was need to enhance and preserve the cultural ties the two countries had enjoyed over the years.
