Not even the all embracing Chakwela Makumbi Traditional ceremony of the Basoli people of Chongwe near Lusaka yesterday could camaflouge the bad blood between two warring factions in the Patriotic Front (PF), as the disgraced former Secretary General Wynter Kabimba and Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata publicly refused to exchange pleasantries and avoided eye contact.
The situation was made even worse when ushers in the main arena of the ceremony sat the two leaders in the same row of seats with only Commerce deputy minister Miles Sampa acting as a buffer between them.
As the proceedings slowly unfolded in the sweltering Chongwe afternoon heat, it became embarrassingly clear that the divisions in the party were deeply rooted when Chongwe Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Masebo, who was also co- Master of Ceremonies, apologized for earlier leaving out Mr. Kabimba from the salutations. She then went out of her way to give glowing tribute to him and how Mr Kabimba was a son of the area and was as much part and parcel of the celebrations.
And the Wynter Kabimba faction of vice President Guy Scott who was also the guest of honour, including Kafue MP Obvious Mwaliteta, Lusaka province minister Philip Kosamu, Silvia Masebo, Godfrey Chuumbwe and many others staged coup de grace when they clearly outnumbered the likes of Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde, Mulenga Sata and Miles Sampa who stuck out like a sore thumb.
The chatty Mr Kabimba failed to break the ice with the Lusaka mayor as his ranting could not make Mulenga respond or engage him in any conversation.
“We were surprised that the young man did not want to greet or just talk to him, even during general conversation, he only talked to Health minister Dr Kasonde, Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda and his friend Miles Sampa,” said a source who is also a member of the organizing committee.
Mulenga Sata, who was at all times with his relative Miles Sampa, arrived earlier at the ceremony and accompanied the Vice President Guy Scott to the palace to greet Chieftainess Nkomeshya a known PF cadre.
Mr Kabimba was only making his second public appearance after being fired by President Sata and was accompanied into the palace grounds by a handful of his henchmen and his personal driver who was doubling as a bouncer.
Mr Kabimba last week made his first public appearance at a non descript traditional ceremony of Chief Shakumbila in his home village.
Opposition MMD president Nevers Mumba and his secretary general were in attendance and so was NAREP’s Elias Chipimo and his vice Charles Maboshe.
The UPND was represented by Dr Canicius Banda.
Several chiefs, who included Chief Mukuni, of the Tokaleya people of Kazungula district, accompanied by one of his wives was
in attendance of the ceremony which was characterized by pomp and splendor.
Chieftainess Nkomenshya, just about the luckiest traditional leaders in the country, with two universities (at least by name) in her chiefdom since the PF came into power, and a tarred road right to her door step, blessed the first seed into the ground for the coming farming season.
Besides, the dropping of the first seed into the soil, the ceremony is of little significance as it only serves as a fund raising venture by the chieftainess, her family and those most loyal to her leadership.
Before the PF came into office, the ceremony was not known beyond the boundaries of Chongwe district and was always officiated by a district commissioner but with the PF in power, the vice president’s office is now being abused to grace the ceremony.
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