PF resists repatriating remains of Zwangendaba from Muchinga to Chipata

December 31, 2012 | Filed under: News | Posted by:

zwangeEastern Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba has cautioned that the exhumation of Chief Zwangendaba’s remains from Muchinga and to be repatriated to Chipata must only be done after wide consultation.

Speaking at a Ceremony to discuss the fate of the remains of Chief Zwangendaba at Feni, the palace of Paramount Chief Mpezeni, Mr. Mwamba disclosed that the burial site now in Muchinga Province was a heritage site with historical significance to Northern and Muchinga Provinces and its people.

Chief Zwangendaba was the founder King of the Ngoni people who migrated with his people from South Africa at the height of Shaka Zulu’s Mfecane Wars. He died in 1848 from natural causes and was buried in the Mbala-Nakonde area in Chieftainess Waitwika’s chiefdom.

Mr Mwamba said that the site is internationally listed among national heritage and historical sites of Zambia and the repatriation of the remains of Chief Zwangendaba to Chipata would reduce its significance.

He regretted that many heritage sites in the country were neglected, vandalised and lacked investments, but stated that government would change this and restore and preserve such sites.

But Paramount Chief Mmbelwa IV of the Ngoni people of Malawi insisted that government must fulfil the wishes of the Ngonis that their founder King is buried next to Mpezeni 1 at Feni in Chipata.

He requested government to help correct historical accounts that allege that Zwangendaba was buried in Tanzania among the Fipa people.

He also called on all Ngonis to recognise the special role that Chieftainess Waitwika of the Namwanga people has played in the preservation of the grave for the last 164 years.

And speaking at the same ceremony, Paramount Chief Mpezeni requested government to facilitate the formal invitation of King Zwelithini of Kwa Zulu-Natal and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa who have been invited to this year’s Nc’wala Ceremony.

Chief Mpezeni also disclosed that the 2013 Nc’wala Ceremony would be held on 23rd February 2013.

The ceremony was earlier preceded by a tour led by Energy Permanent Secretary and Induna to the Paramount Chief Mpezeni, George Zulu, to historical sites at Fwaya, a place where the British fought the Ngonis and the burial site of Mpezeni 1 who was buried in 1898.

The Ceremony attracted Ngoni Chiefs from Zambia and Malawi that included Senior Chief Nzamane, Chief Madzimawi, Chief Maguya and Paramount Chief Mmbelwa who is the young brother of Mpezeni, was accompanied by Senior Chief Mpelembe, Chief Ntwalo and Chief Mabilabo.

The ceremony was attended by historians and academics from Malawi who are tracing the roots and settlement made by the Ngonis when they migrated from South Africa to escape the Mfecane Wars waged by Shaka Zulu.

Comments Closed

46 Responses to PF resists repatriating remains of Zwangendaba from Muchinga to Chipata

  1. Zwangendada died along time ago,moving the rotten bones which is soil now will save no purpose at all. this should have been done days after his death not after so many years. Please mwebangoni let the great king rest in peace. Ngatamukwete ifwekuchita ask Sata to give something to do.

    CB - January 3, 2013
    10:29

  2. ZANGENDABA did not die in bemba land but in the namwanga land , during our colonia master with no proper boundaries. so point of collection Your loyal highness Nawayitwika muwanene wano wa tamanya ukuti momo a munsi ya Winamwanga

    Crispin Mutambo - January 3, 2013
    07:40

  3. I Love this post!

    ?????????? - January 3, 2013
    06:14

  4. Is it true?

    VJ - January 2, 2013
    09:17

  5. IF the ngonis to burry Zwangendaba in Chipata they should have moved with the body like the Bembas did with Chiti when he was killed in Nsenga land. they moved with the body until a burial site was indentified within there kingdom.

    mic - January 2, 2013
    09:14

  6. Correction to assertion that lozi’s have origins South Africa, they Kololo were the ones that migrated from South Africa and conquered the lozi’s. The Lozi eventually otherthrew the invaders, but, their original language had been partially lost by years of Kololo rule, hence, similarity of present day lozi’ language to Sesotho.

    Mercy tigon - January 1, 2013
    23:10

  7. And so what?

    Yaya - January 1, 2013
    21:54

  8. The grave of King Zwangendaba should be left where it is because of the following reasons: 1. His grave straddles the colonial boundary left to us by the British and the Germans.He has children as far as Wanyamwezi in Tabora, Wasukuma in Shinyanga and Mwanza in Central Tanzania. 2.He represents the unity and the spirit of pan-Africanism. He did not rest in a foreign world the way Alexander The Great died. King Zwangendaba died on an African soil. All of us in Zambia and Tanzania must together celebrate his life. That people in Tanzania don’t fight for a piece of this great history, is not their problem but that of the successor nation states to the colonial legacy for failing to educate their people the correct history.3. There is no need to disturb the remains of this son of Africa.Let us build a Masoleum and museum there and employ a curator. It should a mini college of social sciences. 4. THE ANC of South Africa did a very logical thing.They buried all their fallen comrades during the struggle against Apartheid in Morogoro, Tanzania. After gaining power in South Africa the ANC came to Morogoro and performed the ritual of transferring the spirits of the fallen comrades by prayers, sacrifice,
    and collected the soil from each grave and went with it to SA and reburied them. The ANC did not disturb the graves because that would amount to desecration. This is my opinion.

    Bosco Malunda - January 1, 2013
    21:27

  9. To repatriate means to take back to the father land. Zwangendaba’s fatherland is in South Africa/Mozambique/Swaziland.
    Not Chipata. Zwange never lived in Chipata and he probably wanted to settle here where he is buried. So stop messing about you Mpezeni!

    THE SAINT - January 1, 2013
    21:22

  10. Guys let us have respect for our elders . You may not like the paramount Chief but he is older than you. And why certainly link PF to this issue . Lets us be sober the way to comment coz the msg you re sending is that even the one you like will be insulted when he becomes President if at all he will.

    Bwamba Nkoko - January 1, 2013
    20:08

  11. Let the dead bury themselves. Why trouble his rotten bones?

    CTimothy - January 1, 2013
    18:40

  12. Lozis better start retracing their journey into Zambia because Ngonis and Lozis arrived in present day Zambia around the same time and were both running from the Zulu Mfecane wars.

    Lozis are recent migrants into Zambia that is why their bogus claim for barotseland will never work.

    One Zambia One Nation

    Zambian Matrix - January 1, 2013
    18:21

  13. This is all crap

    pushiiii - January 1, 2013
    17:21

  14. Whether you take the remains to Chipata or not, Zwangendaba died in the place where he has been put to rest. The place where he has been buried is in Zambia and Chipata is in Zambia. So let history remain as it is and that grave should just remain a heritage site as declared.

    kachale - January 1, 2013
    17:09

  15. You Ngonis are not serious and please stop kidding. Where were you to come after 164 years and demand the remains of Zwangendaba?
    What has prompted your move to take the remains to Chipata after all these past years.Suppose you don’t find the remains in that grave,what will you do?
    Just forget about that move and concentrate on development issues.

    kachale - January 1, 2013
    17:04

    • They are dreamers, they claim to be related to the Zulus of SA, but the Zulus in Kwazulu Natal do not even know that they Ngonis in this world.

      Yaya - January 1, 2013
      21:59

  16. mpezeni is a degree holder you chaps

    Hot dog (galu yo tentha) - January 1, 2013
    14:28

    • The headline very misleading. I dont know why you always find a way to link PF even were it does not concern them. This hatred is threatening.

      edward - January 1, 2013
      15:58

    • Ubufi Mpezeni was a policeman at Central Police Station in Lusaka. He has no degree Don’t lie.

      Munanga - January 1, 2013
      19:47

    • Degree holder in witchcraft and Prostitution, stop dreaming you also.What is a degree now?

      Yaya - January 1, 2013
      22:03

  17. No debate no quarells, King Zwangendaba must be exhumed and reburied in eastern Zambia. I will attend the burial ceremony.

    Magaret Nachizya - January 1, 2013
    10:11

  18. Even Arafat was exhumed and taken where all have agreed

    Lundazi Zealot - January 1, 2013
    09:01

  19. YOU NGONIS, ARE YOU GOING TO AFFORD TO PAY NOT ONLY THE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CURATOR OF YOUR CHIEF BUT GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF CURATORS RELATIVES. CENTURIES OF FORSAKING YOUR CHIEF THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE REMEMBERED THAT YOU WERE IN COMPANY OF A CHIEF FROM ZULU’S WARS. YOU NGONIS YOUR COWARDICE WILL DRIVE TO SELF-EXTINCTION. APPEAL TO BEMBAS- DON’T GIVE THEM THE REMAINS OF THEIR CHIEF. THEY DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO COMPENSATE ALL THE CURATORS WHO HAD THE RESPECT TO LOOK AFTER THE SHRINE. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO HAVE BARRIED THEIR KING LIKE A SLAVE.

    Peter - January 1, 2013
    08:30

  20. Let the remains be where they are currently. You ngonis and bembas are all visitors so dont claim ownership. You dig that grave and all you shall find is soil. Bones completely decompose after 100 years. So bembas if these rats insist please give them their so called soil zwangendaba

    Conman - January 1, 2013
    07:50

  21. was surprised that ka mpenzeni is visiting the burial site for the first time,i have been there on several occasions as a proud ngoni.

    MOJO - January 1, 2013
    06:09

  22. Mulenga this year something bad will happen to you

    Rebase Mulenga - January 1, 2013
    04:15

  23. MULENGA LEARN TO RESPECT PEOPLE MORE ESPECIALLY RESPECTED PERSON LIKE PARAMOUNT CHIEF MPEZEN, IN THE FIRST PLACE GO AND CHECK URSELF. HIV REMAINS CONFIDENTIAL WHO TOLD YOU THT HE IS ON ARVS. IF U R SUED TO COURT HAVE U GOT ANY EVIDENCE? BE CIVILLIZED THAN FOOLISH IN PUBLIC.U SEEM TO B BACKWARDS IN THIS WORLD.HOPE NXT TIME U WRITE SOMETHING SENSIBLE.

    rocktree - January 1, 2013
    00:18

    • He is , why worry now?

      Yaya - January 1, 2013
      21:57

  24. They want to RE-BASE the chiief

    binawandi - January 1, 2013
    00:14

  25. This grave in Muchinga is a fake One.

    The legendary Warlord Zwangendaba was buried in Songea in Tanzania and the Tanzanian Government will tell you so and will show you the site.

    He never passed through Bembaland. The ony group that passed through Bemba territory was the rebel group led by Mpezeni on their way from Songea after the death of Zwangendaba after his army qua army had split into various factions.

    Mpezeni traversed Bemba land in search of pretty women and cattle and finding little of both commodities and considering the high cost of doing business in Bembaland, proceeded to Chipata.

    Therefore this grave in Muchinga is not for Zwangendaba. It is a political grave designed to mislead people and rewrite history

    Assegai one - December 31, 2012
    22:58

    • I know for a fact that Zwangendaba did not enter present day Zambia on his own two feet. He died at Mapupo in 1848. Every school child knows that. Whether or not he was buried there is becoming a historical debate. The Ngoni split into at least 5 groups after his death. The question is, did the other groups really allow Mpezeni’s Ngoni to carry the remains of Zwangendaba? If not, who then is buried at that site? Why the lie, if indeed he was buried at Mapupo or elsewhere in Tanzania? I have heard in other circles that Zwangendaba led the Ngoni into Zambia. Really? I believe that Mpezeni’s Ngoni, granted they were a splinter group led by one Zwangendaba’s sons, just want to have more claim on one of Africa’s greatest personalities. Not that they are not entitled to, but this should be done in factual historical perspectives.

      Child of the Sky - January 1, 2013
      04:24

    • “Mpezeni traversed Bemba land…” Did he really? If so, wonder how the marauding intruder fsiled to pick-up a quarrel with the Bambas?

      Mei Matungu - January 1, 2013
      18:12

    • “Mpezeni traversed Bemba land…” Did he really? If so, wonder how the marauding intruder failed to pick-up a quarrel with the Bambas?

      Mei Matungu - January 1, 2013
      18:14

  26. Let’s not tamper with history. All you can ask for is to give the site the status it deserves by erecting necessary infrastructure around the area

    Ulemu ni Wabwino - December 31, 2012
    22:13

  27. Nonsense, why disturb a grave site dating back to the 1800′s…easterners with their traditions..is this group trying to show everyone they’re more clever than their predecessors?

    POE - December 31, 2012
    20:14

  28. Mpezeni looks better with ARVS FROM STATE HOUSE IN SALAULA SUIT, COME NCWALA, WE ARE YET TO SEE RIBS AGAIN, YABA, A RAPIST CHIEF- HIS PROFIT IS AIDS

    Mulenga Sata - December 31, 2012
    19:42

  29. Let’s be reasonable, stop praising PF for every story on your site otherwise before long you will start reporting that the are hinting on your wives.

    sir - December 31, 2012
    19:16

  30. The reason is simple why involving pf government, unless u ar draght.All culture ,chiefs , tradition events etc its done with blessings of the government. What about removing a chief fm his thrown. What do u sy kambwanga

    gkchulu - December 31, 2012
    18:43

    • Nothing!!! Perhaps one would have something to say if you meant “throne”.

      Bonzo - December 31, 2012
      19:36

  31. But this tribe. You want to steal bones of a dead chief? ha

    Teressa Lungu - December 31, 2012
    18:40

    • That’s the Bemba man for you. Ntolelefye. Nganachiba, nganachimyeba!!!!

      mk - December 31, 2012
      20:57

  32. IF THE OWNERS WANT THE REMAINS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, JUST LIKE THE HEBREW PEOPLE CARRIED THE REMAINS OF JOSEPH FROM EGYPT TO THE PROMISED LAND. ITS BETTER HIS REMAINS BE WHERE HIS PEOPLE ARE AFTER ALL HE WAS THEIR KING.

    Manzi yapya - December 31, 2012
    18:36

    • There are no remains anymore! Please ask any scientists how long human bones take before becoming soil? Don’t speak from ignorance. They brought historians from Malawi, why didn’t scientists accompany them? They know better than these so-called historians who are no more than ignorant pretenders cheating equally ignorant chiefs.

      Woman of Substance - January 1, 2013
      13:18

      • BONES ARE MADE OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHATES AND CAN LAST FOR A LONG TIME. 164 YEARS IS NOTHING! SO, ZWANGENDABA’S BONES ARE STILL INTACT BELIEVE ME! YOU WILL BE SHOCKED. THEY ARE NOT SOIL, BUT THE FLESH HAS TURNED TO SOIL, YES.
        BUT THE POINT THAT HIS PEOPLE WANT HIM NEARER IS VALID AND ON THIS ACCOUNT I SUPPORT THE VIEW OF THE LAST BLOGER!

        Dan Shamboshi - January 3, 2013
        11:54

  33. People get a life.

    x - December 31, 2012
    18:26

  34. So why are you bringing in PF Govt in this issue? Bitterness always.

    Mwatayanva Chinyama - December 31, 2012
    18:05