The Peace and Unity concert which was aimed at fundraising for victims of the Lusaka City Market inferno yesterday ended in a flop as it was shunned by Ministry of Tourism and Arts officials as well as those from the office of the vice-president disaster management division.

First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda also did not grace the poorly attended event as advertised by organisers.

The concert which was scheduled to start at about 10:00 initially, had performing artists arriving after 15:30 hours and others who included song bird Mirriam Mampi Mukape, arrived slightly after 16:40 hours and later left without touching the stage at about 18:00 hours.

Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) publicity secretary Mweembe Chuulu could not hide his disappointment at how Zambians could be “so uncaring” about their fellow citizens whose properties were lost in the inferno.

“For me I will tell you one thing, it’s not a political matter that I am here, whether PF or UPND is here or not I am here for peace and unity because in our capacity as ZAM, we are here to embrace and preach peace. So if a certain sector decides not be here, it is there right, they may have chosen not to come, but for us as musicians, we shall carry on preaching the message of peace because we know that reaching out to the masses out there depends on us. This is not the end, its just the beginning and there is a lot more that is coming in as far as fundraising and just trying to help our brothers and sisters who are affected is concerned,” said Chuulu.

Meanwhile, PF Lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube who initiated the concert thanked everyone who was present at the event.

“I have very few words to say here today except to thank those of you that have managed to be with us at this very important event, thank you very much to you all,” said KBF trying hard to hide his disbelief.

The Peace and unity concert took off at 18:45 hours yesterday with an opening performance by instrumentalist Uncle Rex and the Band followed by Sister D and the Band, Chika Lupupa and Yellow man. Others who performed where Dalisoul, Mark 2, Pilato, Ephraim and Suwilanji, delivering their “we are one” song dedicated to the city market inferno victims.

Other people that attended the event were Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) National Chairperson Rapheal Nakachinda, National Revolution Party President Cozmo Mumba and Pillars of Peace Chairperson Rev Mwape Chilekwa.