Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela says government will explore ways of making Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to work together and unlock economic potentials.

Speaking when he officiated at the Kulamba fundraising dinner of the Chewa people of the three named countries organized by the Chewa Heritage Foundation Zambia Chapter in Lusaka Friday, Chitotela also contributed K20 000 cash towards supporting the hosting of the event.

He said traditional ceremonies played an important role in fostering unity in Zambia hence the need to support them.

“Traditional ceremonies play a very important role in fostering unity in Zambia. They are also a critical component in the development of the tourism sector in Zambia which is mainly focusing on the waterfalls. Because of the large numbers and the diversity of our ethic groups, traditional ceremonies can be a very significant avenue for the growth of our tourism in Zambia. This is as it should be because our government has put emphasis and identified tourism as one of the major areas in the economic growth of our country; and of course it plays a very important role in job creation,” Chitotela said.

He also appealed to the corporate world to support the event by investing their resources in the Chewa Kingdom.

“The government of His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia will explore ways of the three countries to work together and use the geographical location of the Chewa people to unlock economic potential. I also call upon the corporate world to take advantage of this unique cultural heritage to invest their resources in the Chewa kingdom,” said Chitotela.

And Chewa Heritage Foundation Chairperson Nebert Phiri said the objective of the dinner dance was to raise funds towards the hosting of this year’s ceremony.

Phiri who is also a retired Brig General, further invited all Zambians to attend the ceremony.

“The main objective of this dinner dance is to enable us raise funds and other resources towards the hosting of this year’s Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people drawn from Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The Kulamba traditional ceremony is an annual event which always takes place towards the end of the month of August each year at Mkaika in Katete district of the Eastern Province of Zambia. During this occasion, Mwini Kalonga Gawa Undi hosts distinguished guests, other dignitaries and multitudes of his subjects and other people from all walks of life. As such, the need for adequate funds and other requisites needed to meet the administrative and logistical requirements to support such a mammoth event cannot be overemphasized. It is for this reason that we would want to appeal for your generous contributions to support this noble calls through this fundraising dinner dance,” said Phiri.

The fundraising dinner which was held at Intercontinental Hotel was also spiced with traditional dances such as the famous Gule Wamkulu. (In Picture)