President Hichilema attends Kuramba traditional ceremony, calls for climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security

President Hakainde Hichilema was the guest of honour at a traditional Chewa ceremony in Kuramba, held at Mkaka Palace in Carter District. The event, presided over by Paramount Chief His Majesty Karonga Gawa Ondi, brought together Chewas from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia for the first time in history in a powerful display of unity and shared cultural heritage.

This year’s celebration attracted the largest crowd ever, underscoring the importance of unity and stability in achieving social progress. The celebration celebrated the deep cultural bonds among the Chewa people and emphasized the importance of collective strength in solving community challenges.

The theme of the ceremony, “Ensuring Food Security through Adoption of Climate Resilient and Climate Smart Agricultural Practices”, echoes the Government’s current focus on food security. President Hichilema stressed the importance of the theme, especially in light of the recent challenges the country has faced, including drought, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cholera outbreak, which have put a strain on resources vital to basic social services.

“To address these challenges, we will ensure food availability to our citizens through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA),” President Hichilema said, further stressing the need to build resilience through the adoption of innovations in water harvesting, precision irrigation and the adoption of alternative energy sources such as solar energy and clean coal.

President Hichilema also assured those present that the Government would carefully examine the recommendations made by His Majesty the Paramount Chief, Karonga Gawa Ondi, on the wider development needs of the Chewa Nation and Eastern Province. He pledged to take the necessary steps to meet those needs and reinforced his commitment to the well-being and progress of all Zambians.

The Kuramba traditional ceremony continues to be an important platform for promoting unity among the Chewa people and strengthening relations among the three neighbouring countries. President Hichilema’s attendance and his call for sustainable agricultural practices reflect the Government’s commitment to addressing food security challenges and promoting long-term development in Zambia.