100 YEARS LATER:
Mbikusita Lewanika– More Than One Native
by Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika
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July 2010
The psychiatrist professional turned
activist prophet of revolution, Frantz Fanon, in his phenomenon
work of all seasons, The Wretched of the Earth,
notes that:
“Each generation must, out of relative obscurity,
discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it. … We must
rid ourselves of the habit, now that we are in the thick
of the fight, of minimizing the actions of our fathers
or feigning incomprehension when considering their silence
and passivity. They fought as well as they could, with
the arms that they possessed then; and if the echoes of
their struggles have not resounded in the international
arena, we must realise that the reason for this silence
lies less in their lack of heroism than in the fundamentally
different international situation of our time. It needed
more than one native to say ‘we’ve had enough’ … before
we could today hold our own, certain of victory.”
In the same book, he also says that:
“History teaches us clearly that the battle against
colonialism does not run straight away along the lines
of nationalism:
One hundred years ago, on the early morning of 3rd February,
1905, a child was born on the western bank of the canal
between the Royal capital (Muleneng’i) of Lealui and Paris
Missionary Society/ Church of Barotseland mission station
of Luatile. The under twenty years of age young mother,
Munalula Mampi, who had been one of the wives of King
Lewanika, was in life threatening ill-health and much
pain, and had collapsed before reaching the mission clinic.
The birth attendant medic, who came to the aid of the
distressed child mother was Adolph Jalla, missionary who
had taken leadership from Francois Colliard. Nine months
earlier, Jalla had treated this patient, when she had
been poisoned from within the Palace, in an attempt to
have her abort this same pregnancy. The newly born saved
was Mbikusita Lewanika, (a.k.a. Akabiwa, Mando, Sandi
and Sikopo), with whom Adolph Jalla maintained particularly
relations, for many years.
In the course of his 72 years life, Mbikusita Lewanika
was to become the Founder Secretary of the Livingstone
African Welfare Society in 1929, the first “Zambian” Black
author of a full length book in English in 1938, a pioneering
organizer of the founding trade union groupings and the
founder President General of the Northern Rhodesia African
Congress in 1948, and the last son of King Lewanika I
to seat on the Barotse throne in 1968. Thus, the child
that Jalla saved at birth, was destined to contribute
to the birth of Zambia , as one of its pioneering founding
fathers, even though crowded out of a distorted history,
by later day inheritors of his founding achievements.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Dr. David Livingstone
(Munali) of Scotland , had been personally taken to see
a marvelous falls, by Sekeletu, a son of Sebitwane, of
the Sotho group (Makololo) that had had, at the time taken
over Barotseland . That is to be so much fuss about the
centenary and half of the occasion when there was the
first recorded European to be TAKEN to see Mosi-oa-Tunya,
and the centenary of the birth of Dag Hammarskjold, but
no public or official word about Sekeletu or about the
centenary of the birth of the Founder President General
of the first African political party in the country is,
perhaps, an illustration of a national-wide colonial mentality
or a lasting selective distortion of history or a lack
of nationalism or an inferiority complexes that idolises
other people’s heroes. Never the less, it should be placed
on that Thursday, the 3rd of February 2005 marked the
hundredth year of the birth of Mbikusita Lewanika, who
provided national service as a long serving welfare officer
to miners and a pioneering leader of the founding national
labour and political movements.
As indicated, the mother of the baby, Mbikusita, was
Munalula Mampi. Her mother was a Toka-Leya named Moonga,
who was married to Mwitumwa, of the Naluya, Namate and
Wanambula clans. Her four elder brothers and sisters were
Lyambela, Namukolo (Ma-Sitali,) Nawelwa (Ma-Mundia,) and
Wanalu. Munalula Mampi, from this Mwitumwa family. She
had nieces and nephews, who include Jeffrey Lubinda and
Ma-Lufwendo (Mrs. Geoffrey Mututwa, the businessman of
Senanga.) She had grand nieces and nephews, who include
the wife of former Deputy Minister and High Commissioner
to Tanzania , Henry Matinguluka Kabika. She had great
grand nephews, who include Lumbamba Nyambe, former Managing
Director of the Development Bank of Zambia.
Mbikusita’s mother, Munalula, was also given the name
Mampi, which means a Mother of armies, because she was
born during the 1884-85 Barotse civil war, in which King
Lubosi, who was later to become better known as King Lewanika
I, was temporarily overthrown. It is said that, as a newly
born baby, he was seen, and earmarked, by Lubosi, when
he was on route to seeking reinforcement from the Mashi
community and other communities along the southeastern
borders of Barotseland . This was after the 1884 coup
that temporarily put Tatila Akufuna on the Barotse throne,
before Lubosi regained the throne by an inter-ethnic Barotse
counter-coup in 1885.
Less than two decades later, Munalula Mampi was brought
to Lealui, as one of King Lewanika I’s wives, for whom
dowry was paid by the King. She was given the title name
of Nalitio, a Ndila. She was one of the King’s wives housed
under the charge of the senior wife, Aongola, the mother
of Mwanawina (King Mwanawina III.) In 1902, she was the
King’s wife who accompanied him down to Sesheke, when
he was on his way to his visit to Britain . She was often
in his company on important trips by the King, such as
hunting trips to Ngomang’ulu. On this account, she was
one of the wives subjected to envy and jealousy, which
caused her to be poisoned.
It was after she had recovered, and while still pregnant,
that Mbikusita’s mother was made to stay in the household
of Uyoya, who was the Induna Mulamata. She stayed there,
until she gave birth to the King’s son, and her only child,
Mbikusita Lewanika (King Lewanika II). When the birth
was reported to King Lewanika I, he gave the child a temporary
name, Sandi. Sandi refers to the type of fishing contraption,
which the King was making, when he was given the tiding
of the birth of Mbikusita. In addition, King Lewanika
I used to call Mbikusita by the name Mwanang’ono, when
he was a toddler.
Uyoya was a descendant of Mwanangombe, King Mulambwa’s
wife, who was a sister and co-wife of King Lewanika I’s
grandmother, Sanana. Mwanangombe had a daughter named
Mwendaendi (Ma-Uyoya.) Ma-Uyoya was, among others, once
married to Nalumango, with whom she had a son named Uyoya.
Uyoya was a favoured cousin and Induna Mulamata, the chief
of the King’s Household) under King Lewanika. It was to
this Uyoya’s household in Lealui that Munalula Mampi was
taken when the King released her from the Palace. Her
offence and discharge from the Palace had to do with drinking
alcohol, while in the Palace and pregnant.
After her discharge from the Palace, Munalula Mampi was
handed over to Uyoya, who was one of the court favourites
of the King, but she refused strongly. The King called
on the intervention of her cousins, Nawa Silundu and Wamunyima
(Induna Namamba,) who were influential Indunas, but she
still refused to marry Uyoya. Induna Namamba is the grandfather
of Mrs. Muletambo Lifunana Imasiku and Mr. Mubita Wamunyima,
the Prince Consort of Princess Nawina Mwanawina. Munalula
Mampi was one of many of the King’s wives who were released
from the Palace and given away in forced marriages. For
example, Mulena Mwendaweli’s mother, a cousin of Munalula
Mampi, was earlier released from the Palace, for the same
offence and also while pregnant. Mwendaweli Lewanika’s
mother was allocated to the household of the second Ngambela
Mataa, where Mulena Mwendaweli was born outside the Palace.
Unlike Munalula Mampi, Mwendaweli’s mother agreed to marry
as ordered, and had Ngambela Maata’s children named Imasiku,
Walusiku and Likando.
But, as in the case of others, who rejected these “arranged”
spin-off marriages, Munalula Mampi and her child were
permitted to leave Lealui, after the child was a little
grown. They went to her home village at Nalikumba in Senanga,
in the part that is now Shangombo District. While in Nalikumba,
Mbikusita was accidentally burnt while playing with other
children. Upon receiving this report, his aunt, the Litunga-la-Mboela
Matauka, King Lewanika I’s sister, sent for him and brought
him under her care in the Nalolo palace. Later, the mother
followed, and was married to a Nalolo Induna Muwana. This
marriage did not last. But, when Mbikusita’s mother left
Nalolo and the marriage, she was forced to leave the King’s
son behind. Mbikusita was retained under the direct care
of the Litunga-la-Mboela, Queen Matauka. Mbikusita’s mother
was later married again. This third and last time, she
was married to the Mutundwalo, the principal Induna of
Mulena Lukama, the traditional ruler based at Kaunga Mashi,
in today’s Shangombo District. However, for much of this
marriage, she stayed at her Nalikumba home, where her
husband used to visit. Meanwhile, her son was under the
care of the Litunga-la-Mboela in Nalolo, as well as his
maternal relatives in Lealui and Mulena Imwiko at Mwandi
in Sesheke.
When Mbikusita was seven years old, in 1912, his father,
King Lewanika I, formally and personally granted him a
Royal Village and lands extending from Nandombe in the
Barotse Plain to vicinities of Limulunga and Mabumbu on
the Western bank of the Plain. This was done at the same
time that King Lewanika I gave him the name Mbikusita,
which goes alone with the names Akabiwa and Mando, which
are also his name, together with the nicknames Sandi and
Sikopo. The lands had been identified and demarcated in
the presence of Nawa Silundu, from the Barotse Kuta (Khotla,)
as well as a Munyinda and his father. This Munyinda is
the father of Richard Mbikusita Munyinda, the Mongu cattle
trader, as well as a brother of the grandmother of William
Harrington, who was a Minister in President Frederick
Chikluba’s government. They are descendants of the first
Mbikusita, a son of King Ngalama.
The land allocated had been under the custody of the
second Mbikusita, Mbikusita wa Nalitoya or Mbikusita wa
Mukola. Both the first and second Mbikusita were members
of the Royal Family, the first being a son of King Ngalama.
The land allocation ceremony was conducted in the presence
of King Lewanika I, at the Kuta (Khotla.) His elder brother,
Imasiku Mwanang’ono (King Imwiko,) gave the royal salute
of acknowledgement, on his behalf, because he was under
age. This, among other reasons, explains why King Imwiko
was always categorical, and brooked no nonsense, over
the parentage of Mbikusita. Later, as allowed by custom,
King Yeta III requested Mbikusita to share the part of
his lands at Nandombe with Mbololwa Yeta. In a similar
customary way, King Yeta III had requested Princess Kapuwambwa
Lewanika to share part of her lands with Nakatindi Yeta,
leaving her with a part of Maala, with the other part
of Maala remaining in the hands of the family of Mufungulwa
Luyanga.
Of his elder brothers, Mbikusita received particularly
protective and supportive attention, from Mwanawina (Sir
Mwanawina III), Imasiku Mwanang’ono (King Imwiko) and
Litia (King Yeta III) after his father’s death. He also
close to, and later took much care of, his sisters, especially
Mufwekelwa, Kpwawambwa, Lundambuyu and Inonge. His brothers
Lucinda, Makweti and Isiteketo were equally close to him,
and in adult life he took special care of the education
of some of their children, like the present Senior Chief
of Kaoma, at Nalieli, Senior Chief Amukena (George Makweti
Iseteketo Lewanika) and the late Mataa Makweti Lewanika,
for whom he found scholarship to college and university
studies in Britain and United States of America, respectively.
Like his elder brothers, Mbikusita believed that providing
education to young people was the best way to look after
them and ensure that, in future they can look after themselves
and others.
With the help of his brothers, Mbikusita started his
formal education at Luatile School , in Lealui. After
finishing junior primary school at Lealui, One of his
elder brothers, Akashambatwa Lewanika left him out of
a list of the Princes and others who were proceeding to
the Barotse National School at Kambule in Mongu. But,
with the emotional intervention of another elder brother,
Mwanawina Lewanika, he was put on the list, despite low
marks, unruliness and hot temper. He was thus enabled
to proceed with his education at the Barotse National
School , where he begun to academically blossom and to
be socially better adjusted. Mbikusita Lewanika later
proceeded to do a Teacher’s course at Sefula Mission School
. This was before being selected to be among the Princes
proceeding to Lovedale College in the Cape area of South
Africa in early 1920’s.
However, en route to South Africa , with the others,
a doctor in Livingstone advised that Mbikusita Lewanika
had a chest infection that would put his life at risk
in the colder climate of South Africa . As a result, despite
his protests and depression, he was unable to immediately
go to Lovedale College , where he had been highly expecting
to continue his studies. But, after some delays and difficulties,
he did manage to matriculate from Lovedale, where he was
class mates with Sekeli Khama the uncle of Seretse Khama.
Before his return to Lealui, in the early 1930’s, and
for a decade after, Mbikusita Lewanika had, with determination,
driven himself to get a Lovedale College education, on
a part-residential and part-correspondence basis, up to
senior matriculation level.
And, being a believer in life long education, Mbikuista
also earned a certificate in book keeping in South Africa
, before passing the First Year Examination towards a
Bachelor’s degree with the University of South Africa
, before later completing his formal university education
at the University College at Swansea in Wales . The latter
was the same programme for which he recommended the one
who was to succeed him as Litunga, his nephew Ilute, a
son of Litunga Yeta III.
Before and after his studies at Lovedale, Mbikuista Lewanika
was in Livingstone, where he started to work as Northern
Rhodesia Government Clerk in Livingstone, with the aid
of Mr. Mufungulwa Luyanga of Moombo and Mr. Daniel Soko,
a man from Nyasaland (Malawi,) who later settled permanently
in Barotseland and, even became an Induna. It was while
working in Livingstone, in 1929, that Mbikuista became
the first Secretary of the first urban African Welfare
Association, at the age of twenty-four. This was before
the Capital of Northern Rhodesia, and along with Mbikusita
Lewanika, was transferred from Livingstone to Lusaka .
While working as a civil servant in Lusaka , Mbikusita
was involved in the first and foiled attempts to form
an African National Congress at Kafue in the early 1933.
After ten years of Northern Rhodesia Government Service,
King Yeta III recalled to Lealui, the King’s Private Secretary
from 1934 to 1937. He was a joint Private Secretary together
with his friend and nephew, Kaluwe Yeta (Edmund). The
position of being a Private Secretary to the King, which
had earlier been held by Mwanan’ono Lewanika (who was
to be King Imwiko I) and Prince Akashambatwa Lewanika,
the first Black person north of the Zambezi to pass the
senior metric examination in South Africa, was a very
high status and much envied position in Barotseland. In
this capacity, and for the sake of having at least one
prince in the delegation, Mbikusita accompanied King Yeta
III and the Ngambela on the 1937 United Kingdom trip,
which included being guests at the coronation of King
George VI, as well as renegotiating agreements with the
British Government. The envious and hateful ensured that
upon the return of the delegation from Britain, Mbikusita
was, together with the King’s son, Kaluwe and others considered
to have been Young Turks, put on trumped up charges, from
which the King was powerless to immediately save. The
detractors insisted, and got the Kuta to have Mbikusita,
and the other accused, banished from the royal capital.
It was a couple of years before the accusations were proved
to have been slanderous and false and the accused cleared,
but before that Mbikusita had left Lealui.
When Mbikusita left Lealui, in 1937, he returned to ordinary
work in Northern Rhodesia , for next quarter of a century.
He worked for a man called Thorncroft in Fort Jameson
(Chipata,) before settling in Nkana-Kitwe. At Nkana-Kitwe
he worked as a Senior Welfare Officer and Personnel and
Public Relations Manager at Rhokana Copper Mines, from
1941 to 1962. It was from the Nkana-Kitwe base that Mbikusita
became a pioneer trade unionist, the Founder President-General
of the Northern Rhodesia African Congress, a Member of
Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary of External Affairs
in the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland,
before becoming the last son of King Lewanika I to seat
on the Barotse throne, as Litunga Lewanika II (1968 to
1977).
As a special young friend of Muluti yo Muhulu Adolph
Jalla, Mbikusita Lewanika was a member of the team that
first translated the Bible from English and Sesotho into
the modern Silozi, in the 1930's. He was the first Black
person in Zambia to write and publish a full-length book
in the English language. He has authored several books,
in Silozi and English, from the 1930's.
Mbikusita Lewanika was symbolically born between two
worlds, one western and the other African, but also born
of an African mother into the hands of a missionary, who
represented western medicine, education and culture. In
his adult life, Mbikusita Lewanika was a strong and outspoken
personality in all public roles and activities in public
affairs. His position was always in favour of the principle
that positive aspects of African culture, traditional
governance and authorities should not be eclipsed by blind
modernisation of wholesale westernization. He also championed
advocacy for politics of civility, tolerance, multi-racialism
and non-violence during and after the colonial period,
which was often in disfavour with popular opinion or the
most powerful forces in the land. As a result, his life
was, throughout, subjected to a burning hatred and unending
misunderstanding. Some of those who hated or misunderstood
him have applied lies and insults in order to fan the
sails of their opposition to him and what he stood for,
even after his death in 1977.
In his statement to the Governor of Northern Rhodesia
and address to the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society
in France , in 1937, King Yeta III said that Mbikusita
was his brother. But, it was King Imwiko (the Litunga
between 1945 and 1948) who insisted upon Mbikusita always
using and ensuring that all his official documents have
the name Lewanika as his surname. It was upon King Imwiko’s
insistence that the Kitwe District Commissioner was instructed,
by the Secretary for Native Affairs, Mr. R. S, Hudson,
to correct Mbikusita’s identification certificate and
letter of Exemption to include his father’s name as Lewanika.
This was through a 17th January 1948 letter written by
the Administrative Secretary, who later became Sir Alexander
Williams. Mbikusita’s appointment by, King Mwanawina III,
as a Natamoyo and Member of the House of Chiefs, as well
as his crowning as Litunga Lewanika II, knocked out the
unfounded challenge of his being a son of Lewanika and
in the line Litungaship. Mbikusita Lewanika was King of
Barotseland, from 1968 to 1977.
In Barotse society, and to the Barotse Government, his
contributions are literally countless and his self-sacrifices
have been a bottomless pit. His kingship brought an era
of unprecedented royal family and inter-community unity
and inclusiveness. Just one year before the hundredth
anniversary of the year, 1878, when Mawaniketwa Lubosi,
King Lewanika I, first ascended the Barotse throne, the
torch was passed from the second Lewanika generation to
the third Lewanika generation. This was in early 1977,
when King Yeta IV (Ilute Yeta) succeeded King Lewanika
II (Mbikusita Lewanika.) King Yeta IV reigned for twenty-two
years, until he passed away during the month of July,
in the year 2000.
In Zambian history and society, of Mbikuista Lewanika
pioneering and foundation laying contributions, I have
elsewhere written that:
“Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s there was ever
escalating demands, by European settlers, for amalgamation
between Northern and Southern Rhodesia . For this purpose,
representatives of White workers formed a European settler
political party. In response, in 1944, the Kitwe African
Society, under the leadership of Mbikusita Lewanika, issued
the Kitwe Resolution protesting against European settler
escalating agitation for amalgamation of Northern Rhodesia
with Southern Rhodesia , under European settler colonial
hegemony. Leaders of this Association also protested against
the inappropriate and inadequate representation of African
interests in the Legislature. They called for African
interests to be represented by African elected by Africans,
meaning indigenous Africans not restricted to those originating
within the colonial territory of Northern Rhodesia . They
spoke strongly against a partition proposal to have the
Copperbelt and urban areas for White settlers and merged
with White controlled Southern Rhodesia, and leave only
rural areas a Bantustan, which could eventually come under
Africa internal self-rule. They fought against the idea
of ‘responsible government’ to limit voting rights and
governance in the hands of a European majority and a few
‘civilised’ Africans.
In response to African nascent political
pressure, the colonial authorities undertook some progressive
steps, in 1948. The Ninth Legislative Council consisted
of the first Speaker, 9 officials, 10 elected members,
2 nominated unofficial members (European) to represent
African interests – all Europeans. For European, what
was significant was that elected unofficials and officials
equalized with ten seats a piece. For Africans, what was
significant was that, for the first time, the Legislative
Council had two African members, Nelson Nalumango and
Henry Kasokolo, were elected by the African Representative
Council. The Kitwe African Society called for the Federation
of African Welfare Societies to be transformed into an
overtly political organization, in order to enhance fight
for African human rights.
Thus, in 1948, at Chilenje, in Lusaka , the Northern
Rhodesia African Congress was constituted, with Mbikusita
Lewanika as its Founding President General. Dauti Yamba
and Mufana Lipalile, the former President and Vice Presidents
of the Northern Rhodesia Federation of Welfare Association
were, respectively, elected as Vice President General
and Treasurer of this first African political party. Donald
Siwale, Safeli Chileshe, Mufana Lipalile, Mateyo Kakumbi,
Dickson Konkola, Isaac Mumpanshya, Nelson Nalumango, George
Kaluwa, Gabriel Musumbulwa, Simon Kapwepwe, Francis Chembe,
Laban Zulu, and Justin Simukonda were among the founder
leadership, delegates or out of country proponent of the
move.
The Northern Rhodesia African Congress represented
escalation in demands for African political rights, including
voting rights, beyond working conditions and social welfare
demands. Having gotten a foot into the legislature, the
Congress leadership demanded equal representation with
European settlers’ elected unofficial members. This begun
the independence struggle in earnest, together with the
fight against plans to impose a European settler dominated
Federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
The twin slogans of Congress were ‘Unity in Team Work,’
and ‘One man, One Vote,’.”
The priceless right to vote, which many now take for
granted and, even, give to the highest bidder, is credit
to Mbikuista Lewanika and his team of pioneering leaders.
The team spirit of collective leadership, and inclusive
organisations, which seems to be alluding our generation,
are some of the principles of genuine national service
we should recapture from the heritage left by Mbikuista
Lewanika and his colleagues, who we have chosen to forget.
In judging a life, as full and long as that of Mbikusita
Lewanika, the truth shall not change people whose hearts
have totally been conquered by the darkness of ignorance,
unfounded hatred, misplaced fear and misguided envy. However,
it may enlighten the open minded, and, in any case, it
is important to place it on public record. Of Mbikuista
Lewanika, let it be acknowledged that he run his part
of the relay race of life and national service well, for
he properly handed over the baton of his pioneering trade
union work to Lawrence Katilungu, the baton of his founding
political service to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, and the baton
of his traditional authority to Ilute Yeta Lewanika (Litunga
Yeta IV) – all of whom were worthy successors.
On judging Mbikusita Lewanika’s family life, and its
continuing impact on national service, it is illustrative
to note what his children have achieved and contributed
to national service. His first son, the late Mwanang'ono
was a South African and American Trained Educationist,
Teacher at Munali and Principal at Chizongwe and Lundazi
Secondary Schools in Eastern Province . His second son,
Sifuniso is a Scottish Trained Professional Printer, former
Chairman of Mongu Council and currently MMD Western Provincial
Co-ordinator. His third son, the late Litia was an American
Graduate Agriculturist, and a District Agricultural Officer
in Kasempa, before becoming the Senior Chief of Kaoma,
based at Naliele. After these he had four daughters, Inonge,
Mbuywana, Mbololwa and Mwendaendi, and six other sons,
Akashambatwa, Mbikusita (Wamundila), Mwananyanda, Kusiyo,
Sekufele and Mwangelwa.
His children have earned a total of at least thirty-one
university degrees, from the United Kingdom , United States
of America and Canada . These university degrees are in
Industrial Arts Education, Agriculture, Home Economics,
Education, Child Development, Special Education, History,
Political Science, Economics, Development Administration,
Public Administration, Economic Development, Mathematics,
Mineral Economics, Bio-Chemistry, Computer Science, Social
Science Education, Pharmacology, Business Administration
and Accounting. He gave birth to this education, for national
development service to Zambia , over the last 40 years.
Together with his wife, Namaya, he brought up their children
to have the academic education, civic responsibility and
public service drive. They have served, or continue to
serve, Zambia, in cabinet and parliamentary leadership,
and public servants in the Civil Service, Local Government,
University of Zambia, Copperbelt University, Evelyn Hone
College, Mongu Teacher Training College, Special Education
Teacher Training, INDECO Limited and Zambia Consolidate
Copper Mines Limited, over the last 40 years.
It is possible to identify those who equal, but not those
who surpass Mbikusita Lewanika’s contribution to the political
freedom and social advancement of Zambians. In his life’s
work he assisted and inspired countless people, including
those who have later found it expedient to spread lies
and insults against him, in life and death. Of his life’s
contribution to the founding of Zambia , even if it had
not been deliberately and selectively marginalized, it
would have been easy for future generations to take it
for granted, because, as the African-American poet, Arna
Bontemps, noted:
And men will never think this wilderness
Was barren once when grass is over all
Hearing laughter they may never guess
My heart has known its winters and carried gall
In judging the worthiness of a public life’s work, and
if a public figure’s lasting contribution is to be determined,
it is useful to look at the subject personality’s successors
and offsprings, and what they found and what progress
they had an inherited opportunity to fulfill or betray.
On this account, Mbikusita Lewanika prepared and left
the door open for inheritors of his trade union, party
political, royal authority and family responsibilities
to have a chance of fulfilling a part of the mission for
national democracy and development. This was despite being
born in difficult circumstances, and, certainly, life
and work to him was ‘no crystal stair’ case,
as far as welfare work for miners or pioneering the labour
and political movements. If Mbikusita Lewanika is to be
judged on what he improved upon, husbanded and handed
over, then, it can be said that he fulfilled his generation’s
mission, at great personal sacrifice and with no appreciation.
Indeed, it can be said of Mbikusita Lewanika, as another
African-American poet, Robert Hayden has said of Frederick
Douglas:
When it is finally ours, this freedom, this liberty,
this beautiful
And terrible thing, needful to man as air,
Usable as earth; when it belongs at last to all,
When it is truly instinct, brain matter, diastole,
systole,
Reflex action; when it is finally won; when it is
more
Than the gaudy mumbu jumbo of politicians:
…this man, superb in love and logic, this man
shall be remembered. O not with statutes, rhetoric,
not with legends and poems and wreaths of bronze
alone,
but with the lives grown out of his own, the lives
fleshing his dream of the beautiful, needful thing.
It is in this light that what Mbikusita Lewanika achieved
and contributed should be recalled, and honoured, on this
occasion of his birth’s hundredth anniversary, in 2005.
Indeed, as the freedom struggle continues towards the
day when we shall finally “hold our own, certain of
victory,” we are building upon the foundation stone
laid by one native - Mbikusita Lewanika – among others.
For more information about H.E. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita
Lewanika ’s family photos please refer to http://inongelewanika.com/family.htm
