Umutomboko Festival brightens Luapula Expo & Investment

NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka.

THE Luapula Expo & Investment Conference just had to come. It had to come for the purpose of unlocking the vast potential that the province has to showcase to not only the outside world but at home as well.

At home, yes through the concept of domestic tourism which cuts across all forms of human activities, ranging from energy, mining, environment, agriculture, sports, forestry, animal, health, education, leisure and above all religious.

As statistics of over 750 indicate concerning the number of delegates both local and foreign, with the majority being Zambians, it goes without saying that not only is the potential in the natural resources dotted in the area but that people are anxious to visit and experience a different life style.

Like President Edgar Lungu stated when he officiated at the grand opening that success has many fathers while failure is an orphan, true to the word, the just ended Luapula Expo is has attracted many fathers.
He repeated even during the Mutomboko traditional ceremony where he called on other provincial Ministers to emulate what their colleague has done.
“I commend the efforts of the Luapula Province Administration to attract investment and I encourage all of our provinces to learn from your example,” he said.
It is a well known fact that no one in their right sense want to be associated with failure and Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa had to see to it that what he had embarked on with his team hits the limelight and claims more fathers than become a deserted orphan.
In helping to raise to the banner of success by Team Chilangwa, is former Permanent Secretary in the province Clement Chendela Siame who during his tenure before he proceeded to Ghana for a tour of duty as a diplomat, set in motion the similar investment venture then called Destination Luapula.
The year was 2008 and in this Team Siame, Mr Chilangwa also was part of the brains that wanted to see the province showcase as well as attract investment in various sectors of development. 
“It is so refreshing to see the vision of “Destination Luapula” being re-ignited through the Luapula Expo. Luapula Province minister Nickson Chilangwa has raised the bar of the dream we launched together in 2008. I commend him highly for standing out to make Luapula Destination a reality,” he said according to media reports.
Mr Siame prays that Mr Chilangwa and his administration will be supported to actualise the whole dream of making Luapula the gem of Zambia.
I salute the team that has made this a possibility. Our efforts were not in vain. My vision was to make Luapula Province the most preferred destination in Zambia.” he says.
Indeed the vision had to be fulfilled and carried forward.
Under the theme “Linking Investors to Luapula Province to Unlock the Economic Potential”, it just fitted in so well that almost all the deliberations were centred on the same.
The period was from July 26^th to July 31^st 2017 and areas of interest covered ranged from Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Livestock, Energy, Tourism, Mining and Infrastructure Development respectively.
In this respect, delegates were exposed to all the outlined sectors so that they could pick on what they feel they could spend their money on.
The first outing was for all delegates who had to spend their afternoon and part of the night in Samfya on the rich Samfya Beach where various beach sporting activities were displayed including football organised by the Football Association of Zambia and the provincial administration.
Luapula province permanent secretary Dr Buleti Nsemukila could not conceal his happiness at the large turnout as he welcomed some delegates who had gone on a sunset cruise to view the rest of Samfya beach and Mbabala island on Lake Bangweulu.
Dr Nsemukila revealed that the provincial administration intends to make Samfya the home for all kinds of beach sports due to its endowed rich and clean sand beaches along the shores of Lake Bangweulu.
The visit to Samfya culminated into a welcome cocktail for delegate spiced with entertainment by the Lima Jazz Band and renowned folklore musician Pontiano Kaiche.
Samfya turned into a melting pot where all, new and old friends converged and shared their various experiences as they would be in the area for a week-long exploration of what Luapula province had to offer.
“We would like to make Samfya the venue to beach sports such as beach football, beach volleyball and any other related sport. One day we will invite Oxford and Cambridge to come and have the regatta (water rowing) on Lake Bangweulu and not always on River Thames ion England. And already an investor wants to put up an 18-hole golf course on Mbabala island,” he says.
The following day delegates boarded two buses and departed to various destinations of their interest. The tourism and energy team started with Mumbuluma Falls situated 33km from Mansa town.
After an up-close interaction with the waterfalls, the team proceeded to Nchelenge for a more exciting and memory set encounter with the place once used by the slave traders as a stop-over base for slaves from Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) to the Indian ocean.
Upon arrival, a number of boats that included two marine boats operated by the Zambia Army Special Forces were arranged and the team left for a 65 kilometre journey on water to explore what lied beyond that large expanse of water.
First to arrive at the Kilwa Island were the two marine boats, on one of which the author was, and did not pay homage to the traditional leader His Royal Highness Chief Nshimba as per tradition.
Kilwa Island is an island on Lake Mweru and that it was known to the Arab and Swahili traders of ivory, copper and slaves who used it on the lake as a base at one time.
Kilwa Island was the first trading area that the Portuguese took over on their quests to control trade in Africa.
In Tanzania where the name Kilwa is adopted means ‘Place of Fish’ and it has UNESCO listed ruins that visitors go to explore that tell the story of centuries of coastal history.
However, as the firs team concluded their tour of the caves, came the other delegates who had visited Chief Nshimba who even gave them traditional tour guides to lead them to the caves.
When all was said and done, it was time to get back to the Nchelenge, all the delegates on other boats that visited the Chief left while our two marine boats delayed for almost an hour because one boat developed a low battery and required boosting.
As the marine officers frantically worked on starting the other boat, little was known that there was yet another boat that missed the correct path and went exploring the other side ending up making round trip of the vast Island .
By that time it was after 18:00 hrs, a team that included former Zambia Tourism Authority public relations manager Caristo  Chitamfya, despite having been diverted to a far flung place still demonstrated more determination and zeal as they chanted that they had been exploring the other side of the island which some did not reach.
However, under the spirit of “Zambia, Let’s Explore”, Luapula provided or laid bare the very best of its rich natural and cultural tourism sites.
What with the Mutomboko festival which came up as the culmination of the week-long investment tourism graced by President Edgar Lungu, had also Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province.
Colour, pomp and spleandour as well as cultural soothing to both regular and first time visitors to Mwansabombwe characterised the rich annual cultural event, and further enriched the Luapula Expo & Investment Conference.
Luapula did it big time and who is next?