His Royal Highness Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta

 

By Lubinda Namukolo

This week BBN deeps deeper into the works of his Royal Highness senior chief Inyambo yeta the first born son to king of Barotseland Litunga late Ilute yeta IV, who is in charge of Mwandi , Mulobezi and Sesheke districts of Barotseland.

He come on the throne at a tender age of (23) in 1977, from the Law school at the University of Zambia, university of Scotland and the Barotse Royal Establishment made a decision that you tried not to accept but you were meant to accept it, that you became a youngest Senior Chief in the history of Barotse land.

Chief Inyambo yeta brought a lot of reforms in his chiefdom. He also lobbied for the empowerment projects to the youths and women including the Mwandi Kuta.

Mwandi Kuta is the only BRE traditional Kuta that empowers its Indunas and workers in the entire Barotseland. It’s the only Kuta that pays salaries every month to its Indunas above the minimum wage. The rest of the district BRE Kutas including at the headquarters in Lealui/Limulunga they are only surviving on hide outs and deals.

Apart from regional BRE chiefs, Chief Inyambo yeta collaborates and works well with others such as chief Mukuni, chief Sekute , chief musokotwane and all Namibian chiefs.

Some of projects that he brought ;

The Inyambo development trust fund, was created to spearhead the projects in Mwandi , sesheke and Mulobezi districts.

Mwandi Cultural Center was created to work in progress aimed at constructing a pavilion at which, numerous artifacts, pictures, carvings, basketry, performing arts, and other ancient valuables are displayed to visitors and tourists.

The rehabilitating of the Silowana [Sioma] National Park, and he lobbied for funds for the project and engaged peace parks foundation to ensure a sustained rehabilitation and wildlife restocking program was brought in.

He brought a joint programme called SIMALAHA Community Conservancy in partnership with his counterpart Chief Sekute to create a wildlife park aimed at empowering the local people through shared community wildlife resources.
“We are in the process of producing an integrated tourism product that is going to attract tourists and create opportunities for wealth creation for our people, said Inyambo.

In 2013 his Royal Highness senior chief Inyambo yeta started the project of 5 Star Royal Mwandi lodge, Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta also embarked on fish hatching, a project with the potential to supply 30% of Zambia’s annual fish fingering requirements; or the combined annual fish fingering needs for Luapula, Northern and Muchinga Provinces.

He lobbied for developmental projects and government gave the Inyambo Community Development Trust a loan of K3,3m to boost fish production at the Mwandi Integrated Fish Farm project. The cheque was sourced from loads and investments division of the Ministry of Finance and it will be repayable in 15 years’ time with a grace period of two years and the first repayment was made in 2017.

Then Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda and Induna Amukuteile of Mwandi Kuta signed the loan agreement of K3, 341, 007.00 on Monday 9th December 2015 for the project

He introduced the timber stamps in every area Induna so that each village benefits from its natural resources.

In 2012 Mwandi Kuta during the Barotse National council (BNC) voted to go for independence of Barotseland.

In August 2019, Chief Inyambo yeta engaged and brought Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, and the Barotse Royal Establishment in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation and Cartier launched the Saving Spots project – an innovative and culturally-sensitive conservation initiative that seeks to protect declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as ‘Heritage Furs’.
Held annually on the Zambezi River in the Barotseland Kingdom, the Kuomboka festival (meaning ‘to get out of the water’) involves passage of His Majesty the Lozi King between palaces by barge. Historically, the King’s barge has carried approximately more than 200 paddlers adorned with ornate, full-length skirts or lipatelo made of nearly a thousand leopard and serval furs. Paddlers have also traditionally worn red berets topped with lion mane headpieces, known as mishukwe.

His Royal Highness the Lozi Senior Chief, Inyambo Yeta, stated, “The Barotse Royal Establishment was concerned that leopard and other cat populations are dwindling in Zambia, and as a conservation-oriented establishment, worked with Panthera to devise a culturally appropriate solution to reduce the impact on wild cats.”
Lozi leadership was instrumental in ensuring adoption of the Heritage Furs, with official endorsement and valuable design input provided by His Majesty the King and the Senior Chief. Working with digital designers, Panthera arranged for the manufacturing of the ceremonial regalia in China and tailoring in South Africa. Along with the garments donated , Panthera will provide an additional 400 Heritage Furs to the Barotse Royal Establishment.

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