Zambia bids farewell as remains of Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV begin journey to Chipata

The remains of Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV have left Lusaka for Chipata, marking the start of the final leg of his journey home.

The departure from the capital was attended by members of the royal family, government officials, and traditional leaders who gathered to pay their last respects.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV, the revered leader of the Ngoni people of Eastern Zambia, passed away after decades of service to his chiefdom and the nation.

His body was escorted under tight security and traditional protocol as it made its way out of Lusaka.

The procession is expected to draw thousands of mourners along the Great East Road as it heads to Chipata, the headquarters of the Ngoni Kingdom.

In Chipata, preparations have been underway for days to receive the late chief with full cultural honors.

Traditional ceremonies, including Ngoni war dances and mourning rites, are planned to precede the burial.

Government has declared that the funeral will be conducted with state recognition in view of the chief’s national stature.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV was widely regarded as a custodian of Ngoni culture and a unifying figure in Zambia’s Eastern Province.

His leadership spanned a period of significant social and political change, during which he maintained the authority and traditions of the Ngoni Kingdom.

The burial is scheduled to take place in Chipata in accordance with Ngoni custom and royal tradition.

Mourners from across Zambia and neighboring Malawi and Mozambique are expected to attend the final rites.