Due to a case of Gulewamkulu who was arrested on October 3 2021 for hacking a Sheikh in Kauma, Lingadzi Police on October 5 organized a consolidation meeting with muslims, Chief and Chairperson for Chewa Heritage.
In her opening remarks, the Officer In-Charge for Lingadzi Police Station, Emmie Soko Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) said she thought of organizing the meeting to find solutions in dealing with situation that Kauma is facing.
“We respect our culture, but it’s not own for Gulewamkulu to be seen anyhow troubling and abusing people. I have traveled in places with typical Chewa who believe in their culture, but they have never behaved the way Kauma people are doing because they respect their culture, this has to stop forthwith,” said Soko.
In his remarks, Senior Group Village Headman Kauma said they believe that when Gulewamkulu is misbehaving, it is taken to dambwe for punishment.
“If I say am happy I will be lying. It’s unfortunate that we are gathered here to talk about irresponsible self claimed Gulewamkulu who went on hacking people. We thank the Sheikh who stopped people from torching him after hacking one of the Sheikhs,” said Chief Kauma.
Chairperson for Chewa Heritage, Lyson Banda popularly known as Obanda said he is much concerned and disappointed with the development. He said that Gulewamkulu is not there to intimidate people.
“I am ashamed today to see someone pretending to be Gulewamkulu with intent to cause havoc and disorder in the society. This defame our culture. I have heard of people putting on Gulewamkulu regalia and go in the market to beg, chase people even beating them. That is not Gulewamkulu and if found don’t hesitate to bring him to Police. I am somehow happy to see that local chiefs are not involved in this, I could have stripped off their chieftaincies,” said Banda.
Banda further warned some block leaders whose children are involved in such malpractices against defaming Chewa culture by pretending to be Gulewamkulu.
The chiefs and block leaders were advised to discipline their children not to be involved in such behavior. All chiefs from Kauma were advised to arrange young 3 young who underwent gulewamkulu traditional initiation “popularly known as ogula njila” to help in identifying those who personate gulewamkulu.
Group Kauma promised muslims and chiefs to have yet another meeting back home to continue banging heads in finding solutions to end the behaviour stressing that in Durban, Atonga and CCDC, Gulewamkulu should not be seen for there are no dambwes in those places.
Kauma further said no Gulewamkulu should be found in market places, schools, churches or mosques, saying any Gulewamkulu found in such places will be punished along with the Chief it belongs to.
Sergeant Salomy Zgambo,
Lingadzi Police PRO