By JOHN SAKALA
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga led a combined team of officers from the Special Forces Unit, Marines and Commandos yesterday to commence the raking activities on the Lake Chila in Mbala.
Mr Kamanga said this is part of activities to recover weapons thrown in the lake by retreating German Soldiers after the end of the First World War 100 years ago.
He said the Germans under the Command of General Von Lettow Vorbeck are said to have opted to throw their Weaponry into Lakes Chila and Tanganyika after surendering because they did not want the British to copy their believed superior technology.
“Though the narrative has it that the First World War ended in France at the eleventh hour of the 11th day of November in France Capione, the finally ended on 25th November in the little town of Abercon,present day Mbala.
“This is because the British and the Germans only received news about the end of the war many weeks later largely due to technological challenges that existed then,” he said.
Northern Province will be commemorating Centenary scheduled to take place in Mbala on November 25, 2018 marking 100 years when World War 1 ended after British soldiers forced Germans to surrender.
So far Samora Machel Airport has been commercialized and refurbished.
The Cenotaph has also been refurbished to its original state in readiness for the event.
Mr Kamanga said the Centenary Commemoration presents an opportunity for the province to market its tourism potential.
Over 18 countries will be sending delegations to Zambia, including from Britain a representative of the Duke of York, Prince Andrew and from Germany a grandson of First World War German East Africa Commander General Von Lettow-Vorbeck both of whom have confirmed participation in the Centenary Commemorations of the end of the First World War to be hosted in Mbala later this year.
The Commemorations being held alongside the Northen Province Tourism and Investment Expo has so far received confirmations from Britain, Germany, India Ireland, USA, Japan, Ghana, Namibia and Rwanda.
General The Lord David Richards of Herstmonceux, Deputy Grand President of the Royal Ex Servicemen League has been asked to represent the Duke, Prince Andrew who serves as the Grand President of the League, the Royal Servicemen of the British Monarchy.
The Grandson of General Vorbeck, who led the ilustrious East African Germany campaign in the First World and their surrender in Mbala Han Casper Graf Rantzau has also indicated his desire to attend the event.
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