National Restoration Party (NAREP ) president Elias Chipimo Junior has urged the national leadership to seriously guide the debate on the Barotseland Agreement ( BRE ) which threatens the sovereignty of the nation.
Speaking to Journalists during a briefing at NAREP headquarters in Lusaka today, Mr Chipimo said it is sad that the nation has witnessed the increased anxiety and unrest in the Western Province over the now famous BRE Agreement of 1964.
Mr Chipimo stated that the reason why the BRE Agreement has become contentious was no doubt a reflection of lack of national leadership. He said had there been leadership the BRE issue would never have escalated to the levels it come to now.
The NAREP leader told reporters that it was a pity that the BRE Agreement is not widely circulated and understood, the resulting debate would certainly be more informed and perhaps less heated.
He said NAREP believes that the central idea behind the Barotseland Agreement, if handled correctly, could be extended to all major traditional authorities as a way of directly involving them in the governance of the country’s vast and culturally diverse nation.
He added that such an approach may offer a better chance of addressing our most pressing development challenges while also promoting and preserving the positive aspect of our unique culture in the country.
Mr Chipimo disclosed that Zambians have had no chance to read the Agreement, making it easy for every politicians of every shade to jump onto the bandwagon of opportunism in a bid to claim the hearts of the people of Western Province.
“it will be useful to provide a little background information on the origin of the Barotseland Agreement. This will enable to set the stage for explaining why NAREP believes force should never be applied in trying to quell the voices of those raising concern about its implementation,” said Mr. Chipimo.
[pullquote]Mr Chipimo disclosed that Zambians have had no chance to read the Agreement, making it easy for every politicians of every shade to jump onto the bandwagon of opportunism in a bid to claim the hearts of the people of Western Province.[/pullquote]
He said it was for this reason why NAREP believes that there must be a clear economic plan that incorporates rural communities as an integral part of overall economic development .
The BRE in its submissions to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) draft constitution, demanded the acknowledgment of some provisions in the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 in the new constitution.
BRE Senior Induna Ingangwana, who was flanked by Indunas Mukwakwa representing Senanga district, Ilubonda of Limulunga Royal Village and Induna Malenga representing Kaoma district, made the submissions to NCC Chairman, Chifumu Banda, during the conference’s session in Lusaka, last year.
In the submissions signed by the acting Ngambela, Litia Walubita, the BRE noted that the draft constitution did not consider the provisions of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
The BRE proposed in the submissions that Articles of the constitution which define Zambia as a unitary state should acknowledge the Barotseland Agreement to be the instrument by which the unitary state is constituted.
The BRE said Part II of the Draft Constitution 2010 was not inclusive and proposed that Articles 4 (2), (3) and (5) be recast.
It proposed that the text of Article 4 (2), which establishes Zambia as a unitary, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural democratic state, should be changed to reflect the origins of the unitary state.
The Establishment has disassociated itself from people calling for the succession of the Western Province from the rest of Zambia.
BRE Spokesperson Oliver Saasa yesterday said the establishment was not in support of the succession. Professor Saasa also condemned people that have resorted to violence, to champion their cause.
[pullquote]Mr Chipimo said that although he does not support violence as a means of achieving what the people of Western Province are advocating for in the Barotseland Agreement , he lamented that it was also not good to squeeze those fighting for the Agreement in the corner by way of suppressing their views.[/pullquote]
Professor Saasa who is also Induna Kaluwe said the BRE was also not part of a group calling itself “Concerned citizens” who were planning to have a public meeting on January 14 in Limulunga.
And the NAREP President further said that is was paramount that traditional leaders in the country be central to the planning and implementation of all local development programs in the country.
Mr Chipimo said that although he does not support violence as a means of achieving what the people of Western Province are advocating for in the Barotseland Agreement , he lamented that it was also not good to squeeze those fighting for the Agreement in the corner by way of suppressing their views.
Mr. Chipimo contended that the Barotseland Agreement is a document that forms an important part of our history and that it cannot be simply wished away just like that.
ZANIS
it is time we incorporated the Barotse agreement into our history high school syllabus. Why do we have to have more knowledge on Mussolini than our own backyard history?
What a PR opprtunity for young man Chipimo, i forgot his continues to exist.Keep at it NAREP…easy to remember….no rape
thats my president, the best man for Zambia at the moment!!!
support SATA iwe!!!
Guys guys ..you have to be careful with this Kid. This Kid is a lawyer and knows how to play with words. Check this out: in one breadth he condemns politicians jumping on this BRE bandwagon to win WP votes..and in the next he says he supports these terrorists by saying we should give them a forum to air their views and goes on to label our laws on treason, these people are committing, as repressive.
The law is very clear, anyone agitating for the breakup of Zambia does not deserve to be given a platform to air their views and he should be arrested and charged with treason and this Kid Chipimo is now calling our laws as repressive. Very shocking!! This Kid is a vulture too after WP votes.
Watch this: you will see how all terrorist agree with him, right here on this blog.
How can a marriage certificate become an illegal document to discuss? Mind boggling, this a clear sign that there is no Democracy in Zambia. It is sad that even so called intellectual are rubbishing the very document and resolution that brought two parties together at Independence. This is basically what is causing anger, when a brother, sister, wife, mother, father has a complaint, listen instead of threatening, most difference occur merely out of misunderstanding. Let us resolve issues as one being the corner-stone of our unity since Independence, otherwise we are doomed!
guys, this is political background noise. No one should/can take Narep seriously, having said that they are doing a good job in keeping a live political atmosphere….
Well articulated elias, dialogue is the way forward not threats, they will only breed chifukushi!!!
#7 Hey, Big Mama, I agree with you , they are just politically trying to maintain visibility. they just don’t want to show up for elections the way Gen Godfrey Miyanda does and end up being beaten by Mr Spoiled Ballot on the voting day. Good move NAREP. Somebody ask gen Miyanda to also ramp up his visibility otherwise he will die as the best President Zambia never had.
Political Cameleon, what Chipimo is saying is true. People in western province and in many parts of the country are complaining of under development. You are I are probably privileged to have jobs and the economy does not hurt us as it hurts our brothers and sisters especially in rural areas of this country.
I have traveled to all districts of this country and i know how poverty looks like.
Lets see a serious development agenda that involves people in rural areas(Not just distributing fertilizer without proper agric policies and poor infrastructure in place).
People want and deserve to enjoy the national cake other than wait to vote every five years when no real development takes place.
You can call them terrorists if u want…thats your call
#10 Bondix, thanks for taking time to read my comments. I agree with you 100% that there is under development in WP and let me add also that this problem is not restricted to WP, it is in all provinces even in Lusaka and Copperbelt, the whole country in fact. Go to Kanyama, John Laing, George compound and see conditions people live in. Shocking. Yesterday we we saw in week in pictures how our futures leaders are now specialist in frog hunting to feed their families when their peers are busy , doing Maths, English, Science. This is poverty all round, my dear.
Now do these people call for succession from Zambia because of poverty? NO!! They owe allegiance to Nkwazi and the Zambia flag.
Sorry anyone calling for succession is a terrorist. They are better ways to solve this.
#10 Bondix, don’t be deceived, the agenda of these people is to cut WP from Zambia and turn it into a monarch with Litunga as a their King. They have asked all people in WP not to sing the national anthem or play any music or buy any music from Zambia, and ordered ALL local radio stations not to play any music that is not Lozi and have labeled anything from Zambia as foreign. Search ZWD and you will see their statements. In their documents they are in fact calling Zambia Northern Rhodesia. This is not a simple issue of inclusion in the constitution. This is treason being committed right in our eyes. These are terrorists!!. It is a shame that RB is a weak and spineless president and they know that. When Sata comes to power all this will be history. I can’t wait.
That agreement was going to be included in the constitution, if only these Lozis never included land that does not belong to them such as parts of North-western, central and even parts of southern e.g Livingstone. Many people are now educated compared to those days where a chief could go behind their backs and make agreements which they never consented. Lamba chief never knew that someone behind their backs was receiving mineral royalties( that was really thieving). These Lozi Indunas thought the Government will push their submissions to the NCC, never as Zambia is a democratic country and people decide on National matters and not one leader or chief. This just shows how an democratic certain chiefdoms are and they thought us zambians are like them.
Mind you naturally Lozis like what others have already worked for, they have failed to develop western province and want other areas outside their domains which have already been developed by other people so that they can just enjoy the way they use to feast on our mineral royalties behind our backs. word of caution myLozis bros is that this issue is a non starter, else you just die leaving your families suffering.
On 14th we will send the police to deal with you accordingly so that you know what zambians are made of.
People are missing the point here, it is not the word BA64 we hate or dislike, but some of the contents such as areas they included without consent from the owners of the land to expand their Barotseland. No one is against their move but some of their claims are really illegal, because at that time many people were not educated to understand certain things, because even Mwanawina himself had to hire a white man lawyer to prepare those documents. Now we are educated, know our rights and are aware of what goes on in our corridors, as such we cannot allow such illegal moves to happen again in front of our faces. Lozis if you want succession just stick to your western province and no one will bother you because even to date your chiefs preside over everything within your domains.
I dont want to comment cz you all suck together with President RB….taking my wine brewed by Grandma….16 kilometers from Nawinda Village in barosteland…..to hell with zambia!!!!
From here am visiting my relatives at Sifuti Island just neighbors with Namweti,Sibungana, and Lichitelo, I love Barotseland..I dont care wat u say…..My wine taste good.
Political Cameleon, thanks for your comments..at least we agree that there is under development and we need to focus our energies in addressing that.
How i wish any government in Zambia could honestly focus on development. The problem that i have noticed is that any government that comes in focuses on self preservation. Politicians colours. Today they insult chiluba, tomorrow they praise him. Today they praise KK TOMORROW THEY INSULT HIM. same with Mwanawasa.
It is our politicians who are frustrating people and unless that changes, people will resort to all sorts of ways and means.
What i can see about this BA64 issue is frustration…
Already u are saying –When Sata comes to power all this will be history—
I have heard that before, like before 1991 When Chiluba comes..
WHAT…
I am one of those who feel the Lozi should handle the Barotseland Agreement issue with care or else they themselves will incite other ethnic groups to react violently. They should make it clear as to what they want as regards this agreement.Please dont start talking about things that are ridiculous and unachievable like claiming land occupied by other ethnic groups. I, for one, am already incensed by the Lozi who think Livingstone area where I come from is part of Barotseland. Don’t be misled by those archaic and subjective history maps to think Livingstone is yours. The Toka and Leya (Tonga related groups) have lived in that area including the Victoria Falls (Shuungu Namutitima) for centuries and the Lozi came to Livingstone just migrant workers at the Saw Mills.
a document signed can not be treason unless there was a time in history when it was revoked by another law. so whatever negative comment you say on BA does not make sense unless you read the content of it. do you know why the gvt is not publishing this document? why have not asked the govt to publishe it before you comment? my brothers and sisters read the docoment before say anything.
Good statement from Chipimo.
The major problem is the incompetence and corrupt leadership of the MMD. There is nothing treasonous about the Barotse Agreement that talks about devolved power. MMD does not want to devolve power of governance to local communities because this will weaken their avenues of corruption.
Political Cameleon, don’t you find it odd that Sata is supporting the implementation of the agreement and yet he never bothered about it when he was in power. These are just tactics to try and confuse the incumbent with all sorts of damage control or crisis management work. In the end, it affects their ability to deal with the real issues affecting the poor in Zambia.
Chipimo and his crew are sounding very objective here and need to be applauded. We should not try and just overlook the fact that they are being fair to MMD which is confused by the statements from Sata.
Finally, to ask for seccession is not necessarily the same as treason especially when there is an agreement involved. MMD should engage this characters and deal with their grievances.
Countrymen reflect on the following:
1. Why is KK, the signatory to the formation of a unitary Zambia conspicouosly silent?
2.Why didnt FTJ enforce the BA64?
3.Isnt it a farce that Levy, a lawyer, never left this country with a new constituton, let alone enforce BA64?
4.Is Elias as bad as the leaders of today by deliberately avoiding tackling the BA64 but instead bring in other “major traditional autorities”? Why segregate the minor traditional authorities? Is he telling the BaLozi that you cant be the only ones to benefit?
5.Isnt the BA64 a very valid document at law? So why has it been rubbished all this time?
6.If we have time and again repealed our laws, is it possible to do the same with this agreement? Could our fathers have agreed to this for expediency but never meant it?
7.Do the Ba Lozi know the actuall boundaries they are talking about?
8. Is there a legal proof that all the traditional authorities the Ba Lozi claim to have been under them knew of this agreement or is it a case of claiming what doesnt really belong to them?
9. How did the Ba Lozi confirm their power over the peoples in these claimed areas?
10. Can the BaLozi King claim to have fully understood the implications of their agreements with the British govt?
11. Why not avail the country this special document…..then we will not have shady and desparate politicians who once ruled this country but remained quiet and now want to behave as though they are the saviours of Ba Lozi.
MK just for your information the BA64 is significantly different from the earlier ones sign. It is also not true that the BA64 includes boundaries outside the current Western Province, those that are saying so are either ignorant of the content or hell bent on fueling resentment either way. You may be surprised to know that in fact the initial signed agreement is what led to the areas such as CB being secured to remain as part of our Country at the time when the Belgians, Lobengula and the Portuguese were moving to get that part of land. Otherwise those areas will now have been part of Congo or Zimbabwe. It is also a fallacy to imply that the chiefs whose domains fell under the Barotse Kindgom were not consulted. Who wouldn’t have wanted to be protected against warriors and Europeans who
were well equipped with for battle with guns when most of tribes men and clans depended on spears and arrows. So this what primarily led to the relationship between the BRE and the surrounding areas. Those chiefs were free to have secured their own agreements, why didn’t they do so? The relationship between the Lozi’s, Lambas’, Kaondes has been of brother-hood from inception. In any case the BRE aside and Lewanika aside, what benefit to-date is accruing to the chiefs and local people of the mineral rich/copper mining areas since 1964? ZERO. On this same sight there is a report on a premiere in Europe show casing how Zambia is being reaped off its mining wealth and all profits externalised. You had the Senegalese for many years on the Copperbelt, by the time they left all the best…
quality precious stones such Emaralds where gone, by the time Zambians were given small mining rights the top grade stones were gone. Did the Lamba people and Chiefs benefit? ZERO. As for Lewanika when he signed for Barotse to become a protectorate, schools were built you had the first school offering trade skills as well built in 1907 (Barotse National School) a number of schools were built through-out the province, clinics and churches. Lewanika Hospital was built in 1923. Reflecting on these issues u realise that the pace of development in that province was notable then. Hence the anger of the people, in some remote parts of the Province people are surviving on wild fruits. Barotse stood out as one of the main provinces that contributed notable freedom fighters and intellectuals by 1964
In 27 meant on this cite. The Government has acknowledged that it is dealing with the issue directly with the BRE. So let us give them chance and since it concerns the people of Western Province let them also be heard. Of course we say no to cessation.
26-29, your friends want cessation. All I can say is there is a circular argument here with unfortunately, no answer. This whole thing has been rekindled by the hopes of finding oil somewhere in that region, do you agree?
Sad Mr Sata wants to use it as an election issue.
Although his (Sata’s)contribution was alreeady rejected by the ‘movement’, and thats how the POST commentary today starts with some apologetic/defensive statement. How that they support the movement although the movement may or may not agree with them. utter nonsense….
#12 ZWD stands for Zim dollar, so what are you talking about??
The problem is that bloggers on this site do not appreciate the root cause of these problems. THE ROOT CAUSE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT CAUSED BY POOR LEADERSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 1964. WE HAVE ALWAYS CHOSEN BAD LEADERS THATS WHY WE SHALL CONTINUE SUFFERING.
OUR LEADERS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN POWER AND SELF PRESERVATION. LOOK AT THEIR CHOICES OF VICE PRESIDENTS..WHY DID LEVY IGNORE ALL THE POSSIBLE YOUNG GENERATION POTENTIAL LEADERS AND INSTEAD SIPHONED RB FROM SOME FARM..
WHY DID KK IGNORE NOBLES LIKE MWANAKATWE AND PREFERED THE OROSOs of this world..
NOW RB will win 2011 and leave you with WILLIAM BANDA OR KUNDA.
do you now see why you cant catch up with BOTSWANA or NAMIBIA?????
I have been reflecting on our Courts of law and I have come to the inevitable conclusion that they are not as independent as George Kunda would want us to believe. When Mwanawasa started the prosecution of Fredrick Chiluba, Richard Sakala, Xavier Chungu and others it was these same magistrates and high court judges were swift in finding these gentlemen with cases to answer. Yet today the same keepers of law have made a complete u turn on what they told the nation then. Take the cases of FTJ and Regina, why didn’t these gentlemen tell us at that time that the FTJ was not a public servant so the charge was wrong or in the case of Regina that State house had not reported to ZP theft of the items Regina was accused to have stolen from there. In short there is an ivisible handle manipulating…
LT is it secession or succession? This error has been there since this topic came up check it out.
As a Lozi Licholocholo lady, i would say next time we need a Lozi woman President coz we arrer clever, tall, beautiful and very feet. My question is why are you all afraid of a peaceful Agreement? Just relax and be happy, bulozi is our land. Mind you, we have the Barotse flag and our national anthem.
If you think that they will be a civil war, then you are mistaken Lozis are very peaceful people everything will move smoothly, no mali kapa blood.
To show that we are not tribal, i just want to be married to a non Lozi man coz am a real Barotse breed. Abash to civil war.
For instance, the Umodzi ku M’mawa (Unity in the East) grew in Eastern Province, as an expression of the resentment within UNIP at the elimination from top positions of prominent Eastern politicians, notably the ex-Vice President Reuben Kamanga who was replaced by Simon Kapwepwe. In the Central Province the Bantu Botatwe
Association was formed by the Ila-Lenje-Tonga group within UNIP with the objective of removing Kapwepwe from the post of the Vice-President. (Chikulo 1979:203).
I am interested to talk about the picture, Johm Phiri, What is he doing there this sellout.
Thanks Njangwamuloti. how sweeet and educative it is to have knowledgable people blogging without using one known “official language” for insults. Can you kindly educate me as things stand. Is this BA64 agitation about secession, money or what?
Lozis you make me wonder and even make me pity for you, because you are people who can even claim where you are squatting. Just because we you have failed to develop Sesheke, Senanga, Mongu etc and are everyday flocking to Livingstone the much developed city like thirsty animals rushing for water in the river, then today you calim to be the owners, thats Tokaleya land and it will always be. Southerners will never be divided, regardless of tribe. You can talk of that protectorate which was not important to us, and who told you to sign it anyway?. Every guest who comes to Livingstone pays homage to Chiefs Mukuni and Musokotwane and not Inyambo Yeta or your Litunga and Tokaleyas. Stop claiming what does not belong to you, you leave western province expecting a ghost to develop it, WAKE UP
Simukonda come back home and develop Isoka. Whatever you are blogging, it doesnt make sense coz it is out of topic. Stop showing your ignorance. The Lozis where in Livingstone where i was born and my home City from the beginning have lived well with the Toka Leyas and Tongas. Toka leya of which i can speak too is a mixture of Lozi and Tonga. Mind you, we also share names. Lozis are not flocking kwa Libingi, they are already there. So if there are people who can coz conflict they are people who think like you. There some of the community radios in Stone whose officiall languages is Tonga and Lozi, but there are knw problems atoll. Know your history. What abt the Namwangas Simukonda?
The issue at hand is the Barotse Agreement bloggers, how are we going to solve it at a round table discussion without injuring both paties. Listen to one another with reciprocal understanding. Call for an Indaba is a good move. All your prejudices abt Lozis are not needed at the moment, but how we shall solve the matter. Lozis are tribal, lazy, western underdeveloped, sand, selfish, all these are rubbish as regardless to the issue at hand.
Well spoken.
Lets take Chipimo’s statement seriously and lets support him.