EMOTIONS were high yesterday during the ongoing sittings of the commission on the January 14th Mongu fracas as a witness recounted how he was arrested and lamented the alleged oppression of the people of Western Province.
And vice-chairperson of the commission, Willa Mung’omba has said President Michael Sata constituted the inquiry so that people of Western Province could speak out on issues that they had “bottled up” for a long time.“[pullquote]We contributed to putting President Michael Sata in that high throne, the people of Barotseland want self rule. We have lived in this land since 1600. We want President Sata to set Barotseland free. “How can we survive in a country where we are oppressed,[/pullquote]”
Muyangana Muyangana, 42, of Mulambwa Township, who was detained over the January 14 fracas, broke down as he told the commission that the people of Western Province had been oppressed by the previous administration.
This led to men and women breaking down and forced the chairperson of the commission, Rodger Chongwe to call for a break.
“We contributed to putting President Michael Sata in that high throne, the people of Barotseland want self rule. We have lived in this land since 1600. We want President Sata to set Barotseland free. “How can we survive in a country where we are oppressed,” he said as he broke down in tears.
Mr Muyangana, who is a businessman and a peasant farmer, said he was still living fear and that he was not even sleeping in his own house because he was afraid that the police could arrest him. He told the commission that the police acted unprofessionally during the January 14 Mongu fracas.
He said the Government should compensate all the people that had been detained and the families of the people whose lives were lost during the fracas. He also told the commission that former president Rupiah Banda, former minister of Home Affairs Mkhondo Lungu and the police command should be made to account for their actions over the Mongu fracas.
“All these people should be brought to book,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Mung’omba said President Sata had constituted the inquiry to give an opportunity to the people of the province to speak out on issues that had been bottled up for a long time. “The reason why President Sata put the commission together was precisely that people should express themselves,” he said.
He said the January 14 incident was just a result of the underlying issues that had been bottled up for a long time. Mr Mung’omba said the result of the commission would depend on the submissions that the people were making.
Senior Chief Bright Nalubamba, one of the commissioners said the failure by the previous administrations to listen to the people was the cause of the problems in Western Province. He said the previous administration just wanted to be told what they wanted to hear and not the people’s wishes.
“Over the years this issue has been building up. We have been sent by an open administration and they want us to tell nothing but the truth. The president is prepared to listen and he is going to make a difference,” he said.
The traditional leader said President Sata should be commended for the things he had done during the first few days of his presidency because he meant well for the country. “After receiving recommendations from the commission his (President Sata) Cabinet will resolve the issue of the Barotseland Agreement once and for all,” he said.
Meanwhile, the commission yesterday observed a moment of silence in honour of the late Catholic priest Miha Drevensk and former Mongu Diocese bishop, Paul Duffy. Dr Chongwe said Father Miha had a heart for the people of Zambia and was a human rights activist. He said Fr Miha was an exceptional priest who stood for what he believed in. Dr Chongwe said like Fr Miha, Bishop Duffy stood for what he believed in.
He said both Fr Miha and Bishop Duffy spoke for the voiceless. Hearing continues today as the commission relocates to Limulunga.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Don’t worry my Lozi brothers within 90days barotseland shall be free.
For all i remember People were told to stay away from the meeting as police did not allow it. That was the right thing to do, i guess.
let justice prevail
90 days has elasped. let him also follow missions with audit quaries like ottawa mission in canada. Ani chifungulwa should be consulted on the matter.
most of the people in western province have misplaced the whole idea of the barloziland,please lets put in black and white.the issue of self rule by the litunga or the powers to be invested in the litunga will still have limitations.zambia cannot be separated as some of the unlearnt collegues in western province think.but try to come up with developmental programs that the govt of the day will support.what you people need is real development ,investment in rice production which can be exported.its goood you are coming out but remember not to fool youself that MCS will give you the powers for self rule.that i can asure you it will not happen.
Tongas were the first settlers in Zambia why don’t you let us secede aswell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tongas as usual now you are leaving Bembas you turn to lozis you chibwantu people.
What exactly are lozis crying for? is it independence or the oppresion they went through? have had enough. So many things to do and the goverment is busy spending time and money on the so called inquiry to suit one selfish tribe.
I think the problems in western province are often slightly over-stated. There was no reason at all for shooting at innocent people wanting to hold a meeting not to break into shops. Rupiah Banda didn’t care for people in other provinces apart from Eastern province. Look at the way he sent police to shoot down people in Mazabuka, in Mansa. He didn’t care and the main reason is because he overrated his chances of winning the elections. Unfortunately, in politics you don’t get a second chance. Someone told me how happy he felt to see Rupiah crying on TV. What Zambia needs now is a federal system of govt where recources are divided equitably. Otherwise cases like the BA will keep coming up and one day a serious civil strife or war will break out when people get tired of complaining.
#7 BABY STRAWBERRY – Your mother gave birth to you while wshe was in the toilet.
i dont care, man! hehehe, didnt know you also sink this low! oh my God!
She wants to be seen as a smart girl unfortunately she is so ignorant,call her baby stupid leave her dead mother alone.
Please do not insult mothers.If your mum can be undressed by anyone like you are doing now how would you feel?
I see most of these guys being re-arrested soon. These are difficult people.
What oppression did the Lozi go through? Can someone here categorically point out the opreession the Lozis were subjected to ? If it is under-development of Western Province, the Lozis must accept a fair blame for it, they are simply unfreindly people who will not accomodate a foreighner. Proud for nothing.
just shut it you broken condom mistake. You can’t even spell and you are busy dishing out tribal remarks.
My friend you should learn to get facts before you display your ignorance in public. You must be the only one who is so blind and uninformed about the predicament of Barotseland. It is very annoying and disheartening to have the likes of a shameless fool like you to underrate the suffering of the people of Barotseland. If you and others think Barotseland has nothing to offer Zambia as one entity then be the first to lobby for the secession of Barotseland. For your information, Lozi people are the most accommodating people and loving. Stop being petty and learn to get facts about things you know nothing of. Stupid barbed wire!
sata is going to gve you as he told you>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>kikikikikik
Lozis plse stop crying over spild milk,we shall leave ur sisters if u want to separate from the rest of zambia
We need to thank MCS for constituting this investigation, at the end of the day if RB and his thugs are found guilty of crimes of humanity it will be a win situation also for the victims of Mazabuka, Mansa etc. as it was the same brutal force at hand. The fact that the security forces refused to cooperate with RB to reverse the results of the just ended Presidential Elections is a plus for Zambians, it was quite clear that sensing his unpopularity he would have come down on opposition and youths with brutal force. On that score let us sympathise with the people of Western Province, some of the youths maimed by bullets are as young as 11 years. Recently there were riots in Bristol before the London riots, a Branch of Tesco in Bristol was burnt down, still the police did not use live ammo
I remember President Sata promising to sort out the Barotse issue in the Lozis interest. I was happy to hear he will rule Zambia using the bible which tellls about fulfilling promises……………..
SATA will be remembered for breaking of Zambia and Western province. SATA knows this ensure is very serious than previously anticipated. He thought it will go away after his election. Now is the time, he must know that if western province breaks other provinces will follow suits. There is no dought about that my brother. This man of yours, I leave everything to you to judge him..!!!!
I think the lozis have a point when it comes to development. The place looks as it did in the 60s except the buildings are more dilapidated. It is a lack of communication and understanding on both sides. !st the Lozi people need to understand that the BRE has not been a vessel for development. They have a say in land issues and they would have been able to encourage development which they didnt- we all know how they refused to have their airport upgraded by the Angolan government. 2nd the government needs to understand that developing Western province is way more expensive thany any other province because of the terrain therefore allocating funds for building a school in Lusaka to Mongu will barely fund the foundation.
Gokigo #9, please refrain from insulting people on the forum. Just make your case and convince the discussants
Let’s all break up become independent tribes.. Then we’ll see how important the global village is. Very archaic way of thinking by these secessionists.
RB should remember the popular song by Maria Nkhoma, “Mwana wa munzako” who used to sing with the Big Gold Six Bank at Hotel Intercontinental. The message in the song was that do not mistreat/kill your friend’s child think of the pain and the tears of the mother on learning that the child died by your door-steps. Ku ipa mutima kuli na akulu awa gaula, ni chilombo ye, mwana wanga a fela pakomo paja! Let us not rejoice over the killing of young innocent lives, let justice prevail.
Maria Nkhoma was a Malawian cabaret artist who only came to Zambia for a few shows. ‘Used to’ is wrong here. I remember the late Timmy Mvula bringing her to TVZ then. She even sang Lionel Richie’s All Night Long when it was still very new.
Looking at the content of the article I can see nothing of substance.I really don’t know or rather fail to understand why people broke down.Who is oppressing the Lozis? Can someone please develop Western province while you are at it please develop Luapula,northern,muchinga,southern,north western,eastern,central, copperbelt and Lusaka provinces
The Lozis need to have an attitude shift, if Western Province is to develop. They need to embrace other people from outside Western province. If they remain egocentric, they will remain in the 60s for sure.
Real issues, allow for true great leaders to be identified. Ba Sata here comes your true test. I wish you God’s guidance as you make the final decision. Please whatever decision it will be pray to God to allow his will to previal. One Zambia One Nation for all people. Kaunda had this slogan for a purpose. These days most people do not believe in this hence the bais appointments we did see under Banda, PF learn from that. Look at the names in question closely R. Banda and Lungu all from one province…….
Who has Sata appointed. The case of the kettle call the pot black.
Mr Muyangana,that was a good play act,come on at 42 you must be able to compose yourself and give submissions to that public relations commission.Who is oppressing westerners?
There is a growing feeling across the country that the only person who can fix the problems of a particular region is a president elected from that region. This is the real underlying problem. It partly explains the recent voting patterns in presidential elections. The only reason westerners seem to be only ones expressing themselves is because the province is among the least developed and they feel they have an escape-route through secession via the Barotse Agreement. It all points to a system of government that has failed to meet the aspirations of a diverse group of people. There can be millions of submissions to the commission of inquiry but ultimately the real problem is failure of a governance system.
Let the lozis go and then the bembas will conquor the litunga and grab Barotse again so that we shall nerver have the BRE in future.
These fellas want do divide the country, what would happen if all tribes would try to do the same. What about land demarcation? People who think like this don’t know that this can only bring about chaos. One Zambia, One Nation.
let all the other tribes demand their chiefdoms then the bemba thugs will have no one to dominate. wapya munzi iyiy yeve niziii
He he he. Atleast you acknowledge that we DOMINATE YOU!
For the Barotse Agreement to work properly or implemented other provinces should be accorded the same treatment, probably the government should start looking into a Federal and provincial kind of governing, so that each province can implement its developmental projects (“self rule”) whilst they are answerable to the Federal government, this will level the playing field. Though other provinces do not have agreements, it is necessary that all provinces are treated equally and fairly. If the advocates of the BA implementation can change their tactic by advocating for all provinces to have “self rule” and outline the benefits it might work. As it is at the moment some view it as an attempt to break away from Zambia.
Aba Lozi very dull they dont even have money to start a fight busy notumapanga utwafupa…. They were asked to resolve this issue in an amicable way they refused wats next use force pa last ati u start complaining… This time around bane buteko bwa mpilipili muka chimona bambala ngamwamboko utumisango twenu utwabula ukulondoloka… why even the commission of inquiry just worsting Tax payers money. That money can be used to pay farmers
Lozis are learnt ,you are too dull yourself to get the case,stay blessed I’m lozi I doubt there is any one in you clan of my qualifications.you are an empty vessel.
Instead of people crying, let them clearly state or submit their demands, how they want the BRE to be honored by the gvt. The problem we have had is none of the previous gvts has done what the PF has done, giving an opportunity to the people of western province to voice out.
when a child want to speak to the father don’t tell them to shut up, give them chance to talk.
People of western P you are part of Zambia and don’t think the underdevelopment in western province is out of purpose but poor governance which has also affected other provinces in the country.Let us remain united and help the current government to move this country forward. One Zambia One nation
This is a useless commission of enquiry…who does not know who the problem is? The Losiz are the problem and Sata will now learn it the hard way. RB sorted this matter the best way and in the interest of the majoriy Zambians.
If Sata does not honour the promises he made to the lozis, i see a worse situation than the Mongu protests under RB.
he does not need to – grow up!
what are the Lozi people go to do use witchcraft?
At the end of all this, it will be very difficult for a Lozi to be president of Zambia.
The best solution will be for all regions to become independent now. If a Tonga can’t be president of Zambia as some tribe believes, then they (Tongas) might as well secede.
#26 KOFF – you will die before you even cross the Kafue river. This country can very easily go up in flames if you are joking. You think it is a joke. If actually Sata does not handle this in a sensitive way it could lead to a big problem in Zambia, let me assure everybody. It could break down Zambia – in the end everybody will lose.
#34 ADVISOR – Keep on wanking yourself. What all this is leading to is the splitting up of Zambia. It is not just the Lozis who want self-rule. #35 YAMBEZHI is absolutely right… this could end up breakingdown the country.
#32 BARBED WIRE – That is why he lost elections. What sort of an ***** are you!
One Zambia One Nation is a useless motto that doesn’t mean anything. It was coined by that useless conman Kaunda to pull wool over the eyes of other people. Kaunda started all these problems. I don’t even know why he is quiet over this. I don’t even want to see his face!!! He must have sorted out these issues at independence but he refused. Pa…pake!!
u are sick in your head, Zambia will stay as it is, you Lozi,s go whereever you came from
What you need to do is go jump in the lake, or in this case, the Zambezi.
ukutumpa nomba! Self rule?
We erred. The promise to honour the BA64 to win votes has backfired. Asssssshhhhh.
It is understood that Mongu – Kalabo road was rejected by indunas to pass through fields thus passing through the long plain. This is what happens in other provinces and they call it development. Then what type of development is needed to be suspended without torching the ground? Sacrifices are needed then develpment shall be realised. If people cling to land and not giving space, then be sure that another 50 years shall come sing the same song.
No 35 Tell it as it is! In your response to my contribution on 20 it appears you only knew Maria Nkhoma when Timmy Mvula brought her from Malawi. I knew Maria Nkhoma when she was resident in Zambia before the time you are referring to, that is why i used the term, “used to sing”. In early and mid 1970s’ she was a regular feature at Makumbi Hotel Intercontinental, she lived in Lusaka for some-time before going back to Malawi. Never the less my point was the message in Maria Nkhoma’s song.
Aba Lozi they a pain why do they behave like DODO’s
The commission was designed to find a legal basis to fix RB, but the way things are going this has been shelved and a pandora’s box is being opened instead.
My suggestion wois to include proffessionals with the following backgropunds:-
1. Anthropologist
2.Psychiatrist 3. Social worker
When I was in college, a football match was organised Lozis playing Tongas.Now if you behave like that,how do you expect to be accepted in society?Learn to assimilate.
Most of the bloggers seem to be out of touch.They are confused.They don’t understand what is happening.Is it about decentralization?Is it about seperation from Zambia and self rule?Is it about the killings?Is it about respect for all Zambians,?Is it about denying foreigners’ entry into Barotseland?
Is it about Equality?With the people in Western province ,there seem to be individuals who are definately misinformed too.It is also good for BRE to stop involving themselves in partizan politics.It was so sad after the fracas,they sat quietly as thhough nothing had happened.Later on the Man was at state house injoing a drink.Let the butcherers face the law.Whichever the case ,a killer has to face the same fate
#36 I wanted to respond to your comment, but I saw that 39.1 already covered me.
come on try another one, we shall never ever give in to your demands put up or shut up…if you want to leave Zambia head to nambi desert before we force you there…but please leave the pretty girls behind we are still breeding with them…to get rid of your names
If people want self rule, it means that they have seen that there are far too “different” from other people. It means that the way they think and do things is different. It means their culture is different. It means that their way of life is different. You call us selfish, greedy, egocentric, dull God knows what other names you have ignorantly come up with. But the question is why do you still want to be with people like that! Why! why! why! why!
We are very ready to cecede from the Republic. Wait and see
nobody is holding you back, you lozi’s are free to leave the door is open. what are you waiting for,it will be a blessing to zambia if you go back to wherever you came from ..you are a bad seed.
Come on, is this why we voted donchi kubeba? I thought we made it clear that we voted for more money in our pockets. Now Commission this commission that, inquiry this inquiry that, meantime write cheques for allowances for commissioners and put more money in commissioners pockets. These inquiries are expensive, by the time we realise it there will be no money to put in our pockets, us the donchi kubeba voters.
The issue of barotseland is really an important issue that undivided attention. But one thing you guys there nid to know is that separating yourselves from the rest of Zambia is not really a good thing. Just bring about key developmental projects for the land to the attention of the gvt. We love you guys so much that we would not support the idea of you breaking away from us. The other thing that …we can from there is say if you wish to change the provincial name from Western to Barotseland, fine go ahead tell the gvt.Just think about how many pipo from there are working in lsk,others are in northern,luapula and cb and also think about the complexity of travelling from barotse to any other part of zambia with a passports/visas suppose we separated. Think of the issue of getting a bilater
Zambians must be patient enough with not to allow their expectaction of the new gvt overrule them. Atleast we nid to give the new gvt ample time to work so much that when conditions are improved, all zambians must benefit fully.Let us not be stingy and selfish to think about wat will benefits ourselves but think about a population of over 13million.I would be selfish of us want to manner while others are protesting for the same manner. So we as teachers,miners,nurses,drs,etc cultivate a waing attitude for the benefit of all zambians.
FLP-