Saturday, April 20, 2024

Barotseland issues deserve top priority – SACCORD

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Men and women were clothed in Lozi traditional attires, women dressed in Misisi while men in Liziba, Mashushu with walking sticks.
Men and women  clothed in  traditional attire- women dressed in Misisi while men in Liziba, Mashushu with walking sticks.

Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says the Barotseland session issue deserves top priority attention if peace and unity is to continue prevailing in Western province.

Speaking to Qfm News in an interview SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Chembe said the Barotseland issue has been simmering for quite some time because successive governments have not given it the attention it deserves.

Mr. Chembe said government should call for a serious dialogue with all stakeholders to see how best the issue of the Barotseland agreement can be resolved.

Forty five people have been arrested by police while two others are on the run for engaging in Barotseland sucession activities in western province.
[QFM]

47 COMMENTS

  1. Special paper refresher

    Zambia is to Zambian as Barotseland is to………
    (a) malozi
    (b) Barotzish
    (c) Lozi
    (d) Linyungandabos
    (e) all of the above.

  2. RB lost in western coz of these same arrest, but he never promised them anything………….bu cycle mata went on an anti hill promising them things he cant handle and now he cant even pip out of nkwazi house…………..

  3. I bet all calling for this division are nothing but chainama cases, who in their right frame of mind would even think of that in this old age? well an update would be welkom as to what would prompt a mere man to claim ownership of our land.
    We have dialects in this gallant nation of more than 80, we talking of one small detail here thinking of taking what they think is theirs, the best the government must do is to get to their sympathisers, get hold of their fones, computers in order to track them, they want their own regime i mean who does that?
    These are terrorists activities and must be taken seriously or what do you call it then? this is liable for treason it shouldnt be taken lightly, our leaders must know what they are planning some outsider is interested in our touristical town

    • Cindy, this is not a Chainama case. Rather, it is a case for normal minds to deliberate and resolve. The idea to avoid dialogue and resort to violence, which the Zambian government has been following is primitive. The Roger Chongwe did lay down the foundation for dialogue. But as usual, the Zambian government opted out of it, preferring rather to use force as is now the case.

    • Cindy, this is not a Chainama case. Rather, it is a case for normal minds to deliberate and resolve. The idea to avoid dialogue and resort to violence, which the Zambian government has been following is primitive. The Roger Chongwe Commission did lay down the foundation for dialogue. But as usual, the Zambian government opted out of it, preferring rather to use force as is now the case.

  4. Society,when ruled by a regime bent on oppressing for the benefit of those in Power is recipe for for revolution. Oppression spawn revenge,the need for protection,and there will always be a group of men/women willing to stand up to fight the oppressors. Remember Tradition never Dies as long as there is Someone left to Remember. No Matter how big a lie is it will never hide the truth. Never make promises you know you can’t keep. Mr President for a change try to remember what you promised the Lozis.

  5. I know many will talk and say what they think all about voting and alike but when smoke starts smouldering know that underneath there fire. Arresting is not solving the problem. I am of an idea of taking all matters around the table. The problem of our current government is that of wanting to use power and not dialogue nor matter how much pleasure it will receive and this is not acceptable in our baby democracy and it is not acceptable under Christian ethics. Dialogue usually produces healing.

  6. Dear you were young or not their to what happened. KK who was the initiator of Northern Rhodesia and Barotseland unification is still alive. Under normal circumstances, the government must call for an indaba and not the court but call for a neutral programme where all those who signed the unifications to be available. Today we say it is evil, but think about the Barotse children by the year 2099, when you and me are gone even before, what will happen? Look at the current politics are they not regionalizing? All these are source of concern and when worsens, Zambia indeed shall face civil wars in the future. Leaders who are selfish and who want everything to be one sided should be rejected and not to be allowed to rule any more. We want people who are neutral even when you are not voted…

    • @Dorica
      Please do not mislead people. KK was not the initiator of the unification but the former colonial masters (British) who managed to convince the Litunga to give his power to the British and this was way before the KK was even a factor. All maps referencing Northern Rhodisia (including those of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) include and cover the parts of Barotseland that are now part of Zambia And Zimbabwe (not those that are in Angola, Namibia and Botswana. This suggests that from the time Africa was demarcated, Barotseland was irrelevant as it is never recognised on the Map of Africa even before the BA1964.

    • It’s not a question of who made the mistake, but that a mistake was made and it must be corrected. The British made a similar mistake in Sudan, a costly mistake indeed it was. Because of reluctance by the stakeholders to correct the British mistake in Sudan, more then three million lives were lost in a civil war that lasted for years. Today, South Sudan is an autonomous country. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the Barotseland issue. The historical facts are there for everyone to see. Why go to war when you can talk? We ought to be a community of civilized Africans.

    • @Amukwelyanisa
      Depends on what you are calling a mistake. Lies by the PF? Yes but Political lies should not lead to bloodshed by better voting next time. BA64. Then pls read a little about how Barotseland became a British protectorate and therein part of Northern Rhodesia and you will find that it wasn’t a “mistake” by the British or KK. Infact the Litunga himself “begged” the British to protect him from the inevitable forces of kingdom wars at the time. That is the history that needs to be taken into account has we dialogue on this issue. Giving an impression that somewhat Barotseland was a existing independently until 1964 is misleading causing unnecessary hate between us Zambians. Take away the scramble for Africa and all this nonsense seizes to exist and therefore it remains…

    • @it’s a worry: Your presumption that the PF election lie regarding the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement is what has engendered this hegemony is wrong. The Barotseland issue goes way back to pre-independence. At the time of deciding to grant independence status to Zambia, the question that confronted the colonial master, Britain, was whether or not the twin babies (Zambia and Barotseland) will go their separate ways or continue to live as one, under one roof. The Nationalists – Kaunda, Nalilungwe, Sipalo, Sikota etc. were pushing for a unitary state, called Zambia. The traditionalists in Barotseland were pushing for an autonomous Barotseland. Britain made it a condition that it will grant independence to the region only if the two agreed to form a unitary state.

    • @it’s a worry: Please note that the Britain’s decision for Zambia’s independence is similar to her decision for Sudan’s independence. The South Sudanese tribes, never wanted to be part of the Khartoum government from the beginning. However, Britain insisted that this was the only way Sudan would be granted independence. In retrospect, we can see that this was a costly mistake. In the case of Zambia, the Barotseland Agreement was concocted just so as to persuade the Litunga into that alliance. But it was clear that Kaunda and his fellow nationalists had no will to live up to the tenets of that agreement. The result is what we are seeing unfolding today in Barotseland. Kaunda himself is still alive and yet has opted to live in absolute hiding as far as this issue is concerned.

    • @Amukwelyanisa
      I only took the presumption because u did not define the mistake u referred to above. If you meant historical then I’m on firm ground. It is this position of “forcing” the great Barotse Kingdom into a mere nation that that I disagree with hence my call on history. Only if it call tell us that this “Great Kingdom” siezed to be the day the then Litunga begged the British to rule over them. The Kindom as so insignificant that it was forgotten in the sramble for Africa n never appears on the demarcations. That is why the claim for Barotseland cannot hold water unless we repartition the whole region. My contention is that any dialogue has to be on the premise of a united Zambia and not this breakaway Western Province cum Barotseland

    • @it’s a worry: Whether or not the British Royals meant good is a question yet to find an answer. Further, it’s doubtful that the British Royals were oblivious to the fact that the young Zambian nationalists were up to no good, that they would not keep their side of the bargain. As it turned out, only five years after the signing of the infamous Barotseland Agreement, the nationalists came out in their true colours – Kaunda abrogated the agreement. But was this not expected? Why did Britain allow itself to be part of such a conspiracy? Did we not recently witness a genocide in Rwanda? Who was behind it, if not that country former colonial masters? What about Patrice Lumumba and the Congo DRC? Is Zambia trending the same path, I wonder? But why can’t we think and reason???

    • @its a worry: The colonization and partitioning of Africa must be appreciated in their respective contexts. Indeed, many great kingdoms all over Africa such as Shaka Zulu’s, the Ndebele, Kabaka’s Baganda etc. either went out of existence or only exist as shadows of their former glory. The Barotse kingdom is one of the oldest and still going strong. The alliance king Lewanika sought from the British was in the interest of self-preservation as a kingdom against the Mambari Slave Traders who were better armed and could have caused untold animosity in his kingdom. Indeed Barotseland is one of the few kingdoms where slave trade was kept at bay. Any wonder that many tribes from Angola and Namibia flocked to Barotseland to enjoy its freedom and tranquility!

  7. This is such an emotive subject and that means people loose reasonable thought. There are good bloggers, like Ndobo, who seem so consumed in this that they appear to have lost their often balanced contributions. The truth is that they whole secession movement is flawed although there is good basis to make noises about it. It is flawed simply because Western Province is not Barotseland. Unless they make prepresentation to all affected people and Govts making a claim to the entire territory, this will remain a futile attempt and only blood of the innocent will be shed. People should also be clear that Barotseland was irrelevant at the time Africa was demarcated otherwise it would not overlap into other countries and its entire territory would be part of Zambia.

  8. @it’s a worry(Discredit the Post And Kabimba for lying to the nation about RB)
    Many countries were divided and Borotseland was not a state by the time of scramble for Africa. The truth is even what you call Nyasaland, Rhodesia (Northen and Southern) were not but they were like provinces which had its headquarters in Southern Rhodesia = Zimbabwe and RSA was the capital city. Divisions my friends are not a matter of my concern but my point is to call for a dialogue as Chembe said. MMD arrested them and PF promised them that I shall give you your due and released the 27 Barotse prisoners showing the Lozis that what MMD did was evil, but why arresting them now when your promises were that we shall do give you your dues today?
    My friend it is not all about what happened or who is wrong…

    • @Dorica
      I do accept that dialogue is the key to resolving this issue but when you made reference to KK being the initiator of the unification, I had to draw your attention to the fact that the “unification” was done by the British in the 1890’s and Barotseland was never considered anything but a part of Northern Rhodesia. Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Rhodesia And focus on the boundaries.
      It is equally important in any dialogue to take this history into account and not to “conveniently” start from 1964 or claim on part of the territrory (Western Province) because it suits the agitators. KK had little to do with the so called “marriage” but simply agreed to succeed the already existing marriage.

    • Somewhat my response is awaiting moderation so you may have to wait a little longer…

  9. King Lewanika, is a King and that is why he is not allowed to pay Tax whenever he imports vehicles or other items that are taxable. The other person who is not taxed is the Republican president and what does this mean?

  10. This quite funny. The PF while on their campaign trail promised to restore the BRE agreement. When the PF assumed power they quickly released the people that were imprisoned during the MMD rule. Now we are surprised that the PF has failed to honour their campaign promises and resorted to imprisoning people, just like the MMD. The issue here is not to use threats. The PF must admit that they decieved people and go back and plead for forgiveness so that dialogue can begin. If they continue with this trend the whole thing will blow up and they will fail to handle it. Please Sata don’t take things for granted. Come out of state house for once and address the people. By the way, when are the provincial tours starting? We can’t wait to see how Sata looks. He’s been hiding for too long.

  11. Unitary statehood excludes seccession. Zambia is a unitary state. Therefore, seccession will not be entertained. That is the harsh reality. If statehood is supported, then conflict and war will never divide the nation. For this reason, dialogue must not be confused with diviciveness. Rather, dialogue must lead to consolidation of Zambia as nation-state.

  12. Do you expect those guys to form and announce a government and not have a plan.

    I do not believe they are on the run. those are powerful planners

    • Powerful planners?? What have they planned to benefit their province that looks like a pigs sty for you to justify them being called powerful planners.
      These are criminals that are just after Lozi’s donations , selling them an unrealisable dream. Just listening the ‘swearing’ speech of their Administrator General one think we are nation whose staple food is cannabis, you would wonder how they rule themselves because definitely one day we’ll have to allow them to go and then build the ‘Berlin wall’ between the two countries after the last Barotzish has left.

  13. @its a worry,

    you are also misleading people.

    the only land that was never demarcated was Barotseland because the british safeguarded the nation as one of the two organized government systems in Africa.

    The borders of Barotseland are marked in international law and appear solid and strong.

    you may google the ‘boundaries of barotseland’ and see for yourself that its borders are marked solid and pegged on the ground, well before northern Rhodesia was made.

    • “…as one of the two organized government systems in Africa.” Curiously wanting to know what the other “organized government system..” was, if by any chance you know it? Thanks.

  14. Respecting the provisions of the BA 64 does not mean secession. That is where people are confusing the two. The call for secession is an act of frustration. The country was granted Independence on the basis that Zambia would exist as a Unitary state, but with concessions to Barotseland to exercise power over its own people, land and some economic matters. As soon as Zambia attained Independence, the provisions of the BA 64 were ignored – the British even left several million pounds for Barotseland – which the central govt. simply usurped. To add salt to the injury, Barotseland was left to lag in development (relative to other areas) In conclusion, you deny them the power accorded by the BA 64, you take away the money they would have used to develop and then ignore them for years. Result?

  15. You people calling for dialogue over baroste issue had an opportunity to put this matter rest at the constitution making conference but you failed and instead threw the matter to the government and the litunga. Why cant you wait for government and the litunga to give their position? It does not matter how long this will take.

  16. @Harold Muna, it is not secession, but reversion. the issue of secession does not apply because at no time whatsoever did Barotseland surrender its sovereignity to Zambia.

    let us call it reversion, or simply withdrawal, or divorce!

  17. This Afumba Mombotwa swearing himself as Administrator General is a PF sponsored scheme to confuse the Barotse Issue. The main man in Barotseland is Clement Sinyinda the immediate past Ngambela. The appeal letters that he sent to the AU will have their Judgement delivered in 9weeks time! Just a reminder,the AU had found a prima facie case against the Zambian Govt over the Barotse issue!It is against this background that the PF sponsored Mombotwa .it is a ploy!!

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