By Mungandi wa Muwina Mungandi
PF has arrested more people over BA than UNIP and MMD combined
It’s exactly three years ago today (as I write) when, on that fateful ‘Black and Bloody Saturday’ of January 14, 2011, the Zambian police forces ran amok on the peaceful and humble people on the streets of Mongu. They caused havoc of unprecedented magnitude, killing two of our people in cold blood on the spot, wounding and maiming many more. We now know, thanks to the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry, that 17 people died as a direct consequence of the skirmishes of that day and about five or so persons are yet to be accounted for. [At this moment please take a moment of silence as you go through the list of the dead and missing. Also think about the maimed and the numerous others traumatized and those whose lives were disrupted and forever destabilized as a result of the events of that day.]
It is worth noting that the Zambian Government continues to enforce a policy of aggression against all those who think that Barotseland has the ‘Human Right’ to self-determination, even after, the same government unliterary abrogated the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
Ironically Zambia’s PF Government came to power after the January 14 fracas and on the promise that it would address the BA ’64 issue within the first 90 days of its rule. Although it unconditionally released the January 14 detainees and set up the Chongwe commission of inquiry, it has arrested more people over BA ’64 related offenses in its two years in power than the MMD did in its 20 years, and probably more still than the UNIP regime in its 27 years of mostly draconian rule!
Freedom- When?
Yet the question that begs for an answer even as I toss and wrestle against unseen forces through this night is how many more January 14ths shall be witnessed before Uhuru or Tukuluho day for Barotseland? Uhuru day for Barotseland is a question of when, and not if, for, like one compatriot says, ‘with God on our side, Barotseland shall be free!’ Yet the question still begs for an answer; how many more arrests? How many more deaths? How much more pain, torture and anguish? The inner soul seems to wail, ‘How many of these, O Lord?’
Surely makes me think of the Lyrics of Bob Dylan’s – Blowin’ in the Wind especially the last two verses:
Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind
the answer is blowin’ in the wind.
Yes, how many times must a man look up
before he can see the sky?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
before he can hear people cry?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
that too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind
the answer is blowin’ in the wind.
A Christian artist trying to Christianize Bob Dylan’s Song put the refrain this way;
The answer my friend is living in all men
The answer is living in all men
I guess that implies we as humanity have the answers to solve the ills of humanity and by implication we as the Barotse people have the key to the Barotse problem; it is really up to us how long we are going to allow this to go on.
In honour of the departed
As we remember our departed friends on this day, when a dark cloud hovered over our land in this so called ‘year of Jubilee’, I just wish to remind all who care to be reminded of the words I spoke on the occasion of the first anniversary of January 14, 2011 at a memorial service held for that purpose:
This day, January the 14th shall forever be remembered as a day when the suffering, anguish and torment of the people of Barotseland reached a crescendo. This is a day when our serene atmosphere was disrupted by the sound of gunshots, the cries of painful anguish and the wailing and mourning of mothers whose sons were no more. A day when Brothers, Sisters, friends and acquaintances weeping for the untimely departure of their beloved ones. It is a day when our land was destabilized and our tranquility was disrupted. A day when our peaceful people were brutalized, harassed and arrested like common criminals.
Today and everyday that shall ever be called January 14th as time and ages roll by, forevermore, we shall remember our anguish, sorrow and mourning as a people. We shall weep and refuse to be comforted like Rachael in the Bible account; “In Ramah a voice is heard, lamentations and weeping and great mourning, Rachael weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are no more” Matt 2: 18.
Coincidentally the month of January is named after a Greek mythological god by the name of Janus who was believed to be a God with two faces; one looking backward and the other looking forward. So we shall use January 14 as a day to look backwards and forward. Over and above that we shall use January 14 as a time to look inward and also upwards.
We shall look backwards and see how our nation has evolved under the patronage of our gallant and vigilant forefathers who through the tempestuous and turbulent storms of tribal wars, missionary influence, European interference, and the scramble for Africa by the colonizers managed to preserve our Identity Unity and indeed Autonomy.
We shall look inward and see the ills that have bedeviled us for almost half a century, sowing seeds of disunity, antagonism and cowardice amongst ourselves, thus hindering us to be cohesive and united in purpose and direction. As we look further inward, we shall be able to see the untapped potential within each of us and all of us collectively. Yes within each of us and all of us are seeds of greatness which must be natured and allowed to grow to maturity.
We shall look upwards to God. Our Great God who created all men equal and ordained it that no man shall down trod another. From Him shall we expect and receive the grace of courage to forge ahead until our right to self-determination is respected by all.
We shall then look forward with renewed courage and vigour, demanding our freedom because it is our birthright. We shall refuse to be intimidated as we shall march forward because IT IS NOT TREASON TO SEEK FREEDOM.
One of my favourite Christian authors has written about the church
“We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget how the LORD has led us in the past” Ellen G. White.
This is as true for the church of Christ as it is true for Barotseland.
Our Assurance
January 14 then shall be our Ebenezer, our ‘stone’ of remembrance, our monument carved not in wood or stone but in time! What we are saying is;
“Thus far has the Lord helped us” 1 Samuel 7:12
And by implication we are saying further still will he guide us.
Because of January 14 we will always remember that God hears our cries, He is touched by our tears, moved by our fears and pays attention to our prayers. The Lord has taken note of the blood that has been shed, the lives that have been lost and those that have been shattered by trauma for Barotseland. That blood has not been shed in vain; those lives have not been lost in vain; our lives are not disrupted, shattered and traumatized in vain.
Because of January 14, we shall wake up every morning with the assurance that FREEDOM IS COMING TOMORROW! And our aspirations shall be fully satisfied. Should tomorrow come without the freedom that we crave, deserve and desire, we shall have a more intensified hope that FREEDOM IS COMING TOMORROW! Until the day when we shall cry from every mountain top, hilltop, and indeed rooftop…FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD ALMIGHT WE ARE FREE AT LAST!
MAY THE GOOD LORD GOD OF ALL BLESS BAROTSELAND!
Register of January 14 DEATHS
1. Mr. Kang’ombe Oliver Kalyangu Shot dead by Police Near BP Filling Station – Mongu
2. Mr. Limpo Kapumba Shot dead by Police at Malengwa Area
3. Mrs Muzhima Kakoma Died from Teargas effects in Limunga
4. A Three Months Old Baby Died from Teargas effects in Limunga
5. Mr Mwiya Sihope Died after amputation of his leg following a gunshot wounds –Gangrene caused by prison conditions shortly after release from Chimbokaila
6. Mr. Kabayo Kabayo Died while in detention in Mumbwa State Prison
7. Mr. Maxwell Mututwa Died in Senanga shortly after release from Prison
8. Mr. Mukumbuta Kashela Committed Suicide for fear of arrest by Police
9. Unidentified Body Picked by Police in Limulunga
10. Unidentified Body Picked by Police in Limulunga
11. Ms. Kalukawa kamana Died of Teargas side effects in Limulunga
12. Mr. Mulope Lisibani TB Patient died of teargas side effects – Kapulanga
13. Mr. Mushe Simasiku TB Patient died of teargas side effects – Kapulanga
14. Mr. Liywalii Muimui Died of Teargas side effects in Limulunga
15. Ms. Namenda Mundimbela Died of Teargas side effects
16. Namatama Pelekelo Likezo Died of torture soon after release from prison
17. Simasho Mutakela Died of torture soon after release from prison
REGISTER OF MISSING PERSONS
1. Nyungulo Simate
2. Sibeso Mwangala
3. Nawa Mubita
4. Samwemba Mwangala
5. Chakaba Simasiku
REGISTER OF PEOPLE WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS
1. Kaitwa Kaitwa M21
2. Chinyanta kayawe M23
3. Caleb Ng’andu M21
4. Chikuwa Chikuwa M28
5. Simate Simate M43
6. Mubita Mwenda M32
7. Nyambe Walubita M18
8. Mwiya Mwiya M32
9. Chilem Chileya Chilemu M11
10. Chimalya Kafuti M21
11. Davison Soyela Siyoto M31
12. Mubita Simataa M22
13. Vndombwe Chipango M30
14. Danny Mbilika M*
15. Kalemba Nyundu M*
PF – even the Lozi’s hate you! you are in Shi….t
The stats are flawed , the only thing I could deduce from this is that the killing/injustices in PF are more explicit and more reported than the ones in previous regimes ESPECIALLy Chiluba where some Ministers died too Kumbula , Kaunda son etc
The purity and freedom of expression brought and multiplied by the PF has made even the minute of adverse actions by the government to be put to the mouthpiece of propaganda in ZWD LT, POST and other smaller ones
There are other cases which went unreported and people died
I am not protecting the PF, just saying this report is flawed, too early and is prepared by another person hiding behind the hate of the current regime and specifically Mr Sata
#notimpressed
Thanks
Ka Mushota analyse articles like this all the time not showing ubuhule muma koment lyonse
Good message iyi mwalanda
Styopeti
Pf ilewina mu 2016 whether u like it or not
Nga ku rigga ama elections tule riga
Mungandi wa Muwina Mungandi, you are a maggot. why can’t you try to do anything so that your life is taken in vain?? Zambia will forever remain Zambia and united despite political differences. go tell your pipo in batole or whatever you call that part of Zambia that if you try anything stuuu piii dddd, you’ll be short at again, minients ….
Mr. Mungandi tell us what you have told the People of Western Province. Have you told them that:- When you separate from Zambia.
1. You will name your country as Barotseland.
2. You will pull down the bridges PF government is put up in Western Province
3. You will pull down the University built by PF Govt to remain only with Barotseland university.
4. The Mongu stadium put up by PF Govt you will pull down
5. The Cashew nut project, you will cut the trees
6. The 30 meter x 3 meter deep canal from Shangombo to Angola being done you will burry.
7. the Radio Airials put up you will pull down recently put up by PF Govt
8. the New buildings in Shangombo put up by PF Govt you will shatter.
9. The Roads being built you will burry with sand…
Tell us exactly what you intend to do.
One huge problem is that Zambians have a tendency for self destruction and detraction. The PF government has far much better anyone expected. Zambians voted the PF in power people must learn to own up to own responsibility in both checks and balance and patience. By being so unnecessarily demanding from every ones thought/suggestion and even personal, and simply expect your government to respond 1 to all is like putting an irresponsible person in office who you expect to answer your phone call even at midnight. Let PF finish there term with what they are doing. At times it is not all about opposing that makes a nation, much more what nationals own up to their own responsibilities. Sad that all can be politics over all matter and sense that should have be clear as it is. so long suckers
The irony continues to be the equation that created Zambia remains as I highlighted here several years ago:
Barotseland + N. Rhodesia = Zambia
Other countries ‘given’ independence. Zambia was merely ‘witnessed by’ the British.
The denial by Zambians of the fact that we are an amalgamation and reduction to slogans birthed in us by a political party is the reason there is a tendency to kick the issue of abrogation down the line for another generation to resolve.
It is not right. One does not have to agree with third viewpoint but one must also search inward for the latent reasons for denial of the fact of the true birthing of our nation and not take pride in selective ignorance. Don’t yell about what is wrong or right about any issue if you feel right about ignoring the…
…the simple truth. Mama and Papa made us then one of them cheated on the other. I am proud to be an amalgamated kid and think when we see the footage as we turn 50 then do not edit it to rewrite history. Let our kids learn. I am fine with BA64. No skin off my nose. We were all fine with it in ’64, ’65, ’66 etc until the day a political leader told the king he would no longer exist but should report for duty as MP or something like that. Very animal farm. Historically the Brits on two occasions threatened to deport the Lozi King to London!!!
All our tribes have fantastic stories which should enrichen our history books not missing pages to suit agendas.
Ah well. This year Scotland comes out from years of their angst. Peacefully. While America is yet to have a Native American…
Great wisdom.
Word of caution,remember what is happening in South Sudan…..they wanted to break away from main Sudan and they did and they are at war witheach other now,that’s what we call selfish motives.
Ignore the Barotseland issue at your own peril. It’s like ignoring a virus that is in your body, thinking that it will one day change it’s mind and go to sleep or retire! How foolish. The Barotseland issue has been around from the 1960s. If anything, it has only been gaining momentum over the years.
Don’t think that the world community is asleep on this issue too. As a matter of fact, the world is watching and soon, may be sooner than we expect, someone will step in the arena to tell us that our time is up.
No one ever thought that the Great Titanic could sink, but it did. Martin Luther King Jr. conquered the Great United States of America long after they had assassinated him. Nelson Mandela conquered Apartheid S. Africa while in Prison. Zambia be warned if you are wise.
Remember south Sudan,more war,sinyinda will want to fight the litunga for him to send his kids to England and others will want to get the little resources for themselves.atleast south Sudan has oil.