Maravi

Threat to kill Litunga lands fisherman in jail

Threat to kill Litunga lands fisherman in jail
By Nyambe Muyumbana in Mongu
Thursday March 20, 2008 [03:00]

MONGU magistrate Margarita Chisonga on Tuesday sentenced a 48-year-old fisherman to two years light imprisonment for threatening to beat up and kill the Litunga. Lubasi Mbangweta of Mbanikelako in Mongu was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to the offence of intent to cause alarm and threatening the Litunga, Edwin Lubosi, with injury.

Facts before court were that on February 21, 2008 at Limulunga royal village, at the palace, Lubasi was heard saying that he would overthrow and kill the Litunga when he goes to Lealui, the capital of the Lozi people.

Mbangweta was further heard saying that after killing him, a new Litunga would be inaugurated.

The matter was reported to the police who arrested Mbangweta and charged him with the above offence.

In mitigation, Mbangweta pleaded for lenience, saying he was asthmatic.
But the prosecutor said Mbangweta was currently serving a one-month sentence for insulting the Litunga.

In passing sentence, magistrate Chisonga said Mbangweta could have considered his illness before committing the offence. She said it was clear that Mbangweta’s actions were deliberate since he committed a similar offence for the second time. She said although she was Tonga, she knew that some of the duties of the Lozi people were to respect the Litunga.

Magistrate Chisonga said the Bible required that people respected their leaders since leadership was given to them by God. She said that if Mbangweta had a problem with the Litunga, he could have sought audience with his indunas (the Litunga’s advisors) rather than resorting to violence.

Meanwhile, some unknown persons in Mongu are distributing a two-leaf paper containing information urging the people of Western Province to shun this year’s Kuomboka ceremony scheduled for April 12, saying that it was a waste of time and money to take part in the celebrations.

Police have confirmed the development although they have not yet instituted investigations because there is no complainant so far.

But acting Ngambela Imasiku Iliamunga, said he was not aware of such a document being circulated in Mongu.

The document, written in Silozi by unknown people and widely distributed in all the streets of Mongu, has accused the Litunga of destroying the Lozi culture by not following traditional norms. It stated, among other issues, that the capital palace for the Litunga was Lealui in the Barotse plains and not Limulunga where the Litunga lives all the time.

The document further explains that Kuomboka Ceremony is the moving out of water in Lealui to Limulunga on the upper land rather than the current situation where the Litunga lives in Limulunga and only went to Lealui using a speedboat on the eve of Kuomboka. The document stated that it is not genuine for the Litunga to say he does not live in the palace in Lealui because it is dilapidated.

The document alleges that Kuomboka ceremony has become meaningless and was only used to fundraise for the Litunga and his indunas. The document is urging people to shun the ceremony and avoid contributing towards the fundraising for the ceremony.

According to well-placed sources, the Office of the President in Mongu is investigating the matter to establish people behind the anonymous document.

According to investigations so far, three GX Land Cruisers were seen distributing the documents in Limulunga royal village last weekend.

Western Province police commanding officer, Vaels Muzwenga, said in an interview that they were aware of the document although they were waiting for an official complaint from the affected party so that investigations can be instituted. And Muzwenga dismissed as false rumours that police officers had been sent to guard the Litunga following the distribution of the documents.

And University of Zambia Mongu resident lecturer Masheke Iliamupu has declined to be part of this year’s Kuomboka Kufuluhela ceremony committee, citing lack of accountability by the Barotse Royal Establishment towards the funds donated for the ceremony.

Iliamupu also said it was unheard of in the Lozi tradition to set a date for Kuomboka a month ahead of the ceremony. He said the concept of Kuomboka ceremony was that people move out of water at a time when they feel they are flooded.

Labels: LITUNGA, MARGARITA CHISONGA

posted by MrK @ 3:54 PM