Harrington calls for indaba on Barotseland Agreement

Harrington calls for indaba on Barotseland Agreement
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 25 Dec. 2010, 04:00 CAT

WILLIAM Harrington has called for an indaba to immediately resolve issues surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. Harrington, a former Senanga MMD parliamentarian, proposed that key stakeholders such as Dr Kenneth Kaunda should attend the meeting.

“As a son of the soil of Barotseland, I warmly welcome in principle the gesture made by the Patriotic Front through its spokesperson Mr Given Lubinda that the party will host an indaba on the Barotseland Agreement 1964 as a matter of priority after it wins the 2011 presidential and general elections. I, however, strongly feel that such an indaba should be organised now and not later in the year 2011 as is being suggested by the Patriotic Front,” Harrington said.

“In this regard, the current government should, in fact, take the progressive initiative to organise an indaba confined to the stakeholders namely government, the Litunga of Barotseland, his council and concerned organisations from the area, as well as the British government. Dr Kenneth D. Kaunda, who appended his signature to the document as Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia at the time, would be a useful resource person at the indaba.”

Harrington contended that the timing of the indaba was vital and in line with the provisions of section 2 of the Agreement.

He said now was the right time because the proposed Republican constitution had not yet been adopted by Parliament.

“The simple reason for this is because section 2 of the Barotseland Agreement under the title ‘Constitution of Zambia’ clearly states and I quote, ‘The Constitution of the Republic of Zambia shall include the provisions agreed upon for inclusion therein at the Constitutional Conference held in London in May 1964 relating to, a) the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals b) the judiciary, and c) the public service,” said Harrington.