Maravi

Cops order ‘Barotse’ meeting cancelled

Cops order ‘Barotse’ meeting cancelled
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 05 Jan. 2011, 03:59 CAT

THE police command in Western Province says Barotseland Agreement 1964 activists should not proceed with their January 14, 2011 Limulunga Declaration meeting for security’s sake.

And 25 youths that were arrested after they disrupted a public rally organised by Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) leader Charles Milupi over the mentioning of the word ‘Zambia’, have paid admission of guilt fines.

Western Province police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said in an interview yesterday that although the situation in Mongu was calm, there were some people throwing flyers around, which he said bordered on threatening violence against others.

“The province is quiet except that there have been a lot of flyers which have been thrown out, threatening violence to the people,” Mweemba said.

“We are investigating that issue seriously. The flyers are saying that people should only play Lozi music within the province.”

Mweemba said it was not yet clear who was behind the flyers in question.
But according to one flyer that was sent to Mongu’s Radio Lyambai studios, the Barotse Agreement activists have threatened that should their January 14, 2011 meeting fail to realise the intended objective, blood would flow in the Barotse plains.

However, Mweemba said the Barotse Agreement activists who classified themselves as concerned citizens applied for a permit to convene a meeting at Limulunga, 17 kilometres from Mongu where the Litunga’s Palace is located, on the above date but that police advised them against the convocation.

“They applied but we advised them not to go ahead because of these flyers which have been thrown around of threatening violence,” Mweemba said.

He said some of those behind the meeting were called to the police where they were told not to hold the Limulunga meeting.

“We have mentioned to them not to proceed with the meeting because security won’t be guaranteed,” Mweemba said.

And Mweemba said the 25 youths were released after they paid admission of guilt fines.

The youths recently threw stones at the podium where Milupi and his officials were during an ADD public rally at Mongu’s Blue Gum grounds following the mentioning of ‘Zambia’ slogans by the opposition party officials.

The youths also refused to sing the Zambian national anthem but instead sang what used to be ‘Barotse’ national anthem, before they engaged in violent acts around the provincial capital.

Mweemba said the group was charged with the offence of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, CHARLES MILUPI, DEMONSTRATION, PEACEWELL MWEEMBA, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 3:41 AM