Maravi

Barotseland will never secede - BRE

Barotseland will never secede - BRE
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 11 Feb. 2011, 04:02 CAT

BAROTSELAND will never secede from Zambia, says senior chief Inyambo Yeta of the Lozi people of Western Province.

Speaking when he led a group of 15 Lozi Indunas to present a report of the Barotse National Council (BNC) to the government following violence last month that led to two deaths in Mongu after police fought running battles with activists advocating for the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964, chief Yeta said Barotseland Western Province would remain part of Zambia.

"The Barotseland Agreement 1964 does not provide for separation or indeed secession as has been sensationalised over a period of time. The Barotseland Agreement is about national integration and unity and that was the intention of our forefathers," chief Inyambo said.

"Therefore, in discussing the Barotseland Agreement 1964, we are not in any way giving credence to calls for secession."

He said advocating for the restoration of Barotseland Agreement was not synonymous with secession and hoped that the nation would understand that distinction.

"I am not saying that there are no pockets of groups who have taken a very extreme view. Indeed we have heard some people calling for secession. That has nothing to do with the Barotseland Agreement 1964. That is a different matter all together," Chief Inyambo Yeta said.

"I want to make it very clear on behalf of his royal highness The Litunga that Barotseland is part of Zambia and will remain part of Zambia."

Chief Inyambo said the Barotse National Conference meeting was convened in the backdrop of the discontent that manifested itself in rioting and subsequent action on the part of government to bring about order and stability in Western Province. He said the Barotseland Royal Establishment had never advocated for violence as a means to achieve any cause and that would be its position, now and in future.

"Therefore, we wish to make very clear that those of our people who have taken this line of thought of violence and action are at variance with what the royal establishment stands for and what its values are," chief Inyambo said. "We wish to caution that we believe that the Barotseland Agreement 1964 should be a document that should be discussed with government."

He thanked President Banda for inviting discussions on the Barotseland Agreement 1964.

"We welcome this and we stand ready to engage government with regard to the Barotseland Agreement," said chief Inyambo.

And President Banda assured chief Inyambo and his delegation that his government would receive the report with the seriousness and honour it deserved.

President Banda, during the meeting held at State House, was flanked by Vice-President George Kunda, Zambia Security Intelligence Services director general Regis Phiri, home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu, local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo, other government officials and presidential aides.

Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, CHIEF INYAMBO YETA, SECESSION

posted by MrK @ 2:23 PM