HH's sentiments on Barotse inquiry misplaced - SACCORD

HH's sentiments on Barotse inquiry misplaced - SACCORD
By Roy Habaalu
Sun 30 Oct. 2011, 13:10 CAT

IT is strange that the UPND which once supported the instituting of a probe in the Mongu riots can today see things differently, says Lee Habasonda.

Commenting on Hakainde Hichilema's statement that the setting up of the commission of inquiry to probe the Mongu killings was a waste of taxpayers' money, Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Habasonda said Hichilema's sentiments were misplaced because the issue at hand was complex and required a clear understanding of circumstances why the Barotseland issue was still pervading Zambia 47 years after independence.

"I find the UPND position very strange because it's the same party that tolerated and participated in the NCC and this doesn't give them the loci standi to talk about the use of resources. We are surprised that UPND who agreed with this position a few months ago should see that a commission of inquiry is meaningless. We are at a loss as to what they are standing for in this matter. Clearly, SACCORD is of the view that the inquiry is necessary because there was loss of life in those incidences and there has been smouldering conflicts which need to be attended to," Habasonda said.

"The people's rights cannot be traded for any amount of money or resources that you want to save. We are interested to find out what led to the extra-judicial killings in Mongu and people who did that must be held accountable."

Hichilema, in an interview with Radio Phoenix last week, said the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the Barotseland fracas was wasting taxpayers' money.

He said commissioners would be paid a lot of money which could be used in constructing schools and buying medicines in hospitals.

President Michael Sata appointed a nine-member Commission of Inquiry headed by former legal affairs minister and Lusaka-based senior lawyer Dr Rodger Chongwe, to investigate the Barotseland killings of January 14 that left two people dead on the spot, while others died later.

Habasonda said it was not wrong to find out why people's rights were blatantly violated in the name of saving resources.

"We cannot merely dismiss the inquiry and turn it into material benefits. It's important to listen to the feelings of the people of Barotseland rather than seeing the issue in terms of providing them with schools. UPND needs to rethink their approach," he said. "If UPND doesn't believe in what is going on, Zambians are asking what is the alternative? People died on 14 January, what is the alternative? People were kept in unsanitary and inhuman conditions in the prisons, what is the option? People want to hear a little more of a helpful alternative rather than the question of resources."

He said people of Western Province were still hurt because life was lost and needed to know why suddenly police officers became trigger-happy.

Habasonda said people were also waiting to know what role the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) played during the fracas.

"These are not issues of saving money; they are issues about healing that should be followed by reconciliation, stability and peace which I am sure the UPND also want in this country," said Habasonda

On January 18, 2011, Hichilema said that it was not a secret that former president Banda would rather watch a soccer match than attend to issues that affected people.

"The UPND wants to categorically state that had president Rupiah Banda's MMD taken quality time to diligently address the Barotse issue in a civil manner, no lives would have been lost. With the blood that has already been shed, the UPND heaps the entire blame of the deaths on the MMD and Mr. Banda," Hichilema said.

"The loss of lives and the failure to address the Barotseland Agreement issue is clearly a vote of no confidence in the failed minority MMD government. We see the Western Province issue as that of lack of fairness in the delivery of development efforts. The UPND is concerned that the dissatisfaction in Western Province, which is genuine, has potential to spread to the entire country if president Banda continues to fly around the world instead of dealing with issues that matter in a responsible manner."

Hichilema had said as a way forward, the UPND believed that the MMD government's brutality and insensitivity should be replaced with a comprehensive and well-meaning dialogue with Western Province leaders and other stakeholders in order to secure a lasting solution to the problem and avoid any further loss of life.