Maravi

Litunga complains of being sidelined

COMMENT - That's the price for getting into politics.

Litunga complains of being sidelined
By Roy Habaalu
Mon 02 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT

Litunga feels left out by the PF government as he is perceived to be pro-MMD... THE Litunga has complained of being sidelined by the PF government.

Sources within the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) said the Litunga made the complaint when he met Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama last week on Thursday. The sources said the Litunga felt sidelined by the government, as he was ‘perceived' to be pro-MMD.

Prior to elections last year, the Litunga, through his Ngambela, pledged to work with Rupiah Banda.

He eulogised Banda's developmental projects in Western Province.

However, the Litunga now feels the PF government is sidelining him because of the ‘perception' that he is MMD.

"He complained that only three Indunas were invited during Independence Day celebrations at State House. The king feels the PF government doesn't recognise his authority. In particular, he complained that the government thinks he is behind people calling for secession," said one of the sources.

They said the Litunga said he had no authority to make a decision over the Barotseland Agreement.

"The king said he has no powers to make a decision or reverse a decision made by his Kuta," sources quoted the Litunga as saying.

"He asked the Inspector General of Police to tell His Excellency the President that when he sees that he (Litunga) is quiet, it's not that he was siding with anybody. He said ‘I wait for my Kuta to make a decision'," said sources.

Recently, during a commissioning parade for officer cadets in Kabwe, President Michael Sata said he was a disappointed Commander-in-Chief because some people had even appointed a prime minister in Western Province.

Dr Malama was in Mongu last week to get ‘first-hand' information on why some people wanted to create a state within a state.

He left Mongu on a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane on Friday between 09:00 hours and 10:00 hours after meeting the Litunga.

On Thursday, President Sata assured Zambians that no blood would be spilt over the Barotseland Agreement.

Speaking when he met a 12-man group of representatives of Linyungandambo/Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM) and the Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland Agreement at State House, President Sata called for dialogue and not confrontation over the Barotseland Agreement 1964.

"Dialogue will save the country and the people wherever you are but if you want confrontation, you are in a weaker position than government is," said President Sata.

Labels: BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT, LITUNGA, MMD

posted by MrK @ 5:20 PM