Maravi

Kavindele opposes Sata's re-alignment of districts

Kavindele opposes Sata's re-alignment of districts
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 13 Feb. 2012, 13:01 CAT

THERE is need to encourage debate over adjustment of some provincial boundaries to avoid fanning tribal conflicts, says Enoch Kavindele. Kavindele has opposed President Michael Sata's ongoing provincial boundaries re-alignment saying Zambia should have been left "intact as it was apportioned" by colonial masters.

Kavindele supported plans by President Sata to create at least six districts in Western Province, and four districts in North Western Province. "There are situations along boundaries, you have the same ethnic people on either side of the border," Kavindele said.

"Attempts to move borders to go where you have got most of your people would cause conflict, and therefore the borders as established by colonialists
should be respected. This was the view of the OAU and I intend to agree with it."

Kavindele claimed that districts being relocated were of economical value and their realignment would deprive the "losing provinces" of economic value from the moved districts.

"Chirundu is one of the busiest border posts, and just by that fact, it would have been contributing more to the development of Southern Province than bringing it to Lusaka," he said. "Itezhi-tezhi has a hydropower station, and a robust fishing industry. These boundaries are causing a lot of conflicts especially in resource-rich countries.

Take the case of Nigeria. In Nigeria, it was thought that by realigning boundaries, Nigeria would be peaceful. But as it is now, Nigeria is in fact in more problems, in the Delta region, because also the people believe that they are being left out of the enjoyment of their natural resource. So, similar situation is in the Sudan we saw Sudan almost going to war because they can't agree on the border, the boundary."

Kavinde said issues of boundary realignments were a source of conflict among natives if the matter was mishandled.

Kavindele, who was vice-president in late Frederick Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa's administrations, denounced home affairs minister Kennedy Sakeni for saying: "We are all Zambians and provincial borders can be changed in any way" and warning that the law would take its full course on people agitating for violence over the adjustment of some provincial boundaries.

"As Zambia, we have been a very peaceful country, and the removal of boundaries and border posts has emotional attachment to a lot of people especially those areas that have resources," he said.

"People believe that their resources are being diverted to develop other places. For minister Sakeni to say we should not discuss this issue, it will cause civil strife, is unfortunate. This issue is extremely cardinal to the peaceful co-existence of the Zambia as we know it today. So, my advice to the government is that they should stick to the resolution made by the OAU that these boundaries set out by the colonials should be maintained because the understanding is that all these things are being done in order to water down the economic influence of these areas."

When reminded that President Sata's decision to annex some districts
from their initial provinces was to improve service delivery as opposed to tribal and ethnical separation, Kavindele said: "Government should be sensitive that those areas which are contributing wealth to the country are seen to be benefiting. The governance of those areas is now being taken elsewhere. We believe that inasmuch as the tribes are not being relocated, but the provinces will be dismembered."

Last week, President Sata moved Chirundu district from Southern Province to Lusaka while Itezhi-tezhi was moved to Central Province.

The move incensed the opposition United Party for National Development who immediately condemned it, saying the decision could cause civil strife.

Southern Province chiefs have also declared that they would not allow even a kilometre of their land to be transferred to other provinces.

Labels: DISTRICTS, ENOCH KAVINDELE, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:15 PM