Maravi

Barotseland is at crossroads

Barotseland is at crossroads
By Mwala Kalaluka and Nyambe Muyumbana in Mongu
Tue 27 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT

BAROTSE Royal Establishment Ngambela (prime minister) Wainyae Sinyinda says things will never be the same after the watershed Barotse National Council (BNC) that opened in Limulunga yesterday. And the BRE says prophets of doom that painted a picture that the Barotse National Council could not proceed in a peaceful manner had been shamed.

Officially opening the BNC, which attracted traditional leaders from within Barotseland, three chiefs from the Southern Province, politicians across the political divide, prominent and ordinary citizens, at Limulunga's St Lawrence Catholic Church grounds, Sinyinda said the Barotse people's peaceful nature should not be mistaken for lack of courage.

Sinyinda, who kept attracting applause from the red-beret and traditional attire-clad audience inside and outside a big white marquee pitched in the church grounds, thanked the delegates for making personal sacrifices to attend the meeting.

"This expression of personal sacrifice on your part and that of all those that have made it possible for you to be here is a demonstration of the fact that we all realise Barotseland is at the crossroads," Sinyinda said.

"Consequently, difficult choices have to be made and crucial decisions have to be reached. We are the ones to make choices and decisions and this is the time to do so. We can no longer wait for other people or another time. To every generation is given a cause to either fulfill or betray."

Sinyinda said today's generation was given the awesome responsibility to resolve the Barotseland crisis, which he described as a consequence of an impasse and a resultant failure from the non-implementation and unilateral abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement 1964.

"It is up to us to either fulfill or betray this cause," Sinyinda said.

"For a long time now, the BRE has been under immense pressure to call for the BNC. We were accused of mishandling the thorny issue of the Barotseland Agreement 1964. You are called for this moment to give us direction. The ever loving God preserved this day for all of us to assemble here to congregate and find a way forward. To you all, I say, this is your historic moment."

Sinyinda said in the Barotse people's pursuit to resolve the Barotse question, they have passed through turbulent times as throughout the 47 years, successive governments applied the undemocratic principle of might is right.

"We paid with our blood for simply requesting to consolidate our integration with Zambia. Intimidation became the order of the day," Sinyinda said.

At this point, Sinyinda asked the gathering to observe a minute of silence in honour of those that lost their lives, shed their blood and were inconvenienced in one way or another as a result of state brutality in January last year.

"I have faith in our peace-loving nature and I am confident that we shall forever remain committed to finding a peaceful settlement to the Barotseland question. We are committed to non-violent means of conflict resolution. Though our blood has been spilt, we will spill no innocent blood. Though we have been shot, we will not throw a pebble at our aggressors. Though some among us have been killed, we will endeavour to destroy no life. Though we have been tortured and persecuted, we will treat all persons with human dignity," Sinyinda said.

Sinyinda said the Barotse people were now saying 'here we stand, we can do no other'.

"Things will never be the same again after this watershed BNC. We have been insulted enough, ridiculed enough, teased enough, mocked enough, sidelined enough, victimised enough, neglected enough, tossed back and forth enough, subjugated enough, segregated enough, mistreated enough, and we must put an end to it," Sinyinda said as the crowd broke into applause and ululations.

"May I conclude by challenging all the delegates here present to participate freely as we deliberate on the decisions and resolutions that have come from different corners and angles of our society and as we struggle to harmonise these different, diverse and at times competing views to come up with a cohesive and focused position to present to the world at large."

Earlier, Sinyinda said during the meeting, attended by Western Province minister John Kufuna and other senior government and security officials, that there was no need for the Zambian government to ever arrest anybody over the Barotseland Agreement because the people of Barotseland do not intend to be violent over the matter.

And BRE's Induna Mukulwakashiko, Batuke Imenda, said some individuals had been circulating a false and malicious document purporting to be a speech that Ngambela Sinyinda was scheduled to deliver at the traditional convocation.

Imenda said the security personnel had dealt with the situation.

Imenda said the meeting was about discussing the issue of the Barotseland Agreement which had dogged the people of the area for over 47 years.

"This meeting is driven by the people of Barotseland considering all the tiers of our traditional system," said Imenda in his opening remarks.

"I would like to make it clear here that the people of Barotseland considering all these tiers felt that the time is now to give direction to the BRE in the manner in which this matter should be handled."

Among the chiefs that attended from the Southern Province include, chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people in Kazungula, chief Chikanta of Kalomo and chief Sinazongwe.

All the chiefs from the districts of Western Province, except chief Lukama of Shangombo, Mwene Mutondo and Mwene Kahare of Kaoma, were present.

Barotse activists took charge of security and protocol during the event but plain clothed police officers and intelligence personnel formed part of the crowd.

Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT

posted by MrK @ 8:49 PM