Maravi

Greetings to the Barotse National Council

Greetings to the Barotse National Council
By The Post
Mon 26 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT

TODAY the ears and eyes of Zambia are focused on Limulunga. Zambians are eagerly waiting to hear what comes out of the Barotse National Council in Limulunga. Although the full agenda of this council is not well known to most Zambians, there is one issue which most people think will be on this agenda and probably take the centre stage - the Barotse Agreement of 1964.

There has been so much discussion and comments on this issue. Some of the comments have been very mature, sober and intelligent. Others have been reckless, shallow and sometimes even senseless. They are all welcome. We need to hear all views, wise and unwise.

But rarely has a leadership of a people demonstrated so much calm, so much reasonableness, so much maturity as the Litunga and the Barotse Royal Establishment has done on this issue. They have remained quiet and listened to all the views of the Zambian people, including that of President Michael Sata and of the secretary general of the ruling Patriotic Front Wynter Kabimba.

They have not responded publicly to any views expressed on this issue. Not that they have no view. They have also listened to those with extreme views advocating for Barotseland to break away from the Republic of Zambia. But still they have remained silent.

Again, not because they don't have a view or something to say on this issue. People have the right to express themselves and the leadership of a people has a duty to listen to all views, palatable or unpalatable, acceptable or unacceptable.

Zambia has something to learn from the way the Litunga and the Barotse Royal Establishment have dealt with this issue. They have shown exemplary tolerance of divergent views. And we have no doubt this will be the spirit and approach at today's Barotse National Council. Everyone will be heard, should be heard, must be heard. But the right to be heard does not mean the right to be taken seriously.

All this said, we wish the Litunga and the Barotse National Council all the best and we urge them to remain what they have been so far - a dignified leadership and a dignified people, a peaceful leadership and a peaceful people, a tolerant leadership and a tolerant people.

And at this point, we beg them also to consider our humble view as a newspaper on this council and on the issue of the Barotse Agreement which, like most Zambians, we believe is likely to be on the agenda.

We are of the view that no amount of irritation, frustration, disappointment with the deficiencies and inadequacies of our governance system under the Republic of Zambia should tempt them, even for a second, to contemplate breaking away.

Doing so will lead to a very deformed form of nationalism which is bound to encounter serious problems, some which may be difficult to foresee today. Ethnocentrism is a deformed form of nationalism.

The claim to the right to self-determination based on ethnic ideology is destructive. A sense of nationalism that is built upon ethnic intolerance is destructive. Nationalism based on excessive exaltation of one's own tribe is a deformed one.

We say it is a deformed one because such nationalism seeks to assert its superiority over the others. All through history, tribalism has been the cause of innumerable conflicts. Among the tribes, as among individuals, dignity is a virtue and pride vice.

Tribes, like countries, are not closed groups. They are but a small part of a wider society. It is not by segregating ourselves from those who are different that we shall preserve our own particular achievements. It is by sharing them that we become richer.

We should open our minds and hearts to the human values to be found in the language, customs and culture of people who are about us.
Excessive emphasis on the uniqueness of Barotseland and its people can lead to a deformed and distorted form of nationalism.

This fact should put us on guard against those dangers which weaken national unity. The first form of deformation is to be found in the narrowing of the scope of true nationalism, when it is reduced to fostering the interests of only one section or group of the inhabitants of the country.

No single sector has a monopoly on what true national interests are. Nationalism should be expressed in actions, in daily works and tasks, in justice and in solidarity. We should cultivate a loyal spirit of patriotism, but without narrow-mindedness.

Zambia has many deficiencies and inadequacies in the way it is governed. But this shouldn't be the basis of us thinking of . We should be mindful that there may not be an end to breaking up. How far are we going to break up? We have been governed as one territory and as one people for a very long time.

Even when Barotseland was a protectorate in its own right, it was still governed closely to and with the rest of the territory that today constitutes the Republic of Zambia. We have our problems, we have our differences but we are one people and one nation.

There are problems with the Barotse Agreement. Let those problems be addressed in a manner that leaves our nation, our country more united, better governed and stronger.

Yes, the Barotse Agreement is a hot issue. But the Litunga and the Barotse Royal Establishment has dealt with hotter and more complex issues than this throughout its history; they have come up with solutions to many issues and conflicts that might have seemed intractable.

Let them come up with solutions to these new problems, in a new way and in a new time. A lot of things have changed over the last 47 years and the mark of great leaders is to understand the context in which they are operating and act accordingly.

The ways in which we will achieve our goals are bound by context, changing with circumstances even while remaining steadfast in our commitment to our vision. The reality can no longer be ignored that we live in an inter-dependent country, world which is bound together to a common destiny.

Let it never be said by future generations that indifference, cynicism or selfishness made us fail to live up to these ideals. We have no doubt the Litunga and the Barotse Royal Establishment will live up to these ideals.

This is an institution with a long history of experience and wisdom, it has gone through some very difficult trials of all kinds throughout its history. But throughout history this institution has demonstrated its experience, its wisdom, and its capacity to adapt to reality.

It has had some very difficult trials. But its leadership, its thinkers always came up with new solutions, and steps were taken to adapt the institution to the major political, economic and social changes that were taking place around it, in the country and in the world.

Now, too, they are going through some very difficult trials and must make some important changes. And without promoting ideas or standards that depart from the traditions of this institution, we do feel that it's necessary to approach the important problems of our time realistically.

And as to the rest of us, when the voice of the Litunga and the Barotse Royal Establishment is invoked on behalf of those who have no voice, it's time to listen. But when its name is used to benefit the interests of those who are speaking, it's time to be very careful.

By saying what we are saying, we are not in any way attempting to give a lecture to this very important and wise gathering at Limulunga. We are merely expressing an opinion, our opinion.

And we conclude this by wishing the Barotse National Council God's blessings, guidance and wisdom in its deliberations.

Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT

posted by MrK @ 11:44 PM