(LUSAKATIMES) Nkoyas want freedom from Lozis

Nkoyas want freedom from Lozis
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, March 4, 2012, 1:42 pm

THE Nkoya people of Western Province have urged President Sata to officially recognise their chiefs in Kabompo, North- Western Province, and Lukulu and Kaoma districts in Western Province.

Kazanga Kabombo Cultural Association chairman Shiyama Kutoha said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday the government should elevate chiefs Mutondo and Kahare to the status of senior chiefs as there are no family connections between them and the lozi chiefs.

Mr Kutoha said it is important for government to end the domination of the Nkoyas and their chiefs by the Barotse Royal Esteblishment, which was instituted by colonial masters, because it has been a source of conflict between the two ethnic grougs.

“ In order to liberate the Nkoya ethnic group from Lozi hegemony, a separate province should be created covering present Itezhi-tezhi, Kaoma and Lukulu districts. This will guarantee Nkoyas basic rights and freedom of association and speech,” Mr Kutoha said.

He said in 1936, Naliele Native Treasury was established in Mankoya district (now Kaoma) and a Lozi appointed to head it.

Mr Kutoha said this measure greatly eroded the traditional authority of the Nkoya chiefs Mutondo and Kahare in the district. He said their plea as Nkoyas to the government is to free them from Lozi supremacy.

Mr Kutoha said Nkoya-speaking people in Kaoma and Lukulu are being forced to speak an alien language, Silozi, instead of their mother tongue, Shinkoya, when accessing public facilities and services such as health.

He said it is for this reason the traditional governance system being propagated by the BRE and his council in Western Province is colonial in character and does not promote the ethos and principle of equality and self-determination of all ethnic groupings in the province.

Mr Kutoha said this also places the Nkoya under the Litunga and his council when they are not his subjects.

He said in view of this, the Nkoya people are appealing to Government to immediately take the recognition of the named chiefs seriously.

And Mr Kutoha urged government to create another district called Dongwe as claims of tribal superiority by the Litunga and his council over the Nkoya ethnic group are baseless and imaginary, hence the need to directly recognise Nkoya chiefs.

The Roger Chongwe commission of inquiry appointed by President Sata to investigate the January 2011 riots and deaths last week submitted its findings to the President. One of its recommendations is that the government must restore the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

But the recommendation has received mixed reactions with Patriotic Front secretary general Wynter Kabimba accusing Dr Chongwe of going beyond the terms of reference President Sata gave the commission.

Some ethnic groups within Western Province, led by the Nkoyas, have categorically opposed the recommendation. President Sata and his Cabinet are yet to study the report and announce government’s position.

[Zambia Daily Mail]