Maravi

Secession not part of Chongwe's final inquiry report

Secession not part of Chongwe's final inquiry report
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 02 Mar. 2012, 10:59 CAT

THE submitted issue of Barotseland seceding from the rest of Zambia is not part of the Rodger Chongwe commission of inquiry's final report but was instead presented to President Michael Sata as a minority report, The Post has learnt.

And late former Western Province Ngambela prime minister Maxwell Mututwa's grandson, Robby Siamana says Barotse youths aggrieved by the President's expressed 'reluctance' to restore the Barotseland Agreement should exercise restraint.

According to highly-placed sources within the Rodger Chongwe commission on the January 14, 2011 Mongu riots and killings, the commissioners failed to agree on the inclusion of the many submissions calling for Barotseland's total independence from Zambia.

The sources said while other commissioners were of the view that submissions in support of secession should be included in the final report to be presented to President Sata, others said a proviso for continued dialogue on the matter could instead summarise the secessionist calls.

The sources said it was then decided that the issue of secession, which came up through the commission of inquiry's term of reference number 11, should be presented as a minority report and this was signed by one commissioner, Nyambe Namushi, who was representing Barotse Freedom Movement/Linyungandambo on the commission.

But Namushi's minority report was not mentioned during Dr Chongwe's presentation of the commission's ultimate report at State House last week.

In his recommendations derived from term of reference number 11, which was about the concerns of the people of Western Province and recommended mechanisms of addressing them, Namushi stated that the people of Barotseland had told the commission in very clear and unambiguous language that they have finally accepted the unilateral termination of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 by the Government of Zambia.

"By that action they understand that Barotseland should now proceed to full and complete self-determination," Namushi stated. "The government of Zambia and Barotseland should commence discussions immediately to work out transitional arrangements towards Barotseland's independence."

Namushi urged the government to desist from making unilateral decisions on any matter affecting the constitutionality of Barotseland without engaging the people of Barotseland through the traditional leadership of the Barotse Royal Establishment.

And Siamana said in an interview from Senanga yesterday, that the PF through its secretary general Wynter Kabimba should not open old wounds that were healing by issuing threats of treason over dissent on the Barotseland Agreement 1964.

However, Siamana appealed to the youths of Western Province to remain calm over the developing issues around the Barotseland Agreement question.

"They should not just react anyhow over what has come out, more especially the way Wynter Kabimba responded to the issue," Siamana said.

"Let them Barotse youths remain calm and give ample time to the BRE Barotse Royal Establishment to follow all the normal procedures of converging the Barotse National Council."

Siamana said Kabimba was a wrong person to have commented the way he did over the Chongwe Commission report and he asked the government to tolerate divergent views over the matter.

"The tone of Kabimba's address to the nation was like somebody who was opening our wounds that are already healing," Siamana said.

"It's not about secession. I don't think that is what the people of Western Province are calling for."

Siamana cautioned that failure to effectively address the Barotse issue could lead to unrest.

Siamana's grandfather, Maxwell Mututwa, who died at the age of 91 last year, was among Lozis that were detained and charged for treason related to the January 14, 2011 Barotseland Agreement riots in Mongu.

Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, SECESSION

posted by MrK @ 5:13 PM