Maravi

Nkoya chief urges Barotse referendum

Nkoya chief urges Barotse referendum
By Moses Kuwema in Kaoma
Sun 08 Apr. 2012, 13:30 CAT

NKOYA Royal Council chairperson Edwin Nkomesha has asked the government to conduct a referendum for Western Province that will be used to bring to an end the issue of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. And chief Kangombe of the Nkoya people of Kabompo district says the name Barotseland was buried together with Northern Rhodesia.

Meanwhile, Mbundas and Luvales from Western Province have disassociated themselves from the Barotse National Council (BNC) resolutions to have the province secede from Zambia.

During the Nkoya National Indaba held in Kaoma at Chilombo yesterday, Nkomesha said it was not fair for the Barotse National Council to have resolved to have Western Province secede from Zambia without consulting other ethnic groups in the province.

"We the Nkoyas and other ethnic groups say that the government should conduct a referendum to deal with the issues surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964," Nkomesha said.

The Nkoya indaba follows resolutions by the BNC a fortnight ago to have the region secede from the rest of Zambia.

The Nkoyas have been opposed to the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 which gave birth to the nation Zambia. Several stakeholders have condemned secession calls and called for an amicable solution.

Meanwhile, chief Kongombe said Nkoyas and other tribes from Kabompo have refused to be party to the BNC resolutions.

"Barotseland was buried in the same grave with Northern Rhodesia. If the government wants to restore the Barotseland agreement of 1964, they should also bring back the government of Northern Rhodesia," said chief Kangombe during the Nkoya indaba.

He said Nkoyas had lived independently from Barotseland and that as far as they were concerned the Barotseland issue did not exist.

And representatives from the Cheke cha Mbunda and Likumbi Lya Mize in Western Province have asked the government to change the name of Kaoma to Mankoya.

The indaba was attended by chiefs Nyati from Lukulu, Moomba from Kazungula and Kabulwebulwe from Mumbwa.

Other notables included former Mangongo member of parliament Crispin Shumina, former permanent secretary in the office of the vice-president Webster Mulubisha.

Former MMD ministers Stephen Manjata and Mwendoi Akakandelwa were also part of the indaba. Resolutions of the indaba are expected today.

Labels: WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 3:54 PM