Sata Orders Army Exercise in Lukulu
By By Roy Habaalu
Sat 01 Dec. 2012, 12:30 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says there is a clique of people in Western Province recruiting ex-servicemen to distabilise the country. And President Sata says he will authorise the minister of defence and his commanders to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and warn the warring parties not to distabilise the peace prevailing in Zambia.
During the 15th defence services command and staff college graduation ceremony, President Sata directed that graduating officers be sent to Lukulu district in Western Province to halt illegalities aimed at embarrassing the state.
"I would like to inform you that we have a clique of human beings in Lukulu called the Barotse Liberation Army (BLA). By yesterday (Thursday) they had recruited 275 human beings, they recruited 628 human beings and they have recruited ex-soldiers and ex-police men and ex-poachers. So I would like to ask the commanders to take these newly-trained people and yourselves, take them to Lukulu. We have to be ready because training when you are adopting theories is something else but when there is action, some of these soldiers here, they have never lifted a gun since they joined the army and they have retired. So they don't even know how to stand on parade with a gun because you don't know the velocity of that gun. So take them to Lukulu," President Sata said.
"Mr Chimese (ZAF Commander) provide airplanes and you Mr Chimese I told you before, its high time we sacrificed everything and let's have transport planes. You can't have an air force without transport planes. How am I going to lift these people to go and sort out the people in Lukulu? When you go there don't look at tribe." President Sata said it was the government's desire to see a defence force grounded in professionalism and possesses well rounded balanced knowledge not only in matters of defence and security but in other disciplines. The President said he was determined to equip the defence forces with abilities that would develop in them and capacity to continue developing the nation beyond their ears in defence and security services. He said the army currently appeared irrelevant because of lack of ammunition.
"How can you have an army without ammunitions? You have an army without guns," he said. President Sata said some time politicians become careless and incite people therefore the army should always be ready. "How can you say this country is totalitarian and yet you are using ZNBC? ZNBC is a government project," in apparent reference to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who was on ZNBC this week attacking government.
"So you people are using taxpayers' money to defend the peace of this country and you have to do it and take Lukulu as an exercise. We don't encourage exercises for obvious reasons but go and exercise in Lukulu." On the instability in the town of Goma in the DRC, President Sata said Zambia would send troops to that country like South Africa had done for peace keeping. But President Sata said the defence and security wings should not trivialise the current peace prevailing in Zambia because Luapula Province and Lake Mweru were porous border areas neighbouring the DRC.
"Comrade minister and your defence commanders, we shall give you authority to go to Congo and meet your counterparts in Congo and when you are listening to them go and warn them that they can play with other people, they cannot play with Zambia. If you people fail to handle them I will go to Matero and bring the youths they will come and sort them out," he said.
President Sata instructed the minister of defence to introduce marine transport saying issues of defence could not wait. He said the defence forces were solely for the purpose of national defence and that Zambia was committed to respecting the principles of non-interference in affairs of other countries. President Sata said Zambia stands ready to support all endeavours that would promote peace and would contribute to troops for peace keeping.
Labels: ARMED FORCES, BAROTSE LIBERATION ARMY, DRC, MICHAEL SATA, SECESSION, WESTERN PROVINCE
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I've never supported secession - Litunga
By Roy Habaalu
Fri 23 Nov. 2012, 17:10 CAT
THE Litunga has told Catholic priests and other church leaders in Mongu that he has never supported calls for secession of Western Province.
The Litunga, who is Catholic, met the priests and other church leaders at his palace on Wednesday from 15:00 hours till late in the night to talk about current issues relating to the province.
Sources close to the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) who attended the meeting said the Litunga disapproved of immediate past Ngambela (chief counsellor) Clement Wainyae Sinyinda's advocating secession.
Sinyinda, a former deputy minister in the MMD administration, resigned as Ngambela recently following deep-rooted disagreements with Litunga Lubosi Imwiko.
According to sources, the Litunga had wanted to dialogue with the government but Sinyinda refused accusing him (Litunga) of being compromised.
"The Litunga spoke freely and was very open to us and spoke more as a parent and not as king. There were no restrictive protocols and there is hope at the end.
It was a fruitful meeting. He acknowledged that a lot of things were happening and that was the reason he wanted us to hear directly from his mouth. The Litunga said; 'It's the trust and respect I have for the Church that's why I invited you here, hear it from me I have never supported calls advocating for secession'. He was very clear and said at no time had he sanctioned calls for Western Province to gain independence from the Republic of Zambia.
He said he has always believed in addressing the unemployment and poverty levels in the province. He explained that historically, the BRE had worked with all successive governments and saw nothing wrong with addressing concerns with over the Barotseland Agreement with President Michael Sata," said the sources.
"After disagreeing to dialogue with the government, Sinyinda teamed up with some indunas and began a tour of the country telling people that the Litunga had let down his people.
He was moving around with Induna Mukulwakashiko (Batuke Imenda) soliciting for signatures from Lozis that they had lost confidence in the Litunga and that Barotseland was ready to govern itself. The Litunga says he was not consulted over the holding of the Barotse National Council (BNC) but when he learnt about it, he called it illegal and refused to approval its resolutions to secede from Zambia," said another source.
Sources said listening to the Litunga, it was shocking why Sinyinda mobilised people calling for secession because that was never the position of the BRE.
Sources said after the Litunga made attempts to dialogue with the government to address complaints raised by groups of activists, Sinyinda opposed and changed his sim card cutting communication between the two.
"It was learnt that some activists were collecting money from international organisations and Lozis in the Diaspora," the sources said.
According to the sources, the Litunga invited the Church so that they could know that the BRE and himself were not against Sinyinda but his illegal activities in the name of the establishment.
And efforts to get a comment from Sinyinda proved futile and could not be reached on his mobile.
Labels: BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISMENT, CATHOLIC CHURCH, LITUNGA, SECESSION
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COMMENT - This is the MDC - Anglo-American de Beers which wants the Zimbabwean people's diamonds, former Rhodesian Front elements who want the Zimbabwean people's land, and the Matabele secessionists who want to be the new local ruling elite. And people wonder why the people of Zimbabwe vote for the ZANU-PF.
Interview: Siwela on Mthwakazi vision
11/06/2012 00:00:00
by Lloyd Mbiba I Daily News
Paul Siwela is the controversial secretary general of the Matabeleland pressure group Mthwakazi Liberation Front, which is agitating for a separate state called Mthwakazi, based on pre-colonial borders. Regional secession is also why I am against decentralisation to the provincial level, as opposed to decentralisation to local government, even municipal government level.
Siwela, along with two other MLF officials John Gazi and Charles Thomas, are currently standing trial for treason. The charges relate to their campaign for secession. The 49-year-old former ZAPU leader [PS] tells The Daily News’ Lloyd Mbiba [LM] about his vision of a Mthwakazi state:
LM: Is MLF a political party or a secessionist movement?
PS: We are a separatist movement. Our aim is to separate Mthwakazi State from Zimbabwe State through peaceful means.
LM: Why is it that MLF wants secession now, three decades after attaining independence?
PS: When were we supposed to do that? There was initial hope that Zimbabwe was going to integrate us into their state as full citizens with equal rights to all opportunities, and thus over the years Mthwakazians have learnt that Zimbabwe is not their home and Zimbabwe will not accommodate Mthwakazians into their community.
The time is now opportune for Mthwakazians to reclaim their country irrespective of the expected howling that would be generated by this demand.
LM: Some people say you are a radical reactionary movement made up of regionalists and tribalists who are hell-bent on causing havoc and divisions. How do you respond to that?
PS: That claim emanates from the Zimbabwean tribalists and Gukurahundists who enjoy marginalising Mthwakazi people and would like to present that argument as scarecrow. We are not worried about that and it has no effect on our people whose decision shall decide the fate of these co-joined countries.
The normal thing to happen is to separate the two and live side by side as neighbours as was the case before the white men came here.
LM: Since you have said you will not contest elections how will you push your agenda for secession?
PS: Our programme is located through peaceful means that would among others include legal warfare. Our people have endured suffering, pain and shame since November 4, 1893, up to date and need to extricate themselves from the injustices they are experiencing today from Limpopo up to Zambezi and from Plumtree up to Battlefields.
LM: Besides elections, do you partake in state programmes such as the ongoing constitution-making process?
PS: We don’t want to interfere with our neighbour’s internal affairs and we expect Zimbabwe to respect and reciprocate our gesture of good relations and stop interfering in our affairs as well.
Zimbabwe knows only too well that we are two countries joined together by the white people and through imperfect decolonisation; we became a colony of Zimbabwe without our consent. We need to complete the process of decolonisation.
LM: Sometime last year you wrote to President Robert Mugabe seeking audience with him over your agenda. Did you ever meet and what transpired?
PS: You will be aware I suppose that such sensitive matters are not usually handled in the glare of cameras and troops of journalists as they evolve, and at this stage we cannot give any comment as to what is happening. But we believe he has given us the necessary attention that we want.
LM: One of your senior members John Gazi is alleged to be a CIO operative. Is this true?
PS: He resigned from our party and we recommend that you talk to him directly on anything that involves him. We are not qualified to speak about him.
LM: How many members does MLF have?
PS: No sane Mthwakazian would want to remain in Zimbabwe given the way our people are segregated in all spheres of life. Even those who were sceptical in the beginning about the feasibility of the restoration of Mthwakazi Republic have changed their minds and have become the disciples of separatism gospel.
What is even interesting is that those who profess to be Zimbabweans and claim to be happy in Zimbabwean political parties and holding senior positions are Nicodemusly supporting our cause and even funding it.
They are found in all Zimbabwean political parties and conveniently behaving as if they are against the cause in public and we support such intelligent stance that they are using.
Every Mthwakazian supports the restoration of Mthwakazi Republic. Mthwakazians want self determination now. This is a beckoning time to solve the Gukurahundi genocide.
Delaying the independence of Mthwakazi is not the solution and Zimbabwean political leaders know this from experience when the Rhodesian colonial government delayed to give them their country. Zimbabwe should not go the Ian Smith route. We are convinced they are cleverer than that.
LM: The emotive Gukurahundi issue, how should it be dealt with?
PS: The Gukurahundi genocide will rest only if Mthwakazians are compensated by having their country back any other way of handling it is mere political posturing which would prove to be problematic to Zimbabwe in future years. Self determination is the solution.
LM: Is MLF financially sound?
PS: We have our own resources which we don’t need to make public as it does not serve our interests to do so.
LM: Being a former member of ZAPU, do you think the current ZAPU has the muscle to power into an election victory?
PS: We don’t think so given that Zimbabwean politics is tribally-driven and influenced by past and present circumstances where Zimbabweans have been taught not to vote for a Mthwakazian to lead any organisation let alone to lead the country.
It would be interesting to note how Zimbabweans would vote if the two top presidential candidates in the run-off were Robert Mugabe and Welshman Ncube. Your guess is as good as mine; Zimbabweans would not countenance voting for Ncube despite the cry of dictatorship and tyranny they have experienced under Robert Mugabe’s rule. There is so much alacrity to countenance a Mthwakazian as the leader of Zimbabwe.
If one lives in a country where your ethnicity or race precludes you from contesting the Presidency or Premiership, whatever the case may be, it means that you are not a full citizen of that country and become entitled to look elsewhere for a home therefore.
Labels: MDC, SECESSION, TREASON
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Barotseland activists insist on secession
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 01 Apr. 2012, 13:00 CAT
BAROTSELAND Freedom Movement international relations secretary Shuwanga Shuwanga says Barotse people will proceed with their resolve for freedom just as they were brave enough to go ahead with the Barotse National Council.
And Mongu has been experiencing intermittent power supply from the time the BNC declared that Barotseland shall separate from Zambia during its last meeting held in Limulunga.
Ngambela Wainyae Sinyinda and Induna Mukulwakashiko were on Thursday afternoon warned and cautioned by Zambia Police officers on a treason charge related to sentiments made at the just-ended BNC.
But Shuwanga described police's action as "a terrorist act".
"This terrorist act by the state will only strengthen our resolve and also make us to move much faster on what we have decided on. We are united behind our leaders and we shall stand by them always until we soon fly our majestic flag all over Barotseland," he said.
"It must be known that he Ngambela Sinyinda was mandated by the Barotse nation to take the stand that he did concerning the direction we have now chosen to take as a nation. Arresting him will not make us retreat or change our minds. It only proves that Barotseland is indeed not a part of Zambia otherwise that government would have found a much more civilised way of approach rather than insult all Barotse people in this manner."
[More civilised? They're lucky they're not on in jail, and a national emergency has not been called. This is why I believe that national elites should not be replaced by local elites. I say decentralisation of budgets and responsibilities to all local governments, not the provinces or even districts. - MrK]
Shuwanga said the Zambian government must know that they were being watched.
"As we were brave enough to go ahead with the BNC conference in the face of all kind of intimidation, we shall also go ahead with our resolve for freedom. The Zambian government must know that they are being watched. Any harm to our leaders will result in unhealthy consequences," he said.
"This morning Friday activists advised him not to go to the police station because it did not make any sense as the same police had been already given the resolutions since they too had attended the BNC meeting. We abhor such treatment to any of our leaders as it only serves to escalate the already volatile situation. Ngambela never decided on his own but it was all the people of Barotseland who decided to cut away from Zambia for founded reasons."
Shuwanga cautioned that harassment and intimidation in dealing with the Barotseland issue will only result in something that may not be in the interest of peace.
"Lozi people can be very patient but when we make a decision, we stand for that decision come what may. This is what we saw as the only way forward and we shall not go back on it. Barotseland is now free from Zambia and all that the Zambian authorities are doing in the territory is tantamount to rape," said Shuwanga.
"They should now just sit down with us and work out the disengagement in peace."
And Mongu residents have been experiencing daily power interruptions from Wednesday, a day after the BNC declaration to pursue secession.
The first power interruption, which also affected Limulunga where the Litunga's palace is, occurred on Wednesday evening and lasted up to the next morning.
Security sources said the power interruptions were meant to facilitate the entry and movement of security forces from areas outside Western Province into Mongu.
Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, MONGU, SECESSION
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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
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Lubinda questions suggestion that Western Province should separate from Zambia
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, January 6, 2012, 2:48 pm
Former Luena Member of Parliament Charles Milupi after launching his new political party in Lusaka.
Chief Government spokesperson Given Lubinda has questioned the capacity in which Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) leader Charles Milupi is quoted suggesting that western province should be separated from Zambia if the Barotseland agreement of 1964 is not restored.
Mr. Lubinda says Mr. Milupi should realize that such sensitive matters can not be negotiated in such a poor style as he is suggesting.
Responding to QFM, Mr. Lubinda says it is also surprising to note that people in western province calling for the restoration of the Barotseland agreement are not agitating for secession but that such calls are coming from ordinary individuals.
He has since advised Mr. Milupi to present his suggestions to the commission looking into the Barotseland agreement, but wonders whether anyone will give him support on his secession suggestions.
QFM
Labels: CHARLES MILUPI, GIVEN LUBINDA, SECESSION, WESTERN PROVINCE
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COMMENT - The MDC is covering up their tribalism ahead of the 2011 elections.
United Zimbabwe stands a better chance
08/08/2011 00:00:00
by Lovemore Fuyane
NATION-BUILDING in Zimbabwe against a background of obvious ethnic diversity and the current reverberations about secession has become a generational challenge.
But whereas some -- driven to the edges of despair by an uneven share of the national cake -- would like to carve up the country based on ethnic lines, I am in the constituency that supports big country configurations. Indeed, this is the way that most of the world is going.
The world’s most successful and biggest economies exist in large countries or large blocs in various permutations and all with different levels of autonomy within them. What is key, however, in each of these successful large countries is the existence of the basic building blocks of self determination for the various ethnic groups.
The European Union was created out of the necessity of Europe to be more competitive against the United States of America, itself a virtual continent. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was at one stage one of the world’s top two super powers. India and China are in fact virtual continents.
At a recent conference, a logistics expert on India described a scenario where you could send a truck from the south of India all the way up to the north and he would go through various boarder regions, complete different sets of paperwork and not be able to speak any of the languages along the way. China too couldn’t be more diverse, from the state of Guangzhou all the way to Mongolia, the country is really a combination of multiple territories and sub ethnicities.
The big country effect gives you both economies of scale on the production and supply side as well as the availability of bigger markets. In China’s case, the world is finding it almost impossible to compete with their cost advantage owing to sheer size. Just 1% market share in virtually any sector in China makes you a multimillion dollar enterprise. Big countries or blocs are also able to enjoy much more favourable trade terms.
Much as one would like to congratulate the newly created state of South Sudan, the reality of it is that in order for their oilfields to yield value and achieve true autonomy for them, they will eventually have to spend billions on building an alternative route to the export market presumably through a friendly neighbouring state. Currently, their only outlet is via an already established pipeline through their now hostile neighbour Sudan (North). Quite obviously, given the nature of the relations between them, this arrangement is unlikely to last. These are the realities of the small country effect, it adds cost.
This brings me to Zimbabwe. A united Zimbabwe, if correctly led politically and economically, presents huge opportunities. However, the foundations upon which we have tried to create this united country are problematic. We have tried to create a forced homogenous society and this breeds resentment and ethnic tension which could potentially lead to breaking-up much like the USSR and Sudan did, and subsequently the loss of big country advantages.
At the very least, continued tensions are counter-productive. Indeed this is one of the biggest mistakes the architects of post-independence Zimbabwe have made over the last 31 years. This is the exact same challenge Nigeria faces.
What then is an artificially homogenous society? In my view, this is a society that seeks to equate individuals but to such an extent that you almost deny the existence of unique ethnic groupings. In such societies, you extrapolate the equality of the rights of individuals to virtually all facets of life including the opportunity to access state resources at the expense of groups, these are societies governed by the Darwinian principle of survival of the fittest.
The statistical implication here is obvious: those with the numerical advantage are already one up at the starting blocks and this is where Zimbabwe is headed.
How many people know that we have such ethnic groups as the Bocha (to which the late Cde Moven Mahachi belonged), Shangaan (late Vice President Cde Msika), Nambya (the distinguished late Justice Sansole), ChiShangwe and TjiKalanga to which the late nationalist Dr Joshua Nkomo, Honourable Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo and Deputy Prime Minister Khupe belong? Who has ever heard of the words Lilima, Tavara, Hungwe, TshiVenda or Tonga? I bet very few of the present generation of Zimbabweans have.
I recently met a well educated young man who thought he was Tonga and by virtue of his surname I actually corrected him and told him he was in fact probably Nambya. He didn’t even know this himself.
The kind of Zimbabwe we have set about building over the last 31 years has all but endangered these once proud groupings. We have falsely believed that the less we emphasise on the existence of these groups, the more united we would be and yet ironically this is exactly what breeds resentment and disharmony. We simply are not either Shona or Ndebele, Zimbabwe is a natural rainbow nation.
Why does such ethnic discontent begin in Matabeleland? Well apart from the obvious tensions that have their roots in the 1980s ZAPU/ZANU contests and the subsequent marginalisation of the region, it is home to quite possibly the most ethnically diverse population with no less than 15 ethnic groups. Yes there are Sothos in Zimbabwe too and the current type of homogenous state we are building will impact on a region such as Matabeleland more than most.
Contrary to the commonly-held belief that the majority of the people in Matabeleland are descendants of Ngunis, it simply has the largest number of minority groups. For whatever reason, it’s Zimbabwe’s melting pot.
Self determination is defined as a fundamental human right, expressed in Art. 1 of the United Nations Charter, and in Art.1 of each of the two main international human rights instruments: the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Both covenants state that: “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”
Put simply, this is a right of a people rather than states or mere individuals. The opposite of this equates to the dictionary definition of “genocide” and the reader is free to look this up for themselves lest I be accused of being alarmist. Indeed genocide goes beyond how we’ve come to understand it in terms of the physical impact of military conflict on the innocent.
Quite the opposite to Zimbabwe has happened in neighboring South Africa which attained majority rule in 1994 or 14 years after us. That country’s leaders very quickly acknowledged the multiplicity of ethnicities in their country and duly defined it as a rainbow nation and subsequent to that declared what then appeared as an insane number of 14 official languages.
Further to that, they also promulgated various pieces of legislation aimed at ensuring that there is economic empowerment of all ethnic groups taking into account local demographics. To date, the government owned broadcaster runs radio stations covering virtually all the country’s indigenous languages.
Democratic South African has yielded Zulu capitalists, Xhosa capitalists, and Venda capitalists, curricula in all these languages is available through the schooling system and not all policemen greet you in Zulu simply because the current president is Zulu.
Zimbabwe’s leadership needs to wake up to the need to return to the drawing board and begin to incorporate concrete actions aimed at promoting the multi ethnic nature of Zimbabwean society.
We need to reopen ethnic language radio stations, and not flood Binga Hospital with Ndebele and Shona-speaking nurses and doctors. Where possible, locals must not always be greeted in Shona at roadblocks in Gwanda. We need to expand the number of languages taught in schools and institute policies of affirmative action and economic empowerment, taking into account local demographics. We must get to a situation where Hwange Colliery has at least one Nambya member of the executive team, it is after all located in the land of Chief Hwange and Chief Nekatambe. These are the things that bring about true unity and cohesion.
Labels: MDC, MDC TRIBALISM, SECESSION
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Secession not ZAPU policy: Dabengwa
by Staff Reporter
04/05/2011 00:00:00
ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa says his party does not support secessionist calls by some Matabeleland pressure groups, notably the Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF).
Growing sentiment that the three Matabeleland provinces are sidelined from national development programmes has fed resentment of central government in the region, leading to calls for a separate state. But Dabengwa, whose party is a significant force in the region and has devolution of power as its central policy, says the issue calls for “meaningful dialogue”.
“ZAPU is the founder and authentic liberation movement of the whole of Zimbabwe, and has no intention of reducing itself to a tribal or separatist movement,” Dabengwa said in a statement on Wednesday.
“ZAPU liberated and wants to rule all of Zimbabwe, and not part of it.”
Dabengwa says his party would cut the current 10 provinces by half into Mashonaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland and Matabeleland “to be led by an elected provincial mini-government”.
He added: “There would be provincial or regional houses of assembly with relevant legislative powers. However, there will still be a national house of assembly to legislate national laws. There will still be central government led by a president, similar to what happens in South Africa.
“Regional premiers and their governments will have the mandate to initiate and implement development policies and programmes in their areas and to run social services such as health and education.
“Central government will remain in charge of national issues such as the army, police, national security, monetary and fiscal policies, revenue services, among other key matters of the state. Zimbabwe will still have one national flag, one national anthem, one president, one currency, and no borders between regions.
“There will be a fair and proportional distribution of national income to all the five provinces, as opposed to the current secretive and discriminative distribution of national wealth to favour one region at the expense of four others.”
Dabengwa said devolution, which featured prominently during public consultations on a new constitution last year, would “remove all bottlenecks and red tape created by the current Harare-based centralist governance system”.
“People become masters of their own destiny by controlling and owning their natural resources. Devolution empowers the people to be self-determining,” he added.
The ZAPU leader said he was forced to speak out after being approached by “several journalists wanting to know our position on the MLF or the cessation of Matabeleland”.
“It is clear to us that the journalists seem to believe that ZAPU is behind, or at least sympathetic to the issue of sessation of Matabeleland. This is both false and unfair … Clearly, devolution is not cessation and we do not understand why anyone would want to link our party to the MLF or cession,” he added.
But despite disagreements with the Mthwakazi Liberation Front, whose leaders have been charged with treason, Dabengwa insists that silencing them is not a solution. Instead, Dabengwa wants a national debate on the issues that have led them to take extremist positions.
“Even if we do not agree with the MLF or any other political formation for that matter on any issue, our party will defend their right to hold their views without fear. ZAPU is convinced the people of Matabeleland and some parts of the Midlands have genuine grievances against the current governance system that has disadvantaged them,” Dabengwa said.
“We call for meaningful dialogue on the issue to address the problem and maintain national cohesion. Arresting and detaining leaders of the MLF or anyone who talks about Gukurahundi and the marginalisation of Matabeleland will only worsen the problem.”
Labels: DUMISO DABENGWA, MDC, MDC TRIBALISM, SECESSION, ZAPU
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Matabeleland separatists burn flag
by Thabo Kunene I Radio Netherlands
21/04/2011 00:00:00
MORE than 500 Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa marched for an independent Zimbabwean state on Wednesday. The protest was organised by the Matabeleland-based secessionist organisation, Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF). In the past few months, the MLF’s increasingly popular campaign has led to the arrest of three of the movement's senior leaders.
Separatists from Matabeleland province say the people of the region have suffered from marginalisation and discrimination under Zimbabwe’s unitary system since the 1980’s. They demand an independent state which they want to name Mthwakazi.
President Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe will never be divided into two ethnic based states. The arrested MLF leaders Paul Siwela, John Gazi and Charles Thomas are currently facing charges of treason. They could face the death sentence if convicted.
During the march, protesters sang struggle songs which brought business to a standstill along Johannesburg's Sauer and Bree Streets.
“Our march was very successful and attracted many Zimbabweans living in South Africa,” said MLF spokesman, Sabelo Mavikinduku Ngwenya, a lawyer by profession.
Although the police closely monitored the march, protesters managed to burn a Zimbabwean flag, which they said was a symbol of oppression and discrimination against ethnic groups in Matabeleland province.
This act was received with mixed feelings. Some Zimbabweans, even those from Matabeleland, said while they supported the group’s campaign for a free Matabeleland, they opposed the burning of the flag.
“The burning of the flag by the secessionists could increase repression against our people by Mugabe’s government. The same people who burnt the flag are still using Zimbabwe government passports - why did they not burn their passports too?” said Dumisani Moyo, a Zimbabwean living in Johannesburg.
But Professor Sabelo Gatsheni Ndlovu, a political analyst and a history lecturer at Johannesburg’s Wits University, told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that the burning of the Zimbabwean flag was a clear signal by the secessionists that they don’t want to be part of Zimbabwe anymore.
“The burning of the flag has symbolic significance. It means they are indicating their separation from that country. The flag is not just a piece of cloth. It represents the spirit of the country and identity. It’s a statement by the protesters.”
The organisers of the march also sent a delegation to the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria to deliver the group's document outlining how the state of Mthwakazi would be created and which districts in Zimbabwe would be part of that country.
Ambassador Phelekezela Mphoko, who also comes from Matabeleland, has openly opposed the campaign of secession. He was not available for comment. One official at the embassy said they did not receive any document from MLF.
Labels: MDC TRIBALISM, SECESSION
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Barotseland will never secede - BRE
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 11 Feb. 2011, 04:02 CAT
BAROTSELAND will never secede from Zambia, says senior chief Inyambo Yeta of the Lozi people of Western Province.
Speaking when he led a group of 15 Lozi Indunas to present a report of the Barotse National Council (BNC) to the government following violence last month that led to two deaths in Mongu after police fought running battles with activists advocating for the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964, chief Yeta said Barotseland Western Province would remain part of Zambia.
"The Barotseland Agreement 1964 does not provide for separation or indeed secession as has been sensationalised over a period of time. The Barotseland Agreement is about national integration and unity and that was the intention of our forefathers," chief Inyambo said.
"Therefore, in discussing the Barotseland Agreement 1964, we are not in any way giving credence to calls for secession."
He said advocating for the restoration of Barotseland Agreement was not synonymous with secession and hoped that the nation would understand that distinction.
"I am not saying that there are no pockets of groups who have taken a very extreme view. Indeed we have heard some people calling for secession. That has nothing to do with the Barotseland Agreement 1964. That is a different matter all together," Chief Inyambo Yeta said.
"I want to make it very clear on behalf of his royal highness The Litunga that Barotseland is part of Zambia and will remain part of Zambia."
Chief Inyambo said the Barotse National Conference meeting was convened in the backdrop of the discontent that manifested itself in rioting and subsequent action on the part of government to bring about order and stability in Western Province. He said the Barotseland Royal Establishment had never advocated for violence as a means to achieve any cause and that would be its position, now and in future.
"Therefore, we wish to make very clear that those of our people who have taken this line of thought of violence and action are at variance with what the royal establishment stands for and what its values are," chief Inyambo said. "We wish to caution that we believe that the Barotseland Agreement 1964 should be a document that should be discussed with government."
He thanked President Banda for inviting discussions on the Barotseland Agreement 1964.
"We welcome this and we stand ready to engage government with regard to the Barotseland Agreement," said chief Inyambo.
And President Banda assured chief Inyambo and his delegation that his government would receive the report with the seriousness and honour it deserved.
President Banda, during the meeting held at State House, was flanked by Vice-President George Kunda, Zambia Security Intelligence Services director general Regis Phiri, home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu, local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo, other government officials and presidential aides.
Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, CHIEF INYAMBO YETA, SECESSION
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Secession Talk: New Year 2011 Message to Peace Loving Zambians
By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 15:02
There are disagreements and small demonstrations in Mongu about the Barotse Agreement of 1964. Suddenly after 46 years of independence, under the motto “One Zambia and One Nation” and peace that is the envy of many nations, there is a threat of anarchy and disintegration of our nation. There are groups, internet web pages and blogs that have mushroomed championing secession or what some of them call “self-determination of the Malozi”. I want to express my views which I hope represent those of millions of Zambians that love the freedom and tranquility we have enjoyed since 1964.
There is a tendency for some politicians, some Zambian intellectuals, and those who are disaffected today to dismiss all those years from 1964 to 1991 as years of the “terrible Kaunda UNIP One-Party dictatorship”. What I am urging all my fellow citizens, who are 36 to 50 years old, who grew up in Zambia between 1964 and 1984 to be intellectually honest and realistic. We should criticize President Kaunda or UNIP and the One- Party State, but let’s also have some balanced judgments and reflections of the period. The 60% of our Zambian population that was born in 1985 have no idea what happened from 1964 to 1991. As a result many of them are vulnerable to exaggerations, speculations, wild guesses, myths, and becoming victims of historical revisionism and politically motivated distortions of what happened.
At Independence in 1964, the first 40 year old young President Kaunda of the young independent Zambia had in his cabinet: Ruben Kamanga, Simon Kapwepwe, Mainza Chona, Arthur Wina, Sikota Wina, Justin Chimba, Simon Kalulu, Peter Matoka, Elijah Mudenda, Nalumino Mundia, John Mwanakatwe, Grey Zulu, Lewis Changufu, and Nathy Nyalugwe. The men and women who are the founders of our nation had just gone through over ten years of the struggle for independence. Their first crucial job was to develop and unite this new Zambia that had 72 separate tribes. The vast majority of Zambians including even our leaders had known only their tribes, chiefs, kingdoms, and perhaps headmen in rural villages in separate regions of Zambia.
Zambians should know that nation building is very difficult and messy. The leaders built new roads, hospitals, political administrative systems, clinics, University of Zambia, hundreds of schools, teachers had to be trained, provided free education for all Zambians, and they adopted the national policy of a non-racial and non-tribal society. At this same time there was the crisis of the Alice Lenshina’s Lumpa Church and the religious violence in Northern and Eastern Province just before independence in 1964. White minority Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and the crisis of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) happened on November 11 1965, the Portuguese colonialists in Angola and Mozambique were trying to destabilize Zambia. White apartheid South Africa was interested in destroying Zambia or any black newly independent countries in Southern Africa that did not support the apartheid racist regime at the time. Namibia was occupied by hostile South Africa. The South African National Congress (ANC) had just been banned. Nelson Mandela had just been sent to prison for life. There were some threats of violence within Zambia. If you do not believe this just read: “Night Without a President” by Sikota Wina.
Should this have been the time the new sovereign nation of Zambia should have been worrying about the Barotse Agreement? All the freedom fighters from all parts of Zambia were right to focus and spend all their energies on developing and uniting Zambians to be one Zambia and One Nation.
I will forever be grateful that I and millions of Zambians had a free education from Form I (grade 8) all the way to the University of Zambia up to my Ph. D. I lived in Zambia as a free child all my life. This was due to the people of Zambia under One Zambia and One Nation and the leadership of President Kaunda, UNIP, and all the freedom fighters including Harry Nkumbula, Simon Kapwepwe, and many other heroic men and women. Whatever the disagreements they had, in the end they did what was most important for the nation of Zambia: they kept the nation together and provided security. At that time, some or any of them could have rebelled, seceded with their local Chiefs or Kingdoms as some few advocates of the Barotse agreement are now saying, or joined colonial outsiders to fight the new fragile state of Zambia to kill fellow Africans.
What is causing this talk of secession and the Barotse Agreement of 1964? There might be genuine frustrations about problems of development of certain areas of the country. But I also suspect that many Zambians have no idea what it takes to build a nation. When many of us who are educated, have access to the computer, might live abroad, have enjoyed freedom most of our lives, we begin to be bored and take the peace for granted. Ordinary Zambians today at home, including many educated foreign scholars in Zambia and abroad, make the mistake of assuming the many political parties, open debate, and freedom of the press we have today should have been there or created in Zambia in 1964 or 1967. But that’s unrealistic, being intellectually, and historically dishonest.
I would urge my fellow educated Zambians or the elites who are furiously circulating the Barotse Agreement of 1964 document to really begin to document and write books about what really happened from 1964 to 1991; both the negative and especially the positive. It is very easy to create rosy web pages and post articles that may have exaggerated and incendiary claims about the intentions of our founders who are now close to 80 years and some of whom have already been called by the lord. The discussions and debate about the Barotse Agreement of 1964 should be done in an open democratic fashion probably through a commission of inquiry. But all peace loving Zambians from all corners, tribes, regions, ethnic groups, and those abroad should lock hands and arms together in unity as One Zambia and One Nation. Those few Zambians who advocate any type of violence, treason, and collude with outsiders to achieve narrow selfish ambitions and interests should be arrested and tried in the courts of law and punished. The peace and tranquility we enjoy as Zambians is too precious.
END of ARTICLE
ABOUT AUTHOR: Mwizenge S. Tembo obtained his B.A in Sociology and Psychology at University of Zambia in 1976, M.A , Ph. D. at Michigan State University in Sociology in 1987. He was a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Zambia from 1977 to 1990. During this period he conducted extensive research and field work in rural Zambia particularly in the Eastern and Southern Provinces of the country. Dr. Mwizenge S. Tembo is Professor of Sociology who has taught at Bridgewater College in Virginia in the United States for twenty years.
Dr. Tembo has authored 4 books: Titbits for the Curious (1989), Legends of Africa (1996), The Bridge (Novel) (2005), Zambian Traditional Names (2006). He is spearheading the building of a Zambia Knowledge Bank Libraries: Nkhanga Branch Village Library in Lundazi District in his native country of Zambia in Southern Africa. He is a weekly columnist for the Daily Newsleader Newspaper of Staunton in Virginia. He is a frequent column contributor to the Daily News-Record of Harrisonburg in Virginia. He was also a frequent contributor to the Sunday Times of Zambia in the 1980s. He has published at least 100 newspaper columns. He is a freelance photographer who has sold many of his works. For more details: www.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo, www.bridgewater.edu/zanoba
Dr. Tembo has also published at least 15 scholarly articles, 21 book reviews, and 10 journalistic articles.
Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, SECESSION
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Kaingu blasts Barotse secession advocates
Monday, November 1, 2010, 9:10
MWANDI Member of Parliamnet (MP) Micheal Kaingu has condemned the group calling for the restoration of the 1964 Baroste Agreement saying it will bring divison and disunity in the country.
Mr Kaingu said in an interview yesterday the restoration of the agreemnet would impact negatively on the nation and the unity Zambia had been expirencing since indepedence.
Mr Kaingui who is Community Development minister said the recent calls should not be tolarated by all peace loving Zambians who believed in the ‘One Zambia, One nation’ spirit.
“People should acknowledge that life is dynamic and they should not dwell on archaic laws which will not beneift Zambia as a nation,” he said.
He said all those aspiring for presidency could do it without calling for the restoration of the old agreement which aimed at disuniting Zambians.
“The Zambian laws are so liberal such that anyone who want to stand as president for the Zambia can compete favourably from any province since the atmopshere is conducive,” he said.
And Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) board chairperson David Masupa said the country appreciated what the Baroste Royal Establishmnet (BRE) contributed to the attainment of indepependce but should consider the repercursion that this agreement had for Zambia.
He said the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission and the National Constitution Conference (NCC) rejected to include this agreement in the Constitution as it would have caused other royal highness of different tribes to lobby for the same thereby bringing division in Zambia.
“This nation is a united nation, that is why we stand on the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ slogan. we don’t want a situation where each province will rise to say they want to be an independent state,” Revereand Masupa said.
He said all the people of Western Province should be lobbying for from Government was the development of the province and not something that would divide the nation.
He said there was need for massive development in the province and the people there should make sure that Government channelled more funding to the area to develop it and bring it to a standard where other provinces are, or even better.
[Times of Zambia]
Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, MICHAEL KAINGU, MUNG'OMBA DRAFT CONSTITUTION, SECESSION, WESTERN PROVINCE
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Morales urges army to protect Bolivia's unity
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Monday August 25, 2008 [04:00]
BOLIVIAN leader Evo Morales has asked the army to protect the unity of this Andean nation. Marking the 108th anniversary of the Maximiliano Paredes Sergeant School in Cochabamba last Thursday, President Morales said thinking about the homeland above all was important.
Bolivia is witnessing political divisions despite President Morales' call for reconciliation talks with estranged right wing opposition regional governors.
Leaders in five opposition-controlled states declared a general strike on Tuesday that paralysed a broad swath of the already deeply divided Bolivia.
The four striking states of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija have held referenda demanding greater autonomy from the central government and the fifth pro-strike state of Chuquisaca contemplate a similar vote.
Clashes broke out in the eastern city of Santa Cruz which is the epicentre of the political opposition.
President Morales called on the army to be examples of dedication to the defence of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Study and be trained to defend the unity of Bolivia," said President Morales, according state-run agency ABI.
President Morales said during his military service, he was trained to handle weapons and learnt to be disciplined and to protect the country.
He proposed compulsory military service in Bolivia.
President Morales asked the legislative body to pass a bill for compulsory military service so that young people could learn to defend their country.
He also said his administration was recovering Bolivia's dignity by allowing the army to participate in the nationalisation of natural resources.
President Morales further announced the approval of US$600 million for construction of army and police facilities in Cochabamba.
Labels: ARMED FORCES, BOLIVIA, EVO MORALES, SECESSION
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Jail for Namibia's secessionists
Ten men found guilty of treason for leading a secessionist rebellion in Namibia's Caprivi region have been sentenced to long prison terms. They were expelled from the courtroom before their sentences were handed down for shouting "Viva Caprivi". Seven of them received a 32 year jail sentence; the other three got 30 years. None of the accused recognised the court's authority, saying they were not Namibian. More than 100 other people are still in detention awaiting trial.
'Most serious crime'
The BBC's Frauke Jensen in the capital, Windhoek, says there was tight security at the packed courtroom for the sentencing. Judge John Manyarara said such long prison sentences were necessary. "High treason is one of the most serious crimes anybody can commit in today's world," he said. He had found the men guilty a week ago - some of going to Angola in 1998 to collect weapons then used in an attack in Caprivi region, the finger-shaped stretch of land north of Botswana.
In 1999, a police station, border post, the offices of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, a military base and a bank came under attack in Caprivi's main town of Katima Mulilo. Twelve people died in the rebellion, before it was crushed by the military. One person was found guilty of recruiting people for the Caprivi Liberation Army and others of trying to regroup and redeploy from 2001 onwards.
The men have the right to appeal, although this is unlikely as the men do not recognise the court's proceedings, our reporter says. They claim they were abducted from Botswana, where they were living in a refugee camp, to face trial in a country they do not recognise.
Our correspondent says there have been some human rights questions raised about the length of men's detention. But overall, she says, Namibians believe Caprivi to be part of Namibia and are likely to support the stiff sentences.
The person behind the secessionist movement, Mishake Muyongo, formerly a prominent politician in the country, has been living in exile in Denmark since the events of August 1999. The trial of the other 119 accused, which started in 2003, will continue in September.
Labels: NAMIBIA, SECESSION
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