TWO EUROPEAN FOREIGN DIGNITARIES ACCREDITED TO ZAMBIA ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DECENTRALIZATION POLICY.

TWO EUROPEAN FOREIGN DIGNITARIES ACCREDITED TO ZAMBIA HAVE ADVISED THE GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DECENTRALIZATION POLICY.
THE DECENTRALIZATION POLICY HAS BEEN APPROVED BUT STILL REMAINS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
SPEAKING TODAY DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF A TWO DAY CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN LUSAKA, ROYAL KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS AMBASSADOR TO ZAMBIA HARRY MOLENAAR SAID THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD OVERCOME INERTIA AND PUSH FOR DEVOLUTION OF POWER.
AMBASSADOR MOLENAAR POINTS OUT THAT IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE DEVOLUTION OF POWER THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE WILL HAVE A REAL SAY IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES IN WHICH TRADITION LEADERS SHOULD PLAY A ROLE AS WELL TO ALLOW FOR AN ALL INCLUSIVE PROCESS.
HE HAS STRESSED THAT THOUGH THE CONTEXT MAY BE DIFFERENT, THE BAROTSELAND ISSUE COULD BE TRIGGERED BY PERCEPTIONS OF MARGINALIZATION AND NEED FOR POLITICAL INCLUSION AND THIS NEEDS THE GOVERNMENT TO APPROACH WITH MATURITY AND ENCOURAGE A DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTION.
AMBASSADOR MOLENAAR SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WAS SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT DEMANDS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT BY SOME ADVOCATES ENDED UP BEING VIOLENT RESULTING IN THE UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE AND STILL APPEARS TO BE UNRESOLVED AND A MATTER OF CONCERN.
HE HAS FURTHER SAID IT IS WELL RECOGNIZED THAT TRADITIONAL AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM HAD AND STILL HAVE A CONSENSUAL WAY OF RESOLVING CONFLICT AND HAVE AN EQUITABLE PENAL SYSTEM THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THE AMBASSADOR HAS STATED THAT CONSENSUS-BUILDING, DISCUSSING AND DEBATING AN ISSUE UNTIL THERE IS AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTIONS BY AFRICA TO THE MODERN DEMOCRACY.
HE ADDS THAT THERE ARE POSITIVE THINGS IN TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY STRUCTURES THAT CAN BE RETAINED IN MODERN SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH THE CHALLENGE STILL REMAINS THAT OF IDENTIFYING FEATURES IN CURRENT CHIEFTAINCY STRUCTURES THAT CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO MODERN DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL STRUCTURES.
AND SPEAKING AT THE SAME FUNCTION GERMANY AMBASSADOR TO ZAMBIA FRANK MEYKE ECHOED HIS COUNTER-PARTS SENTIMENTS BY ADDING FURTHER THAT IN ORDER TO DRIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL RULE FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, A NEW HOLISTIC APPROACH SEEMS TO BE REQUIRED INCORPORATING TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
AMBASSADOR MEYKE SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT THE DECENTRALIZATION POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL SUCCESSFULLY BE PUT INTO EFFECT DEVOLVING MORE POWER TO THE LOCAL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND THUS STIMULATING RURAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE HAS FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT HOW THE ISSUE OF THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 SHOULD BE HANDLED IS A QUESTION ONLY THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE CAN ANSWER AND ALL THE OUTSIDE GOVERNMENTS CAN DO IS TO ADVISE AND OFFER TECHNICAL SUPPORT IF REQUESTED.

published by augustine m sichula