ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS NOT TO ENTERTAIN THE BAROTSE AGREEMENT OF 1964 WHICH BROUGHT PROTESTS IN WESTERN ZAMBIA ON THE 14TH JANUARY THIS YEAR

THE KAZANGA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION “MUTIMA WA NKOYA” AND THE NKOYA ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT HAVE CHARGED THAT THE BAROTSE LAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 SHOULD NOT BE ENTERTAINED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER WELL MEANING ZAMBIANS.
THE ASSOCIATION ARGUES THAT IF LAND AND OTHER MATTERS ARE VESTED IN THE LITUNGA AND HIS COUNCIL, WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL, THERE IS LIKELIHOOD OF THE NKOYA CHIEFS LOSING THEIR ANCESTRAL LAND TO THE BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT.
SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO PHOENIX, KAZANGA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION AND THE NKOYA ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON MAYANKWA SAID IF THIS HAPPENS, THE NKOYA AND OTHER INDIGENOUS NON MAROTSE TRIBES SETTLED IN WESTERN PROVINCE WILL BE OPPRESSED.
MR MAYANKWA SAYS THIS WILL LEAD TO DISPUTES AND FIGHTS BETWEEN THE NKOYA’S AND LOZI INDUNA’S WHOSE PEOPLE ARE SETTLED IN KAOMA AS WITNESSED DURING THE EARLY 1990’S.
HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE BAROTSE LAND AGREEMENT WOULD CREATE AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY THAT WOULD NOT PROMOTE BASIC FREEDOMS OF ASSOCIATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION.
HE HAS POINTED OUT THAT IF THE LITUNGA IS GIVEN AUTHORITY TO COLLECT LOCAL TAXES, IT WILL IMPOVERISH THE NON MAROTSE DISTRICTS LIKE KAOMA AND LUKULU AS IT WAS THE CASE DURING THE PERIOD 1905 TO 1964 WHEN BAROTSELAND WAS A SELF GOVERNING TERRITORY.
MR MAYANKWA HAS STATED THAT RATHER THAN BEING A VEHICLE FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, DEVOLVED AUTHORITY AND GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT, THE 1964 AGREEMENTS VEST JUDICIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN THE HANDS OF THE LITUNGA, HIS FAMILY AND HIS COUNCIL WHICH SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE.
HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT FOR THE NON LOZIS’ IS PREMISED ON A MASTER SLAVE LEADERSHIP WHERE THE NKOYAS ARE REGARDED AS MERE SUBJECTS WITH NO RIGHTS, WHILST THE LITUNGA, HIS FAMILY AND INDUNA’S ARE ABOVE THE LAW.

published by augustine m sichula