Letters to the Editor

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 13:35:32 +0000

Barotseland – Buniti haki nzila ye bunolo!

Dear Editor

Recently, I overheard a senior citizen remark that in Zambia today, treason can be anything and anything can be treason!

Your newspaper edition of Friday February 17, 2017 published or caused to be published a letter purportedly written by one Morgan Chembe captioned “Watch Harrington on Barotseland Secession”.

In his letter, the author very mischievously and recklessly states inter-alia that, quote “This is treason”. (God save Zambia) Again, in your Monday February 20, 2017 edition, you published or caused to be published a statement purportedly issued by one Kennedy Kamba – Lusaka Province Patriotic Front Youth Chairman captioned “Lusaka PF youths roast Harrington”.

I do not know the above-mentioned characters from Adam, but I have taken time to ponder and dissect the motives of the authors if not mischievous malice.

The two articles appear to have been inspired by the meeting between our Diaspora Group of Barotseland Nationals and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) at Limulunga followed by a courtesy call on the Litunga, the King of Barotseland on 8th February 2017.

The group comprised of eminent personalities led by Dr. Sketchly D. Sacika (former Secretary to the Cabinet).

Strangely, the afore-mentioned articles singled me out of our delegation of six.

Our discussions with the BRE centred on the Barotse National Council (BNC) Resolutions of 2012 (note, NOT Harrington’s resolutions) in relation to the repudiation in 1969 of the Barotseland Agreement.

By the way, the BNC was in fact sanctioned and attended by the BRE.

To the very best of my knowledge, at no time has the Zambia Government referred to or indeed regarded the 2012 BNC Resolutions as “secessionist” or “treasonable”.

After all, many Government officials and representatives, service chiefs and Office of the President attended the 2012 BNC.

You may wish to know that the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on the Admissibility of Communication 429/12 in the matter of “THE NGAMBELA OF BAROTSELAND AND OTHERS VERSUS THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA” declared at paragraph 88 of the Commissions’ Decision document that, quote: “The Commission recognises that autonomy and self-determination (of Barotseland) are compatible with the constitutive Act and should be recognised as rights”.  End quote.

It is important to mention that the ACHPR decision has settled the issue of whether or not Barotseland is entitled to autonomy within Zambia and has determined that Barotseland’s’ right in this respect is not a matter that the Government of Zambia can argue with, it is a non-debateable issue.

The ACHPR Report was approved by the African Union Heads of State summit earlier in the year of its publication.

Zambia being a signatory to the ACHPR, Government is fully aware of the organisations’ position on the issue of Barotseland.

For the umpteenth time I will state that unlike other provinces of Zambia, autonomy of Barotseland – now nicknamed Western Province, should not and cannot be regarded as secession.

Secession cannot apply to Barotseland. The distinct and indisputable difference is that Barotseland was a sovereign self-governing nation State and Kingdom prior to the year 1964.

My learned friend and authoritative constitutional lawyer Dr. Ludwig  Sondashi put it very bluntly in his recently launched autobiography titled “TRUTH – is not an easy road” at Chapter 8 on Barotseland Agreement, stating and I quote: “I tend to think that most of the people just do not care about how Barotseland became part of Zambia. We need to approach this problem with caution, with an open mind and with a sense of honesty. Why are we painting a bad picture of the Lozis by carelessly stating that they want to secede from Zambia as if Barotseland was a province of Northern Rhodesia before independence like Northern Province or Central Province? End quote.

That Barotseland has a king confirms the regions sovereign kingdom status.

Is it any wonder that, at the time of our visit to Limulunga, the BRE refused to be served with a Mongu High Court summons on the grounds that Barotseland is not part of Zambia as was reported?

It is any wonder that the Dr. Roger Chongwe Commission of Enquiry Report on the 2012 Mongu disturbances recommends that Western Province reverts to its’ original name of Barotseland?

I can confidently state that the matter of Barotselands’ reversion to statehood can and will materialise through dialogue, diplomacy and non-violence.

After all, there is no need to fight for what rightly belongs to you but just claim it peacefully.

It is my hope and prayer that my letter will go some way towards putting Barotseland into true perspective – BUNITI!

William HARRINGTON

Member – Diaspora Group of Barotseland Nationals

Senanga

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Video of the perceived prostitute circulating on social media in bad faith

Dear Editor,

It has been repeatedly said that social media should not be abused.

To the contrary, the social media has been abused by those who have access to the internet facility.

Some old and young people have continued abusing the social media by posting sex videos and nude pictures of themselves in some cases with impunity, much to the annoyance of the morally individuals.

The case in point is the video currently circulating on social media depicting a young woman being beaten and stripped naked by fellow women in full view of the menfolk. The victim in the video is alleged to be the prostitute.

The woman in the video that has gone viral could be the prostitute quite alright, but humiliating her in such a manner is not right.

Worse still, some women were the ones in the forefront of abusing their fellow woman.

Whatever crime a person commits, the Zambian law does not allow people to take the law in their own hands.

This is because proper procedures have to be followed in dealing with the committed offence.

Moreover, the maxim of the law states that every person is innocent until proved guilty.

In light of the above, I implore the police command to thoroughly investigate the matter so that the people behind humiliating the woman through beating and stripping her naked to be arrested.

This is because their barbaric act is tantamount to a crime punishable by law. Zambia is a country governed by laws which should be adhered to. Lawlessness has no place in our country.

In conclusion, I condemn such a barbaric and inhumane act inflicted on the woman by the heartless women.

ELEMIYA PHIRI, Lusaka.

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Emulate Kenya on free sanitary pads to school girls

Dear Editor

The directive by the Kenyan government to be providing free access of sanitary pads to school girls should be commended by all well-meaning stakeholders because it is a step to the right direction where education of a girl child is concerned.

I therefore encourage our government of the Republic of Zambia to emulate the brand new Kenyan Law if we are truly determined to see success in girl child education.

According to the UN’s education agency, one in ten girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their monthly periods as a results they miss out on the most important and main topics that come in the end of year examinations.

However pads and tampons should be distributed free of charge especially in the rural areas.

This gesture will improve the quality of girl child education to unprecedented heights

Jethro Mkanda

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The three arms of government

Dear Editor,

In Zambia, if we not careful we will undermine the three arms of government and reduce it to one arm.

It is common knowledge that these three arms of government are separate and cannot meet in their operation.

But the trend where one arm is being used to challenge the other arms in the name of democracy is a bad seed in our country. Executive should be left to exercise its power while the legislature should also be left to exercise its power.

I have noted that one arm, the judicially is being used to handle matters of the arms of government which by the end of day the judicially finds itself to be the most superior of the three arms of government.

We are setting a very bad precedent to the generation to come whereby the other two arms of government will not have powers to instil discipline in its operation.

 Stanley Mwamba Kafula

Matero Patriot Front

Youth secretary