THREE YEARS POST MARCH 2012 EPIC BNC!

HOW MUCH LONGER O BAROTSELAND?

 

by Mukunyandela Mukuyoyisa

  How much longer O Barotseland? How much longer shall we have to wait before freedom dawns and before the rays of the sun of emancipation permeate through the dark cloud of perpetuated injustice, systemic exploitation of man by another and institutionalised human rights abuses against our people and our nation? Sounds like the questions of one old prophet, as recorded in the Bible book of Habakkuk chapters 1-3. O Lord how long shall I cry and you will not hear? Hab. 1 v 2. The answer to that prophet and to Barotseland is summarised in Habakkuk 2 v 20, God is still in charge of everything and at the right time He will come through. He heard the cry of the blood of Able so has He heard the cry of the blood that has been shed for Barotseland. He heard the cry of Israel in the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Babylon, why can He not hear our sigh and groan under the yoke of the Zambian task masters?   As I touch the keys to do this write-up, it is exactly three years since the epic Barotse National Council (BNC) of 26th -27th March 2012. I recall the atmosphere on that ‘high day’ as if I am actually re-living the experience. The situation was tense and sombre as the Chairman of the Resolutions sub-committee of the BNC Mt Mutungulu Wanga read out the resolutions in the presence of Minyolui, Clement Wainyae Sinyinda, Malena ni Malena Mikwae from the seven regions of Barotseland with exception of bo Akokana (Resident Prince Lukama) of Shangombo Region, Zambian government representatives headed by the Resident Minister Mt. John Kufuna, Some members of the diplomatic corps, other dignitaries like MPs and former MPs from within Barotseland and beyond and the thousands of bana ba poho yensu in attendance from the length and breadth of the Kingdom of Barotseland and beyond. The silence was so tense that one could hear a pin drop even in the sands of Barotseland. The silence was only constantly broken by the resonating voice of Mt Wanga (and his interpreter the then Induna Mayuni now Induna Imandi) as he read out the resolutions and a constant interjection of endorsing applause and jubilant ululations from time to time. Then came that momentous juncture when Minyolui signed the resolutions into decree as it were, alongside Induna Mukulwakashiko, Mt. Batuke Imenda, who was chairing the BNC.   As the sun was setting that day, in the hearts and minds of many Bana ba Malozi, including myself, it was the dawn of a new era, an epoch that shall bring to birth, the dispensation of an emancipated and self-governing Barotseland for which our forefathers sacrificed so much to actualize. The epic BNC was in many ways the fruition of the aspirations of a people that has for so long a time borne the yoke of forced Zambian dominion and domination, endured the pain of ‘black on black’ colonization. A people inhibited by the fetters of a fake independence under the failed unitary state of Zambia.   It has been three long eventful years since then. Three years down the line, it is still NOT YET ‘UHURU’. Yes indeed no one can downplay the gigantic strides that the people of Barotseland have collectively achieved since that day amid the fiery furnace of Zambian state sponsored terrorism while passing through ‘the valley of the shadow of death’ due to constant police harassment, intimidation and incarcerations. The people of Barotseland have by and large remained resolute and focused on realizing their objective—actualization of Barotseland statehood. The oppressor has tried every trick in the book of oppression among them; divide and rule tactics of every sort like turning some ethnic sub-grouping against the rest of the Lozi commonwealth, turning one activist grouping against the others or indeed turning the ruling elites against the ruled or vice versa. These stumbling blocks along the way have greatly slowed down the steps towards total emancipation. In any case I repeat, significant progress has been made and we must pat ourselves on the backs for the job well done so far. Yet we must not and should not forget the fact that it is NOT YET ‘UHURU’ and much more remains to be done. So we must double-up and quadruple up all our efforts until complete victory is achieved.   Let us remind ourselves of the words spoken by Mt. Clement Wainyae Sinyinda to his colleagues on the BNFA Executive committee,   “... victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival for all that the Barotse Kingdom has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages that Barotseland will move forward towards its goals ... come then let us go forward together with our united strength”   The Journey to the actualization of Barotseland Statehood changed into high gear three years ago. It is a journey that cannot be halted, though it may be delayed or derailed from time to time. I was reminded about this by a facebook posting by one—Muyunda Makala—the other day that, there are three things that can’t stand on the wait:
  1. i. the arrow that has since left the bow;
  2. ii. a baby whose time to be born has come; and
  3. iii. an ideas whose time has come
The call for the recognition of Barotseland’s right to self-determination and self-rule is a revolution, just like an arrow that has since left the bow, it cannot be stopped. The demand for the actualization of full Barotseland statehood is like what happens to a woman after nine (9) months of carrying a child in the womb. It is called labour. Once labour pangs have started and reached an advanced stage, can anyone stop child birth? Any attempt to do so is potentially fatal to both the mother and the unborn child. The yearning and craving of the Barotse people for a free and self governing Barotseland is an idea whose time has come. No amount of harassment, intimidation, incarcerations or infiltration can halt it. The best scare crow tactics on one hand and bribery using blood money on the other are not good enough to stop the progress. The mighty and brutality of the combined armed forces are as weak as ropes of sand when compared to the strength of the resilience of the desire for freedom. No man, no law and no war can stop Barotseland’s march towards freedom.   Just as it has been said by the renowned French poet, Victor Hugo, “More powerful than all the armies of this earth put together is an idea whose time has come, it cannot be stopped”.   I have no doubt whatsoever that one day the sounds of freedom will ring true and clear from the hilltops of Moombo and Mutwiwambwa to the lowest valleys of Sikongo and Shangombo. Yet, I will not ignore the fact that it has been three years down the line! The question that begs an honest answer fellow bana ba Poho ye Nsu, comrades and compatriots in the struggle is “How much longer O Barotseland, shall our people have to wait? How many more Barotse freedom fighters will die on the frontline before the dawn of freedom? How many more babies will be born to parents that are downtrodden in their own mother land before ‘Buipuso’ is a reality? I have quoted Bob Dillon’s hit song asking such questions before, where he provides a philosophical answer,   “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind”.   Another song writer who tried to Christianize Bob Dillon’s Lyrics puts it this way,   “The answer my friend is living in all men, the answer is living in all men.”   I want to challenge all that the answer to this crucial question actually is in our hands. Like the two boys who came to the old-wise man of the village with a bird in their hands and a trick up their sleeves. Asking the old man if the bird in the hands was dead or alive, the wise old man answered with ease “Whether the bird is dead or alive it is all up to you.” The boys had intend to squeeze the bird to its death should the old wise man say it was alive or simply let it fly away should he say it is dead. In the same way it is all up to us if freedom comes tomorrow or another fifty years from now. It all depends on what we choose to do and/or what we choose not to do.   One day the story of Barotseland’s struggle for and attainment of freedom shall be fully written as part of the world history. Some will be mentioned as those who contributed to the hastening of UHURU day while others, as those who stood in the way to slow down the dawn of freedom. It is prudent to pause and introspectively ask ourselves the question, ‘how shall posterity judge me?’ Each one of us, starting with Kaongolo ka Nyambe himself, down to his distinguished and perhaps not so distinguished Indunas and as far down as the most common of the commoners walking the highways and byways of Barotseland need to answer this pertinent question.   About fifteen years ago in the blue gums ground of Mongu during a huge Barotse Public Rally held under the auspices of the Forum for the Restoration of Barotseland FOREBA, Mt Mungandi wa Muwina Mungandi narrated how as a 13 year old boy he took his first ride on a train from Lusaka going down south. Not knowing that there were convenience rooms on the train, he went out to answer the call of nature when the train had a brief stop in Mazabuka. While he was still gone the train hooted as it started off. Running towards the doorway he missed the train by inches but fortunately the elder brother was on hand to get a hold of him by the collar of his garment. He was literally dangling suspended in midair as the train gained momentum. It took a strong Rail Police officer to come to the rescue by grabbing him and throwing him on board. Upon regaining his breath the Rail Police officer gave a stern warning: “when a train has started off and you cannot get on board, you get out of the way otherwise you risk being run over”. At that point in his story, Mt. Mungandi challenged the huge crowd,   “The Barotse Freedom Train is warming up and starting off. You either get on board or get out of the way. Otherwise you risk being run over”   This could have been only prophetically true 15 years ago when it was first said. It became literally true three (3) years ago when the epic 2012 BNC Resolutions were made, read out publicly, signed by Minyolui and accented to by the Litunga in Council. Three years down the line the Barotse Freedom train is gaining momentum by ‘lips and bounds.’ Fortunately, you can still get on board. It is either you get on board NOW or get out of the way otherwise the risk is ever so real that you will get run over.