Lungu’s Utterances on BA’64 shocks Mufalo

by Mbinji Mufalo, Human Rights, Governance & Development Specialist

I am shocked to hear the President of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu and a statement attributed to Amos Chanda, on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation television 1900hrs news, saying the Litungu signed the Barotseland Agreement 1964 on behalf of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE).

Perhaps, they have never read the Agreement? Here is what it states,

"The Barotseland Agreement 1964

This Agreement is made this eighteenth day of May, 1964 between KENNETH DAVID

KAUNDA, Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia of the one part and SIR MWANAWINA

LEWANIKA THE THIR, K.B.E., Litunga of Barotseland, acting on behalf of himself, his

heirs and successors, his council, and the chiefs and people of Barotseland of the other

party is signed by the Right Honourable Duncan Sandys, M.P Her Majesty's principal

secretary of state for common wealth relations and for the colonies, to signify the approval

of her majesty's government in the united kingdom of the arrangements entered into

between the parties to this agreement and recorded therein."

The Litunga and the BRE cannot discuss or negotiate the Barotseland Agreement 1964, without the people of Barotseland, as the President of Zambia is implying. That is not how Barotseland is governed. We advise they learn how Barotseland is governed, else all efforts at resolving the Barotseland Agreement 1964 will be in vain.