The BNFA holds its first Congress—as Clement Wainyae Sinyinda retains his leadership position
by Political Observer reporting from Mungu
Clement Wainyae Sinyinda and Senior Prof. Sitwala Namunji Imenda have been elected Leader and Deputy Leader of the Barotse National Freedom Alliance (BNFA), respectively. This follows the outcome of a National Congress held on July 8, 2016 at Ngulu Hotel in Mungu. The main significance of the National Congress was to transform the BNFA from a coalition of various liberation movements to grassroots based mass movement, elect a new leadership and start the process of preparing Barotseland to self-govern as a separate state from the failed unitary state of Zambia. The other elective positions into the National Executive Committee were won by Katukula Mwiya (National Secretary) and Tebuho Yambwa (National Treasurer). The rest were: Muthine Malumbano (Political Mobilisation and Strategy); Clement Sitali (Regional Coordinator), Namakau Kayuwa (Gender Coordinator); and Lutangu Sinonge (Youth Coordinator). The one day gathering drew over one hundred delegates from all the regions of Barotseland, including the formerly concessioned regions of Livingstone, Kazungula, Itezhitezhi and Namwala. The concessioned regions, including Kalomo were handed over to the administration of the British South Africa Company through the 1909 Lewanika concession, which were inherited by the new republic of Zambia and has since expired. Sinyinda won the leadership by a landslide of 98.8 percent of the votes cast against his opponent Mutungulu Wanga. After the contest, Mr. Mulope Mutukwa representing Mulena (Resident Prince) Amukena of Kaoma’s Naliele Kuta, stated, “we have fulfilled the wishes of Senior Chief Amukena by retaining bo Sinyinda in his position”. Meanwhile, Mr. Moses Pesa Mushabati was relieved that Chief Sikute of the Toka-Leya people in Kazungula’s wish has come to pass. He said, “The election of Mr Sinyinda will make the Chief’s day”. The congress had earlier ratified the BNFA’s new constitution with amendments and endorsed its manifesto.