BNFA Response to recent developments in Barotseland
by BNFA Publicity Wing
Following the historic Barotse National Council Resolutions of March 27, 2012, the people of Barotseland are no longer interested in discussing the merits or demerits of restoring the Barotseland Agreement 1964. They have resolved to revert to the status that obtained prior to the Agreement, given the fact that the Agreement was never implemented by the previous Zambian Administrations. The people of Barotseland exercised their right to revert Barotseland to its original status as a sovereign nation, so that they shall determine their political, cultural, social and economic development. The current developments dictate that we as a people of Barotseland should resolutely rally behind our BNC Resolutions and stand as one people against the unrelenting attacks from the oppressive Zambia regime and their agents outside and within Barotseland. After it became clear that the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has turned its back against the BNC Resolutions and activist groups came together to form the Barotse National Freedom Alliance the primary purpose of being the van guard political agent of the people of implementing the BNC Resolutions and providing political leadership in Barotseland. The BNFA is on the ground forming governance structures required for providing an alternative government in Barotseland. As BNFA we stand ready to work with or support anyone or any organization working towards the actualization of Barotseland statehood. In this regard, we call upon the people of Barotseland to rally behind the political leadership of the BNFA. The Barotse should not be derailed in any way from attaining their objective of realizing a free and independent Barotseland. Our approach in disengaging from the Zambian state is pacific in contrast to the violence being perpetrated by the oppressive Zambia regime. In this context, we welcome and support the move taken by the four Barotse traditionalists, led by Induna Imbwae (Nabiwa Imikendu), to drag the Litunga Lubosi Edwin Imwiko II to the Zambian high court in an attempt to bring back our cultural, traditional and governance systems in their rightful perspective. Our cultural, traditional and governance systems form the basis of our identity and nationhood. We are not surprised to see the Zambia High Court Judge responsible for Mongu hastily took leave before he could preside over the case. That is how injustice against the people of Barotseland is dispensed by the oppressive regime. We call upon the people of Barotseland to stand fast and forge ahead with the next steps. At the same time, we note the quick flip flop reaction by the inept Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to the court summons, tearing up the summons, running to and fro and begging the court to sign the summons, which culminated into begging the oppressive regime for legal representation and continued protection against their own people as well scampering into hiding on false alarm that the Zambian police are coming for them. Yet they have been quick to send Zambia police to arrest their own people when ever meetings are held. In particular, we further note the flip flop actions of the embattled BRE towards upholding the BNC Resolutions by reminding the Zambian government that “Barotseland is a separate and independent country from Zambia and that the municipal Zambian constitution is not effective in Barotseland”. Yet the same BRE cris-crossed Barotseland in the last election campaigning for Edgar Lungu and his PF oppressive regime and the restoration of the dead and buried Barotseland Agreement 1964 in the last elections held in 2016. We further more note that Edwin Lubosi has turned himself into an agent of the oppressive Zambian regime, which is providing him armed protection 24x7 while allowing Zambia to continue meddling in our governance affairs. Yet is the same Edgar Lungu regime, which stripped him of all his powers and authority as Litunga of Barotseland in the new municipal Constitution of Zambia of 2016 from whom Edwin is seeking protection. The BNFA urges the people of Barotseland to come together in unity and remain united for a common purpose of freeing Barotseland from Zambia annexation. The BRE has been inviting people to the Kuta but have been quick to call the brutal Zambia police and other security agents of the oppressive regime against the people when ever they go there. They have been trooping to the police stations in relentless efforts of getting activists and their leaders incarcerated on framed-up charges. We challenge the BRE to stand ready and face the people with grievances about governance in Barotseland. We further challenge them not to call Zambia police against the people of Barotseland, stop Zambia security agents from their continued harassment of activist and to call for immediate release of all Barotse incarcerated in Zambia jails. Further more, we call upon all well-meaning influential individuals, organizations and countries which fight for Justice to stand by Barotseland because the BNFA firmly believes that, this is an issue of JUSTICE. The BNFA is cognizant of the volatility of the current political situation in Barotseland and how it can lead to anarchy; hence we challenge the international community to press upon the Zambian government to respect the human rights of the people of Barotseland to self determination. We saw the flip flop action of the BRE yet again when they withdrew from the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) case. If the Zambian regime is still in doubt about its legality to annex Barotseland they should stop their deception and running away from international arbitration as they did to our case before the ACHPR, they should sign the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) submission process to resolve the dispute concerning Barotseland otherwise they should vacate Barotseland without any further delay. We understand the worst poverty levels in the sub region afflicting the people of Barotseland are by the hands of successive Zambian regimes. We are currently faced with substandard schools, hospitals, roads and other social amenities as a consequence of deliberate neglect by successive Zambian regimes. At the same time, we are aware of the abundant resources God has blessed us with. With these resources, we assure the people of Barotseland, and given our system of good governance, that we shall come out of these worst poverty levels in a very short time.