Barotseland national question

 

by BNFA Publicity Wing

  The answer to Barotseland national question is that it has been a state with a single national center for over 500 years until May 18, 1964 when it was lured into an international treaty that led to its colonization by a new state of Zambia. Barotseland is comprised of parts of Zambia’s central and southern provinces and the entire western province. The specific characteristics of this nation are:  
  1. Barotseland has distinct boundaries, coat of arms, flag, national anthem and national language (Lozi).
  2. An estimated population of 4 million.
  3. The oppression of the Barotse is throughout the entire territory where the oppressor and his agents cause extensive damage to the territory’s natural resources such as forests, land grabbing, uses its state machinery to silence the oppressed and deprive them job opportunities.
  4. The Barotse have relatives and friends across its border like Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola who enjoy their human rights while they are denied their human rights by the oppressive regime of Zambia.
  5. The development of Barotse culture and language is suppressed by the oppressive Zambia regime with the aim of destroying the history and national identity of the 38 tribes comprised in Barotseland.
  6. Barotseland national language Lozi (Silozi) is also spoken and broadcast on radio stations in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Silozi is an examinable subject at Cambridge “O” level of the United Kingdom. All the facts are painful to the oppressive Zambia regime.
  7. Barotseland has age old democratic system of governance.
  8. Barotseland is the only country in southern Africa which fought against slavery thereby opposed to the sale human beings, which dates back to the reign of King Mulambwa (1780-1830).
  All these characteristics have been there before Zambia was born. Following the unrepairable failure of the unitary state of Zambia, we call on the Barotse to stand-up and rally behind the BNFA, which has been established for the sole purpose of actualizing Barotseland statehood thereby secure the freedom and independence of its people permanently. This is our inalienable human right to self-determination and nobody has the right to stop us. Barotseland is a nation that shall be led by a democratically elected Prime Minister as head of government with the Litunga as head of state without inference in political matters as clearly laid out in the BNFA Manifesto and proposed constitution. The BNFA Manifesto also spells out its national policies and development agenda. Let us be courageous and work together to regain our statehood.