POSITION STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT ISSUE OF CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA AMENDMENT BILL NO 10 OF 2019

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of BNFA and indeed on my own behalf, I want to say BNFA totally rejects the Zambia constitution. The Zambia constitution has no effect in Barotseland, let alone the articles in the new bill namely: articles 149; 165 and article 4(3). These articles shall also have no effect in Barotseland when enacted into law. Needless to say, these articles were also rejected by BRE.

1. The Zambia government voluntarily terminated what bound Barotseland and Zambia in 1969 (that is, BA 1964).
2. The people of Barotseland reluctantly accepted the termination of the union after 48years of requesting Zambia to reconsider its termination of the unity treaty. Zambia arrogantly refused to listen, hence the Barotse declared their self-determination and self-rule on 27^th March 2012.
3. Today the continued occupation of Barotseland by the government of Zambia is a violation of the territorial integrity of Barotseland. It is a violation of our Political Right, Economic Right, Social Right and Cultural Right.
4. Barotseland and Zambia is a failed marriage.
5. Zambian authorities and well-meaning Zambians should know that learned men in courts of law would never order estranged spouses to continue in a broken marriage.
6. We ALL need to come to terms with these realities and allow for a peaceful separation of the two states.

I thank you.

Signed

MAYBINE SIKWA MUBITA