LOZI’s Demand For Barotseland INDEPENDENCE

A WITNESS yesterday Sunday 10/30 wept uncontrollably and was joined by other men and women who failed to hold back their tears during a sesssion of the commission of inquiry into the January 14, 2011 Mongu riots.
This prompted Commission chairperson Rodger Chongwe to call for a break to allow the witness to compose himself.
Muyangana Muyangana a Lozi, 42, of Mulambwa Compound in Mongu could not hide his emotions as he described how he was picked up from his home on January 13, 2011 by Para-military officers from Zambia Police and the events that followed.
Mr Muyangana submitted that about 60 officers went to his house a day before the fracas around midnight and forcefully entered his house while everyone slept.

Muyangana Muyangana, a business executive told the commission led by Roger Chongwe that the people of Western province are resolved to push for self-rule.
He said the officers broke everything in the house including computers and furniture and took him to the former CCC campsite here they locked him up in a container.
“I was taken to Lusaka where I was interrogated from 09:00 hours to 03:00 hours the following day. After my trial, the courts entered a nolle prosequi but we were re-arrested shortly afterwards and taken to Mumbwa Prison where we endured great hardships,” Mr Muyangana said.
He said he left prison on May 5, 2011 when the courts entered a nolle prosequi again.
Mr Muyangana said although he had a lot of property and cattle before his arrest, he now owns nothing.
Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Wila Mung’omba told Mr Muyangana that it is not surprising that he (Muyungana) cried during submissions.
Mr Mung’omba said the purpose of the Commission of Inquiry is to give the people of Mongu a platform to talk about issues they have kept bottled inside them for a long time which led to the January 14 incident.
He said President Sata set up the Commission to get to the root cause of the Mongu riot in January.
“These are not fabricated stories. People are telling us how they feel. Personally, as you spoke Mr Muyangana I feel you expressed yourself and you represented many people. Things you are saying are very sad.
The results of this Commission will depend on the strength of your submissions which we will try to reflect in the final report,” Mr Mung’omba said.
Another Commissioner, Senior Chief Bright Nalubamba said the anger of the Balozi people has been building up over the years, mainly as a result of lack of dialogue with the previous administrations.
He said the current administration is different and that once the report of the Commission is submitted to the President, he is certain that the issue of Barotseland will be resolved.
The Commission will today move to Limulunga.
President Sata’s administration has constantly said that it will take deliberate measures to take development to the Western Province in line with the “general” plan to reduce poverty levels that are higher in rural areas.

Posted by Editor on October 31, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

47 Responses to LOZI’s Demand For Barotseland INDEPENDENCE

Mind You

October 31, 2011 at 8:42 am

Headline does not reflect what transpired during the hearing. A few Lozis may be so bitter about the underdevelopment levels in the province such that they agitate for ‘independence’, but the barotseland agreement is silent on ‘independence’. Majority Lozis do NOT support this as well.The media should not sensationalise this issue as it has potential to bring back the unfortunate incidences of Jan’2011. Govt commitment to development of the area is the cardinal issue for W/P.
bemba

October 31, 2011 at 8:50 am

Batumfweko,is it u demanding 4 independence?I hav not read or heard that submission,mayb tell us more.
Thy kingdom come

October 31, 2011 at 8:58 am

God will punish wrong doers.
Ilukena

October 31, 2011 at 9:06 am

we have suffered and we should just secede. I live in New York about i think these manyukunyuku have killed us.
munyele bwezani banda

October 31, 2011 at 9:12 am

ba tumfweko u are good on analysing things but your titles are misleading…why?
monk

October 31, 2011 at 9:12 am

tumfweko,the headline is misleading and divisive.why?
munyele bwezani banda

October 31, 2011 at 9:13 am

jtfgdf
kennedy

October 31, 2011 at 9:16 am

yes the contents of the article is contrary to the headline and also tumfweko don’t agitate for barotse independence cozy that’s not the issue.Whats there is that these people want a certain percentage to be given to them according to the agreement.so its incumbent for you to publish the barotse agreement for people to understand
bulozinahayaluna/facebook

October 31, 2011 at 9:38 am

Mind you, you are wrong. first the agreement just like any agreement can be withdrwan in case of the other party breaking its terms. thats what the central GRZ has done all these years. secondly, all lozis currently in western province have rejected GRZ rule and want to revert to thgeir status before joing Northern Rhodesia to form zambia in 1964. No one can hold us ransom any more and this is just the beggining. the least GRZ can do to avoid further trouble is to restore the barotseland agreement in its full context and allow the people , not only of current western province, but the other 3 provinces that made barotseland to govern themselves.
musonda

October 31, 2011 at 9:50 am

The issue in the W/P is the under development that our brothers and sisters have suffered for many years, now as the nation takes a new twist, let development be even and let Zambia grow in every province. Ba tumfweko, while we understand you want to capture many to read your stories, let not your headlines mislead us.
Batu Pili

October 31, 2011 at 10:03 am

An agreement is an agreement nd it will never contain issues of disagreement, just like a marriage certificate will not reflect divorce matters. But haven’t we seen many pipo divorcing? In the same manner Barotseland has all the rights to secede if it feels disadvantaged to belong together with Cecil Rhodesians. Remember, Barotseland covers a larger area in Zambia than today’s Western Province.
lееее

October 31, 2011 at 10:11 am

you are right.
Batu Pili

October 31, 2011 at 10:14 am

Bo Tumfweko, The Commission was set to specificaly look at issues relating to Jan 14 riots…what transpired, who was responsible, who authorised the use of live ammo, was it neccessary to arrest, to kill, why, what, etc…nothing much, nothing less.The abbrogation of the BA 1964 is another complex issue that may call for another Commision of enq.
BS

October 31, 2011 at 10:20 am

ILUKENA I ASSUME YOU ARE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO ANALISE ISSUES OBJECTIVELY. IS IT ONLY WESTERN PROVINCE THAT HAS SUFFERED? WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED BUT SHOULD WE ALL SECEDE?
BS

October 31, 2011 at 10:25 am

MR ILUKENA I ASSUME YOU ARE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO ANALISE ISSUES OBJECTIVELY. IS IT ONLY WESTERN PROVINCE THAT HAS SUFFERED? WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED BUT SHOULD WE ALL SECEDE?
CorrectedZ

October 31, 2011 at 10:40 am

True, the headline is very misleading and divisive!You can do better batumfweko.
Anani Koffi

October 31, 2011 at 10:47 am

hehehehe!U will nerver see it till I become president.
Anani Koffi

October 31, 2011 at 10:48 am

Please allw them to go.
Chibbs

October 31, 2011 at 10:49 am

BS good observations but you seem not to understand the point of Ilukena. Barotseland was never colonied but a British protectorate. Now for the independence of NR, an agreement was coined. There is no part of Zambia with such an agreement. On what basis can they advocate for independence?
Anani Koffi

October 31, 2011 at 10:50 am

What need to do is make Zambia A monarch and then chief can start screwing our women.
As for Linyungandamo please give them their place. And not lozi must remain in Northen Rhodesia.
Chibbs

October 31, 2011 at 10:52 am

BS good observations but you seem not to understand the point of Ilukena. Barotseland was never colonied but a British protectorate. Now for the independence of NR, an agreement was coined. There is no part of Zambia with such an agreement. On what basis can they advocate for their independence?
MONK SQ GRADUATE (RUIN POLICE)

October 31, 2011 at 10:53 am

Ba Tumfweko you started so well but now you want to start behaving like ZW Galus! Do not sensationalize headlines, your is just to report and leave the rest to us the analysts.
Mzansi josi

October 31, 2011 at 12:48 pm

Ba tumfweko seems to b biased towards lozi’s.
zimandola

October 31, 2011 at 12:51 pm

give them their patch of sand nothing less nothing more.
engage all the chiefs in the alleged Barotse area and see if they are ready to go with the crap.
snr citizen

October 31, 2011 at 12:52 pm

The way I see the Barotseland issue and what happened on 14/01/11 RB can say something on this one, cos there is no way the police could have used live ammunition on people who were not armed without getting instructions from the head of state. Coming to the agreement between Zambia and Barotseland KK is still alive he knows what he agreed with the Barotseland people he can be asked to come and sort out this whole issue. Now for independence this issue is confusing a lot of us I am sure the people who are asking for independence should come in open what they want to be free from cos the majority of us Lozis, what we want is equal development and equal opportunities what ever development is happening in other provinces it should also happen in Western province. Those who want Barotseland to be cut from Zambia have their own ideas as for me I am opposed to this idea, and I would like to wait and see what the new gvt can do for Western province in terms of development.
Govt of Monkeys in a Maize Field

October 31, 2011 at 1:30 pm

I hope Chongwe now understands the basis of the violence on 14/01/11. Its about self rule Mr Chongwe, you boss is likely to send the police again on a similar mission soon. The way his topcop, malama is behaving so far, i can predict more casualties in the next round…..
JUSTINE

October 31, 2011 at 1:37 pm

are u reporting what transpired then put your own headline?
Matuvi

October 31, 2011 at 1:48 pm

Wy cryng kanshi?Cnt sum1 eduket me on watz hapng wth da lozi pipo.
Shimucihtapanono

October 31, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Bane wats hapng?
Nakokolapo

October 31, 2011 at 1:53 pm

Indpndnce!Indpndnc!Mikushinga mufwaya ukulubuka kanshi?
believe7

October 31, 2011 at 2:30 pm

The headline is misleadig learn to report proffessionaly not incitefully
I love you all

October 31, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Tumfweko, I think the message is loud and clear. The centre of the problems in Bartseland is about underdevelopment, kufelile, kwasila, chapwa!!!!

Let the present Govt attend to that and all will settle down. And mind you, yes, there are those that over react over this matter but I bet and speaking for myself and my children whose mother is Nsenga/Lala……..majority lozis are against secession.
hamsonde

October 31, 2011 at 3:01 pm

COME ON ZEDIANS, STOP ASSUMING THAT ILUKENA IS EDUCATTED HE IS NOT. HE IS JUST A DULL POPA LIVING ABROAD WITH THE SLIMERS OR SURVIVING ON PIECE WOKRS. FIRST OF ALL THE MORON IS A COWARD WHO HAS NOT EVEN TAKEN TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BA 1964 WAS ALL ABOUT. FOR YOUR INFOR YOUR CRAKE HEAD, IF WEST WANTS GO AHEAD. BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING WITH THE THINGS YOU STOP FROM US TONGAS, LAMBAS, SOLIS, KAONDES JUST TO ENLIGTEN YOU. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT ILUKENA KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE MAP OF OUR GREAT NATION SUCH THAT HE CAN’T EVEN POINT TO HIS AAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
A Man From Mindolo, Kitwe

October 31, 2011 at 3:17 pm

Does this land also include a small piece of land my mother got as retirement package from ZCCM in 1992 near Chimwemwe in Kitwe?
Abene ba Kasensa

October 31, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Lozi’s should not even cheat themselves that they should secede from Zambia, because Western Province is not only for Lozi, there are other tribes, mbundas and all, and they should cheat themselves that BA may include Copperbelt, Lambaland is ours, HANDS OFF
Framuka

October 31, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Independence is nightmare. I for one who was born and brought on the copperbelt which is part of Barotseland cannot accept to be part of seccesion. This means that all those that are adocating for independence should clearly come out in open and provide their map in their question. Otherwise, there is need to negotiate with our chiefs who were not consulted at that time. So far what I understand is that Western Province is the one that needs development though some people are hiding in the name of Barotse Agreement which is very confusing.
Though we can condemn tumfweko’s way of heading, the truth of the matter is that there are mixed feelings within Lozis over Barotseland Agreement which calls for immediate address by the Litunga and the Repulican President Sata.
bemba

October 31, 2011 at 3:54 pm

Likena n o those calling 4 indipendence,BRA was very powerful in the 1900 during da scrumble 4 africa n during independence in the 1960s u did nothing,those r oppotunities u missed,what ur doing now is like a woman wanting to get married at the age of 90 which is next to impossible,we r one zamabia,we all had bad leaders,there is no development in almost all parts of zambia,ur leaders from the establisment r very inteligent,I recoment them for their stance,if ur not careful u will get old n die still dreaming of indepence,work up.ur in USA but ur place ur coming from is very tribal. it does not believe in global village.u can’t find pipo from all section of society in w/province,only lozis and u expect development.that america ur in is a land of all races that’s y u c development but u don’t imblance everyone if w/p think BIG my brother.long live zambia.
BS

October 31, 2011 at 4:31 pm

Thanks Chibbs for highlighting that fact but what were these people promised? What made them go for joint independence with the rest of Zambia if they had a chance to liberate themselves? Lesotho and Swaziland were not included in The South African Union of 1910 but they still got their independence. So they cant blame anybody for their ‘suffering’.
Amuna Onzuna

October 31, 2011 at 4:52 pm

So, the Lozis want to be a monarch like Swaziland which borrows aid from South Africa?. Please tell that litunga guy to open up to his people like Ikosi ya Makosi does, thats why Litunga is living in the past. How is he going to develop that sandy terrain, and moreover the people of Kaoma will definately refuse to be ruled by the greedy idiots.
bomb

October 31, 2011 at 5:02 pm

! Ba Tumfweko BA is a very sensitive issue right now, it should not be alarming the nation or you will be blamed if Zambia goes in fire, you know very well what sent Rwanda into problems is that kind of reporting “alarming headlines”
AKRRAL

October 31, 2011 at 9:01 pm

PLEASE WHAT WE ZAMBIAN WANT IS TO READ BAROTSE-AGREEMENT,WHAT IS THE CONTENTS.PUBLISH THIS AGREEMENT IN ONE OF NEWS-PAPERS,SO THAT WE STOP SPECULATION.
Mutabaruka

October 31, 2011 at 9:14 pm

You pleased with yourself for freeing yourself After seeing ‘yourself in a world by yourself Not knowing’ yourself To question yourself About yourself That enslaved You.
induna

October 31, 2011 at 9:36 pm

SPIRIT of the River Zambia has found diamonds and discovered more than three kimberlite pipes in Zambia’s Western Province has found diamonds in Western Province, Spirit of the River Zambia Limited, a company prospecting for diamonds in the Zambezi River and Barotse Plains has announced.
Spirit of the River’s geophysicist and gemologist/mining managers Dr Wezi Chekwe and Inyambo Muhau respectively told the Post during a conducted tour of their operations at Namande Mine Site along the Zambezi River that their initial activities concerning alluvial mining on the riverbed as approved by the Ministry of Mines have born fruits.
“We have found diamonds. Now we are striving to localise the exact places for viable commercial production,” said Muhau.
Muhau said the company first picked a commercial diamond weighing one carat on November 29, 2006 within a month of serious operation.
“29th November is when we found a diamond. The first diamond found at Namande site at 14:20 hours by our boss (Dave Schaffer). This has been specially certified… and one carat of pure clarity diamond cost about 3000 dollars,” he explained.
According to a certificate from the Gemmological Unit Laboratory of the Geological Survey Department dated December 15, 2006, the calourless sample was identified as a natural commercial diamond.
Muhau further explained that through their prospecting using satellite imagery system they found kimberlite pipes, the mother rock where diamonds crystalise near Kalabo.
He said the sited areas had greater probability of having large commercial state diamonds.
He said the find in the area was basically the continuation of what was in Angola’s Moxico Province.
“There is a gradient… Angola is like somewhere here and we are getting lower, so the diamonds should have flowed more and more to the confluence of Luanginga and Zambezi rivers. That’s why we said let’s go down stream first then upstream because upstream that’s where larger quantities should be expected,” he explained.
And Dr Chekwe said they also found micro diamonds during prospecting process.
He said a few days after their first find, three more pieces of diamonds were picked at Namande site and that on December 7, 2006, they picked another, which weighed 2. 3 carats.
“For us this (Namande) is on the outskirts, the real vicinity is in Kalabo, that’s where the kimberlite pipes are. I must tell you this, In Angola so vast as that country is the producing kimberlite pipes which they have not even started mining are only three. In South Africa, there are only two including that famous Kimberley site which mined for 100 years. Definitely we have found more than three,” he said. “The figures I don’t think we are allowed to say that but we have found more than three kimberlite sites in Western Province. Without any level of doubt we know that there are diamonds in this place and that is why we are working into the viability of the project and the business management and the President of our company is organising other investors so that more activities can be done.”
He said with actual diamonds being found, there was huge opportunity to employ more women to sort the precious stone.
He said they have not started marketing yet but concentrating on production.
“Our job now is to increase production. There is continuous flow of equipment now. As of now we are saying production is stepping up, injection of new equipment is stepping up,” he said.
Dr Chekwe also said they have located another suspected kimberlite pipe nearer to Namande which they were investigating.
“For now we will say suspected kimberlite pipes because no one will tell you in a yes or no situation that this is. That is why we are careful not to say there is plenty of diamonds because you excite people. An investor injects 10 million dollars on your statement and finds nothing, you are a fraud,” he said.
“This is not a joke. It’s not fortune hunting. A lot of money has been spent in the operations. To set up just this camp which is not mining yet but just to keep you, food supplies, diesel to run the generators for power costs money and you don’t come to waste your money just like that based on rumour. No no.”
Dr Chekwe said they paid close to K1 billion for mining licence.
He said their find was significant because it gave them confidence that there was diamonds in the area.
“It gives confidence that we are doing the right thing but they are still so small that we can’t go to the world market and say this is the Zambian diamond. That doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Dr Chekwe ruled out the question of probability in their operation.
“It’s not a game of chance. There are two theories here. The real diamond we found it. The rock that bears diamonds is also here at several locations. This is just the first one we want to exhaust. How much diamond we gonna find we will tell after mining a few months and checking the quantities and which ones are diamonds of what grade,” he said.
AKRRAL

October 31, 2011 at 9:51 pm

WHICH PROVINCE IS MORE DEVELOPED IN ZAMBIA?IHAVE MOVED THROUGH OUT ZAMBIA AND I HAVE SEEN NO DEVELOPMENT.GO TO SOUTHERN,ONLY ALONG THE RAIL,SEE MAKUNKA AND CROSS NGWEZI RIVER,GWEMBE AND CHIEF SHAZONGWE YOU CAN CRY.GO TO NORTHERN-ONLY KASAMA WITH SHANTIES –SEE MUYOMBE,CHAMA,CHINAKILA,KOPA,YENDWE,MPOROKOSO,KAPUTA,ALL THESE ARE VILLAGES ( HERE VGE REGROUPING WORKED )
LUAPULA IS FULL OF VILLAGES NO TARGEABLE DEVELOPMENT.
CENTRAL–IS ONLY KABWE AND KAPIRI,SEE MBOLOMA

N/WESTERN PROV–IT IS ONLY SOLWEZI,THE REST ARE UNDER,AND NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT MUFUMBWE IS A VILLAGE
EASTERN–CHIPATA KASAKO BECAUSE OF ZAMBIAN OF INDIAN ORIGNAL SEE-CHADIZA,CHIFUNDA AND KAZEMBE AREA YOU CAN CRY,PEOPLE HAS NEVER SEEN A CAR SINCE THE CREATION.
WESTERN–MONGU KASAKO,SEE SHANGOMBO,KALABO SESHEKE,LUKULU,KAOMA IS COMING UP
THE QUESTION, I WILL ASK YOU TUMFWEKO–

IS, WHO WILL DEVELOP THESE AREAS?
ITHOUGHT THOSE PEOPLE FROM THE SAME AREAS

BUT I WONDER TO SEE THAT THE PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THE AREAS,THEY ARE BUSY BUILDING THE HOUSES IN CHALALA,NEW KASAMA AND CHILANGA AND THEY ARE SAME PEOPLE MISLEADING/TELLING THEM THAT SOME PROVINCE ARE MORE DEVELOPED THAN OTHERS.THEY WILL AGREE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE PROV

IN SHORT THERE NO PROVINCE WHICH IS MORE DEVELOPED THAN OTHER.
MOVE AND JUDGE
Origin Zambiano

October 31, 2011 at 10:23 pm

The Lozi people will once again be disappointed to their quest over BRA. The reason is simple.1- BRA is of non effect to Zambia as things stand to day. In other words its irrelevant to even mention it to cerrent Lozis. 2- All governments use the Western province issue for politiking to woo votes and appease Lozis. 3- Any political leader or govt. can not change a portion of the land of Zambia or alter it from its current bounderies. For these reasons most Lozis with high expectations will be disappointed and learn to live with it.
Child of the Sky

November 1, 2011 at 3:37 am

Certainly. Elected short memories. Development or lack of it is just the icing, the real dough is bubbling and breaking at the seams. Issue is betrayal, ridicule, outright hatred and, I must say, fixing of a people. I’m sure when we get to read KK’s memoirs, we will have an icing of his motivation. If we are lack, he will give us the real thing for his motivation in targetted legislation that abrogated the BA64.
Muzezwa

November 1, 2011 at 9:17 am

Its true lozis want to suced,but that is offcourse only a few individuals who are advocating for this, i for one am lozi but this is some kind of serious stupidy of its kind,i would like to challenge my fellows that we have a role to play in the under development in the province, lets face the fact, even with the barotseland standing on its on, we will be poor like a church mouse. we are poor because of the following:

Our own leadership(BRE)is extremely corrupt and are serving their own personal interest which makes them being biased towards where their bread and butter come from
Lets move around most of the residential areas in Lusaka you have lozi in good jobs, businesses, and doing very fine but during kuomboka offcourse thats our pride but we get to our villages only to be greated in mashasha(grass thatched) homes which is not the case with other provinces, this to me already shows that we are pessimistic about our own province and we want to throw the blame on the central government, lets work hard and develop our own province no one will ever come and do that for us, and will continue crying over spilt milk which is crap.its like you are waiting for someone to come and educate your own children while you sit aloof waiting for a time to always be putting the blame.

Lets put our minds together and see how best we can develop our land.lets be realistic malozi and wake up!!!!