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Governance Challenges Revealed By Barotse National Council (BNC)
By Maurice Makalu
Putting aside the secession controversies generated by the BNC resolutions, the gathering itself and the position it purports to hold in the governance and representation of the people of Western Province have crystallized two governance challenges that Zambia, as a democracy, faces: parallel leadership structures and tribal integration.
a. Parallel Leadership Structures
The BNC was a gathering of around 2,000 chiefs and indunas or headmen. These considered themselves as representing Western Province ahead of 17 MPs and around 146 ward councilors who were elected by 188,519 people out of 394,660 registered voters there. The chiefs felt so representative that they even asked the elected MPs (and Minister) to resign.
Recently, Chief Nkole of Kapiri Mposhi was reported to have ordered the Kapiri Mposhi District Council not to displace his subjects from their farmlands in his chiefdom, denying ever giving HIS land to the state. The chief warned the Council to stop interfering into land issues in his chiefdom and not to undertake any land development works in the area without his permission. The chief said, “I have never signed anywhere that I have given land to the state so do not displace my people from their farms on this land because those are their permanent farms given to them with permits.”
The question is: Who governs and represents the people, traditional leaders or elected officials?
Obviously the answer is both. Zambia therefore must draw clear boundaries between the two. Nyerere in Tanzania opted to ban chiefs altogether to avoid tribalism, farm land squabbles and such. We have decided to retain them. Let us define their role very clearly and sensitise and contientise them so that they do not overstep their boundaries and start unnecessary frictions with elected leadership. It is anti-democracy to place inherited leadership ahead of elected leadership for by its very nature, inheritance is undemocratic. It perpetuates hegemony and marginalization and knows nothing about equality and human rights for all.
In the modern era, when we speak of “self-determination,” like the BNC is seeking, it does not mean being ruled by a local instead of a foreigner, instead it means being ruled by an elected official. Election, regular popular election, not nationality, defines self-determination (democracy). The Arab Spring is a good example, where rulers ‘for life’ are being shown the exit door. Chief rulership is not self-determination.
So even as we devolve power from the centre to the regions, we must not allow inherited power to interfere with elected power other than through the ballot. It is a recipe for disaster. There is a reason developed democratic countries have confined their chiefs and kings to ceremonial roles only. We too can make our traditional leaders ceremonial leaders; let us have constitutional chieftaincy. Let’s put ‘spanners’ in our governance and development processes all in the name of respecting tradition. Democracy and development are the ‘tradition’ of the future and chiefs must not interfere or be seen to interfere with their traditions of the past.
b. Tribal Integration
The wider Zambian population received calls for secession with trepidation because we have all grown up under One Zambia One Nation, thanks to KK’s one party state and its strong nationalism drive. We have lived and shared together as one people, as brothers and sisters of one family. This however, is slowly being threatened with the emergency of multiparty democracy, where some people see tribalism, a form of hate speech, as part of their freedom of expression and association. Tribalism is raising its ugly head to an extent where some politicians are using it as their strategy in seeking political office.
Furthermore, as the BNC showed, chiefs rule over tribes. Despite assertions that Lozi is the ligua-franca of western province, Nkoyas disassociated themselves from what they perceived as a “Lozi” move. They are now also organizing a Nkoya council. God knows which other tribes will organise theirs as well. Mbundas on the other hand attended and presented a long list of complaints of “Lozi” marginalisation of Mbundas, and appealed for Mbunda chiefs to be recognized as senior chiefs as well.
How do we uphold our One Zambia One Nation as a multiparty democracy? We need deliberate government driven and sponsored tribal integration.
This should go beyond tribal balancing in political appointments where it is really hard to have real balance. Rather it should involve having a “National Population (or Tribal) Integration Policy” whose objective should be to integrate the 73 tribes, by deepening our appreciation of the “Ubuntu” that makes us bantu-speaking peoples; the humanity that makes us human.
Among other things, the policy must encourage and facilitate for chiefs, especially paramount and senior chiefs, to attend traditional ceremonies of other chiefs. Having Paramount Chief Chiti Mukulu as guest of honour at the Kuomboka Ceremony, or chief Mukuni at Ukusefya Pang’wena, would go a very long way in bringing Bembas, Lozis and Tongas together. The policy must prescribe what I can describe as chiefs ‘diplomatic’ relations, where our chiefs can pay each other courtesy calls; the Litunga going on a kingdom visit to Paramount Chief Gawa-Undi just like Presidents go on state visits; with lots of media coverage. On these visits, they should exchange gifts as souvenirs to be displayed in palaces back home so as to be reminded of “my visit to Chief Mukuni of the Tonga people.” This will build a rich tradition of friendship and cultural exchange between tribes, which will cement national unity.
Almost every province now has a community radio station. Let these stations broadcast cultural programmes about Zambian tribes. How about “Imitundu Yesu (Our Tribes)” programme on Radio Ichengelo on the Copperbelt, to discuss cultures of different tribes; or “Your Lozi, Lunda, etc Neighbour” on Radio Lundazi in Eastern Province. These community radio stations can allocate just 30 minutes a week to each of the 7 major tribes, where people of these tribes from within the communities can share their cultures, music, etc and just speak their language on air. After all they are in Zambia; therefore, at home.
Whatever we have to do to integrate and make our One Zambia One Nation more one, let us do it. Let not the Ministry of Traditional Affairs be only about looking after chiefs, their salaries and livelihood, but also bringing our rich tribal diversity closer together. When we sing: “One land and one nation is our cry… All one, strong and free,” we must remember it is an eternal cry, perpetual work in progress.
Posted by Admin
on April 12, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS, Statements.
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Ken
April 12, 2012 at 8:09 am
Tumfweko, Please send this article as letter to the President and all Chiefs. This letter must be read in Parliament when it seats as well. I cannot expect anything better than this.
mundala
April 12, 2012 at 8:41 am
ups to the author-brilliant ideals. Tumfweko send it to the secretary to the house of chiefs.it looks like there is lack of control when it comes to traditional leaders.there is a traditional leader visiting a politician on record almost every month-why can’t they meet as traditional leaders and share ideals-Government must stand out bond and put control on this issue
MULIYA SUSAN
April 12, 2012 at 8:49 am
Malabishi bati,
why secret, te waku Chipata fwe, The Chief who never appreciates good food, aliondelela
Mulongoti
April 12, 2012 at 9:14 am
This article is well researched . let me join others in saying can it be sent to the President , Parliament and house of chief for debate
SANSIKIZO
April 12, 2012 at 9:32 am
EXTREMELY PATRIOTIC ARTICLE.”INTER VISITS BY CHIEFS” CONGRATS TO THE WRITER AND HOPE MANY OTHERS SEE SENSE LIKE WHAT SOME HAVE ALREADY COMMENTED. THIS IS THE STUFF WE EXPECT FROM LEARNED BLOGGERS. WELL SPOKEN. SEND ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER!
kiki
April 12, 2012 at 10:01 am
wat a bad article,i hate the writer just give us our BAROSTELAND PARADISE.LOZIS & MBUNDAS LIVELONG…plus our Tribalcousins our beloved TONGAS.
Nakana
April 12, 2012 at 11:08 am
I must say this is one of the best articles ever posted by Ba Tumfweko, lelo twaumfwako ifyamano. Well written thumbs up. Maybe its time we also abolish those Chiefdom (Thiefdoms)
& lntegrity
April 12, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Its a well researched article which can help build our Tribal relations thereby uniting our nation. Submit it to the Chiefs & Traditional affairs ministry,it can help a lot.
Pelekelo
April 12, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@ KIKI, NO ONE HAS STOPPED YOUR TRIBESMEN FROM GOING WERE EVER. WHY HAVENT THEY RESIGNED UPTO NOW? BNC MEETING THEY ATTENDED RESOLVED THIS A LONG TIME AGO. SO JUST GO COZ NO ONE WILL GIVE ANYTHING APART FROM YOUR LANGUAGE.
JMC
April 12, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Congratulations Mr. Maurice Makalu, you deserve my appreciation for the well articulated document! If all the Chiefs, mainly the Paramount and Senior Chiefs, could be reached by this rich document, I am sure they will benefit a lot and come to realize what is lacking in their knowledge concerning the governing issue of our beloved Zambia. My appeal to you is that you write more in the same domain for our PF Government to disseminate your good ideas through the Parliament and subsequently reach the ordinary (common people) at the grassroot level. Once again thank you and keep it up!
MUNYELO PWETE!
April 12, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Mr Makulu, keep it up! @ Kiki: Who is holding you? I was of the view that this time you have already shared all government potfolios in that dreamland of yours! Anyway, keep dreaming
musashi
April 12, 2012 at 4:58 pm
God bless the write for sharing this with us the LOZI PIPO
Chanda
April 12, 2012 at 7:02 pm
This is so wise,thats what we want taking Zambia forward.This is what we call news and not that crap from those bunch of loosers called Zambia Watchdog.I EVEN WONDER IF THOSE ANIMALS ARE NORMAL INCLUDING THE UNDER 5 HH.Bring more news please ba tumfweko.
Son of Lozi
April 12, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Good article but would you please learn to respect a “king” the lozi are right in claiming the land rightfully theirs! No chief in Zambia equals the Litunga! i love you Zambians! one zambia one nation!
JC
April 12, 2012 at 9:20 pm
This is a progressive article, from a progressive mind. we can not continue to bury our heads in the sand. we must face the challenges of the day head on. Long live Zambia. God bless our lovely country.
COMPLEX
April 13, 2012 at 12:09 pm
This is good., but the only thing u got to knw dat. its too late…what we are jst lookin forward nw is having our barotseland…nd nt more nt less!!