LITUNGA SPEAKS OUT: BAROTSELAND REJECTS POLITICAL VIOLENCE!
By Elias Kamanga
The Litunga, through the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) and Ngambela Mukela Manyando, has delivered a strong condemnation of the violence that accompanied the NRPUP Presidential Candidate Brian Mundubile’s campaign in Western Province.
The BRE has made it clear that the chaos witnessed in Mongu, Kalabo and other districts, including the disruption of a duly sanctioned political rally, the firing of teargas into crowds by the Zambia Police, and the pursuit of Presidential Candidate Brian Mundubile, is completely alien to the values of Barotseland.
Barotseland has always stood for peace, unity, tolerance, hospitality and respect for every Zambian, regardless of political affiliation. Those who choose violence, intimidation and the abuse of State power to silence political opponents betray these cherished values and bring shame upon our nation.
No citizen should be attacked for exercising their constitutional right to assemble, campaign or support a political party of their choice. Democracy cannot flourish where fear and violence are allowed to replace dialogue and tolerance.
The message from the Litunga is clear: Barotseland must never become a theatre of political violence.
The peace and dignity of the people of Western Province must be protected, and all political actors and State institutions must uphold the rule of law, political tolerance and the constitutional rights of every Zambian.
May God bless the Litunga and the great people of Western Province. This is what true leadership entails. This message should have come from the President himself but instead he has chosen to remain silent and refused to condemn the political violence because he thinks intimidation against the opposition will win him favour but little does he know that he is de campaigning himself by showing lack of leadership when the nation of Zambia need him most. The message from the Litunga is very clear and it speaks directly to HH. If he has ears let him hear what the King has said.
This article is flawed. The author is a member of a political party and therefore can not be objective nor balanced in his outlook or reporting.
Secondly, inspite of the little that I know of the Lozi royal protocol and ettiqutte. From the articles read the I get the impression that the Litunga does not make public statements directly but through the Prime Minister.
We read early this week that when Brian Mundubile and his running mate arrived in the western Province they broke protocol and began their “Usual” at the cuff attitude with a Road Show. Then sought audience with the Litunga. They were chasten in the most stern terms and reminded of the decorum and protocol that the Lozis adhere to and believe.
While who exactly are the violent “UPND cadres” its yet to be known. But what is also noteworthy is the fact that an Opposition cadre was caught on video in opposition regalia changing into UPND regalia.
How wide spread is this? Aside from the Mazabuka saga where it was VERY VERY evident who assulted Gray Nkombo and why that man has not been charged nor arrested buffles most Zambians(from the outrage shown on social media).
The crimes dont take a “Rocket scientists” to investigate. And ineptitude of that branch of law enforcement that allows this level of criminality to prevade our society shows how the political system that existed pre 2021 eroded the way we see things and allow things to happen. Haiti didnt become what it is over night. Do we want this nation to be ruled by “wanna be” thugs? Why is indicipline so rift? We as Zambians have to decide the kind of nation we want. Yes we want our freedoms. But freedom is never absolute. Even the clergy need to stop and think about their role. They are not politicians. They are not devoid of sin. They are just as human and fallible as all of us. And stop quoting scripture to give themselves a pedistle.
We can dress up in a talior made “Savell row” suit but at the core of us, is what lies in our hearts.
Ngwena ni ngwena….as we have heard them sing….
@Mulenga , violence is violence ; whether it is coming from the ruling party or the opposition it is still violence and should not be condoned. What we are saying is “Where is the leadership to provide guidance on what is happening in the campaigns concerning violence . Violence must be condemned in whatever form it shows its ugly face. The key question is “Why is the president silent on the attacks on the opposition ? Do you think if those attacks were on him he would remain silent ? Absolutely no, he would show leadership by firstly condemning it and secondly provide specific instructions to the law enforcement agencies on how to deal with violence. This is what he did in Chingola when he was stoned. A number of people were arrested. What is happening to violence against Brian Mundubile and his followers ? Are they not Zambians deserving protection from the President ? Why are the people who assaulted General Kanene and the rest not been arrested ? This is the greatest hypocrisy of the highest order we are witnessing today. And stop referring to pre 2021 because you promised Zambians that you will govern Zambia differently. Referring to pre 2021 is basically telling Zambians that if PF did it , we can also do it but remember these are the things which made the Zambian people to vote PF out. While it took the Zambian people 10 years to kick out PF , it may take them only 5 years to kick UPND out looking at the way things are going currently because Zambians are sick and tired of fake promises, divisions in the country , no freedom to speak or the cyberlaw is knocking on your door. We were promised cheaper mealie meal we never saw it, we were promised cheaper fertilizer we never saw it , we were promised cheaper fuel we never saw it , we were promised that there will be no loadshedding yet we saw the worst in the history of our great country Zambia, we were promised that there will be no borrowing in the UPND government , yet today it’s only them who know how much they have borrowed and for what. The Zambian people are drowning in the unbearable high cost of living and yet a few are living far beyond their means because these are people we are with , we drunk with them and boarded mini buses together. Today they are untouchably rich. When we ask about the high cost of living today , we are told the UPND government inherited empty coffers. A simple question to our president is “On what basis was he making those promises of cheaper mealie meal, cheaper fertilizer, cheaper fuel , and loadshedding ? Zambians are drowning and they can’t hold it another 5 years. Zambians need solutions whose benefits will trickle down to the villager trying to put Nshima on the table. I humbly submit
@Nondo
Seems you are out of touch with reality. Learn to read before you critique..
Has the President not condemned the killing and acts of violence or you have your head so deep in the sand you are now deaf?
Do you expect him to investigate these acts? Or again are so deaf that you have not heard the right advice that right thinking Zambians have made?
The naivity you show dwmonstrates that you really dont understand how governments work.
We have ministries for a reason. The Home Affairs PS gave a statement of the issue. The inaction or collusion culture that happens in our Ministries starts from your era and prior. Where Party appointees and the kids or relatives are appointed not out of merit but who they are related to. Efforts have been made to counsel and chastin public officers. Dismissal sometimes instills fear and not reform.
What shocks me is how this discussion moves from the ineptitude of law enforcement. Their failure to properly investigate to HH. The IG is the head of Police. From Traffic to CID, they fail us. They look the otherway instead of doing their job professionally. The evidence is so bluntant. Videos exist. Pictures of perpetrators are there. What you want HH to take the rod and act when there are officers who are paid to act? “You are on your own” is the statement he made to criminals who expect him to protect them. Thursday morning news we heard him condemn the violence. Not just him but the VP and various PSs have repeated the statements.
Last time we saw Nyasulu being hurled into a Police vehicle when he intimidated the police. You the same people condemned the Police and ACC for acting on a tip off from one of you. A Mr. Kambwili. Where is that man right now? Among you. What do you expect the public to think? You have no idea what perception that creates? The President is not CID. We need institutions that you eroded to begin to work. And you should NOT undermine those same institutions by compromising the officers to leak information and spread innuendo.
You forget you role in all this and want to behave like victims yet we see you.
So please be objective in your outlook. Take time to read up the era when such unfound statements that you suggest were frowned on. In ldiscipline is rife in our society and you outbursts explify just that. You can not argue your way out of a problem. Start with you. Ask if what you say solves the problem or just masks those cadres that appear in those videos changing from your party regaila to UPND need to be outed. Tell us who they are just in the same manner that I am able to state. The man that assulted Gray when he went to file his nomination should be imprison. Those shielding him dont help. Reconciliation in such a situation doesnt help perception. The spirit of the law should seem to be applied. There examples of people in the same Mazabuka area that are now serving time, for assulting a Party member. So selective prosecution comments are just lame. The action should be consistently applied and seen to be applied. Journalists report the facts. And I say Journalist as we now see your kind acting one moment as party dignatories and next as journalists. We want factual objective and critical thought out issues. Not this cry baby antics that you want to pull when we know its your own that you also need to deal with before you suggest the crime is next door. HH has stated for the record. He condemns political violence. Has Mundubile or Makebi chastised those around him? Or only suggested that its other political parties that perpetuate the act?