WHY IS HICHILEMA FINDING THE NAME BAROTSELAND OFFENSIVE?
Yes, Mr Hakainde Hichilema is right: there is only one unitary state, one country called Zambia.
But within Zambia, there are many regions that came together to form this one Zambia, one nation. And by coming together, these regions of our country did not completely give up their identity and their history. Our people were not always Zambians. They became Zambians in 1964.
It can not be denied that there is a region of our country called Barotseland. In the same way, in the United Kingdom, there are regions called Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland occupied by the Scots, Welsh, English, and Irish people respectively and to large extent governed by them.
The change of the name Barotseland to Western Province was effected in 1968, without consultation with the people of Barotseland. It was a unilateral executive decision. There is no person who can name another person’s child without consent or consultation with that person.
There is no person who is genuinely offended in this country or harmed by the people of Western Province calling their region Barotseland. In fact, it was interesting to note that when the Litunga went to attend Ukusefya pa ng’wena traditional ceremony in Northern Province, a Bemba region, all who spoke at that ceremony referred to him as the Litunga, the King of Barotseland.
The Bembas present at that ceremony, including Mwinelubemba, the Chitimukulu himself, seemed comfortable and not offended by the name Barotseland. Why should Mr Hichilema be troubled by the name Barotseland? Why is he finding the name offensive to him? What is his problem with the name Barotseland?
As a party, we think we have made enough consultations over the name Barotseland, with people from this region. All the people we have consulted want to revert back to the name Barotseland. On day or two of the Socialist Party government, a statutory instrument will be signed to restore the name Barotseland.
The Socialist Party will localise governance to give all the regions of our country far more beyond what is in those eight pages of the Barotse Agreement of 1964.
We would like to caution that the issue of Barotseland will not be put to rest by arrogance, intimidation, or threats because it’s anchored on legitimate grievances.
Today, Barotseland, or rather Western Province, as they are happy to call it, is the second poorest region of our country, enduring poverty levels of 78.6 per cent. It is only surpassed by Muchinga Province, which is leading the country in poverty, with poverty levels of 82.6 per cent.
In the third position is Northern Province, with 78 per cent poverty. In the fourth position, it’s Luapula Province with 77.3 per cent. And in the fifth position is Eastern Province, with poverty levels of 76.4 per cent.
It is very clear that this system of governance that we have been pursuing since 1968 has brought nothing but shame on the people of Barotseland. These very high levels of poverty bring nothing but shame and disgrace to a people and their legitimate or authentic leaders.
There is no doubt that the authentic leaders of the people of Barotseland are the Litunga, his Ngambela, and the entire Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE). But as things stand today, these authentic leaders of the people of Barotseland are helpless. They have no power to take their people out of poverty, out of disgrace, out of this shameful existence of being among the poorest people in Zambia.
We have no doubt that until the authentic leaders of the people of Barotseland take the lead and allow their people to govern themselves in a meaningful way, this shameful existence of poverty, despair, and loss of self-esteem will not end.
And if it will not end, the people of Barotseland will resist it. They will struggle for a more fair, more just, and more humane dispensation.
For the people of Barotseland and all the people of Zambia, there is no sensible alternative to localising governance and to the politicians sharing power with their traditional and religious leaders in an equitable and acceptable manner. The politicians in Lusaka alone have failed our people for 59 years and can not be left to run this country alone.
If we fail to give our people such a dispensation, the displeasure we are hearing from Barotseland will spread to all the parts of our country tomorrow. Today, it’s the people of Barotseland. Tomorrow, it will be the people of Lubemba. The next day, it will be the people of Kumawa, and so on and so forth.
We advise Mr Hichilema to mull over things and consider the grievances coming out of Barotseland in a more calmer, rational, and mature manner. Threats and intimidation won’t do!
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
The problem is people think opposition means you oppose anything someone says. I don’t agree with our president on many issues but it’s clear his the only president that has come outright and put the record straight on barotesland issue. Everyone knows when he said there is no barotesland he didn’t mean the region but meant the country that our friends want to fight for wont exist and doesn’t exit because there is only Zambia. In your checks and balances sir this isn’t one of the things that you need to oppose but applaud. Every president avoids coming out directly on this issue but it’s been put to bed.
Very correct Zambian by blood, our President was actually on point when he talked about this issue of barotesland, uulinamatwi omfwe kkkkkkkkkkk
People of Barosteland have categorically stated tht they don’t want to be part of Zambia. They have told all Presidents that have ruled Zambia, that they dnt want to be part of Zambia. Some people thought that since Zambia was now being governed by HH their tribal Cousin, the Barotse people would shift their position but to their astonishment they have been Consistent on the issue.
Western province is a like swing state, its not a strong hold for any party, R.B after killing the potesters ended up losing to Sata coz the people their voted for PF.
The Baroste people are not loyal to a person but a cause and if HH does not handle this matter smartly he will be diminishing his votes and falling into a snare of his political openents.
The Barotse people have spoken through various Commissions, it’s like your wife tells you she wants divorce and you decline when your find her in bed with another man who is to blame? The point is a solution must be found and not dismissing or denying the existence of a problem.
Ba Mwila, they told Zambian Presidents that but was it the Zambian Presidents that created Zambia? Who drew the maps of Africa?
Why didnt they cry foul to the British whom they signed the agreement with at the time?
Those jackets and imperialist hat that the Litunga seems to think he looked “dapper” is proof that he signed and consented. The whites say there is “no free lunch”.
Litunga sold his soul and land when he signed that agreement. All those Winas, Lewanika and anyone who we saw get “scholarships” just after independence or pre-independence. Why them? Ask yourself? It was payment in kind for the agreement. Now after those who had the capacity to sign over land did wrong you want to blame Zambian Presidents?
Trying signing a bad deal and then cry foul. See how the courts will deal with you. A fool and his wealth are soon parted with it. This nonsense that Mmembe is suggesting is just political mileage. He has failed to respond to Mark’s response to yesterday’s article. He failed to pay PAYE to ZRA after deducting the money from POST employees, he pulled a fast one on his ba Pongozi (Mazoka) so he could be majority shareholder. Where is the Post today?
Mmembe is just defecting issues when challenge. Ni ba kapatula fyee ba Mmembe. ACCA ina kanga, manje bati uze va boza na socialism. He has no interest in the well being of the people in the Western Province.
@Mwila you are very right. The people of Barotseland have endured so much pain and humiliation over the abrogation of this BA64 issue and will always remain loyal to their cause. HH7 has made his position loud and clear and it remains to be seen how the BAROTSE will respond. The BAROTSE never hated RB, or ECL in denying them votes. They vote for their cause and this they have been consistent. Let’s wait and see how this will play out politically in 2026. If ECL with a LOZI princess in BO INONGE failed to secure votes in 2021, Will HH perform any different?
Given an opportunity to rule Zambia as a President, how would you attend to this Baroseland issue sir? Kindly give me an honest answer sir. In your write you seem to have fear in opening up the way forward.
M’membe is saying if at all the Socialist Party were to be in power, he will give back Barotseland to Linyungandambo and company. But not everyone will like that — especially Luvales, Mbundas, Saamas, Nyengos, Chokwes and Nkoyas and many of the very Lozis in Kaoma, Lukulu, Senanga, Sesheke, Mongu, Kalabo and Shangombo.
But we all know this is just a campaign strategy that some parties have been using to woo some support from the province. And the Barotse Establishment is an old bird that cannot be cheated with chaff such as M’membe’s.
Dr M’membe you are completely wrong on this issue. We need to appreciate the spirit of unity. Actually you have contradicted yourself, if barotseland is allowed to go ahead what will stop other regions to declare autonomy. But if such motives is stopped zambia will continue as one country. No other region will think of breaking away.
Other biggest problem is area of coverage just like what Hon.Shakafuswa asked, the area of coverage for barotseland what will happen to those Chiefdoms are they going to give in to King Litunga? Dr. M’membe think before you politicise this issue. The President is 100% correct.
So suddenly Afuledi matako is craftly talking regional governance or is federal government like the UPND MP from Northwestern province???
The president is referring to a country called Barotseland. There was and still is a principal that no region of Zambia shall be known by a tribal name.
If Indeed the Western province can be called Barotse province, then we should not bother with Kaoma being called Mankoya or Zambezi being called Balovale.
Barotse basically refers to the Lozi, yet western province is habited by other tribes as well. Why should the Mbunda, Nkoya and Luvale have their identity erased and forced to adopt a Lozi identity?
Most people don’t even know that there are parts of Western province which used to be part of Balovale district and those areas were only ceded to Barosteland by the British government in 1941. The people in those regions were never consulted neither did they agree to have their regions made part of Barosteland.
The president is correct, there is no province or country called Barotseland. No tribe is superior to others and all should be free
Under the 2016 constitution, all tribes are free to practice their cultures and traditions. This should also be true for all tribes in Western province.
The president is referring to the fact that there is no country or province called Barotseland. There was and still is a principal that no region of Zambia shall be known by a tribal name.
If Indeed Western province can be called Barotse province, then we should not bother with Kaoma being called Mankoya or Zambezi being called Balovale.
Barotse basically refers to the Lozi, yet western province is habited by other tribes as well. Why should the Mbunda, Nkoya and Luvale have their identity erased and forced to adopt a Lozi identity?
Most people don’t even know that there are parts of Western province which used to be parts of Balovale district and those areas were only ceded to Barosteland by the British government in 1941. The people in those regions were never consulted neither did they agree to have their regions made part of Barosteland.
The president is correct, there is no province or country called Barotseland. Just as it is true that there is no superior tribe in Zambia, it is also true that there is no superior tribe or language in Western province. All should be free to practice their cultures and traditions.
HH is 100 percent right. mmembe & his fellow greedy think alike idi-ots are off on this one.
1. My tribe in mpulungu was not consulted either. Should I form a separate country.
2. All Africans were not consulted when african boundaries were drawn up in Berlin. Should we redraw the entire African boundaries based on tribes?
3. If poverty is the yard stick to form new countries then much Inga province should be the first in Zambia
4. Which chief or people in Zambia were consulted when provincial boundaries were drawn?
5. Read an British article on zambian history on Facebook. Where it refers to the British invitation of paramount chief litunga of the lozi people. So who are Chiefs or Kings in Zambia or are these colonial designations
6. UN and international bodies recognize Zambis as is. Never heard of the UN and or any international body recognize a barotseland.
7. Fact is it won’t end well for any secessionist or treason mongers.
There’s no person who is confused like M’membe….!! How Old is M’membe??
He will NEVER lead this country. Never forget it.
The issue may end up bringing more harm than good because not all the tribes of Western Province support the idea. Even among the Lozis themselves, there are some who don’t support the matter. Besides that, the present Western Province is not what used to be the Barotseland territory of 1964 Barotseland Agreement. So there are other stakeholders who need to be involved in this Indiana. Thirdly, when other regions like Northeastern and Northwestern Rhodesia see that Barotseland is allowed to separate, they can also demand for separation and what will follow is total confusion. Those who were there that time saw how Nigeria was nearly torn apart by the bitter Biafra war which went on for three years. I know that there are many political players who will want to take advantage of this issue for the sake of gaining political mileage, but the President has to be firm and save Zambia, that is what it means to be a Leader. In my opinion, just as other people have already suggested, the only thing which we should look at seriously and which can help all of us is the Federal system of Government where the provinces will be semi autonomous with the Unitary State, after all the decentralization which has come is already a test of how a Federal government works. People will be free to set their own priorities per Province, they can have some of their own rules as well, e.g. the Lozis can resume their Kuta system if they so wish.
I meant to say, in this Indaba and not Indiana
This Mmemba also just condemning no solutions
So who the heck drew the boundaries of the so called barotseland bcoz majority of the tribes there say they have never been subjects of the lozis. So do u say to that?
What M’membe has conveniently left out is the fact that the land claimed as part of Barotseland is not all legitimately part and parcel of Lozi heritage- greedy Litunga gave what was not his