By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.
There are disagreements and small demonstrations in Mongu about the Barotse Agreement of 1964. Suddenly after 46 years of independence, under the motto “One Zambia and One Nation” and peace that is the envy of many nations, there is a threat of anarchy and disintegration of our nation. There are groups, internet web pages and blogs that have mushroomed championing secession or what some of them call “self-determination of the Malozi”. I want to express my views which I hope represent those of millions of Zambians that love the freedom and tranquility we have enjoyed since 1964.
There is a tendency for some politicians, some Zambian intellectuals, and those who are disaffected today to dismiss all those years from 1964 to 1991 as years of the “terrible Kaunda UNIP One-Party dictatorship”. What I am urging all my fellow citizens, who are 36 to 50 years old, who grew up in Zambia between 1964 and 1984 to be intellectually honest and realistic. We should criticize President Kaunda or UNIP and the One- Party State, but let’s also have some balanced judgments and reflections of the period. The 60% of our Zambian population that was born in 1985 have no idea what happened from 1964 to 1991. As a result many of them are vulnerable to exaggerations, speculations, wild guesses, myths, and becoming victims of historical revisionism and politically motivated distortions of what happened.
At Independence in 1964, the first 40 year old young President Kaunda of the young independent Zambia had in his cabinet: Ruben Kamanga, Simon Kapwepwe, Mainza Chona, Arthur Wina, Sikota Wina, Justin Chimba, Simon Kalulu, Peter Matoka, Elijah Mudenda, Nalumino Mundia, John Mwanakatwe, Grey Zulu, Lewis Changufu, and Nathy Nyalugwe. The men and women who are the founders of our nation had just gone through over ten years of the struggle for independence. Their first crucial job was to develop and unite this new Zambia that had 72 separate tribes. The vast majority of Zambians including even our leaders had known only their tribes, chiefs, kingdoms, and perhaps headmen in rural villages in separate regions of Zambia.
Zambians should know that nation building is very difficult and messy. The leaders built new roads, hospitals, political administrative systems, clinics, University of Zambia, hundreds of schools, teachers had to be trained, provided free education for all Zambians, and they adopted the national policy of a non-racial and non-tribal society. At this same time there was the crisis of the Alice Lenshina’s Lumpa Church and the religious violence in Northern and Eastern Province just before independence in 1964. White minority Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and the crisis of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) happened on November 11 1965, the Portuguese colonialists in Angola and Mozambique were trying to destabilize Zambia. White apartheid South Africa was interested in destroying Zambia or any black newly independent countries in Southern Africa that did not support the apartheid racist regime at the time. Namibia was occupied by hostile South Africa. The South African National Congress (ANC) had just been banned. Nelson Mandela had just been sent to prison for life. There were some threats of violence within Zambia. If you do not believe this just read: “Night Without a President” by Sikota Wina.
Should this have been the time the new sovereign nation of Zambia should have been worrying about the Barotse Agreement? All the freedom fighters from all parts of Zambia were right to focus and spend all their energies on developing and uniting Zambians to be one Zambia and One Nation.
I will forever be grateful that I and millions of Zambians had a free education from Form I (grade 8) all the way to the University of Zambia up to my Ph. D. I lived in Zambia as a free child all my life. This was due to the people of Zambia under One Zambia and One Nation and the leadership of President Kaunda, UNIP, and all the freedom fighters including Harry Nkumbula, Simon Kapwepwe, and many other heroic men and women. Whatever the disagreements they had, in the end they did what was most important for the nation of Zambia: they kept the nation together and provided security. At that time, some or any of them could have rebelled, seceded with their local Chiefs or Kingdoms as some few advocates of the Barotse agreement are now saying, or joined colonial outsiders to fight the new fragile state of Zambia to kill fellow Africans.
What is causing this talk of secession and the Barotse Agreement of 1964? There might be genuine frustrations about problems of development of certain areas of the country. But I also suspect that many Zambians have no idea what it takes to build a nation. When many of us who are educated, have access to the computer, might live abroad, have enjoyed freedom most of our lives, we begin to be bored and take the peace for granted. Ordinary Zambians today at home, including many educated foreign scholars in Zambia and abroad, make the mistake of assuming the many political parties, open debate, and freedom of the press we have today should have been there or created in Zambia in 1964 or 1967. But that’s unrealistic, being intellectually, and historically dishonest.
I would urge my fellow educated Zambians or the elites who are furiously circulating the Barotse Agreement of 1964 document to really begin to document and write books about what really happened from 1964 to 1991; both the negative and especially the positive. It is very easy to create rosy web pages and post articles that may have exaggerated and incendiary claims about the intentions of our founders who are now close to 80 years and some of whom have already been called by the lord. The discussions and debate about the Barotse Agreement of 1964 should be done in an open democratic fashion probably through a commission of inquiry. But all peace loving Zambians from all corners, tribes, regions, ethnic groups, and those abroad should lock hands and arms together in unity as One Zambia and One Nation. Those few Zambians who advocate any type of violence, treason, and collude with outsiders to achieve narrow selfish ambitions and interests should be arrested and tried in the courts of law and punished. The peace and tranquility we enjoy as Zambians is too precious.
END of ARTICLE
ABOUT AUTHOR: Mwizenge S. Tembo obtained his B.A in Sociology and Psychology at University of Zambia in 1976, M.A , Ph. D. at Michigan State University in Sociology in 1987. He was a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Zambia from 1977 to 1990. During this period he conducted extensive research and field work in rural Zambia particularly in the Eastern and Southern Provinces of the country. Dr. Mwizenge S. Tembo is Professor of Sociology who has taught at Bridgewater College in Virginia in the United States for twenty years.
Dr. Tembo has authored 4 books: Titbits for the Curious (1989), Legends of Africa (1996), The Bridge (Novel) (2005), Zambian Traditional Names (2006). He is spearheading the building of a Zambia Knowledge Bank Libraries: Nkhanga Branch Village Library in Lundazi District in his native country of Zambia in Southern Africa. He is a weekly columnist for the Daily Newsleader Newspaper of Staunton in Virginia. He is a frequent column contributor to the Daily News-Record of Harrisonburg in Virginia. He was also a frequent contributor to the Sunday Times of Zambia in the 1980s. He has published at least 100 newspaper columns. He is a freelance photographer who has sold many of his works. For more details: www.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo, www.bridgewater.edu/zanoba
Dr. Tembo has also published at least 15 scholarly articles, 21 book reviews, and 10 journalistic articles.
Its brilliant to see Dr Kaunda with that smile
Great article Dr Mwizenge
Thanks
Yah good article sir. Point nabmbala wanu
yaba. ok then nambala two
No 2 Grow up with nambala
You are better than that. You know it, and I know it
If i was near you I would slap you
Thanks
Agreed!
Ok for today I agree with Mushota and the Dr.The article is really educative and has given me insight of the political and economical landscape of our country after independence.I just imagined how difficult it was not to trade with neighbors like Mozambique and Angola(cos of being portuguese colonies),then Zimbabwe with Ka Ian smith and worse still Namibia being under the evil boers.We lost alot economically.
I do feel however that the author seeks to conflate divergent points without sufficient justification. Is this issue about Kaunda, UNIP, independence or the Barotse Agreement? It might feel to some that any hint of debate must be met by the blanket “One Zambia One Nation” argument – i.e. “don’t talk about it or it’s treason”. That’s unfortunate considering how far we have come from the UNIP days when even having too many crates of Mosi could be considered treasonous (“hoarding”)
Thanks Mushota maybe we could have some fun slapping ;-)
Thanks
We need such information, not jumping up and down when we cant even define the boundaries of barotseland! We are one people, one nation…One Zambia One Nation….
Without diverting from the focus of the article, today’s political leaders in our country should learn how selfless our first Government leaders were.
They so concentrated on nation-building and delivering services required by the citizens then, so that their importance was in their service or work, resulting in an endearment to the citizens. They were unlike today’s selfish leaders, both in Government and other societal communities.
The failure by today’s politicians to deliver the goods and services, is to a large extent the reason for dissatisfaction and the wishes to change regimes and even regional “independence” for purposes of self-determination, in the hope that the regional citizens can experience accerarated development.
Where are the roads, rubbish collection, etc?
Hey bloggers!
Been away for over six months, and have missed a number of things in life particullary on the net! Happy New Year to all!
Time has elapsed for this outdated document Zed is heading to a 4th republic.In southern province they no longer n’gombe ilede,central they no broken hill,chipata is no longer Fort Jameson,Mbala is no longer Arbeacon…hence Northern Rhodesia is now called Zambia.so what do these need nkanshi??
Exceptional work to the pride of our united Zambia. Well articulated Dr. Tembo. Bravo!
With due respect to your pedagogic achievements, this article has bombed. You have completely failed to address the real issues surrounding the agitation for secession using the BA.
We have live peacefully as a nation since independent, but we have very little in terms development to show for that. Neighbouring countries that are just coming out of war situations are doing far better than us. The general disaffection about development is serious national wide.
I am not advocating for secession, but given the raw deal that most people have had from successive govts, they are motivated to seek self rule and determination. I am sure other people/tribes in Zambia would have tried to do what the Lozis are doing if they had such or similar agreements in place.
We need pragmatism here
I have always been intrigued by this illustrious son of the land (Dr Mwizenge). My advice to those demanding secession is that you are fighting a losing battle. However if you have grievances let’s hear them and resolve them amicably, remembering that use of violence will only beget more violence.
Good article, hands down. What can one say when the author has done a good joob in the above article :-)
:) I smile in the face of danger..”Tread softly Dr, lest you tread on others’ dreams”
#14 I feel you…That what I call “Most learned minds”’
Well prepared article. My sister’s husband who is a white man also writes well. Thanks.
ukalola umwela zambian let us read all else we will be ignorantly shouting.
Yea,, this is nice and i wish many zedian could read it.. It’s a pity that just about 10% of zedian get access to read articles like this.
On wensday instead of IFYA BUKAYA on radio 1. translate this and read for our grand papas and mammas.
Good article,thats why in schools we should introduce real Zambian history so that citizens have a proper perspective of where we are coming from as a united nation.Even those who want to be away from Z they dont know what to do next.As pipo are discussing Integration of Africa as our friends in th eEurozone have done someone is thinking in reverse of global trend..total madness ka?The solution is let build that country in a all provices and pipo shud b prepared to work hard,then all will realise the power of numbers.”More pipo,strength is Great or United we stand,divided we terribly Fall.Lets love our country stup;d upcoming so called educated.Bravo civilised lozis!dont follow fo’ls.VIVA Z!
The article is good historically, and it is about the good work Kaunda and his first cabinet accomplisehed. But now we want to correct their mistakes and one of them is the issue of the Barotse Agreement of 1964. Why was it signed?? we want the current gvt to look into this issue and solve it once and for all. You also point out that those who 35 and 50 should be honesty and realistic??? lol They can only be honest & realistic if they tell us the reasons why the Barotse Agreement of 1964 was signed. Why do we want to avoid it???? its our history! Am sorry but u sound like those ‘some of us Zambians abroad’ who think they can fix problems whilst in America or whatever!!!! come to Zambia and see how ur pipo are suffering bcoz of these politicians sweeping their dirty under the carpet!!
Cogratulet Dr as 4 mushota u have impruved Im imprest thax.
#22,, i really agree with you on that point of introducing zambian history in schools. Why should zambian citizens have more info about Mussolini who never even knew where zambia was in his time????. . ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION. I was born in 82 but all hints in this articles are news to me. Bravo Tembo
In the same vain Doc write about the period from 1991 to 2008 then you will realise where the Barotse talk is coming from.
Chiluba was an extreme tribalist who had no regard for other tribes togather with Sata sorry PF i had to state facts here.I only came to know there was a tribe called Lamba after Levy assumed office (MHSRIP)
In the same vain Doc write about the period from 1991 to 2002 then you will realise where the Barotse talk is coming from.
Chiluba was an extreme tribalist who had no regard for other tribes togather with Sata sorry PF i had to state facts here.I only came to know there was a tribe called Lamba after Levy assumed office (MHSRIP)
You Zambians surprise me, the Doc has just written a long article but has not elaborated the contents of the Barotse agreement. Yes we value peace but we know that peace is not the absence of war but it’s the access to food, good health, national wealth,clean water, employment and a corruption free country. That’s what peace is. What are you all bloggers talking about? Whay has the Doc run away from zade if there is abandunt peace?
I am a Bemba born and breed in the copperbelt.If i was a Lozi born in god forsekeen land of Shangombo will love to have a slice of the Copperbelt!by the way in that agreement part of the copperbelt is included! which leaves the rest with little or no minerals at all……….thanx
It kind of explains why development in Zambia has been at snails pace especially when we were extremely productive.
We where the odd one out which in modern day would be equal to economic/trade sanctions
And thats a part of history i did not fully understand
Barotse agreement on this one i cant say much i will have to consult a few lawyer friends and see what they think…
Here is a snapshot of the very near future. Defense personnel shall be deployed in western province (there is no such place as barotseland in zed) and the weight of the peace loving men in power shall be felt. A couple of lives shall be lost (just as well) and peace shall prevail thereafter. The litunga shall distance himself even further and all that shall remain will be armchair critics like u and me. Zambia shall again be rescued from villains like mushala and lenshina. Peace always wins (after a litle bloodshed). Suntwe, where are u ka tribalist dummy induna.
good stuff
You #28 Kaoma Mwale, Under-development is not only confined to the Malozi area or whatever you call it but throughout Zambia. Ask around about the conditions in places such as Luwingu or Nabwalya in Northern Prov and then you will understand that the Barotse Agreement is a non-starter.
What the author, Dr Tembo, is trying to say is that the Barotse Agreement has been surpassed by the times and cannot be used as a document justifying cessation. Zambia is one and shall remain so under Kenneth David Kaunda’s slogan of “One Zambia One Nation”
All terrorists should be arrested, charged and punished accordingly.
Piece of shit kinda article , this monkey called tembo has not even explained why BA64 was signed…don be a fool my friend, if u claim of the abundant piece in Zed then why have u run away damate !!!. I dont see any guiding info on this trapopur dam type-writed shit..Tembo wakup we need full info on how and why BA64 was signed..you are running from tha contents of suicide document….I heard your foolish contributions on blogtalkt radio…u just a dunked charp, wat is PHD damate.? we don care we want the govt to raise real issues not sitting in da toilet with a palm top typing totally rubbish…its getting dark and you are long gone..stop da nosense and come back to zambia and feel the hit!!!! trash ..trash…..trash….i trash your article to the achieves..
Mwizenge Tembo is just looking for a job from RB. There is nothing in this article that addresses the current issues. Don’t blackmail the Lozis with s.h.i.t stories about Zambia being a unitary state and one country and that cessation would break it down. That is a very silly argument. It is like saying let us continue living like this, as long as it is not you who is the agrieved. It also just goes to show how selfish people are and that is the very reason why the Lozis are annoyed because you are ignoring them everytime they draw attention to the problem and you blackmail them with accusations of wanting to break up the country. Well if you ****ing want to stop them, then ****ing start listening to them. Lozis are no stupid for them to agree to suffer while others are okay.
Oneday we might live to regret this peace we have taken for granted oneday when we have no home to run to no food clean water and toilet we shall remember that we could have spent our time making zambia a better place. All this energy calling each other names and the like can be used wisely..One day we shall remember the days of milk…
One could further argue that given the prevailing circumstances at the time of independence in neighbouring countries such as Angola and Namibia, was it not in the interest of Barotseland to be part of Zambia for it’s own security? I dont agree with the likes of #36 who thinks that the whole of Western province is made up of Lozis only. In fact, some would argue that the Lozis in W province have benefited at the expense of other groups such as the Nkoyas. Furthermore, as somebody has already stated, Zambia is a poor country. Relative wealth is only found along the lines of rail. In fact there are some statistics which show that it is Luapula province and not Western province which is the most deprived in the country.
The Jackal,
If only you knew who Dr.Tembo is, you wouldn’t have started your hallucinations irrespective of your personal intellectual deficiencies evident. Join live discussions on Mwape’s organized Diaspora radio shows hosted every Saturdays if you want to engage Dr. Tembo. Because i have nothing to say myself, i just enjoy listening to those Zambian intellectuals in convergence on technology while in their homes and offices around the world. Dr. Tembo is a US based professor of many years. To say what you have said is a big insult even though he is free to get any job in Zambia. Is there anything wrong to put records straight? You are a slave to intellectual deficiency, envy and ignorance.Professors in the USA make big Dollars and they are many Zambian professor here.
I do not think the case of Lozi marginalisation has been made. Lozi politicians have formed a formidable and vocal part of the Zambian political class from the time of independence. The Lozi language is one of the 7 indigenous languages recognised by the government. The government subsidises the Kuomboka ceremony. There has not been a whole scale appropriation of Lozi lands. In fact it is the Lozis who have been appropriating Nkoya lands systematically. Lozis are free to socialise and marry whoever they wish and you do not get impoverished ghettoes in the urban centres whose inhabitants are mainly Lozi. There is no suggestion that Lozis are treated any differently by the judiciary, so I fail to see how anybody can claim that they are marginalised.
It is an unwritten rule at the University of Zambia that all students who fail to enter the school of natural sciences end up in either education or Sociology/Psychology fimo fimo. Be that as it may, one would though have thought Mwizenge being a sociologist would know better that Those few Zambians who advocate any type of violence, treason, and collude with outsiders to achieve narrow selfish ambitions and interests should be arrested and tried in the courts of law and punished. By his own admission, he has been away from Zambia for 20 years and one onders how he thinks its only a “few Zambians agitating for this in small demostrations?” You bet Mwizenge has never set foot in Western province and his wish to retain the status quo is born out of “as long as its not be riddled in…
poverty, it can happen to someone else and I will not care” It’s a tragedy of our time that even educated people like him fail to see the main cause of conflict in Africa and still think stiffling debate by and issuing silly threats are going to curl people into accepting a status quo that breeds nothing but disease, underdevelopment and destitution. If this is what he is preaching students at Bridgewater College in Virginia, then Obama must seriously look at revoking his permit because we do not want more Gbagbos or Mugabes or their vuvuzelas in Africa anymore.
#39 keep ur professor or professors in USA we will keep ours here in Zambia who are trying to solve the problem of the Barotse Agreement!!!! Yes we dont know Tembo for he does not live in Zambia. He ran away!!! The agreement was signed and someone has to know why???? the gvt has the duty to tell its citzens what happened?????? Honestly ‘a whole lot of a doctor’ telling us about Grade Seven history here when we are supposed to talk abt the Agreement!!!! To hell with USA if thats what u call USA
This story has been coming too long now since I was born, Abena Mwalimu “Longani Muyenda” its been too long go destroy yourselves! before you destroy the whole country! You think copper is enough to build your economy? Viva to mother Zambia as for these noisy neighbours pack and create your own missery! Sick and tired this.
Bauze Ngozi and The Jackal,
I you have brains and issues opposed to the facts articulated in the article above reach James Mwape or any of his friends who are Diaspora Radio show panelists to feature on the show with your side of data. Us listeners we will surely invest our time listening to you then judge you. Dr. Mwizenge Tembo (USA), Dr. Kaela Mulenga (Canada), Dr. Richard Mbewe (Poland), Dr.Kambidima Otela(SA), Harrison Musonda (USA), Musaba Chailunga (Canada), Rabson Lungu (USA), Ngoza Simwanza (Canada), Bennard Mwenseka (UK) and Godwin Kaluwe (USA) have intelligently debated this issue of Barotseland on Diaspora Radio for long hours. Google to reach James Mwape if you want to be scheduled for a talk radio show. Prepare to engage these illustrious Zambian intellectuals heavy in…
Bauze & The Jackal,
I you have brains and issues opposed to the facts articulated in the article above reach James Mwape or any of his friends who are Diaspora Radio show panelists to feature on the show with your side of data. Us listeners we will surely invest our time listening to you then judge you. Dr. Mwizenge Tembo (USA), Dr. Kaela Mulenga (Canada), Dr. Richard Mbewe (Poland), Dr.Kambidima Otela(SA), Harrison Musonda (USA), Musaba Chailunga (Canada), Rabson Lungu (USA), Ngoza Simwanza (Canada), Bennard Mwenseka (UK) and Godwin Kaluwe (USA) have intelligently debated this issue of Barotseland on Diaspora Radio for long hours. Google to reach James Mwape if you want to be scheduled for a talk radio show. Prepare to engage these illustrious Zambian intellectuals heavy in data.
So this agreement was to give a part of Zambia to Lozis if so what where the conditions i think am new to this
#46 Thats why ur friends dont know what they are talking about on ur internet Radio whatever u call it. They are all outside Zambia talking and probably no one knows where Shangombo is!!! let me name a place where i have been in Shangombo one MUSA two LISISI the list is endless coz i worked there. Your proffesors in USA; Canada, Poland & SA probably dont know that in Shangombo Lozi is the official Language though people use skwamashi in their homes for they are Kwamashi people and they dont listen to internet Radio only Angola Radio, which has bad reception. What we want here my friend is someone to tell the nation and these pipo in Shangombo why the BA64 was signed…..period we are writing history not hiding!!!
The does carry some good history, but fails to explain what the intentions of the Barotse agreement were. That document if you read it in fully does not in anyway point in the direction of a separatist Malozi state. If anything it is an excellent example of how decentralization of authority with the involvement of traditional leadership can lead to local level development. If anything the idea of enshrining in the constitution a clause that barred traditional leaders from participating in active politics is what negates the whole process of development and threatens the very peace which everybody seem to be paroting.
The article lacks substance in line with what it had intended to deliver.
Well i think wat the doctor is trying to put across is simple,he is trying to tell us that the barotse agreement cant work this time and the best way is to be realistic and try and sort out this issue peacefully.treaties through out history have been signed and have broken due to different factors,1964 was a long time ago and the Zambia of then is not the same as of today,e.g i dont think pipo of the copperbelt are just going to give a lozi chief their land just because he comes with a document which in all honesty cant simply work,nor can the pipo of southern province give up their land.
there should be a balance in development ..and sharing of portfolios..why is it that some certain province that has alot of bootlikers has more cabinet ministers and permnanet secretaies..?regionalism..
Today in zambia there is no dominant tribe but a mixture of many beautiful tribes.With all due respect my lozi brothers suffering is everywhere in Zambia not only in western province,the problem is apart from kuomboka the province needs direct investment like mineral explorations,farming e.t.c.Instead of fighting each other let us make this under performing government to be answerable for not developing the provincial centres,e.g if the money which RB uses on his trips can be diverted to developement a new hospital can be built in western province,and that is the reality my brothers.
#51 some of these issues am afraid are unfortunate but the fact is that even if most cabinet ministers and PS’s come from a certain province the pipo there are suffering just like in western province.That is why i always insist that we the citizens shud make this government accountable.To me it doesn’t matter were these leaders come from as long as they are performing,if not we chuck them out wether they are bemba,lozi’s,tonga’s kaofela you chase them,why shud they become rich at our expense?
#51 Which province has more cabinet ministers than any other province? Can you prove that the people who hold those positions from a certain province have only been given their positions because of where they come from and not because of their qualifications and expertise? Also, how are you able to tell which part of the country a person originates from due to the high levels of intermarriage we have in Zambia. I can give myself as an example, from my name nobody would be able to accurately the different Zambian ethnic groups that I belong to.
Doc, you are Lecturing us like kids, we might be younger but we could be smarter also to see what is going on in Zambia. You had free education, you and your children are direct benefactor of the “one Zambia one ….” but how many Zambians have the some chance like yours. As a doc i guess you have knowledge of Eastern Europe dis-gradation , recently , Kosovo and Serbia separated , and is Southern Sudan will be voting through referendum soon self-determination. If our politicians continue to steal on expense of development, i tell you battle line will be set.
Piece of advise, even your own children if mistreat them for long time they will leave you sir, they wont care about your PHD.
Ok maybe people are afraid to say this but i think
THIS IS THE REASON A LOZI OR TONGA FINDS IT HARD TO WIN ELECTIONS…AND JUST ANOTHER REASON FOR HH NOT TO LEAD THE PACT… THIS MIGHT EVEN BE SATA’S DOING
if they harbour such ideas imagine what would happen if they actually where in power…
they most certainly will divide the people the whole of the world will have to know which tribe is in power
With an exception of Lesotho, The Holy See and Northern Ireland, I do not think there is any other country in the world today that has a more ridiculous outline than Zambia. The diversity of people say from Mwense, Shangombo and Gwembe is as distinct as day is from night. Besides the commonality of skin colour, there is nothing else we shared in common not artificially created by colonialists patch-working our enclosure called Zambia following resource lines. The tragedy though is that even supposedly learned people like Mwizenge KuMawa could dare dream that a mere 46 years of independence under a hollow artificial slogan of “One Zambia and One Nation” could overcome ages old rivaries and bigotries to bind us into one. In my earnest opinion, we need to harness the wealth of our diversity
to live and develop Zambia and this can only be realised through a decentralised system such as the one espoused in the contentious Agreement. This is what made the USA the great nation it is today and Mwizenge one would have thought would know better. The concentration of power in Lusaka, in the current hands of a largely absent and wayward pilot can yield catastrophic results. Ronald Reagan was already significantly inflicted by alzheimer’s disease during his last term of office but the design of their system ensured that it also did not take leave from its mental faculties but functioned like usual. In short, every province in Zambia needs such an agreement.
Good article Doc, i would encourage you Doc. to join politics so that u can lead us in parliament not these uneducated fools. What else can we say, lets share this article with other beloved Zambians who have no access to it, i suggest u have it printed in Times or Post, those papers luck news, everyday we just read RB in malawi, Egypt etc Walasa mwanawakwithu. Keep it up
One very interesting question I have for Dr. Mwizenge S. Tembo (PhD) and I would like him to answer it honestly is that if he was not from the Eastern Province, and his fellow UNIPIST Kumawan wasn’t currently scaling the Zambian political ladder, would he still hold the position he does on the Agreement? How would he feel to be detained, with his PhD and resultant ego, for expressing his own opinion on a matter he holds dear to his heart? If the answer is this wont change anything, which I think is the case, then education has had zero civilized traction on his village perception of things. Bambo a Mwizenge, ndimwe chizende ndithu!
Yayi wayooya Mwana Wa kwithu.
#52 think outside the box.Not having a dominant tribe is not neccesarily good.To be dominant means you’re good at something & non dominant means all are flat,unadventurous,unspeciallised and uncompetitive.The UK dominated due to industrialisation,Japan dominates electronics/cars,Igbos of nigeria dominated business and the kikuyus in kenya,though only 20pc,dominate the country politically and economically after standing up to the British.
So could this be the reason we zambians don’t stand out even in africa-being all same?
Mr PHD, you missed the point. I come from what is refered as barotseland though i am a supporter of the mighty MMD. I can assure you the bemba blogger who wrote to say now we want to correct the errors kaunda made is more on the point than you and he is not tribal but factual, he deserves a PHD than some of …… .When Kaunda under his advisor sikota signed, he openly accepted that Western Province was a different country and today he is the causer of unrest in Western Zambia. Wether you like it or not the aggreement is a legal document in zambia because of kaunda’s mistake. Now all what barotsi people are saying is they want it shown in the agreement because it is part of the conditions that were agreed upon with people of western before britain handed over power. All what westeners…
The use of lessons (precedent, and especially in Africa) to learn the process and ability to actively monitor and evaluate conflict prevention and peace building efforts is always inhibited by political, mercenarism, bigoted, economic, historical and conceptual factors as has abundantly been manifested in Mwizenge’s article above. This article goes to great lengths to show the extent to which flawed definitions of peace, the business of threat of violence, political correctness, and other bigoted reasons can determine any society’s chances at failure or development.
Mwizenge seems to have learnt well that violence has become big business and these days how you market it determines the outcome. He condemns what he calls small demonstrations and violence by a few but watch the scam bag unashamedly turn 100 degrees by packaging his own threat of violence as good and the Agreement advocates’ one as evil. “Those few Zambians who advocate any type of violence, treason, and collude with outsiders to achieve narrow selfish ambitions and interests should be arrested and tried in the courts of law and punished”. Just how contradictory and psynister could a creature be?
It is clearly apparent that Mwizenges thrust is to exaggerate the Agreement advocates’ threats and sell his own use of violence as just, defensive, and as the only possible optionThe degree to which be belabors the point of political correctness, for an economic refugee, stinks. An example is his denial of the failure of successive government to bind us together contained in his sweeping assertion that “many of the Zambian population born after 1985 have no idea what happened from 1964 to 1991 thus have become victims of historical revisionism and politically motivated distortions of what happened”. “If this is not “kulimonesha ta only me knows better attitude”, then God knows what “ku ishapukisa is”.
Mwizenge’s narrow and selective definition of violence laced with a “gospel” expectation of exclusive loyalty to the current “kunitundila” dominant perspective and his apparent personalization of the observance of “sacred” peace and stability entombed in a glaring lack of contextual sensitivity, says a lot about how little education has done to this troubled scholar’s way of thinking.
Mwizenge here presents very classic reasons why Africans often fail at making effective decisions to prevent conflict and build genuine lasting peace essential for development. It is such retrogressive psychological drive aimed at a predetermined consensus at any cost, that suppresses dissent and any appraisal of viable alternatives in cohesive decision-making debates that has chained the entire African continent to the third world.
As the old adage goes, one cannot teach an old dog new tricks but I hope that one day even lost souls like Dr Mwizenge (Ph D) will learn that violence only begets violence, it is an outrage that we have simply gotten used to it because we set the bar so shamefully low. I hope and pray that one day “a Tembo ana bwela” will learn that mere sloganeering rhetoric for development and peace building such as One Zambia One Nation alone could not add up to sustainable peace. Without synergy, peace efforts (peace negotiations, democratization, development, security building, reconciliation, etc.) any peace could end up in piles of peace building blocks, instead of a complete peace building.
# 39 I think we all now know who Dr Tembo is . He’s done a very good job of advertising himself.
….. Zambia is no longer a one party state . The one party system was a very effective way of holding the country together. Nowadays , with plural politics , we are experiencing the same problems of regionalism/tribalism/seperatism and violence that KK buried when he introduced so called one party participatory democracy. So we are back to confronting the problems that come with multi-partism in tribal africa that started to rear their ugly heads when we started to hold our own elections in the sixties , following independence .
Hahaha,what a confused guy.Practice what you preach Dr Tembo.You say nation building is difficult & messy yet you go on to lament the resulting mess of division,differing opinions,threat to unity and peace thus being unrealistic,intellectually and historically dishonest yourself.Even diamonds result from different pressures.
Read what #62 says as following a herd breeds mediocrity coz zambia badly needs our Barotse pressure to get rid of its” group think “mentality.I believe we are the “israelites” of zed and one day we’ll tower coz we dare to standup to oppression and mediocrity.Long live Barotseland.
Thank you sir ,you are ablessing to have around please look after yourself we still need your wisdom and intelligence to guide some young lost zealots like Kalos2021.
Are there any lessons we can learn from what happened in Former Soviet Union. Zambians would like to remain under One Zambia One Nation throught. Let us all be Zambians period. While today may be Barotseland tomorrow may be Luapulas next Easterners common we are all Zambians.
Barotseland agreement of 1964 Item # 9. Interpretation states: “Any question concerning the interpretation of this Agreement may be referred by the Government of the Republic of Zambia to the High Court of the Republic for consideration (in which case the opinion thereon of the Court shall be communicated to that Government and to the Litunga of Barotseland and his Council) and any such question shall be so referred if the Litunga, acting after consultation with his Council, so requests.”
Has the Litunga of Barotseland and his Council taken legal actions against the Zambian government for which actually they are part of as per statement and I quote in parts: “And where as it is the wish of the government of northern Rhodesia and of the Litunga of Barotseland, his council and the…
…and people of Barotseland that northern Rhodesia should proceed to independence as one country and that all its peoples should be one nation:
And where , as having regard to the fact that all treaties and other agreements subsisting between her majesty the queen of the United Kingdom of great Britain and northern Ireland and The Litunga of Barotseland will terminate when Northern Rhodesia becomes an independent sovereign republic and her majesty’s government in the United Kingdom will there upon cease to have any responsibility for the government of Rhodesia including Barotseland. It is the wish of the government of northern Rhodesia and of The Litunga of Barotseland to enter into arrangements concerning the position of Barotseland as part of the republic of Zambia …
“israelites” of zed? Dream on.
to the place of the treaties and other agreements hitherto subsisting between Her Majesty the Queen and The Litunga of Barotseland:…”
How can one agree to be merged as One Nation then fight against oneself for separation? The only major emphasis in the agreement partains to powers of ruling Barotseland of which no one todate intervenes.
7. Financial Responsibility: The Government of the Republic of Zambia shall have the same general responsibility for providing financial support for the administration and economic development of Barotseland as it has for other parts of the Republic and shall ensure that, in discharge of this responsibility, Barotseland is treated fairly and equitably in relation to other parts of the Republic.
Bamalozi, how can you feel left out? Or is it because of the new railway in eastern province that you feel neglected? Or is it about shopping centres in Lusaka? Or is it about the development of mining industries in NW province and CB?
As yourself: If a non-Lozi owns property and land in Barotseland, and does not want to be part of the separation, how are you going to mitigate that?
DR.TEMBO (PhD) Missed the point he failed or deliberately decided to mislead himself by not addressing THREE cardinal CONTETIONS of the BA64. He should have addressed in his article
1. why the BA was signed? ..ans (because barotse was a country/state/ kingdom on its own that needed to almagamate with the new zambian republic)
2. If this agreement was legal and binding why did a section of society (MMD) decide to disregard this document and throw it in the dust bin.( this is the recipe for conflict)
3. IF per adventure this agreement was abrogated and is a recipe for conflict then what Legal Systems and Peaceful Attempts should the parties at stake employ to Resolve Territorial Disputes that governed the BA 64 and that’s what most Lozis or barotse people are asking for, to…
Ba .Tembo imagine one day you work up and only to be told that we have excluded this LEGAL AND BINDING agreement from our republican constitution, definitely you WIL beg for someone to give you answers and that’s all the barotse people are asking from RB.
I know litunga is not the only one who signed such an agreement, Lobengula and karma did too, the question we should ask ourselves is how did the other countries concerned manage to resolve this conflict.
THE best we can now do is advise the MMD on ways to quench the community outrage and tell our brothers that Conflicts are a natural part of social interaction, RB and MMD must take full responsibility of this mess and provide us with a systematic framework to address this conflict so that power ,rights and interest of the…
lozis are not abrogated, may i draw you to this important clause of the BA64 FOR people to apreciate how much legal and binding this agreement is …. 2. The Constitution of Zambia The constitution of the republic of Zambia shall include the provisions agreed upon for the inclusion herein at the constitutional conference held in London in May, 1964 relating to:- (a) the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the individual; (b) the judiciary; and (c) the public service and those provisions shall have full force and effect in Barotseland.
# 72, Yaya, mudala nilikuchila amano. The end result is you discussing me even when my pseudo does not appear anywhere in the discussion. Stop dreaming about me, I am a man and I am not gay. Soon you will be mentioning my pseudo in your dreams. Bakakusha abakashi over poor me.
Mwizinge Tembo boasting of free education up to his foolish PHD for nothing…ask yourself if today Zambians have that stupid prevalege that u you had you nicopump….clean your dirty head and bounce back to reality..barotseland has been bleeding inside for many years…and you call that peace?.i see u trying to dig the history of KK and his fellow betrayers( thats histroy, BA64 is the reason for Zambia today don burn burn da bushes….we dont care if you benefited during Kaunda era and you can go to hell with that….cz we ve not benefited anything from this one zambia one nonsense thing
#34 mule, you are stinking dull, the fact that the entire country is poor because of your corruption doesnt justify the nonsense that hascome with the one zambia one nation, tribalism right now is everywhere, because the president is from eastern, its just easterners being appointed and promoted in Government institutions, voting parterns are on tribal lines, destribution of development is also on tribal lines, it is as a result of such inequalities that has caused wars in other countries, therefore for the peace to be sustained it is important that these issues are addressed or the lozis are let to seced from zambia, other wise we are on a time bomb
Gentlemen ,the issue of BA64 is very confusing especially that it has come after 45 years. We have to be mindful of the fact that 80% of Zambians today were born after 1964 and they do not see any colour or tribe in a Zambian and this issue is been peddled by selfish old individuals who can not understand the way we see Zambia today.From 1964 Zambians have worked together,governed themselves together,Changed governments and laws(constitutions) together,lived and bred together and for someone to come out of a slumber today and claim seccession is madness to say the least.We are just praying that these old chaps die and leave us and our Zambia alone.
1. The author of the article has written, but he has never read the Barotse Agreement article.
2. If he read the article he should have knwn that it doesnt talk of separation.
3. He should knw that he cannot buy the Barotse article.
4. I thought KK has spoken atlast.
5.Mwizinge go back and read the article 4 more information.
6. Nxt time talk abt the article, not utter nonsence.
7. you are seeeking 4 a job.
8. The bloggers who support this article are a sellout.
9. The lozis have moved on and what the want at the moment is some truth abt the matter
Barotse Army in #35
You are not doing lozis any good for most lozis are refined people with a positive air of identity. People are memders of universal humanity, therefore, free to live and work where they qualify. I, therefore fail to understand why you are miffed with Dr. Tembo. Sure, things are not right in Zambia, but one of the fundamental reasons why things are like that is that many Zambians are superstitous, too religious and lazy. The few that have a positive attitude to labour have made it big where they have settled iin cultures that respect work. That is why foreigners get rich right under your noses and you fight each other to work for them.
My dear brother Iceberg, what you have to knw is that its a peaceful Agreement, enjoy your New year and be Happy.
Good work Dr. This kind of reasoning must form the foundation of our reasoning. Whatever our grievances we need to remember the basics of national hood. Challenges will come and go but life goes on.
When is this country going to focus on development. Every government that comes in becomes more interested in power than anything else.Governance is cadrelised.
The rural parts of this country have been starved of development. They can not blog on LT like most of the previleged people on this forum.
The problem here is not about the Barotseland agreement but rather frustrations arising from slow development or lack of it.
WE NEED TO REFORM AND STRENTHEN OUR GOVERNANCE SYSTEM.
If there are bloggers on this forum that are satisfied with the way this country is governed, I REST MY CASE.
i would personally use my buses to transport these difficult pipo ,tribalists to there trash province.lozis are a mence ,let them go to western province.thez only water,sand and fish.proud and selfish savages
The savages of western province of The Republic of Zambia came from South Africa a long time ago causing havoc on the way until they met the civilised and clever people from the Luba Lunda Kingdom of Mwata yamvo. The clever people from the north quicly defeated them and put them in their place teaching them how to live with other people. Alas hundred year later they want to go back to their savage ways. I hear they are saying there will be blood in WP if their meeting fails to go on this month who are they going to kill themselves? We urge them to go on kill each other and and they want to kill other tribes then we will definately teach them who the boss is..
On the other hand I want to congratulate these Lozi savages, if all Provinces can start to claim autonomy maybe the poiliticians will realise that development is reaaly needed in Zambia. How I would like for us to be independent as Northen province and call our beloved province as Republic of Bemba. Crazy sh”’t.
#been there done that says: you are a stupid *****, go and suck your father’s dick
This professor Tembo speaks rather writes in tit-bits.Why not coment on the BRAof 1964?
Why not state at least 3 clauses from it? Why undermining it?
One Zambia One Naltion.Yes:But why have irresponsible leaders who even end up saying THE BRA is a non-entity.Do you call that a language from a fully developed Brain?
There is no guarantee that things will be better for Western Province in the event that it secedes. Things MIGHT EVEN BE WORSE OFF. The starting point here must be ZAMBIA…Lets see how we can improve the political and economic situation in this country for the benefit of all citizens.
Lets us see real and measurable development like what is happening in CHINA.
Chinese students stydying in western countries are rushing back to china upon completion of their studies because they see immense opportunities unlike here where OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN POLITICS!!
WE NEED TO REFORM AND STRENTHEN OUR GOVERNANCE SYSTEM.
loziz should be expeelled from all the eight provinces.let them kill each other in that desert.personally i detest these savages with funny pride.
This issue is hot and demands level headedness. Are there corresponding efforts to reclaim the former Barotse land territory that lies in Angola, Namibia Botswana etc? What is the take of chiefs in Northwestern, Southern abd Copperbelt provinces who fall under the B.A?.
Kafupi wabetole ai.
I have no problem with you making your own country if you could just concentrate on just your territories of western province, what I mean is never you touch land which is not yours. The NCC threw away your submission because you included certain areas such as parts of central, North-western and Southern etc. You even illegally included Livingstone the heart of Chief Mukuni (Chief of Tokaleya people) to be part of Barotseland. I can see Lozis want what others have sweated for so that you can enjoy the sweet, but bare in mind that we are watching your moves closely. You never step a foot in western province when you get education in big cities, how do you expect the province to develop, or rather who can develop it for you when you the owners abandon it.
Lozis are naturally lazy people thats why they all the time want to be in power so that they can enjoy what they do not sweat for. Cabinet ministerial positions and politics are not the only solutions to reducing poverty in western province. Southerners have not been having ministerial positions but have developed their areas through private sector development. Lozis had the highest share of ministerial positions in the Era of Mwanawasa but failed to develop the province because of choosing selfish leaders to represent them. Lozis you are the most selfish tribe in Zambia thats why no one wants to associate with you. You are easily brain washed by selfish leaders with money to use you.
There are so many opportunities in zambia for one to develop himself, if politics has failed you. You have people like Sikota Wina, Sakwiba Sikota, Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika and the brother etc who never step a foot in western province after establishing themselves in other developed areas of zambia. Western province is now the least populated province due to poverty which you run away from whenever you find fortune in other provinces and later speak of it in terraces. Now that everyone in zambia is aware of who you are, mind your moves and ambitions.
Simukonda, you seem to be talking like an unintelligent party cadre devoid of any intellectual ability to critically analyse the situation as its presented to you. It’s not Sikota Wina, Sakwiba Sikota, Inonge etc who should develop Western Province, its the Zambian government that has the obligation to do so. Look at the tarred network, only Senanga and Mongu are connected by tarmac to the national grid while the rest of the province is subject to a horrible gravel network prone to ruin every rain season. It is this lack of commitment on the part of govt to develop its own province that has brought these problems. By the way Tongas never developed Southern Province, all land there is owned by white commercial farmers just like in Zimbabwe.
Simukonda, you are a frustrated failure. I urge you to go back and read the Barotse Article. I knw you hate the Lozis, but plz we urge u to write sensible things. We are not children, we want something that can help us to go abt the matter. Read carefully what my brother Kamuyongole has written. Its people like you Simukonda, who are still backwards with the issue of tribalism. The Barotse article isn’t tribal. Can you try to Google abt Livingstone and its indeginous tribes. All i can say is that you are not canny.
Simukonda, whats the work of the government? I doubt if you can answer this question, seeing the way you have put across your arguments. Are you sure that people you mentioned do not step in Western Province. Try to reseach b 4 you utter nonsense my brother. Go and read the Barotseland ageement article, it will cost you nothing, then come and blogg something concret. We had people who used to talk bad abt the Barotse Ageement article, but after reading it between lines they realised that its not what they thought and so they blamed themselves having been hostile to it.
#Simukonda heads off, you are a man. Just because people of Livingstone allosed you to settle there, and you are increasing slums like no man’s business, then you claim ownership of land. Guys never test people’s generocity, because this may just triger war. When an important guest comes to Livingstone, they pay homage to chief Mukuni and Musokotwane and not the Litunga os yours. Southern province ends at Kazungula a district after Livingstone and the language learnt and spoken in that area is not Lozi as far as I know, therefore, these two areas are none starters for you guys. We are watching you closely. Yes much as I know that it is the responsibility of GRZ to develop a province or area, owners of the land have a big role to play.
Sorry, I meant allowe you to stay.
The problem you have Lozis is that you do not accept others, who may bring development and talent in your areas the way southerners have done. In southern province all tribes are represented in their small and big towns like Livingstone, Mazabuka, Choma etc and myself I am a good testimony having lived in these areas since birth. We know your agenda where you want to divide zambia into two Barotseland and Bembaland as such you do not regard other tribes in those areas thats why whoever offends you in Zambia you say it is the Bembas. Just develop a mindset of development like southerners who have co-existed as different tribes namely, Ila, Tokaleya, Goba, Sala, Lenje and Tongas. If you look at them at a distant you may think they are the same, they are so busy with their lives.
# 107 you are right.Infact when you say “government” who is government if the Lozis want to exclude themselves. Simply because the British in their insatiable desire for natural resources were looking for traditional leader as an avenue to gain control over territories that were endowed with natural resources and they came up with this funny boundary of the lozi kingdom, today you want to use it to claim even areas that do not belong to you? When did the Tongas, Lenjes, Kalubales, Koandes, Mbundas etc consent to be part of this funny arrangement you call Barotse Agreement? No ways!! Just stick to your sandy province.
As long as Barotseland of yours touches areas which are not part of it or rather parts of other people’s areas, then it will never be accepted. Still if other tribes in western province do not want to be part of you give them a break, just stick to your boundaries of Mongu and Senanga. There is no way chief Mukuni of the Tokaleya people of southern province can give away Livingstone an area he has laboured for and the Victoria falls (Shungu Namutitima as they call it in Tokaleya) his ancestral heritage to belong to David Livingstone’s chola boys. Under his foot. Life would be better for you if can just stick to Mongu and Senanga.
Lozis if you want to leave, go peacefully and we will make sure zambia is Lozi free and for you to visit our beautiful zambia you will need visas. Why now, is it because there are mineral is Lumwana and you want to
Why now, is it because there are menerals in Lumwana and you want to benefit through in royalties again the way you deceived Lamba chiefs a long time ago. Kaondes wake up as Lozis are after your minerals,
You will never hear Luapulans say Copperbelt is ours because they believe in one zambia one nation, they will just say I was brought up on the copperbelt, but for Lozis just because Livingstone is developed they would claim it is theirs. You guys you really like benefiting where others have laboured, ZAMBIA IS FOR ALL ZAMBIANS. All tribes are represented in Livingstone including foreign like Ndebele and Shona, and everyone is free to express him/herself regardless of tribe, hence we will never allow your selfish motives to confuse our peace. Livingstone, Lumwana etc are for all peace loving zambians who believe in unity and development.
Ok guys am off for work, see you later
Wrong attrribution to lozis! this is tribalism! Loziz have lived with each other as the 25 tribes of Barotseland all making one nation long before zambia was born. The calls of non lozis, non lozi music comes out the oppression by KK, Chiluba, mwanawasa and now Banda who do not want to hear anything about Barotseland! Mind you DR Tembo, is it only now that you are hearing about calls for barotseland agreement? Shame on You. where have you been all these years?
Lozis do not wabnt to succeede from Zambia. They want to be part of Zambia legally, and the only law that does that is the brotseland agreement! why is it that you zulus, tembos, mwwanzas, chifires, musondas hate the barotseland agreement? because you are also safeguarding your own lands. It is not fair to blame only lozis.
do not blame lozis! GRZ has contributed to this evil that is happening iin western province today. the people of western province has been intimidated, arrsted, tortured for the reason of trying to dialogue with GRZ over this agreement!
ts unfortunate the DR dous not kbnow tghis! It is crimes against humanity that GRZ is doing by continuing to oppress lozis which is coprised of 25 tribes in Barotseland! why should we be held at ransom for Zambia’s peace? what about our owbn peace that has been trumped upon for thae last 47 years! Dr Tembo should reserch about the BA and not speak because he want to safeguard his tribe.
You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I to find this topic to be really something that I believe I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I am taking a look ahead in your subsequent publish, I’ll try to get the cling of it!