PRINCE Imasiku Mutangelwa has described people advocating the secession of Barotseland and the announcement of the so-called Barotseland cabinet as ‘insane’.
Mr Mutangelwa has called on Government to identify the culprits behind the illegal cabinet, saying they need to be incarcerated or put in a mental institution before they plunge the national into chaos.
Mr Mutangelwa, who has previously been arrested and charged over his sentiments on the Barotseland Agreement, said Government should find the people circulating documents suggesting that a cabinet has been put in place in Barotseland, saying : “These characters are causing alarm in the nation.”
“This is insanity. The state must identify them and put them in prison or take them to Chainama (Hills Hospital) before they cause chaos with their alarming statements,” Mr Mutangelwa said.
Mr Mutangelwa said in an interview yesterday that most of the people named in the ‘Barotseland cabinet’ were not consulted over their appointment to the illegal cabinet.
“These statements are just meant to distract Government as they have no backing from the people of Western Province. Government must identify these people and take them to Chainama – where they belong,” Mr Mutangelwa said.
And some of the people named in the purported Barotseland cabinet have denied links to the formation of a government in Western Province, saying they were not consulted and have no idea who was making the appointments.
Nyambe Namushi, a commissioner on the Mongu Commission of Inquiry into the Mongu riots of January 14, 2011, who was named as the deputy administrator-general, said the reports have injured his reputation.
Mr Namushi said he only learnt of his appointment through the Zambian Watchdog, an online publication.
He said he has written to the publication, asking the publishers to retract the statement because he does not even know who appointed him.
“All the people in that cabinet were not consulted and have no clue who was appointing them,” Mr Namushi said, adding that it was the work of fanatics, trained to misdirect people’s attention.
Mwangelwa Mbikusita Lewanika, who has been named as Finance Minister in the Barotseland government, said his reputation has been damaged because people are connecting him to calls for secession, when the Barotse Royal Establishment can competently deal with the matter.
“It’s very damaging to those of us who have been named. It’s a cowardly act that people should desist from because they only damage other people’s reputation and even the whole process of Barotseland discussions,” Mr Lewanika said.
Mukubesa Ilukena, one of those named in the cabinet, said some people can do anything to frustrate Government.
Mr Mutangelwa, however, said he strongly believed President Sata cannot be disturbed by fanatics. “President Sata is always on the ground and ahead of things. He should not let anyone disturb him from pursuing his vision,” he said.
He said the PF government should not get distracted by alarming statements which have no backing from the people of the Western Province.
Mr Mutangelwa commended the PF government for its stance against corruption.
He said corruption has in the past disadvantaged most citizens, as a few greedy individuals were pocketing all the resources.
Mr Mutangelwa said “all those characters that deceived the people of Zambia that they were governing us but were instead stealing from them must be investigated and brought to book”.
President Sata last month said a group of people in Western Province is attempting to form a state within a State and has already appointed a Prime Minister.
The President described the situation as serious and castigated the police and ministers of Defence and Home Affairs for failing to deal with the matter.
Mr Sata said there was no need for the army to intervene in the matter because they might end up ‘slaughtering’ people, adding that bloodshed over the issue was unnecessary.
Under the previous Government last year, police killed and maimed people over similar agitations in the province. Other people were arrested but pardoned when Mr Sata won the presidency and currently, a commission appointed by the President is still sitting to investigate the incident.
President Sata recently held talks with representatives of three groups from the Western Province to discuss the matter.
In August 2000, Mr Mutangelwa, then leader of a small group known as the Barotse Patriotic Front, was sought by police for questioning after he made statements supporting a separatist rebellion.
Later the same month, Mr Mutangelwa sought asylum in the residence of the South African High Commissioner, but his request was denied.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with belonging to an unlawful society.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
ZAMBIAN WATCHDOG DIRECTOR OR EDITOR IS ONE TO TAKE TO CHAINAMA HILLS. AM SURE THE CABINET WAS MADE BY THEM IN ORDER TO THREATEN HIS EXCELLENCE MCS. HE AND HIS HAKAIVOTELA HUMWINE ARE SO POWER HUNGRY THAT THEY ARE TAKING ALL MEASURES TO FRUSTRATE OUR GOD CHOSEN LEADER.
WELL DONE PRINCE NGALAMA, I CAN READ FROM THE LINES THAT THE ALL BULOZI LAND IS WITH THE PF AND WE WILL MAKE BA64 WRANGLES A HISTORY, MARK MY WORDS BECAUSE WE HAVE A COBRA IN THE ZAMBIAN HOUSE AND HE IS NOT JUST A COBRA BY NAME BUT ALSO IN ACTIONS.
He is the culprit, don’t you see that ba Zed POLICE. Arrest this chap, he holds secret meetings and then comes in public pretending he is on the other side.
Just arrest the author and he will reveal the source of the information..simple issue
I think these people/groups are abusing their freedom of speech way beyond what the provisions of this constitutional clause was meant to do—allow citizens to openly criticize the govt and air our views without fear of being arrested or harassed. Not to engage in activities and speech that borders on TREASON and CRIMINALITY! Time to put a stop to the alarming statements which indeed has the potential to cause thousands of unnecessary deaths in Western Province if indeed the army is forced to get involved in this. These guys are trained to shoot and kill and not to massage people’s egos.
The history of separatists/gorillas always ends badly for them in that neighborhood—-Mushala, died, Lenshina, died, Savimbi, died, and so forth. And so shall it be with these Lozi separatists!
Let the separatists know that if they have found gold, oil, gas, copper or any other valuable commodity and that be the reason they are advocating separation, we shall eat that wealth together as Zambians. We ate together the depleted copper ores on the copperbelt for years, we ate together Zinc and Lead in Kabwe. Whatever valuable assets are in Western province we shall share across Zambia. Make no mistake separatists you just have twisted logic, we shall straighten your thinking. We tell you that this is Zambia any ruling party will face same problem. If you are bent to ruin other people’s efforts to develop Western province you will be sorted out. We need peace and development in Western province and in all provinces.
Westerners(Western Province)! what do you really want?? Regardless of language, tribe, distance, terrrane, culture, education, tradition, maturity, love, hate, spiritual, history etc., we are one and we love you (one nation). Zambia will be a better nation if we learn to ‘forgive and forget’.
They are just tarnishing the image of the people of WP.
After mwaumfwana, mapanga no bututeko mubuteko, elyo nomba mwamba ukuzalana? Muzaka kambila kusogolo, boma nin boma.
Why sleep. Investigate the owner of Zambia watchdog.Very simple.He might be behind the Rubbish Bin
PRINCE Imasiku Mutangelwa is playing a “hide & seek” game with the Zambian Govt. Mutangelwa is feiging (pretending) ignorance on Barotse separatists issue. Yet he is on the wanted list in Namibia and Botswana for mobilizing Lozi-speaking people in Caprivi-Strip of Namibia and Northern Botswana and Western Province of Zambia for the creation of a Barotse Republic. Imasiku is just buying time to deceive Sata’s Govt to into a slumber.
Really? We must be candid on this issue. why all this stuff? We can concentrate our efforts on the current process the government is pursuing before we start agitating this and that.
great prince,lets go play the ball my man.uyoyange!.
next time Mr sata must just appoint you as vice president.You can make a good pair.
good words from the prince.has he repented?wanted by the police in boswana and namibia, once arrested by ZED police,on the cabinet list of BL.now denaying his involvement. very clever snake.the Zambian watchdog has strong links with UPND.is it the site making up all the stories or the UPND selling these ideas to their tribal cousins.does hakainde want to be president of the BL.there is something so fishy.
mukazalana u have even started pointing at each other muzakaona
one by one we shall get them on side or get them to submit
Let them go and be why should we force them after all they have nothing.leave lozis alone why this big drama after all we don’t love them and they know this.