The United Independence Party UNIP has advised Government to accept responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Western Province.
UNIP vice President Njekwa Anamela observed that there was no substitute for a genuine and constructive dialogue on the Barotse Agreement.
Mr. Anamela said there was no need for any person to die or be killed for the exercise of their human rights.
In a statement to QFM, the UNIP Vice President noted that multiparty democracy is about building an open, transparent and participative plural society in which all citizens exercise their freedom of assembly and expression without undue hindrances.
Commenting on the recent developments in Western Province, Mr. Anamela observed that restricting freedom of speech and movement, stopping meetings and shooting people is murder and crime against humanity.
Mr. Anamela condemned all forms of violence and called for restraint on the part of the police in the exercise of their law and order function.
He added that it is the duty of the police to protect everybody and establish a healthy environment for debate and dialogue on all national matters.
Mr. Anamela observes that only debate, dialogue, tolerance and accommodation could guarantee peace in all parts of the country, including Western Province.
On Friday Police shot dead one man as they attempted to stop him from setting ablaze a filling station, a situation which Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu said would have had grave consequences had the man not been stopped.
The Home Affairs Minister also announced that several people from Mongu and Lusaka had been arrested by police for threatening the peace of the country.
In Mongu Mr. Lungu said a group of 20 people carrying matchetes was in the early hours of Friday rounded-up by police. Five other activists from Lusaka believed to be inciting people over the 1964 agreement had also been picked up.
Mr. Lungu said the group that went on rampage threw stones at police and the general public, breaking vehicle window screens, and deflating vehicle tyres.
Government has since increased the presence of police in Western Province to quail of any possible unrest.
QFM
I’m disappointed with the statement from UNIP because this whole Barotse agreement issue started with UNIP. Once again, the MMD has to clean up UNIP’s mess just like they had to clean up the $6 billion USD debt UNIP left behind.
I find this statement interesting though, “In Mongu Mr. Lungu said a group of 20 people carrying matchetes was in the early hours of Friday rounded-up by police. Five other activists from Lusaka believed to be inciting people over the 1964 agreement had also been picked up.” end quote. So they were a danger to other citizenry. Zambia Police had to use whatever action necessary to protect the greater citizenry. I do not support killing but Zambia Police had to use whatever action necessary to calm the situation.
Heck no.Big NO ,NO.You do not engage anarchists,rioters and killers in dialogue,freedom of speech and such.That is called appeasement and the moment you do that you’re finnished.Remember PM Chamberlain trying to engage Hitler in dialogue-what happened?
UNIP,how ironic that you “fought” for independence and now this.The security of the state of Zambia is not and never will be negotiable-get it?:o
ba unip you time is over please.
Ka Njekwa Anamela shutup you finished politician ,tell your thugs who migrated from Lesotho that there in Zambia and there is no room for violence in Zambia.Those thugs will be taught a lesson what they had on Friday was just a dyonko next time they try they will wiped out .Nkoyasdo not belong to Barotse Land .Time to go and grow Cushew nuts.
A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.
Has the shooting and arresting of these activists sorted the problem NO.Only a fool will ignore an issue hoping it will evenually vanish,this issue needs to be faced head on.Someone created this problem many years ago.The significant problem we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.There”s need to refocus and rethink on how best to solve the problem than running in circles,surely there are more wise people in gvnt who can brainstom to finding a lasting solution
People in Zambia may not like the Lozi agreement doc but the truth is that they are the only one who have well documented leadership the missionary found with solid leaders when they come, and above all they are the who have define the map of Zambia. Otherwise, the Belgium would have colonized the larger part of the current national called Zambia. You can see from the stripe that petrudes into Zambia on the C.belt, tells the great Story. The talk with LOVE than hate esp if you claim you are Christian. One wonder the legitimacy of the ZAMBIAN elegance to Christianity when police go out shooting and calling armless man. who is more dangerous Chiluba or that small boy the have massacred? Remember, whatever, we do comes back to us, God is watching, Nebuchadnezzar was send the bush lived
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Two wrongs cannot make a right. The police should be restrained by all means from using maximum force on its own people. Its a pity RB, the head of state has chosen to remain mute but only allowing this Mkhondo fimo fimo who cannot see beyond cheap politics to talk bull. RB, you are president for Zambia and not for a few individual provinces. If you are still snoozing, its now time to wake up before the situation in Western province escalate. Where is the ‘Tiyende Pamodzi’ spirit?
#8, Try RB
Its not about what UNIP might have done in the past but about what this government should now do to resolve this problem once and for all.
I a Mbunda will not allow that foolishness by the Lozis, the agreement just favours the Lozis and their Litunga thats bullshit we do not need the agreement, we stand with other Zambians on this one…no need for such agreement, no separation, no Lozi as the official language of western province.
#8 YOU ARE AN *****, THIS IS NOT A PLATFORM FOR SUCH NOSENSE, GO TO CLUB ZONE ON MAYELA IN KALINGALINGA, NOW SHUT UP!!!
#8. Men are plenty in Lusaka! What is the age range and hobbies?
MUNUNGO WA HAO # 8
#9, Please spare us you ignorance. I cannot imagine a statement more silly than yours. If you don’t understand how government’s work shouldn’t you be closing your beak? In your government will you expect your president to be on the streets supervising those ladies who sweep the roads? Would you expect your president to be issuing statements or handling issues that you have delegated to your ministers? In your government will your ministers not brief your president on what is happening in the country? Will your president be operating at the open air pakati market at Arcades so that people can see that he is working?
“No government should engage in a situation like this in this manner. The complaint which people in Western Province are putting forward is because of poverty and neglect of the province. There are no factories, no jobs. When people leave schools, they have nothing to do. Mr. Rupiah Banda and his ministers that come from Western Province have blood on their hands and they have to do something to wash off this blood.”
Gen Masheke wondered how MMD Parliamentarians from the province would face the people whose children were being killed. He said it was not a question of cessation of Western Province, but people were expressing anger at the situation in the area.
“Barotseland Agreement does not talk of cessation. People in Western Province have been the most humble since independence…
#1 MMD did not clean up the debt we were let off by the wave of loan write off’s instigated by the likes of Mandela, Kaunda and Anan get your facts right. MMD is borrowing at a faster rate than UNIP did without even informing the stake holders. :-w “In Mongu Mr. Lungu said a group of 20 people carrying matchetes was in the early hours of Friday rounded-up by police. Five other activists from Lusaka believed to be inciting people. How is it that over 100 police officers failed to contain 20 youths just not competent Mr Lungu resign and go back to being a UNIP backbencher your son is a better politician time to go back to the farm
Some silly monkey Zambians might be celebrating the demise of innocent protesters in Mongu today. However, as we can all see the door for a peacefully negotiated settlement to this contentious Agreement has been slammed shut. Any Zambian will be very foolish to think that my people can be intimidated like this or worse still that its the last you have heard of the uprising. Very sooner than later, they will reciprocate in kind. This stupid support for war, killing of unarmed innocent youths, will wane dramatically when reality dawns via a steady stream of body bags jetting into Lusaka airports from the West. Ngongi i fulumukile.
As Zambians we should start unleashing our energies toward developing western province.What the pipo in the province are indirectly saying is that govt shud be committed to serve the pipo they claim to so serve.Tho all provinces need devpt,western province shud be exploited & devpt in areas it is endowed with.Firstly explaration of oil in the province is a good news..if it works out of which iam sure it will do,greater part of the proceeds shud be invested in the provice & the local pipo with a broader eye on the devlpt of the all country.RICE in the province can do better which if exploited can sustain local demand & 4 export.Fishing can also be modernised but locals shud b in the 4front to spearhead these programs.precious stones also plenty so locals dont over depend on govt 4 devlpt.
# 8 are you that unattractive such that you have to go to such extremes or you have no market why don’t you try utwamu porridge,or worse go visit alangizi.
anamela if you are serious suggest a road map for the debate. the debate that was allowed led to the killings. if gov provides a road map it will be labelled undemocratic.
Good point mr Njekwa
The biggest problem we have in zambia (and Africa) is that we dont respect agreements. No well meaning Zambian would support the secession (or what ever it is), but as long as it was an agreement, the relevant authorities are supposed to honor it or nullify it as appropriate. Now our so called govt is busy issuing threats and shooting people, ifyabupuba, why cant they for onse make sensible decisions? an agreement was enterd into by the litunga of Brotse and the republic of zambia, & must be settled once and for all, not by threats nor guns but dialogue!. And this is the same movment (the Black fools/bulls) whch the Satan was suporting – suporting violence just to get to state house – how selfish and f.o…..lsh. Okey pa Zed palakalifya umutima
# 16 M15.
Point of correction. I want to differ with u & support #9. Presidency is a high office which shuld always identify priorities in its duties. RB shuld also identify situations threatening national security & lives of innocent zambians. Thus RB’s actions & his voice shows commitment, alertness, responsibilty & government’s intent. When Obama visited the berieved family of the shooting victims, he could ve deligated, but he was simply telling the Americans that he, like the US govt was with the victims & will use whatever means (personal or institutional) to bring them down & protect US citizenry. The confusion & killings in desrves presidential voice & delegate Mkondo or anyone to campaign. In Black & white, RB is interested in power (campaigns) not people’s lives! Hard Facts!
20 The Terminator,
” As Zambians we should start unleashing our energies toward developing western province.What the pipo in the province are indirectly saying is that govt shud be committed to serve the pipo they claim to so serve. ”
The problem is that they seem to serve Anglo-American De Beers (Rothschild bank).
Remember when they received $18 million of the $300 million in dividends ZCCM-IH was owed, and they couldn’t fall over each other fast enough to give it all back, by buying more shares with it?
The refusal to tax the mines for at least $1.2 billion a year (which can be done even under the present tax regime) proves the MMD is serving different masters than the Zambian people.
And that creates a vacuum for individuals like the Barotseland secessionists.
Developing Western Province or all provinces of Zambia should not be a mystery if they taxed the mines.
Let’s pay 50% of national revenues directly to local government, so they can provide – healthcare, education, security/policing, utilities, and administration. Complete openness, with council expenditures and remaining finances published for all the public to see.
That would also do away with all local taxes and levies, except in special circumstances.
Mr. Anamela, those terrorists had put on their agenda for that meeting the following: –
1. Declaration of Independence from Zambia
2. Expulsion of non-Lozis from Western Province
How can you now say that their gathering was intended to be peaceful, peaceful for who? Themselves? What about the lives of the non-Lozis which were being threatened? I believe the Police did their job correctly and should continue to do so.
They need to castrate all lozis(terrorists) including those in the diaspora(supposering terrorists)so that we reduce all the problems affecting the country.
#27: Ba Rick?
Kanshi naimwe tamwakwata amano. That was the AGENDA, not plan of action. If govt came in at that point, we cudn’t hav lost those lives. It has to do with the carelessnes on the part your leaders Boss. Acoording to him, the situation wasnt that serious (and Im sure still not serious), but jst beig ‘exagerated by the opposition’, really??
#24.. I agree with you. For rupiah not to speak on such a thorny national issue when he has in the past been quick to voice out on petty things is evident of his mediocrity and inept leadership. While Mkhondo Lungu wants to enforce the law, rupiah must provide leadership on the way forward.
#1.. UNIP had 27yrs to deal with the BA. MMD has had 20yrs to put this to rest. As MMD, you promised to clean up whatever mess UNIP left behind, but you have lamentably failed the nation. Rupiah needs to come out of the cocoon and do the job he was elected to do, fix what is broken, not just flying around aimlessly like a headless chicken
The buck stops at rupiah
Njekwa Anamela was how long in UNIP as a Member of the Central Committee? What did he do to ratify the ills if any of his landof origins? He is now speaking from the forehead? Cheap politics didnt help anyone.
I do NOT regret the shooting though it was sad for the young kid. Those chaps meant to cause serious war in Mongu. Imagine for once there was no police! What was gonna be the result? A warning for sorting them out was sent in good time … so, they knew what they were up to. They deserved it.
Police; sort them out!
32 Dr KM,
” Imagine for once there was no police! ”
Imagine these kids had jobs and a future. That is the real vacuum the Barotseland tribalists are filling.
This is the price we are paying for not taxing the mines. There is more than enough money to be collected to make sure everyone is in school, to build infrastructure and real money making enterprises and farms, and get everyone in the country healthcare when they need it. And lower lending rates to where entrepreneurs can access loans and make a profit.
As food prices rise, there is more social unrest to come.
This is the price we are paying for the MMD not taxing the mines. That is what pains me.
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Does any of you bloggers have love /sexlives?
Its funny how Zambian tribes are rising against one another while foreigners called “investers” loot its wealth.
Why do Africans, Zambians in particular hate to see one of their own succeed?
Zambians are Stup!d. U have given away 4free, your national wealth (Copperbelt) to the chinese but want to fight and kill your brothers and sisters over a piece of land full of sand! How stup!d.
Mushota u r the only wise person on this blog.
the people who signed that agreement where stupid, how do you sign something you dont understand? they even knew that Cecil was an evil man, he came for minerals and nothing else. but even today there some stupid agreement that are signed in gov and is still gonna bring about crushing like today. Europeans are still ruling African countries, the bilderberg is evil , unethical and so nefarious was Cecil, bloody rednecks! they always create a problem to offer the solution through their bloody NGOs!
#24 Make proper analysis: Had the police shot that deranged character in Tuscon before he unloaded his magazine – 6 lives would have been saved. That is what the police did in Mongu – particularly that they knew in advance and issued timely warnings. The Lozis have a well established leadership in the BRE – this is the conveyor of communication — not a bunch of hooligans pampered by desparate politicians. Govt deals with the BRE – there is no parallel structure in Western Province to anybody’s knowledge. Talking about dialogue with these hooligans is just s.illy. Not necessary for RB to comment on a standard police operation – and this should send as a warning to other hooligans.
Let us MARRY all the beautiful tall dark lozi women and produce Genetically Modified Lozi(GML) who will compromise the AGGREMENT.
UNIP is still alive? Shut your fcking traps, you morons! KK is the one who messed up on this ‘agreement’ so why should RB or any other Govt for that matter, re-look at this issue. BA64 is dead and buried, let’s move on. Even if you vote for Sata, nothing will happen.
Yaya if u think u are more Zambian than the people of western province shame on u Except for the tongas all tribes in Zambia came frm different parts of southen africa Bembas, Lozis & North western province tribes come frm Congo, Ngonis frm Zululand i find your comments very xenorphobic & divissive who came frm lesotho? and where do u cm frm imwe ba foreigner u are the one who always try to divide Zambians so that they cn fight each other fight against each other. Remember if u have five senses the abt BRE is not political its Economic no Development in Western Province full stop. Poor or no infrastructure, poor roads if there is this time i dont but one thing i know is as long there is no president frm western province development kulabako fye
AND CAN U PLEASE STOP ISSULTING LOZIS BLOGGERS NO TRIBE IS SUPERIOR TO THE OTHER IN OUR GREAT NATION WE COMMUNICATE IN BEMBA & NYANJA YES BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THESE LANGUAGES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE 70 LANGUAGES NOT REGULARLY SPOKEN
I just want to deliver my sentiments on the expriences from my son who has worked in Mongu from a neighbouring country and the way he ended up detesting the people because of their attitude and segregation of other people who were not Lozi’s. From that experience my son has very low respect for the Lozis. I have grown up in the Lozi culture from childhood up to until adult hood. I learnt their culture, I became very fluent in the Lozi language and even wore Misisi but I would get snares from the Lozi girls and they insisted that “Kima Lozi fela baba tina litou” not another tribe unfortunately i got involved with a Lozi man who let me down “Anikoni kunyala manyuku nyuku”. Iam airing all these observations and trying to highlight how I have come to learn about the Lozi and their self…
Emment, Emment , Ement yaba