However, our valid observation is that the BRE seem to be pursuing a type of self-determination which is different from the self-determination popularly declared at the 2012 BNC. This would make them still out of sync and out of touch with the current aspiration of the Barotse people. Maybe, it is about time that we reminded the BRE how out of tune they really are with the people because it is vitally important for the BRE and the people to pursue one and the same kind of self-determination or Barotseland will achieve no self-determination at all! Barotseland will not achieve self-determination if the two key stakeholders are still divided over what they want; Self-determination within the confines of the unitary state of Zambia or Self-determination outside of Zambia.

Self-determination within Zambia, also known as internal self-determination, is what the people of Barotseland were demanding from 1964 until the 2012 Barotse National Council. In 2012, however, the people of Barotseland unanimously called for external self-determination, now that they had been denied internal self-determination repeatedly! External self-determination will entail that the nation of Barotseland exists separately and independently from Zambia!

BACKGROUND

While the BRE was fraternising with the Central Government in Lusaka, they were literally being lured to mortgage all their little remaining powers, and that of the Litunga of Barotseland! It took them quite a while to realise that in fact, the Zambian Agenda was to completely dethrone the Litunga by slowly undermining his authority over his Kingdom until he had no power left to discipline even erring or rebellious chiefs among his subjects!

In effect, Lusaka became a bully that the BRE needed to stand up to.

However, standing up to the Lusaka bully is not necessarily the same as pursuing the total independence that the 2012 Barotse National Council (BNC) unanimously resolved! It should merely be the start! And now the BRE and the Litunga must be encouraged to state clearly whether they are also going for the total independence of Barotseland by immediately signing and adopting all the 2012 BNC resolutions.

CURRENT ASPIRATION OF BAROTSELAND

The BRE and the Litunga need to be reminded that the people now want a Barotseland where the Litunga, King of Barotseland, is the Sovereign De jure and actual Head of State, in a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy type of government, with the Mulonga (Barotse Royal Authority) headed by Minyoaluyi (Lord Chancellor) forming the House of Lords (Upper Chamber of Parliament) and the Elective Katengo (National Assembly) headed by the Ngambela (Prime Minister) forming the House of Commons or the Lower Chamber of Parliament.

The Prime Minister must head the civil government which will work alongside the Mulonga and all other Barotse tiers of Government to the Village and family level to develop Barotseland’s economy and exploit all Barotseland’s rich land, natural, mineral, cultural, human (both civil and royal) resources, for a prosperous twenty-first century Barotseland Kingdom, like the kingdoms of Japan, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Lesotho and many other thriving constitutional monarchies of the world today!

Further, the people want a democratic Barotseland where justice and freedom will reign, placing a premium on the people above all else, with a strict adherent to all internationally acclaimed human rights!

As such, they are hoping that the new Ngambela and the BRE will immediately do some of the following:

1. Immediately work for the unconditional release of Afumba Mombotwa, Inambao Kalima and Likando Pelekelo, since we are now made to understand that the BRE was misled into supporting their arrest by the Zambian state on the pretext that Afumba and his colleagues had conspired to overthrow both the Litunga and the Zambian Executive.

2. Ngambela Manyando must call for a BRE meeting with all the activist leaders in all the freedom movements to harmonise their future activities. A Barotse National Council (BNC) is not necessary at this stage because the 2012 BNC resolutions are still valid and still stand true!

3. The same BRE/Activist meeting should resolve modalities for an expanded Government of National Unity to serve as a Barotseland Transitional Government (BTG) that will work towards a general election that will usher in a substantive Royal Barotseland Government (RBG) with a Prime Minister elected from the party that will win the majority Katengo seats in the general election as Barotseland espouses Parliamentary democracy.

4. The Litunga must then swear in and support this BTG and immediately reform the current Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to a Barotse Royal Authority (BRA).

Hopefully, all this can be implemented in the course of 2019!

A BAROTSELAND POST EDITORIAL COMMENTARY for 22nd January 2019.