Sinkamba, Green Party leader, blames politicians for lingering crisis over Barotseland agreement

Green Party leader, Peter Sinkamba, says the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 issue requires dialogue and not threats from a sitting President.

Sinkamba argued that the issue was straight forward and could be resolved if politicians honestly dedicate themselves to amicably resolve it.

The Green Party leader said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

He stated that the key issue concerning the agreement was that it recognised the Litunga of Barotseland as the principal local authority for the government.

“Litunga is principal local authority and administrator of Barotseland, with powers to make laws of Barotseland in respect to matters such as land, natural resources and taxation,” Sinkamba said.

He stated that the issue had already been resolved except that politicians were reluctant to implement the solutions that had already been lawfully put in place.

Sinkamba said the lame excuse that had been advanced by politicians was that the Agreement was cancelled by government through the Constitutional Amendment Act of October 1969.

“This laissez faire leadership attitude, by we the politicians, has led to some aggrived groups among the Lozi demand for the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 for more than five decades now,” he added.

Sinkamba noted that some extreme groups had even called for separation and secession.

He claimed that among the activist groups for the Barotseland Agreement were the Movement of the Restoration of Barotseland Agreement, the Barotse Patriotic Front and Linyunga Ndambo.

“Inaction by successive government to amicably resolve the key issue stated above led to violent fights between government troops and the activists on October, 23, 2010 and January, 14, 2011 in Mongu and surrounding areas,” Sinkamba stated.

He noted that the fights resulted in fatalities, serious injuries, arrests and detentions.

“About twenty-four of the detainees were charged with treason for seeking the secession of Barotseland, now Western Province while others were charged with riotous behaviour or conduct likely to cause a breach of peace,” Sinkamba said.

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