SENIOR PEOPLE BEHIND SECESSION CALLS AND MOVEMENT The recent calls for Barotseland to secede from Zambia are different as they are well coordinated at international level by a certain organised clique as revealed by continued investigations into last week’s disturbances. Government will intensify investigations to pursue the clique which has escalated an international campaign for secession. This has also been done to mobilise resources, international lawyers and recruit individuals and civil society groupings to support their cause of Western Province seceding from Zambia. The country has in the past held debates on the possible restoration of the Barotse Agreement of 1964. However the recent activities outlined here is totally different as the recent calls demand Western Province to secede from Zambia. It is important to note that this entity has established a secession government in exile, and has registered and affiliated the so called Barotseland government to international organisation known to promote secession and breakaway provinces from current independent states. This entity has also set up a website (barotseland.info with direct contact barotseland.government@gmail) Most of the recent correspondences and petition letters have been written to the United Nations, the African Union, to the Southern Africa Development Coordinating Committee (SADC) and others have been generated by this clique. This entity also writes letters to international dignitaries visiting Zambia. For example when the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, this entity wrote a demand letter dated 16th April 2012, claiming that Barotseland as nation was under subjugation and was being dominated by Zambia and the call for their right to self -determination and self-rule was justified under the United General Assembly Resolution 545 (vi). Further this entity is running an online newspaper called Barotse Post and is also running a blog radio called Radio Barotselan, where subversive and seditious material is freely circulated. The entity has also registered the so called Barotseland government to session movements that fund and support these activities. The following are the organisation; 1. The Organisation of Emerging African States (OEAS) (oeas.info) - with Headquarters in Washington DC, The OEAS was established by the so called Washington Declaration of 2010. Its Secretary General is a Mr. Ebenezer Derek Mbongo Akwanga a Cameroonian who advocates for the secession of Southern Cameroon. It now has registered members totalling 26 of groupings promoting so called states to breakaway that include Barotseland. On its list, it includes Kabinda in Angola, Matabeleland in Zimbabwe, Caprivi in Namibia and Kivu. The OEAS is run by a Bureau which provides resources, planning, administration and publicity for “member states”. The organisation is credited with championing the cause of South Sudan 2. The Federation of Free States of Africa (FFSA) – the organisation was formed in 2007. The Secretary General is also Cameroonian by the name of Mangovo Ngoyo and his deputy is an American known as Michael Johnson. This organisation also advocates the right to self-determination and promotes the secession of parts of a country from their mother State. Barotseland is also a member. Another matter of concern is the letter that was written to an organ of the African Union. On 3rd December, former Ngambela Clement Wanyae Sinyinda of Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) and on behalf of the Litunga, Lubosi Imwiko (II) and on behalf of the Kuta of Barotseland wrote a complaint letter to the African Union (AU) organ, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). He founded his complaint on Article 55 and 56 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. On 17the December 2012, the Commission received the complaint. On 1st March 2013, the Commission acknowledged receipt of this letter and registered the communication as 492/12 titled – The Ngambela of Barotseland and Others Vs. Zambia. This letter was couched in language and procedure that meets the eligibility criteria of the ACHPR. Secretary of the Commission Dr. Ngambela was directed to present evidence and arguments on the admissibility of the communication within two months as required under Rule 105 (1). The Commission sitting in Banjul, Gambia in the 13th Extra-Ordinary Session from 19th -25th February 2013 decided that; 1. The African Commission is seized of this complaint because it reveals prima facie violation of the rights guaranteed by the African Charter 2. The African Commission calls on the Complaint to present evidence and arguments on admissibility within two (2) months in accordance with Rule 105(1) of its Rules and Procedure. Although Clement Wainyae Sinyinda was fired or resigned as Ngambela of the Litunga and Kuta, this complaint has however not been withdrawn or disowned by those it was written on behalf. Further, it must be noted that the ultimate findings of this body will only make recommendations to the African Union General Conference. It is for this reason that the Attorney General of Zambia has to ensure that the Complaint is dismissed or expunged from the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights as this is an organ of the African Union based in Banjul, Gambia. As a country, it’s imperative to immediately act when the constitutional order of the country is seriously threatened and so that the development agenda is not derailed. Emmanuel Mwamba Permanent Secretary WESTERN PROVINCE
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:02:29 +0000
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