GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN URGED TO EXPEDITIOUSLY CALL FOR DIALOGUE AND ADDRESS THE CONCERNS BEEN RAISED BY LOZI PEOPLE.

GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN URGED TO EXPEDITIOUSLY CALL FOR DIALOGUE FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND ADDRESS THE CONCERNS BEEN RAISED BY LOZI PEOPLE.

AND DR SKETCHLEY SACIKA WHO IS ALSO THE FORMER SECRETARY TO THE CABINET HAS DESCRIBED THE CURRENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT AS TOO CENTRALIZED AND HAS SINCE CALLED FOR DECENTRALIZATION IF DEVELOPMENT IS TO BE REGISTERED IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

SPEAKING ON RADIO PHOENIX LET THE PEOPLE TALK PROGRAMME, DR SACIKA EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS NEED TO REDUCE THE POWERS OF A PRESIDENT STATING THAT REGIONALIZATION IS THE WAY A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES ARE GOING AS IT ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL.

SPEAKING ON THE SIDE LINES OF THE CONTINUED WRANGLES IN WESTERN PROVINCE ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO THE BAROTSE LAND AGREEMENT, DR SACIKA EXPLAINED THAT THE LOZI PEOPLE FEEL BETRAYED AND THEIR INHERITANCE STOLEN HENCE NEED FOR DIALOGUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DR SACIKA DESCRIBED UPRISING IN WESTERN PROVINCE AS EMOTIVE AND SENSITIVE ADDING THAT THE ISSUES BEEN RAISED CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH POLITICAL MANIPULATION BUT PROPER DIALOGUE FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

BUT HE NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE BAROTSE LAND AGREEMENT DO NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE MATTER HENCE CREATING UNNECESSARY CONFUSION IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SPEAKING DURING THE SAME PROGRAMME SOUTHERN AFRICA CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTIVE RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEE HABASONDA HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE LOZI PEOPLE HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS BUT WAS HOWEVER QUICK TO ADVISE ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED TO APPROACH THE MATTER IN A BETTER WAY.

MR HABASONDA STATES THAT POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT MANIPULATE THE BAROTSE LAND AGREEMENT BUT MUST ENSURE THAT THEY DIALOGUE SO THAT THE RECENT CASES OF VIOLENCE ARE AVOIDED.

HE ADDS THAT GOVERNMENT MUST DESIST FROM USING FORCE AMONG THE LOZI PEOPLE BUT RATHER SHOULD FIND A NEUTRAL GROUND AND DISCUSS THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM.

AND MR HABASONDA HAS RETALIATED THAT THE WHOLE NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE PROCESS HAS BEEN A SHAMEFUL EXERCISE AS IT DID NOT TAKE ON BOARD THE WISHES OF THE ZAMBIANS.

AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAME PROGRAMME REVEREND EDITH MUTALE HAS ACCUSED FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT DR KENNETH KAUNDA AND MR SIKOTA WINA OF BEEN HYPOCRITES AND HAS SINCE CHALLENGED THEM TO COME OUT IN THE OPEN AND SHOW LEADERSHIP ON THE MATTER.

THE OTHER CALLERS BEMOANED THE STANCE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT ON THE BAROTSE LAND GOVERNMENT AND CAUTIONED THEM SAYING TIME IS NOW FOR IT TO SIT DOWN AND RESOLVE THE ISSUES WHICH THE LOZI PEOPLE ARE RAISING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE COUNTRY ERUPTS INTO CHAOS.

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