GOVERNMENT HAS BANNED PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES DISCUSSING THE CONTROVERSIAL BAROTSELAND ISSUE.
SOME LOZI PEOPLE OF WESTERN ZAMBIA ARE DEMANDING SECESSION OF BAROTSELAND IF THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RESTORE THE PRE-INDEPENDENCE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 SIGNED BETWEEN THEN NORTHERN RHODESIA AND BAROTSELAND UNDER SUPERVISION OF COLONIAL RULER BRITAIN AHEAD OF THE MERGER OF THE TWO TERRITORIES.
SPEAKING TO RADIO PHOENIX TODAY ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES DORA SILIYA SAID SOME PEOPLE WERE “INCITING VIOLENCE” USING PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT SHALL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE DISCUSSIONS (BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT (BRE) TO BE GOING ON IN THE MANNER THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROCEEDING WITH THE INCITEMENT THAT IS COMING FROM THE PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES ON MANY COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS PARTICULARLY IN WESTERN PROVINCE.
SHE HAS SINCE CALLED UPON MEDIA HOUSES TO DESIST FROM HAVING THESE PROGRAMMES ON THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT BECAUSE THESE PROGRAMMES SPUR A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, AN EMOTIONAL ASPECT WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD FOR THE ONGOING DIALOGUE.
ZAMBIA HAS OVER 35 PRIVATE RADIO STATIONS AND ABOUT FIVE PRIVATE LOCAL TV CHANNELS, AND ALL REGULARLY CONDUCT PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES. THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964 IN THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION WOULD GIVE THE LOZI’S KING LITUNGA PARTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OVER FORESTRY, LAND AND FISHERIES AMONG OTHER FIELDS, ACCORDING TO LOZI TRADITIONALISTS.
AND PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA HAS WARNED ANYBODY THAT WOULD ATTEND THE ‘ILLEGAL’ GATHERING WOULD BE ARRESTED.
VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE KUNDA, ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT BANDA, LAST WEEK MET THE BRE LEADERSHIP TO RESOLVE THE STANDOFF WHICH OVER THE PAST MONTHS HAS LED TO VIOLENT PROTESTS BY SECESSIONISTS IN THE PROVINCE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS THREATENED TO CHARGE THE SECESSIONISTS WITH TREASON AND BEEFED UP POLICE PRESENCE AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S MEETING, WHICH IS PURPORTED TO BE THE DEADLINE FOR NON-LOZIS TO VACATE THE REGION
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