Mundubile promises dialogue on Barotse
By Mast Reporter
NATIONAL Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile says he is committed to genuine dialogue with the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) over the 1964 Barotseland Agreement if elected president next week.
Speaking at Limulunga Palace in Mongu yesterday, when he met the Kuta and traditional leaders, Mundubile said the long-standing national question continues to affect national unity and weighs heavily on the country’s conscience.
“Once the people of the Barotseland try us, entrust us with the power to govern, my leadership is committed to addressing the thorny issue of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. This issue has been very important matter which needs to be addressed,” he said.
He said his administration would engage the Barotse Royal Establishment within a mutually agreed framework to resolve the matter with dignity and fairness, in the spirit of One Zambia, One Nation.
Mundubile said he would decriminalize public discussion of the 1964 agreement.
He said no one should be arrested, detained and jailed solely for discussing the Barotseland question.
“Not under my watch. Nobody will be arrested and taken to prison over the Barotseland Agreement. We shall decriminalise it once voted into power next week. We need to allow our people speak freely,” he said.
Mundubile said it was sad that the province had consistently recorded the highest levels of poverty and lowest levels of development.
He said the trend had been a result of prolonged marginalisation and underinvestment by successive governments, a situation he said would change under his leadership.
He said that once voted into office would address the challenges through a dedicated Marshall Plan.
Mundubile said any meaningful development can only take place through consultation with the establishment, religious leaders, civil society and government institutions.
And speaking on behalf of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Ngambela Mukela Manyando commended Mundubile’s commitment to dialogue.
Ngambela Manyando said the 1964 Barotseland Agreement was a thorny issue as it had created a lack of understanding and unnecessary friction in the region and across the country.
