BAROTSELAND NATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE
Motto: Total Independence of Barotseland from Northern Rhodesia
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Date: 14th June, 2012

THE SECRETAY-GENERAL
UNITED NATIONS

Att: The Conflicts Resolution Committee

Dear Sir,

RE: REQUEST FOR YOUR SWIFT AND DIRECT INTERVENTION OVER THE BAROTSELAND IMPASSE

The conflict of Barotseland and the Zambian government has been going on for sometime now, and as youths of Barotseland we are getting concerned and can no longer wait and be spectators since we constitute the majority.

In this regard we as youths appeal for your immediate intervention before we resort to massive armed struggle, like what is happening in other countries, because on the 27th March 2012, we the people of Barotseland through the Barotse National Council (BNC) deliberated and resolved that Barotseland is now an independent and Free State as per the BNC’s position statement which reads as follows: “We the people of Barotseland declare that Barotseland is now free to pursue its own self-determination and destiny”. The above statement clearly indicates that we the people of Barotseland have declared Barotseland as an independent state and therefore, she is free to pursue her own political, cultural, social as well as economic development and consequently, her sovereignty has to be defended period no more, no less.

In the preamble of the BNC resolutions it states that” We now inform Zambia and the International Community that we finally accept the unilateral nullification and abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 by the Zambian government, which action has freed Barotseland from being part of Zambia”.

The preamble further states as follows: “In line with the post liminium doctrine we can no longer be obliged to honor an international Agreement that the other party has nullified and abrogated, which has reverted us to our original status”. It should be noted that in the letter dated 14th May, 2012, which was addressed to Sata and his government; the Ngambela told Sata that the unilateral abrogation of the Barotseland agreement 1964 has released Barotseland from being part of Zambia. The above statement means that there is no Country called Zambia, because Barotseland and Northern Rhodesia have reverted to their original status before 1964.

Despite all these efforts made by the people of Barotseland, the Zambian government has not cooperated, but instead, continues amassing troops into Barotseland, creating fear, tension and insecurity among the people of Barotseland. It is a well known fact that the Zambian government as a colonizer cannot let go Barotseland freely on its own, without the intervention of the international Community like yours. Where on earth have you seen a crocodile let its prey go scot free without an external force’s intervention?

Now why should we think we need to agree with the colonizer when the colonizer has in fact unilaterally nullified and abrogated an honorable International Treaty, honestly speaking does that make sense as far as the International law on treaties, agreements and law of contracts is concerned? Actually always a colonizer does not offer or give freedom to the colonized neither does the oppressor give freedom to the oppressed, instead it is the oppressed or colonized’s duty to liberate himself from the hands of the colonizer, therefore, we the youths and the people of Barotseland have the duty to and must liberate ourselves from the shackles of slavery, subjugation and cohesion by the Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) government headed by the PF government.

In fact this is the worst colonization or subjugation, the world has ever witnessed, because it is a BLACK-TO-BLACK COLONIZATION OR SUBJUGATION.

Among us some are scared of being arrested by the Northern Rhodesian government for treason, if we put a government in place. We as youths of Barotseland want to state it without reservation that there is nothing that constitutes treason in the issue of Barotseland reverting to her original status and the people of Barotseland putting a government in place.

We know and are aware that as far as the International law with regard to the law of treaties, agreements and law of contracts is concerned, there is no such an offense of treason when a party to a treaty, who is innocent reverts to his original status or earlier position before the agreement, treaty or contract was entered into or signed.

This is in accordance with the VIENNA CONVENTION ARTICLES 60 AND 70, which allows or permits the aggrieved or innocent party to revert to his original status and he is not obliged to perform any obligation under the treaty that has been unilaterally nullified and abrogated by the other party to the treaty.

This is the case Barotseland is, because Northern Rhodesian government repudiated and unilaterally abrogated the Barotseland Agreement 1964, thereby, reverting Barotseland to her original status.

Any reasonable person will agree that there is no treason offense here, with regard to Barotseland reverting to her original status and forming government. Because treason is an offense of overthrowing a government, now which government are we overthrowing?

Therefore, we would like to inform the International Community that no amount of intimidation by the Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) government will make us be scared of or deterred from forming government through the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) which took place on 27th March 2012 at Limulunga Palace, and we have identified ourselves as Barotse Nationals and no one can argue with us, and no one has the right to stop or forbid us, because the matter of self-determination is a Human Rights issue which is an inborn and inherent Right in accordance with the AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ARTICLSE 20 AND 21, which states as follows:

ARTICLE 20 OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS PROVIDES THAT:-

1. “All peoples shall have the right to exercise the right to self-determination. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic development according to the policy they have freely chosen.

2. Colonized or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from bonds of domination, by reverting to any means recognized by the International Community;

3. All peoples shall have the right to assistance of state parties to the present charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic or cultural;

ARTICLE 21 OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS STATES THAT:-

1. All peoples shall freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources. This right shall be exercised in the exclusive interest of the people. In no case shall a people be deprived of it;

2. In case of spoliation, the dispossessed people shall have the right to the lawful recovery of property as well as to an adequate compensation;

3. The free disposal of wealth and natural resources shall be exercised without prejudice to the obligation of promoting international economic cooperation based on mutual respect, equitable exchange and the principle of international law”.

ARTICLE 1 OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS PROVIDES THAT:-

1. “All peoples shall have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right, they shall freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development;

2. All peoples may, for their own ends dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligation arising out of international economic cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its means subsistence;

3. The state parties to the present convention, including those having responsibility of administration of Non-self-governing and Trust Territories shall promote the realization of the right to self-determination and shall have the right to self-determination”.

Equipped with and as supported by these international laws as stated or stipulated above, we the people of Barotseland have the right to secure our inalienable rights to self-determination without any one in the whole world, including Sata’s Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) government, arresting, charging or indicting us for frivolous and vexatious treason and secession related offenses.

Therefore, as indicated above, do we need to go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in order to be identified and proved that we are Barotse Nationals? By the way which Country, Nation or State in the whole world that has been liberated in the International Court of Justice as far as independence struggle is concerned?

Finally, in accordance with the Barotse National Council resolutions Nos. 6,7,8,9 and 10, which mandate us to form government state as follows; resolution No. 6”The people of Barotseland shall exercise their right to revert Barotseland to its original status as a sovereign nation, so that the people of Barotseland shall determine their political, cultural, social and economic development”.

Resolution No. 7”The Barotse Government is mandated to within 30 days, request the UNITED NATIONS to oversee the transition process”

Resolution No.8 “The Barotse Government should, within 30 days, put in place a transition process leading to taking over all government functions in Barotseland and the election of the Katengo legislation Council”

Resolution No. 9 “We mandate the Barotse government to immediately engage the Zambian government with the sole purpose of working out a transitional arrangements towards self-determination for Barotseland within the shortest possible time under the auspices of the UNITED NATIONS”

Resolution No. 10”The Barotse government should embark on reforms to modernize its functions and enhance accountability and transparency”

In accordance with and as mandated by the above mentioned BNC resolutions of the 27th March 2012,  we therefore, inform the people of Barotseland, the Northern Rhodesian government and the international Community such as the UNITED NATIONS, the COMMONWEALTH, the AFRICAN UNION and SADC, that we as youths of Barotseland shall work and have opted to work with and support any progressive organization and the PEOPLE OF BAROTSELAND who have realized and already identified themselves that they are Barotse Nationals, in forming government for the Barotse Nation as soon as possible as mandated by the BAROTSE NATIONAL COUNCIL (BNC), which is the supreme organ in Barotseland as far as policy making is concerned.

We therefore, request the UNITED NATIONS to oversee the transitional government being formed by us the people of Barotseland.

We have taken the above stance of forming government of Barotseland as soon as possible, because there is a deliberate delay caused by indecision by the BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT (BRE), who seem to be scared of announcing the Barotse interim government for fear of being arrested and charged with perceived frivolous and vexatious treason offense by the Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) government, who is the colonizer.

We shall strongly, firmly, stick to and defend the Barotse National Council resolutions of 27th March 2012 and the sovereignty of Barotseland. In short, we shall stand and fall with the people of Barotseland. In the Holy Bible Jesus once said “he who is not with us is against us” We as Barotseland youths also say “he who is not with us the people of Barotseland is against us” Sir, in conclusion as youths of Barotseland, we are requesting your good office to take a center and front stage over the issue of Barotseland.We are aware that numerous documents have been presented to you over the same. We only wonder why you have remained mute. What we know is that one of the UNTED NATIONS resolutions acknowledges peaceful resolution to conflicts.

We have put our case across, but you are not acting. Do you want us Sir, to wage an armed and bloody struggle and that’s when you will acknowledge that there is a problem in Barotseland?

Do you want us to be like Syria and Somalia and many other countries which are war torn? That’s why we are directly pleading with you to intervene and act swiftly and advise or order the Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) government to pull out its security forces and administration off Barotseland without any spillage of blood.

We remind you as youths that when you visited Zambia, you strongly stressed the need to respect Human Rights in regard to the Zambians, but no Human Rights in regard to Barotseland which is colonized by the Zambian Government and ruling Barotseland, by giving false peace and unity statements to the world?

Sir, we as Barotseland youths are sick and tired of being colonized by Northern Rhodesians (Zambians), we are sick and tired of being falsely imprisoned by the Zambian government, whenever we attempt to talk about them colonizing us, we are sick and tired of being tortured and killed when we stand up and talk about them colonizing or subjugating us the people of Barotseland.

In summary we say enough is enough, that’s the reason why we have resolved to revert Barotseland to her original status before we merged with Northern Rhodesia so that we determine our own political, social, cultural and economic development. We have reached the point of no return and there is no looking back.

Thanking you in advance, Sir.

Encl.

Yours Faithfully,

Barotseland Youths

IKACANA MUYUNDA        …………………………………………………………………………..
MASIYALETI MASIYALETI    …………………………………………………………………………..
ETAMBUYU NYAMBE        ………………………………………………………………………….
BORIS MUZIBA MUZIBA    …………………………………………………………………………..
SIKWIBELE WASILOTA        ………………………………………………………………………….
MWENDA NAYOTO        ………………………………………………………………………….

Cc: THE COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE, UNDP, ZAMBIA
Cc: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, COMMONWEALTH
Cc: THE NGAMBELA OF BAROTSELAND
Cc: THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN RHODESIA (ZAMBIA)