User:Joboizizi

Geographical Position & National Status:

Barotseland Kingdom is a landlocked Nation located in the Southern Austral Africa neighboring Zambia on the East, Botswana on the south, Namibia on the south west and Angola on the west. The nation is currently awaiting recognition from other Governments in the world.

Brief History:

Barotseland is an old African Nation which has existed for over 5 centuries as a Kingdom and so named in the 1800s. It was once a British Protectorate but was not given independence when it wanted it, but instead it was transferred to a fellow African Nation called Zambia. The relation between the two nations was meant to be based on the Agreement called Barotseland Agreement 1964; the Agreement never entered into force, instead it was unilaterally abrogated by Zambia to the point where Zambia called Barotseland Western Province illegal perpetrated by a fake slogan of One Zambia One Nation.

However, the Barotseland Nation officially declared itself independent from Zambia on 8th September, 2011 and the declaration was re-affirmed by the people’s congress (Barotse National Council or Convention of 27th March 2012). Therefore, Royal Barotseland shall remain a constitutional and democratic Monarch.

Population:

Barotseland is estimated to have a population of about 3, 500,000.

National Language:

There are 38 languages currently in Barotseland which are unified by the Silozi language; hence Silozi language is a lingua-franca in Barotseland. However, Royal Barotseland uses English as its official language.

The ratio of men to women is roughly 1 to 3.

Nature of People:

The Barotzish are naturally honest, faithful, hardworking and law abiding citizens.

Economic Potential:

Royal Barotseland is endowed with abundant natural resources with potential for massive economic developments; the land has streams, brooks, lagoons and rivers with fresh waters flowing all year round.

Justification of Liberty:

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 15 (2)) stipulates “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his Nationality nor denied the Right to change his Nationality.” Really we are a Nation and nobody can deprive us of our nationality.

Royal Barotseland National Flag

Interpretation:

1.	Star = time is money; when the morning star has dawned, people must work up, for the time will not wait for those who are still sleeping. 2.	Colours = blue means love. Yes we have passion for Barotseland our country; it also depicts the land of water resource. 3.	Red = the colour red symbolises blood shed to redeem Barotseland from the captors and invaders.

Explanation by National Language

i)	Silimba: Mwa misindi, mwa mabala, mwa mishitu, silimba sa lila; mi mwa mikulo si utwahalela mwa liko, luli sihapa pilu yaka, eee ki mwa Bulozi naha ya hesu. Mutulo, mboela, upa ni wiko ki nyakalalo, babahulu, michaha ni likalibe mane ni banana silimba saba tikinya mi saba ñwaya. Na utwa kwa mutala silimba sa bambeti sa umbwaeta, eee ki haesu, mi ki mwa bulozi mokufumaneha zeo. Luli naha ya hesu yani katulusa. ii)	Mubala wa bundilu: Mubala wa bundilu uyemela lilato kwa naha ya hesu, lipakelwa ki mubala o mutuna. Mi mubala woo hape uyemela mezi a mañata afumaneha mwateñi. Eee luopela mwa pina ya naha sina cwana: Bulozi fasi labo ndataluna, hala mafasi lelinde ki lona, linani linuka, mishitu, mabala mi lwali lata. Luli lilato laluna kwa naha Bulozi kileli tuna hakakañi. iii)	Mubala o Musweu: Mubala o musweu u yemela kozo; kwa pilu za luna kuli twaa! Mi ki nalikeñi haluli mwa Bulozi moyo wa katuluha. iv)	Mubala wa bufubelu: Mubala wa bufubelu u yemela mali a suluhile mwandwa zaku liulula Bulozi. Ni hakuli cwalo pilu za luna halisaliyo mwa mali, kakuli cwale lumwa buiketo.

Royal Flag

Toloko: i)	Tou: siswaniso sa tou siyemela yena Mulena kasibili. ii)	Mubala o mufubelu: woo uyemela kuli hakuna mwana moola mwa puso ya namani ze tuna kanako yeo.

N. B. the Zambian Government has no authority over Barotseland in default of the Agreement. i)	Zambia has successfully managed to stripple the Litunga off his powers, and Zambian Leaders are herald for disposal of the Barotse Government that was in place.

As a people, Barotzis have the right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, viz, Part 1 Article 1 “all people have the Right for Self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” ii)	The future and destine of Barotseland cannot be determined by a technical committee of appointed by Zambia; who are covetous and were not even referred to in the Barotseland Agreement 1964. iii)	Barotseland came under the administration of the Zambian Government based on the Agreement and not that it would cease to exist or that the territory was ceded to Zambia NO! iv)	Sovereignty belongs to the people in Barotseland and we are here to freely determine our political status first and foremost. v)	Barotseland is our heritage. Precedents, legal interpretation and knowledge are at our disposal, to enable us stand on our feet.

Customs are practices, habits and cultures that are inherited from people of the past; custom distinguishes one particular people or society from the rest of the other people or societies of the world.

Societies have norms, values and ethics cherished by a particular people concerned; the same applies to the Barotzish Nation. We have our customs and traditions that we cherish. Politics to us is an art of governance. Now that the art of ruling has been modified in every society in the world, so shall it be in Barotseland.

Litunga means land or country. So the Litunga of Barotseland literally means the country of Barotseland. Philosophically, the King is called by the title “Litunga” meaning that he is a country. Logically, nobody else can claim the Litunga of Barotseland, other than the Barotzis nationals. As land he is in their care and not otherwise. Really, there is no time when the Litunga of Barotseland shall be the Litunga of other places or country. Rationally, there is no country that can exist within a country.

N.B.

The Litunga cannot say that “he is not the Litunga” when he is the Litunga. The Litunga becomes the Litunga by the people and not by himself. In the typical system of Barotseland, it is not the head wagging the tail, but the tail wagging the head. During the Babylonian era, (Zambian rule) the Litunga was reduced to the level of a local chief. That was a horrible situation.

Referendums are normally conducted to reach a consensus where there is no thread of legality to guide the people when taking a decisive step. E.g. where things are valid, perfect and working well then there comes a decision to do away with them, a referendum need to be conducted. In addition people do not need a referendum to know who they are and what belongs to them. The issue of possession according to law does not require referendum but evidence.

Condoned in Barotseland tradition are the following:

1)	Single elephant as a sign, symbolizes something royal in particular to do with the Litunga (King). 2)	Regal flag is represented by red color. Royal functions (Muleneñi) red berets are seen. 3)	There is a difference between what is royal and what is for the nation or commoner. 4)	The Lord Princes and Princesses as they shall be called have their own symbols too; inter-alia: buffalo, hippopotamus, cow etc. 5)	In the new state tradition shall be blended with modernism or they co-exist. Let all the people be familiar with the national symbols and other signs of Barotseland. If it will be required for a Lord Chancellor (Minyolui) to have a flag, it will be a red one with a diagonal white bind, where white replaces an elephant.

No law, no intellectualism, no philosophy, no creed or religion can be used or applied to justify or deprive the Barotse people off their sovereignty.

Litunga ni Lyetu! Barotseland is our Nation.

May the Lord God almighty bless Barotseland our Nation and Country!