Barotse activists petition High Court

…They want the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry report published

By NATION REPORTER TWO Barotse Land activists have petitioned the Lusaka High Court to compel the Zambian Government to declare the Rodger Chongwe Commission of inquiry report a public document.

Mulasikwanda Chazele and Ilukena Mukubesa also want the court to order that the results of the commission of inquiry be published and its contents made available to the public.

Following the riots that rocked Mongu on January 14 2011, several Barotse activists were arrested and charged for riotous behaviour.

Late president Michael Sata then, constituted the Roger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry as provided by Section 2 of the Inquiries Act And Statutory Instrument No 113 of 2011 was issued spelling out the purpose and constitution of the said commission.

But the activists have complained that six years later, the report has not been published and availed to the public for their review.

Mr Chazele and Mr Mukubesa said it was unacceptable that there was no report as the commission was constituted for public welfare as provided for by the law.

The petitioners said numerous people made submissions to the said commission and it was clear that from the same that Barotse Agreement of 1964 was the root cause of the disturbances that occurred in Mongu.

They said they have not moved on from the events of the material day and hold memorials for all the victims of the said day.

The two further said the people of Barotse land have the right to know why the Barotse Land Agreement has not been enforced dispite its validity and that they have a right to closure so that they can move on from this chapter of their lives and do all they can within the law and within their power to ensure that such disturbances do not occur again.

“This will be a perfect opportunity to open up channels of dialogue in respect to Barotse Land Agreement of 1964 so as to start the process of finally resolving and putting the issue to rest once and for all.

“This will be done to the benefit of Barotse Land and Zambia,” they said. The duo said the action of the Zambian Government to conceal the report is in direct contravention of the country’s values and principles contained in the Constitution.

The petitioner further states that since independence, the issue of Barotse Land Agreement had created a rift between Barotse land and the rest of Zambia.

“The Roger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry was a great step into bringing this rift as it was an active demonstration by the Zambian government to the people of Barotse that their rights are respected and any breach of the same will be taken seriously and those responsible will be brought to book,” reads the petition.

The petitioners have also asked the court to compel the Government to compensate the families of all the victims that died, were imprisoned, wounded and those who went missing during the disturbance.