LITUNGA FACES REBELLION
THE Litunga is facing a revolt from a cabal of UPND Indunas holding instructions to derail Bill 10 thereby sabotaging constitutional amendments intended to restore oversight powers to senior traditional leaders over their subjects.
This came to light in a drama that unfolded following a visit to Western Province by Raphael Nakacinda, chairman of the parliamentary select committee on Bill 10.
After holding successive meetings in various districts explaining the bill 10, affirming the intention to amend the constitution to return the powers of the Litunga, a group of Indunas, issued a counter statement, indicating that the BRE was not interested whatsoever in Bill 10.
During a meeting between Mr Naka and the Ngambela Mukela Manyando, it was agreed that the Bill 10 should be discussed and necessary amendments made to give effect to the BRE wishes.
But later the rebel group abrogated the statement saying the BRE was not interested in the BIll 10.
When contacted Induna Manyando said the BRE stood by its earlier submission on the Bill 10 and that debate must be allowed so that issues of disagreement are cleared.
And Mr Nakacinda expressed shock at the new twist of events, saying it was contrary to what was submitted during the meeting.
He said the BRE did not reject Bill 10 but only asked for more sensitisation to be done so that more people could understand what was contained therein.
Mr Nakacinda said claims by some indunas that BRE rejected Bill 10 were unfortunate as that was not the position which was given during the meeting.
In a recent judgement, the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) of Zambia had made a ruling in favour rebels led by embattled Webby Mulubisha contesting the Mwene Mutondo chieftaincy against the long-held cultural procedures of the Kingdom of Barotseland.
Mulubisha, a well-known rebel against the Litunga of Barotseland, using the recent 2016 amended Zambian Constitution, had petitioned the Attorney General of Zambia at the ConCourt asking whether he needed the recognition of the Zambian President to be a Chief.
In passing judgment on 27th November 2019, the ConCourt ruled and declared Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the named Chiefs Act to be inconsistent with the named Article 165 of the Zambian Constitution as amended in 2016, and are, therefore, unconstitutional and void. The ConCourt further ordered that the sections in question be expunged from the statute book.
The Chief Act remains the only piece of Law in Zambia that recognizes the power of the Litunga over all the chiefs in the Western province of Zambia. As such, with this ruling, the Litunga, King of Barotseland, is seen to have been stripped of these powers over his Kingdom of Barotseland.