A STATEMENT FROM THE THREE CHURCH MOTHER BODIES ON THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT OF 1964

My prayer is not for them only, but for all who will have faith in me through their word; May they all be one! Even as you, Father, are in me and I am in you... John 17: 20 -21 Preamble Following the Resolutions of the 2012 Barotse National Council (BNC) held at Limulunga in Mongu, from the 26 to 27 March 2012, that 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.6) the three Church Mother Bodies wish to guide the nation as follows:1. As Church leaders, we wish to reiterate statements we have made in the past calling for a spirit of unity, justice, peace and reconciliation in our beloved country but especially in the Western Province with particular reference to the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. It is also in this spirit of goodwill that we make this statement. 2. The Church mother bodies, are appreciative of the fact that, the BNC met, in the spirit of finding a lasting solution to the problem of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 and also to deliberate on developmental issues affecting the people of Western Province. 3. We applaud the people of Western Province for holding the BNC meeting in a transparent and peaceful atmosphere. The state security and defense personnel present in Mongu, for a change, did not hinder or intimidate the people of Mongu as they went about conducting their business at the BNC in Limulunga. 4. The Barotseland Agreement of 1964 is a historically significant issue whose time has come. The nation has vacillated and skirted around the issue of the Barotseland Agreement for far too long. It is a problem which will not go away unless the Government engages the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) in serious and sincere dialogue. A manifest concerted engagement with the BRE should now be considered a priority governance issue. With political will, a win win solution is possible.
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5. To merely label sections of the Western Province as anarchists, secessionists bent on committing treason will not do. It will only further radicalise certain groups. What is needed now is for Government to create conditions that pursue meaningful reconciliation among the people of Western Province through dialogue. In other words, the PF Government should take the lead and handle, with great sensitivity and caution, the issues surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. 6. We recognise the duty of Government to maintain law and order and to protect life and property. This duty should, however, be exercised with due diligence. Good judgement of what State action and statements can result into is extremely necessary. 7. We appeal to the Government to immediately make public the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry report as a springboard upon which to launch dialogue. 8. We further wish to appeal to the activist groups in the Western Province, particularly the Linyungandambo, Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM), Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland (MoReBa) and Barotse Patriotic Front (BPF) to consider giving dialogue a chance. 9. As Church leaders it is our firm belief that we should all work towards persuading our brothers and sisters in the Western Province that there is more to be gained in Zambia remaining as a unitary state than in its fragmentation. Notwithstanding the problems surrounding the Barotseland Agreement, the truth of the matter is that we have lived in harmony for nearly 48 years. As we resolve the problems associated with the Barotseland Agreement, we should all bear in mind that we owe it to our childrens future to maintain this harmony at all costs. 10. Further, we are convinced that notwithstanding the BNC resolutions, the door on this issue is not firmly closed 11. We therefore remain committed, as Church leaders, to facilitate a high level meeting on this matter. We have always risen to the occasion at critical periods in the history of this country such as the constitutional impasse which eventually led to multi-party democracy in 1991. There is no political issue that is too big that it cannot be resolved through dialogue. We believe that there is still sufficient
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goodwill and commitment from all stakeholders to resolve the Barotseland Agreement once and for all.

Conclusion As we conclude, we are fully aware that reconciliation after long periods of tension never happens quickly. We call upon all Zambians to support initiatives which will lead all of us, including the people of Western Province, towards unity, peace and reconciliation. Let us capitalise on the good that has already been done and build on it. When we debate the Barotseland Agreement of 1964, let us also use language which will build and not destroy this country. Even Scripture admonishes us that our words are so important that they can actually build or destroy. We read in Ephesians 4:29 that Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up Above all, let us commit this nation to prayer and ask our Father in heaven to give us wisdom for we have now ventured into unchartered territory. May God bless us all and may he bless this great nation. Signed: 30 March 2012

Rev. Suzanne Matale General Secretary Council of Churches in Zambia

Rev. Pukuta N. Mwanza Executive Director Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia

Rev. Fr. Cleophas Lungu Secretary General Zambia Episcopal Conference

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