Lozi king, the Litunga, and his Barotseland Royal Establishment (BRE) leadership are being accused of receiving K42 billion in bribes from the PF government to compromise the region’s resolve to secede.
Activists in Western Province are angry that their ruler has received money to trade their freedom from Zambia based on the 1964 Barotseland Agreement.
According to sources within the Barotse, leadership the money given to the Litunga created a serious conflict with his Prime Minister – the Ngambela (Clement Sinyinda) – leading to his eventual resignation.
“The BRE is suspected to have received the money from the Zambian government to call off the decision to secede from the rest of the country but Ngambela seemed reluctant to receive the money because he has promised the people of Barotseland freedom, hence some senior officials at the palace turning against him,” the activists have disclosed.
President Sata’s emissaries which have included Sikota Wina, Inonge Wina and the mother of Post Newspaper editor Fred M’membe who is based in Mongu, are reported to have pleaded with the Litunga to accept the offer and backtrack on the BNC resolution.
“Actually, the Ngambela decided to resign after he was tipped that he was to be fired. The BRE claimed that Mr Sinyinda was doing things on his own,” the sources said.
However, the decision by Ngambela has been rejected by majority of Barotseland activists who are demanding that he rescinds his decision.
Sinyinda is the fourth Ngambela in 12 years of Lubosi Imwiko II’s rule.