Prince Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika has called for as many people as are of a willing heart to donate for the welfare of the three Barotseland political prisoners currently serving 10 years jail sentences each, with hard labour, in Zambian prisons over a case of treason, reports The Barotse Post.
Writing on social media Dr. Akashambatwa said he was personally inspired to make some donation of One Thousand Zambian Kwacha and one cow from his personal ‘kraal’ for their welfare in line with the words of Jesus Christ as he instructed his disciples to visit the afflicted, including prisoners, in their time of need.
The three, Barotseland Administrator General Afumba Mombotwa (58), Likando Pelekelo (59) and Sylvester Inambao Kalima (62) were sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment each by high court Judge Dominic Sichinga under Zambia’s treason laws for their alleged role in carrying out the people of Barotseland’s desire for self-determination outside of Zambia, when in March 2012, the Barotse, at a regularly organized and Zambian government sponsored Barotse National Council (BNC) unanimously elected to declare Barotseland independence from Zambia.
This was after Zambia unilaterally and progressively repudiated the pre-independence agreement (The Barotseland Agreement 1964) that conjoined the two previously separate British protectorates of Barotseland and Northern Rhodesia into one sovereign republic, with Barotseland enjoying own government and relative autonomy.
However, with state and military power, Zambia reneged from the 1964 agreement shortly after independence resulting into the complete annexation of Barotseland by 1969. It is for questioning this political situation that the Barotse continue to suffer grave punishments at the heavy hand of the Zambian state ever since, firstly under the emergency rule of Kenneth Kaunda and throughout all the successive Zambian governments after that.
Consequently, in March 2012, the Barotse chose to formally accept Zambia’s abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement 1964, after many repeated calls to have the agreement restored by the Zambian government were denied, essentially declaring the independence of Barotseland from its underlying status within Zambia.
Here below is Dr. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika’s social media post of 23rd March 2016.
I have donated the 1,000 kwacha that was in my pocket and I shall be donating one cow from my kraal towards raising bail money for the following political prisoners:
- Mutompehi Afumba Mombotwa
- Mutompehi Pelekelo Likando
- Mutompehi Kalima Inambao
Please, will you help with your contribution too?
If 30 people each speak (out) with a contribution worth only USD 100, their immediate bail money shall be covered.
If 300 people each speak (out) with a contribution worth only USD 100, their legal costs for appeal shall be covered.
I speak out because Jesus said:
‘… I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; Vs 43. I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer him, saying, ‘lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ then he will answer them, saying, ‘assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.