The following article was published by The Barotseland Post:

Afumba Mombotwa, the sworn Administrator General of Barotseland and his two colleagues currently serving 15 years jail sentences each with hard labour imposed on them by the Zambian state for a political crime of treason felony over Barotseland independence related matters, have now been transferred to Zambia’s Mukobeko Maximum Prison where they are expected to serve the rest of their jail sentences.

And the Barotseland National Youth League (BNYL) says it is not moved or shaken by the conviction and sentencing of their leaders but will continue to push for Barotseland self-determination until self-government was a reality in the contested territory.

Featuring on Zambia’s privately run Prime Television’s 19:30hrs news last night, BNYL Spokesperson, Boris Muziba Muziba stated that his organization was not shaken by the conviction of their leaders but would continue to fight for Barotseland’s rights to self-determination and self-government.

“We are not surprised and we are not intimidated by the ruling of the Supreme Court of Zambia in favour of the Zambian government because we expected that, as you know, Zambia is using its judicial system, the army (and) the police to ensure that Barotseland and the Barotse people should not exist anymore.

“This step taken by the Zambian government that Barotseland should not exist anymore is diabolic, barbaric, and to think that we should be subjected to any country by forced assimilation is tantamount to having no respect for our human dignity; and is being uncivilized and indeed having no respect for peoples’ rights internationally recognized.

“Our appeal to the international community, including progressive movements elsewhere in the world, is to advise the Zambian government to weigh the consequences of their illegal occupation and continued domination of Barotseland,” stated Muziba, vowing that his organization would continue to push for the complete decolonization of Barotseland.

On Monday, 10th September 2018, the Zambian Supreme Court sitting in Ndola upheld the conviction of Afumba Mombotwa (60), Pelekelo Likando (64) and Sylvester Inambao Kalima (57), and added another 5 years to their 10 years initial sentencing by Zambia’s High Court in March 2016, claiming further that by appealing against the High Court 2016 verdict, the appellants had demonstrated that they were non-repentant and self-righteous!

This was in the case where the three had appealed against the subordinate court verdict of ten years with hard labour for the crime of treason felony for their role in the implementation of the 2012 Barotse National Council (BNC) which resolved to revert Barotseland to its pre-1964 status following Zambia’s repeated refusal to honour the 1964 Barotseland Agreement that brought the former British Protectorate of Barotseland and the British colony of Northern Rhodesia together to form the Republic of Zambia.

Since their arrest on 5th December 2014, Afumba, Likando and Inambao have been incarcerated in various state and remand prisons, firstly at Mongu Central prison, then Mukobeko maximum prison in Kabwe and Mwembeshi State prison in Mumbwa until they were, on 24th December 2016 separated and sent to Luwingu, Mansa and Kasama state prisons in the remote northern regions of Zambia respectively where they have been until they were brought to Ndola’s Kansenji State Prison for their Supreme Court appeal hearing last week.

With the latest Supreme Court verdict, the three were yesterday moved back to Zambia’s most notorious state maximum prison for the condemned where they are expected to serve the rest of their prison sentences.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia