Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
MMD President Nevers Mumba has promised to facilitate the holding of a referendum on the Barotseland Agreement as soon as he is elected into power.
Addressing a rally in Mongu over the weekend, Dr Mumba said time had come to resolve the issue of the Barotseland Agreement once and for all.
Dr Mumba noted that all successive governments have shied away from confronting the matter squarely and decisively.
He said Zambia should learn from other progressive nations such as Canada and the United Kingdom which faced similar situations over Quebec province in 1995 in the case of Canada and recently over Scotland in the case of the United Kingdom.
Dr Mumba says the two governments courageously allowed referendums to be held, and people voted ‘No’ in both cases against secession and the nations remained intact.
The MMD President said the people of Western Province should be respected and deserve no less.
He stated that the Barotseland Agreement is a legally binding document which had been signed between the Barotse Royal Establishment, former President Kenneth Kaunda and the British Government, and could not just be swept under the carpet.
Dr Mumba says in this Jubilee season, it is hoped that issue of the Barotseland Agreement will finally be put to rest.