5 July 2003
editorial
Lusaka — THE reactions of government and the Barotse Royal Establishment over the charges made by Princess Nakatindi Wina regarding the proposed leasing of Liuwa and Sioma-Ngwezi national parks to African Parks Management and Finance Company do not help matters.
Denouncing Princess Nakatindi over the concerns she expressed will not help to resolve the controversy surrounding the lease of the two national parks.
The concerns raised, even if they may contain ineffectual elements, are nevertheless valid. Princess Nakatindi and the people of Barotseland and indeed the whole nation deserve to know what type of arrangement the government and the Barotse Royal Establishment have gotten into with this private company.
Even if there is nothing wrong, people deserve to know. Instead of calling Princess Nakatindi names, what the government and the Barotse Royal Establishment need to do is to lay facts on the table and this can be done by publishing the agreement or callinga forum where all interested people can discuss the issue with them.
Both government and the Barotse Royal Establishment are agents of the people and they shouldn't behave in an arrogant manner when their principals question what they are doing on their behalf. Servants of people can't behave in this manner.
And whether they like it or not, Princess Nakatindi is not only a member of the Barotse Royal family but also a citizen of this country and resident of Barotseland with all the rights to know what is being done on her behalf.
Those who pursue noble ideas have no reason to be arrogant, have no reason to be insolent, they don't question people who question their decisions and actions. There is no need for the government and the Barotse Royal Establishment to be uncomfortable with citizens raising questions about what is being done on their behalf.
And moreover, Princess Nakatindi is not the only citizen questioning this deal. This deal is being questioned by almost all members of parliament connected to Western Province and others. People have the right to know and the authority has the duty to explain.
Those who occupy positions of authority need to be humble when citizens challenge their actions and decisions and not to be insolent. We, therefore, urge the government and the Barotse Royal Establishment to arrange a meeting with all those who are questioning their decisions over the two national parks and explain everything properly with documents made available to the people. Democratic government places a duty on the authorities to explain everything they are doing on behalf of the people.
And from our experience, we know that the authorities are not always right even if they always claim to know what they are doing. We have seen this over the privatisation of many of our state enterprises.
Those who claimed to have known what they were doing over RAMCOZ today cannot say a word but at that time nobody could question their decision over the Banani Group of companies. The only sure way of minimising wrong decisions is by involving the people in their diversities and complexities.
Any other way is open to vices so let's allow our people, especially the very critical critics, to express their views in an unfettered way on all important national matters.
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