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43-509: The town's original name was mungu , a Lozi word in reference to a growth and production of pumpkins. Mongu was the capital of Barotseland under the Lozi kings from the 18th century until 1911. Under British rule, it was declared a district under the name Mongu-Lealui by Hubert Winthrop Young , the Governor of Northern Rhodesia. Following Zambia's independence in 1964, Mongu was established as

86-608: A minerals concession and protectorate agreement with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) of Cecil Rhodes . By 1880, the kingdom was stabilised and King Lewanika signed a treaty on 26 June 1889 to provide the kingdom international recognition as a State. After the discovery of diamonds, King Lewanika began trading with Europe. The first trade concession was signed on 27 June 1889 with Harry Ware, in return King Lewanika and his kingdom were to be protected. Ware transferred his concession to Cecil Rhodes of

129-460: A tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ). The area has an annual average rainfall of 945 mm falling in the rainy season from late October to April. The flood usually arrives by January, peaks in April and is gone by June, leaving a floodplain green with new grass on which a population of about 250,000 moves in to graze a similar number of cattle, catch fish and raise crops in small gardens. Mongu

172-707: A Barotseland National Council accepted Zambia's abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement 1964, alleging to terminate the treaty by which Barotseland initially joined Zambia. In 2013, Barotseland became a member of the UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization . Due to continuing human rights violations on the part of Zambia, in 2013 the Barotseland National Freedom Alliance also petitioned

215-519: A man, the King, called the Litunga meaning "keeper" or "guardian of the earth", and the south is ruled by a woman, Litunga la Mboela or Mulena Mukwae, "Queen of the south". Both are allegedly directly descended from the ancient Litunga Mulambwa who ruled at the turn of the nineteenth century and through his grandson, Litunga Lewanika who ruled from 1878 to 1916, with one break in 1884–85. He restored

258-464: A rural council and upgraded to its status of District Council in 1980. Today Mongu remains a predominantly rural urban community with the majority of business found in agronomy . Mongu is situated on a small blunt promontory of higher ground on the eastern edge of the 30-kilometre-wide Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi River running north–south, which in the wet season floods right up to

301-504: Is a region between Namibia , Angola , Botswana , Zimbabwe including half of north-western province, southern province, and parts of Lusaka , Central , and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia and the whole of Democratic Republic of Congo 's Katanga Province . It is the homeland of the Lozi people or Barotse , or Malozi, who are a unified group of over 46 individual formerly diverse tribes related through kinship, whose original branch are

344-610: Is headed by the former Ngambela of Barotseland (Prime Minister) Clement W. Sinyinda . Zambian Air Force The Zambia Air Force ( ZAF ) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force . Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former Northern Rhodesia Air Force was renamed as the Zambia Air Force . The primary missions of

387-535: Is hot from September to December, with a mean maximum for October of 35.4 °C, and cool from May to August, with a mean maximum in June of 26.9 °C and a mean minimum of 10.3 °C. Three ecoregions are represented in Mongu and its vicinity: the floodplain comprises Zambezian flooded grasslands , while the higher dry ground is a mosaic of Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands and Cryptosepalum dry forests . To

430-599: Is the Barotse Floodplain on the upper Zambezi River , but it includes the surrounding higher ground of the plateau comprising all of what was the Western Province of Zambia. In pre-colonial times, Barotseland included some neighbouring parts of what are now the Northwestern , Central and Southern Province as well as Caprivi in northeastern Namibia and parts of southeastern Angola beyond

473-578: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in Banjul, the Gambia , to examine Zambia's violations. This matter is currently being examined by the commission. The national flag of Barotseland has a red field and a white stripe. The traditional constitutional monarchy of Barotseland has Nilotic origins with the kingdom originally divided into north and south. The north being ruled by

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516-660: The Cuando River . The origins of Barotseland are unclear, but are a prominent subject in Lozi mythology . It is believed that the Barotse state was founded by Queen Mbuywamwambwa , the Lozi matriarch, over 500 years ago. Its people were migrants from the Congo . Other ethnic groupings that constitute the current Barotse kingdom migrated from South Africa , Angola , Zimbabwe , Namibia and Congo . The Barotse (the Lozi) reached

559-604: The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland , military air operations in the then British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia were provided by the Royal Air Force , and then the Royal Rhodesian Air Force . The Northern Rhodesia Air Force was established on 1 March 1964, primarily operating in a liaison and transport role. It consisted of two squadrons : On 24 October 1964, on the date of

602-565: The Makololo , related to the South African Sesotho language. The Lozi ruler, the Litunga , has a dry season palace 12 km north-west at Lealui on the floodplain, and a flood season palace on higher ground at Limulunga , 17 km north. The Kuomboka ceremony marks the court's transfer between the two locations. At the end of the 18th century, a significant number of Mbunda from Angola settled here. Mongu has

645-492: The 1964 Agreement was unilaterally abrogated by Zambia, as being null and void (see above) – i.e., Zambia washed its hands of Barotseland, which therefore reverted to the situation that existed before Zambian Independence; i.e. that Barotseland remains a Protectorate of Great Britain. However, Britain does not want to get involved. In the 1962 elections , the Barotse National Party was established to contest

688-605: The 1964 Agreement. According to Barotse activists' views, the government in Lusaka also starved Barotseland of development – it has only one tarred road into the centre, from Lusaka to the provincial capital of Mongu , and lacks the kind of state infrastructure projects found in other provinces. Electricity supplies are erratic, relying on an aging connection from the Kariba Dam hydroelectric plant. Consequently, secessionist views are still aired from time to time. In 2012,

731-458: The Air Force are to defend Zambia's borders and protect its airspace . In addition, it provides various forms of air support to other government departments. It also flies reconnaissance, trooping and transport missions for the police and airlifts medical supplies and personnel to inaccessible areas. Finally, the organisation provides emergency transport whenever needed. Prior to the demise of

774-775: The British South Africa Company. Seeking the improvement of the military protection and with the intention to sign a treaty with the British Government, King Lewanika signed on 26 June 1890 the Lochner concession putting Barotseland under the protection of the British South Africa Company. At that time, there was European administration in Southern Rhodesia, in Nyasaland further East, and the beginnings of European administration in what

817-691: The Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province . Under the British colonial administration, Barotseland was a protectorate of the British Crown from the late 19th-century. The Litunga, the monarch of Barotseland, had negotiated agreements, first with the British South African Company (BSAC), and then with the British government that ensured the kingdom maintained much of its traditional authority under

860-673: The Flying Training School was formed. These were followed by five DHC-4A Caribous . Starting in 1966, moving away from the British became a priority, and the ZAF started favouring the purchase of Italian and Yugoslavian aircraft. In this period, deliveries of Agusta-Bell AB.205s allowed for the formation of the ZAF's first helicopter squadron. Other aircraft acquired from Italy included SIAI-Marchetti SF.260s and Aermacchi MB-326 GB light attack aircraft. Soko J-21 Jastrebs and Soko G-2 Galebs were delivered by Yugoslavia. In

903-874: The Government set up a Commission to adjudicate, and the Barotse lost. On 18 May 1964, the Litunga and Kenneth Kaunda , Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia, signed the "Barotseland Agreement 1964" which established Barotseland's position within Zambia in place of the earlier agreement between Barotseland and the British Government. The agreement was based on a long history of close social, economic and political interactions, but granted significant continued autonomy to Barotseland. The Barotseland Agreement granted Barotse authorities local self-governance rights and rights to be consulted on specified matters, including over land, natural resources and local government. It also established

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946-410: The Litunga of Barotseland as "the principal local authority for the government and administration of Barotseland", that he would remain in control of the "Barotse Native Government", the "Barotse Native Authorities", the courts known as the "Barotse Native Courts", "matters relating to local government", "land", "forests", "fishing", "control of hunting", "game preservation", the "Barotse native treasury",

989-706: The Litunga. Barotseland was essentially a nation-state, a protectorate within the larger protectorate of Northern Rhodesia . In return for this protectorate status, the Litunga gave the BSAC mineral exploration rights in Barotseland. In 1964, Barotseland became part of Zambia when that country achieved independence. In 2012, a group of traditional Lozi leaders, calling itself the Barotseland National Council, called for independence; other tribal chieftains oppose secession, however. Its heartland

1032-574: The Luyi (Maluyi), and also assimilated Southern Sotho tribe of South Africa known as the Makololo . The Barotse speak siLozi , a language most closely related to Sesotho . Barotseland covers an area of 252,386 square kilometres, but is estimated to have been twice as large at certain points in its history. Once an empire, the Kingdom stretched into Namibia, Angola , Botswana , Zimbabwe including half of eastern and northern provinces of Zambia and

1075-576: The Makololo (Kololo) from Lesotho – which is why the Barotse language, Silozi, is a variant of Sesotho . The Makololo were in power when Livingstone visited Barotseland, but after thirty years the Luyi successfully overthrew the Kololo king. Barotseland's status at the onset of the colonial era differed from the other regions which became Zambia. It was the first territory north of the Zambezi to sign

1118-759: The Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland. Experts have said that these three groups may become political parties should Barotseland gain independence. Fighting between the three groups has already surfaced. An article which appeared on the Zambian Watchdog , purported to be authored by a BFM representative, condemned the activities of the Linyungandambo group. The BFM accused the Linyungandambo of having set up Barotseland Government portal website without consultations, and included BFM members in

1161-714: The Zambezi River in the 17th century and their kingdom grew until it comprised some 25 peoples from Southern Rhodesia to the Congo and from Angola to the Kafue River . At the time, Barotseland was already a monarchy, when Lealui and Limulunga were seasonal capitals of the Lozi kings. A detailed investigation into the history of the Barotse was carried out in 1939 in connection with the Balovale Dispute, see below. In 1845 Barotseland had been conquered by

1204-598: The east the soil is very sandy and there are many pans which dry out in the dry season, and beyond the Lui River no surface water is available so this zone of scrubby miombo woodland is practically uninhabited as far east as the Luampa River . Mongu lies at the end of the 590-km Lusaka–Mongu Road from Lusaka which takes 8–11 hours to drive. The road to Kalabo called the Barotse Floodplain causeway

1247-555: The establishment of the independent Republic of Zambia , the name of the Northern Rhodesia Air Force was subsequently changed to Zambian Air Force. The early years of the ZAF saw continued close cooperation with the United Kingdom as a supplier of aircraft, and recruiting British officers still was a standard practice. Thanks to deliveries of six de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks and other equipment,

1290-478: The late 1970s, relations with China increased in importance. In this period, 12 Shenyang F-5s and FT-5s were delivered, as well as 12 Shenyang F-6s . In September 1980, the USSR started the deliveries of at least 16 MiG-21bis fighters and two MiG-21UM trainers. Few details are available on force deployment, but combat elements are understood to be located at Lusaka (K-8), Mbala (F-6) and Mumbwa (MiG-21), with

1333-454: The later states, Northern Rhodesia and independent Zambia. At the pre-Independence talks, the Barotse simply asked for a continuation of "Queen Victoria's protection". A desire to secede was expressed from time to time, causing some friction with the government of Kenneth Kaunda , reflected in Kaunda changing the name from Barotseland Province to Western Province, and subsequently tearing up

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1376-564: The purported Barotseland Government without their consent, and in disregard of the effort being made by Sata to find a lasting solution. The author, Shuwanga Shuwanga, stated that Linyungandambo had refused to work with the BFM back in 2011. The various activist groups championing the self-determination of Barotseland have since formed one umbrella organisation called the Barotse National Freedom Alliance (BNFA) which

1419-651: The several shopping places and social places, the town has a large market and an airport . Mongu Airport is mainly used by the Zambian Air Force and the United Nations to transport Angolan Refugees back to Angola. The town is also the location of the Nayuma Museum . 15°16′39″S 23°7′55″E  /  15.27750°S 23.13194°E  / -15.27750; 23.13194 Barotseland Barotseland ( Lozi : Mubuso Bulozi )

1462-410: The small fleet of transport aircraft and utility helicopters also reportedly stationed at Lusaka . Zambia Air Force's JL-10 are equipped with PESA fire control radar along with wingtip rails for PL-5 air-to-air missiles . A 23mm gun pod can be mounted on the centreline. Four hardpoints allow for various ordnance , including 250 and 500kg bombs , HF-18 57mm rocket pods, LS-6 guided bombs or

1505-484: The stubbornness of successive governments in ignoring repeated calls to restore it have fuelled the region's ongoing tension. One of the reasons why Kenneth Kaunda "revoked" the United Kingdom's Zambia Independence Act is reported to be that it called for the continuation of Barotseland. Barotseland independentists continued to lobby to be treated as a separate state and was given substantial autonomy within

1548-482: The supply of beer and "local taxation". There was also to be no appeal from Barotseland's courts to the courts of Zambia. Within a year of taking office as president of the newly independent Zambia on 24 October 1964, President Kenneth Kaunda began to introduce various acts that abrogated most of the powers allotted to Barotseland under the agreement. Notably, the Local Government Act of 1965 abolished

1591-512: The terms of the concession, but his protests fell on deaf ears, and in 1899 the United Kingdom proclaimed a protectorate and governed it as part of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia . In the 1930s, there was trouble between the Barotse and the Balovale and Balunda tribes who occupied the land to the north of the land occupied by the Barotse. The Barotse claimed that these were vassal tribes, while they claimed that they were not. Eventually,

1634-410: The town. The city is 15 kilometres from the river's main channel, to which its small harbour is connected in the dry season by a 35-kilometre route via a canal and a meandering channel. The whole region is flat and sandy, with the dry land generally no more than 50 m higher than the floodplain. Mongu is the home city of the Lozi (or Barotse ) people, who speak a language derived in part from that of

1677-592: The traditional institutions that had governed Barotseland and brought the kingdom under the administration of a uniform local government system. Then in 1969, the Zambian Parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment Act, annulling the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. Later that year the government changed Barotseland's name to Western Province and announced that all provinces would be treated "equally". The agreement's dissolution and

1720-675: The traditions of the Lozi political economy in the arena of the invasion by the Makololo , internal competition, external threats such as that posed by the Matabele and the spread of European colonialism . The government of Barotseland is the Kuta, presided over by the Ngambela (Prime Minister). Activists claim Barotseland is now theoretically independent from Zambia on the basis of the Zambian High Court ruling (see below), that

1763-694: The two Barotseland districts, as part of an electoral alliance with the United Federal Party . In both districts, the BNP candidate heavily lost to the UNIP candidate. Currently, there are three groups who claim to represent Barotseland. In January 2012, the president of Zambia, Michael Sata , met the representatives of the three groups at the Zambian State House in Lusaka . The groups are Linyungandambo, Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM), and

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1806-542: Was completed and opened in 2016. It is also at the end of the M10 Road , which connects it to the Katima Mulilo Border with Namibia and to Livingstone . The city is known for basket and carpet weaving . It produces the best mango and fish in the country, especially the tiger fish . Mongu is also the major rice growing region of Zambia. It is also home to a cathedral and a water tower , while among

1849-423: Was then called North-Eastern Rhodesia (centred on Fort Jameson, now Chipata) and also North-Western Rhodesia - basically Barotseland. Later, these two were administratively combined as simply "Northern Rhodesia", later divided up in five Provinces and Barotseland, which was treated slightly differently from the rest. Later Lewanika protested to London and to Queen Victoria that the BSAC agents had misrepresented

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