INFORMATION, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda has advised his Malawian counterpart Patricia Kalyati not to be mischievous over President Michael Sata’s decision to forgive that
country’s President Bingu Wa Mutharika over Mr Sata’s deportation from that country in 2007.
Mr Lubinda was reacting to Ms Kalyati’s statement yesterday that the Malawian government had not yet received official communication from the Zambian government over the decision by President Sata.
In a telephone interview from Malawi yesterday, Ms Kalyati told the Times of Zambia that her government had not received official communication over President Sata’s decision to let “by-gones be
by-gones”.
“I have been out of office and I have not received any official communication. May be my counterpart at Foreign Affairs has. We have just heard about it through the media, your other colleagues also
called from Zambia,” she said.
But Mr Lubinda advised his Malawian counterpart against being dogmatic because it was President Sata who was injured and decided to forgive his Malawian counterpart.
“I think that they should not be dogmatic because it is unnecessary. President Sata decided to bury the hatchet and he mentioned to that country’s former President Bakili Muluzi that he had decided to forget about the past,” he said.
Mr Sata on Friday said he had decided to forgive President Wa Mutharika. He told journalists at State House in Lusaka that “let by-gone be by-gones” and that he was hoping to visit Malawi soon.
“The main reason for Dr Muluzi’s visit was to reconcile Zambia and Malawi. The President (Muluzi) wants us to forget the incident where I was deported from Malawi.
“We feel that Zambia and Malawi are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu Wa Mutharika,” Mr Sata said.
[Times of Zambia]
But ba Lubinda mwalifulwa, is there any reason for the minister to respond to such? All the Malawian minister said was that they had not received the letter, what is dogmatic about it? Which means ‘asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner’
Was that what she implied? How can you reconcile in such circumstances?
Kwena nasumina Ba Lubinda nibandeo
The Malawian Minister says she hasn’t rcvd the letter, Lubinda says she is dogmatic. I wonder what kind of cabinet meetings take place at statehouse. Shouting matches with misdirected missiles, perhaps.
PF govt has been outclassed on this issue. Why should govt officials from Malawi respond to hearsay and rumours? They need an official statement to respond. That is being professional. Perhaps our people can start learning something about how to treat others.
Furthermore, our minister is not helping matters by starting another ‘mini-conflict’. We want this embarrassing issues to end and more money in our pockets.
Lubinda, you are not a simpleton for heaven’s sake. You should be above engaging in this silly ding – dong. Don’t you have more important national matters to attend than enter this stupid fray??? Are you descending into the same mode as your leader?
This issue a an English comprehesion issue rather than a political one.Guess who needs some lessons in English?
Bingu never admitted to being in the wrong by deporting Zondwe Sata from that country and by Malawian law he is not obliged to provide a reason for booting the serpent out of Nyasaland. It’s Zambians who in this episode have been made to look very armature, silly and childish. With a thug like Kabwili at Foreign Affairs, what can we expect.
what has Kabwili got to do with this? IDOIT
Malawi is rite bt m shokt by lubinda’s response!cn these guys pliz difrenciate btwen official matas n componi quarrels napapata
This issue is bound to escalate into a much bigger issue if not handled properly. Let the PF not use the office of the president to settle old personal grievances. Then again what would you expect from a government with a foreign policy that looks like it was drafted in Muchinga Province.
I am shocked.Is this Lubinda I know from Kabwata? Whats mischievous about saying no official communication has been received?Problem is Sata cant announce the forgiveness on TV and pass the message to Muluzi.We all know the relationship between Wa Mutahrika and Mulzi are not good.Where is diplomacy on the part of our govt? I doubt Lubinda will win Kabwata in2016,He has become so cheap.
Malawian look sensible in handling international issues than Zambians……Zambians leaders are more to the gallery while Malawians believe in organised protocol.
Eh, I though Lubinda was for once sane. Sad he is behaving like a Kaponya as well now. Why be mischievous if you have no official communication? Bullshiting now!
In PF we play to the gallery, everything said to the press is official, after all PF reigns supreme within the borders of Zambia.
The problem comes in when we have to deal with other governments whose officials are well schooled in matters of governance, government protocols, and diplomacy. I begin to look back and wonder whether the deportation was not actually prompted by ignorance of international travel, protocol or bad language, it could have happened even in London, remember the passport saga there?
koma ba Lubinda nabo lishilu. This goes to show the calibre of our pf leaders. What was there for him to react calling an innocent woman dogmatic? By the way Bingu never agrees he ever wronged Sata and sata can’t say I have forgiven him when the man only did what was rigt by then. Any way sata has done well to give up on his claims because he was just an opposition leader. Now that he is president he should not drag Zambia to support him for ill things he suffered. He must also not forgive South Africa for confiscating R50,000 from at OR Tambo money which he has failed to claim or talk about it now.
what level of education is displayed here i mean action level there are some pipo who pass thru school but still behave like un educated this response by lubinda if it reaches Malawi it escalate into another big thing knowing pipo from the east. honourable lubinda has embarrassed me infact he has offended me i thought you were one of those who would put sata in place now its him breaking the rules of communication what sort of communication is he ministering. if any thing develops we will consider it criminal on record no zambian minister has ever quarred with another minister from another country but this talk is an act of quarrel. it was sata shouting security in Uganda now it Lubinda using decorating his statement with words without paying attention to the meaning
Malawi has never acknowledged any wrongdoing, so we dont exactly owe it to them to write to them. When i forgive an ***** I dont necessarily have to call that ***** and say “you are forgiven”. It is enough that in my heart the act has taken place. Malawi has no right to demand/request a written forgiveness message. For those who say Sata was not president when that happened, that is tantamount to saying it is ok for an ordinary citizen like you and me to be deported for no reason and with no explanation, and if you think so you must be mad.
i very upset with lubinda this made me miss words in my earlier posting
It is a questin of what context the statements were made. If she was being arrogant in saying they have no official communication then of course she’s being silly. You chaps blogging must also remember that some things get lost through translation, and that sometimes media reports are not nevessarily accurate. You can’t be that shallow??
Oh.I forgot. You hate PF.
@Picasso you are very very correct these guys dont understand government protocals and diplomacy thats why even locally the President can jump on a bus and pay bills and his cadres think its ok
@EQUALIZER
waba amaso nge mishishi sha kwa lubinda.sata`s deortation was personal,why should he drag the entire nation into his sewer pond.steady sana.
#14 Finally! Didn’t you know that the majority of those who voted on 20.09.11 did not vote for the that imbecile with a dodgy ticker called Chilufya?
The whole saga reminds me of the time when I was a toddler and would, for a very short time, not play with some friends simply because they had done something that I did not like. I would describe this incident as childish and immature and I believe we have a lot to gain by moving on and indeed let bygones be bygones in a very diplomatic manner.
Picasso,walasa.Diplomacy is lacking in our Government officials,starting from the President up to the the person who waters the grass.This issue should not have been where it is if we had matured and sobber people in Government.We have competent people in Government who can adivse the President but the problem is they value their jobs more than the image of the country and they are too scared to correct him.Having Sata at the helm,GBM at defence,Kambwili at Foreign affairs and Lubinda at information,this country is bound to go to war very soon.
I think most of u bloggers have got it wrong. Look at it from this angle…Did malawi agree that they made a mistake to deport our president? No. So there was no need for our GVT to send a written note. It would have been very foolish of our gvt to write to Malawi if they have not admitted that they are wrong. So what our president has done of informing them abt his forgiveness without any document is the best. Let them take it or leave it. Sata is a good Politician
#24 @ pepecho Suffering????
he wasnt a president he was a thug and still with that tag in plot 1,by the way who is GRZ spokes person Sata or Lubinda????????
The comments made over this issue 90 days ago are now being vindicated. If Sata thought he is thick skinned Malawians can be twice Sata’s. They are more principled over what they stand for than what we see in Sata. The PF govt is not cultivating a cordial relationship with neighbouring Malawin govt. To begin with Sata postured with a personal issue of his deportation while in opposition and now drags the entire Zambian govt into it. He responded by declining to attend a regional meeting hosted by Malawian govt. Secondly, he demanded an apology from Malawian govt.(took Malawian govt by surprise). Thirdly, He invited the VP of Malawi who is at odd with Mbingu Wamutharika. Fouthly, Mr Sata allows an opposition Malawian party to operate a private radio station in Eastern province to Malawi.
Lastly, Mr Bikili Muluzi on corruption charges is allowed to visit Zambia on the pretext of reconciling the two governments. Bikili is in opposition to Mbingu and wants him (Muluzi) be prosecuted for national plunder. In short this treatment PF govt has demonstrated to Malawi will not yield any positive results as said, Malawians have done nothing wrong to shift their position. Zambian govt will have to tame Sata’s pride as the region looks on. Indeed comments from Lubinda shames me as a Zambian who can craft acceptable phrase in this matter. This showdown will put PF govt in a more awkward position than Malawian govt. Zambian Intelects watch with dismay over the mishandling of a simple matter.
Zayelo thinks he is still in opposition where he fires salvos at those in government at will. Just like his President, it has not dawned on him yet that they are in gonernment and have to moderate their language, especially when it comes to foreign diplomacy.
Sata got juju from xxxx to win the presidency. One of the instructions he received from his traditional Dr is that he should not be gesturing or raising his hands when talking to the public (as he did when he was in opposition) but should hold his hands together on his back. I have observed him since i heard this news and proved it. Also, he was told to avoid the red carpet and I have also recollected that at some point at City airport there was no red carpet before he bode a plane, and then in Uganda where he travelled out for the first time he refused to follow protocol as a way to avoid the red carpet. Could we trully be ruled through voodoo???
Indeed no diplomacy on the part of Zambian government leaders. And it’s true what some blogger said, that no Zambian minister has quarelled with another minister from another country. On a serious note, Malawi really has issues with the current Zambian government. Firstly, the Zambian govt invites the Malawian Vice President for a visit, and we know (those of us who are enlightened with current affairs) that the Malawian Vice president is at loggerheads personally and politically with Bingu. Then, the PF govt consents to the setting up of a Malawi opposition party (Muluzi’s) radio station to be broadcasting propaganda from Zambian soil. Thirdly, Muluzi himself pays a private visit and confers with HE MCS. All this is negativity in the eyes of the Malawian govt.
What is lubinda trying to do here. Like you presido indicated that bye gones be bye gones. Work within that lime light of reconciliation and not blowing anything out of propotion. Your statement lubinda here are un warranted. Kupusa kaponya.
continued- In the eyes of the Malawian govt, it’s naked betrayal by our govt towards Bingu’s govt, because why entertain perceived Malawi internal political opponents on Zambian soil in the first instance of assuming power as a new govt in Zambia? Because normally, in this case, the first dignitaries the new PF govt was supposed to meet were Malawi govt officials, or even the Malawian leader himself, not to meet and welcome the perceived opposition first.It clearly shows which side the PF govt is. It’s like coming into power and the first dignitaries you associate with in the DRC are Tshisekedi and his party officials instead of presido Kabila. Malawi has felt betrayed, whether we like it or not.
Don’t be shoked by Lubinda’s response.It is clearly stated in the Bible that this will happen during the last days.It shows how close the second coming of Jesus is.
Iwe wanisekesa Mweee!
And come to think of it, why has our beloved presido taken to liking people tainted with corruption charges or court cases? i have in mind people like Xavier Chungu, Mwamba PS for Northern province, Lungu in Vice presido office, Mutembo Nchito, Mpombo, AND NOW MULUZI! For those in the know, Muluzi is facing serious corruption charges in Malawi as we speak. He even wanted to go for a third term of office when he was Malawian presido, just like late FTJ. Actually the two, FTJ and Muluzi were best of pals.
Sorry ba Zambian government Spokesman I see no mischief or dogma in the Malawian minister’s response to Zambian media’s querries. Kodi muzondana?
Hon. Lubinda is there any mischief in the Malawian minister’s response? Let’s understand this simple fact; any country in the world has the right to deport anybody out of its territory WITHOUT GIVING ANY REASON. So, it could be based on mere suspicion (in which case they could be wrong) or based on some facts, but either way they are not obliged to explain or apologise for it, especially that Sata was not a republican president then. So let’s stop playing victim on this one. In fact the two governments should have quietly handled this matter without taking it to the media. These public spats must end, and Mr. Lubinda must respect the fact that he now speaks for a govt and not a party, so tupeniko ka diplomacy mu language!!
Lubinda is backing like a mad dog. He is infatuated with self pride. This coloured is a let down, he has no diplomacy, instead of going to the toilet to shit and he opens his mouth to release his foul language to other people in a foreign country. Let him just continue wiping the cobra’s ass instead of provoking other people. These chaps in PF government appear to have oral incontinence or diarrhoea.
Given Lubinda should not be such childish when dealing with Ministers from foreign countries. The lamentations of Lubinda against a Malawian colleague are being closely watched and analysed by Govt leaders in the entire SADC region. In fact Lubinda is merrely jourpardizing the role of Chishimba Kambwili. Highest stadards of diplomacy are expected of Govt Ministers.
This is not supposed to be a national issue. If Mr Sata was deported because he violated that country’s laws, he must deal with it at a personal and at a presidential level.
I worry about this country’s image abroad under the current leadership.
Ba malawi balifye bwino. They have not differed with anyone and thats the reason they even invited Sata to a summit in Malawi.It is Sata who was aggreived. Sata should forget about what happened a long time ago and move with the times. Even gaddafi used to visit USA. Whenever he decides to visit a foreign country he should be doing it as President of Zambia and not in his personal capacity. And please somebody tell that Lubinda to be taking his time to think before he responds to anything. Aletu sebanya.
SATA IS TRYING TO MAKE A PERSONAL PROBLEM A NATIONAL ISSUE. LET HIM SOLVE HIS PERSONAL PROBLEMS WITHOUT DRAGGING THE WHOLE COUNTRY. SOUTH AFRICAN AIR PORT OFFICIALS CONFISCATED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, HE DOES NOT EVEN WANT TO CLAIM THAT MONEY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT SATA IS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY SICK.
It appears that most people on this blog have no sense of patriotism. Our failure to support one another is typical of that Zambian jealousy. Y’all need to understand that Sata was a leader of an opposition party and deserved appropriate treatment on the hands of the Malawi government. They probably never gave Sata a slight chance of ever becoming president of Zambia. We all know that Malawi has refused to apologize let alone justify why they deported Sata in the manner they did. I personally feel Malawi is nothing to Zambia and we don’t need that impoverished country. One would say To Hell with the Malawian Dictator and his stupid female Minister Patricia Kalyati. However, Sata applied christian values and sense to forgive Bingu Wa Mutharika. God says love your enemy.
Lubinda you have joined Kabwili in the anger crusade simple english she is waiting for official notification
@44 Jafy…..Patriotism is nothing but the last refuge for scoundrels! It is st.up.id to rally around something that is wrong. The Cobra was in hole unfortunately he foolishly continued digging. This is not the behaviour of a mature person. There is no protocol in the way this PF govt relates with other countries. Mistake 1: Sata demands a public apology from Malawi. Malawi rightly refused to be humiliated. 2. Sata breaks protocol by announcing that he has sent a letter of apology to Angola . 3. Sata makes public his choice of diplomatic picks and announces where they are going even before the host govts accept them. Experienced statesmen dont behave this way. Only an id.iot can support this rubbish in the name of patriotism. Sata+Kambwili=rubbish
PF is there anything you can get correct ? Even Lubinda can tell his counterpart not to be dog chakuti! Shame if it was a company Zambia would have been liquidated by now no managers everything goes like there last congress. I will remain non partisan and watch from a distance.
Let’s go to war with Malawi to settle all this on the battle field if these guys if they don’t want to listen. This small country that was part of the Might Rhodesia is being cheeky, ata!
“…it was president Sata who was INJURED and decided to forgive his Malawian counterpart.” Did I miss something? Was there some physical confrontation? I mean, enlighten us a little bit how the president got injured.
“I have not received any official communication” is a diplomatic way of saying “I can’t officially comment on that issue because I have not been authorised to”. This lady was being as diplomatic as can be and Lubinda fails to read between the lines and instead ends up insulting her. This is what happens when you just run your mouth without thinking. Obviously the Information Minister knows this issue is too big for her to comment because it involves her boss that’s why she skirted the question.
And she is right anyway to insinuate that anything announced in the media isn’t official correspondence. These representatives are really embarrassing our country.
Dear Zambians, this bungling marks the epitome of Zambia’s degraded human resource profile. Our education has not translated into making us better citizens. Applied at foreign affairs level, it can be quite embarrasing. The future of this kind of poor diplomatic relations can be catastrophic for a country that is land locked. Regrettably, as one bloggers as observed, nothing shall change between now and the time of the Lord’s coming. In fact, the whole scenario is likely to degenerate into very bad relations with neighbours. The consequence of which our neighbours shall cease to have respect for us as Zambians. No wonder Barotseland wants nothing of it, you cant blame them. Unfortunately many Zambians enjoy this kind of ludicrous behaviour. So I guess thats what you call mediocrity.
Sata had issues with Malawi, not the Govt of Zambia, not the people of Zambia. So why should we the people of Zambia be involved their problems? This was personal and I still feel it is still personal. Ba lubinda is being childish. Mr Sata by becoming president wants to be a god make other people worship him including leaders from other countries, which will never happen. SHAME.
When Mr.Sata was deported by Malawian govt, he was not in that country representing the interests of Zambians.He was doing personal business and was deported as an individual not a representantive of the Zambian govt.It follows therefore that his personal business before he was elected president cannot become national issues.We need to seperate presidency that he now holds from the personal life that he lived before he became president.DO NOT TAKE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE BEFORE YOUR BECOMING PRESIDENT INTO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA.ZAMBIANS WILL BE CONCERNED WITH YOUR LIFE DURING YOUR PRESIDENCY.AGAIN WHERE ARE THE ADVISORS TO THE PRESIDENT?
abena zambians,i agree with responder 48 on this page,defend your country people,president sata said he has indeed forgive his countpart bingu watalika,and he gave the letter to former malawian prz mr. muluzi ,all iam saying is why does malawi gov wants zambian govt to knee down for watalika,its the malawian gov that is childish not lubinda or sata ,as started on this page.PEOPLE:;;;;;;;;SATA IS NOW A ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT SO THE ISSUE BECOMES THE NATIONAL ISSUE,so in short its the malawian govt who is dogmatic not zambia.lets try and defend ourselfs than supporting other country since you dont live in zambia.its the malawian govt who is silly.its one way of saying we dont want to respond to zambian govt ,my suggetion is i think all malawians in zambia must be sent back to malawi,pity.
Get facts right my freind before you get wakedup.There is difference between personal business and national business.We cannot as a nation get overly concerned and involved in the personal affairs or business particularly if they occured prior to assuming the presidency.Get legal opinion and you will urgue from an informed position.
#54 And vice versa.We told not vote for illiterates and now forced to be patriotic due to their mediocrity on simple issues.Not me.You created this problem with Malawi and please solve it.From what i remember malawians were first to invite SATA to their country but he cheekly refused demanding for an appology, useless dictaor.