Jean Ndayisenga Mandela, the photo journalist who was allegedly assaulted by Congolese Rhumba king Koffi Olomide has written to inspector General of Police Stella Libongani requesting that his case be reopened and Koffi be arrested.
In the letter made available to the media, Mandela appealed to Mrs Libongani to intervene in the complaint of assault and battery against Koffi in order to allow justice to prevail.
The alleged incident happened in early hours of Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka during an end of year concert.
Mandela contends that the case was mishandled by the Lusaka Central Police Station and closed which has disappointed him hence his decision to bring the matter to the attention of the Inspector General.
“So you can order this case to be reopened hence the justice could prevail on this matter ; this incident happened in early hours of Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka .
This is case was mishandled by the Lusaka Central Police Station and closed which has disappointed me hence I bring this matter to your attention.
The facts of the matter, at the end of the Olomide’s tour in Zambia that began at Taj Pamodzi Hotel on Friday, December 28th, 2012, Koffi Olomide kicked my face using his left leg when I was trying to get him a picture as he was exiting the stage. Olomide also slapped and battered one of his dancers, a lady, whowas the last to leave the stage; this incident happened in full of view of the member of the public and police officers that were deployed to maintain law and order. The assault on me resulted in mental distress, injury to my face, a broken left middle finger, a damaged camera flash and malfunctioning of my photo camera until it went off permanently.”
“I reported this matter to the nearest Police Station and a docket was successfully opened by CIO Augustine Hamoonga at Kabwata Police Station (since it was at the same Kabwata Police Station where I managed to get a “Medical Report Form) and the docked was later transferred to Lusaka Central Police Station in the afternoon of Saturday, December 30th, 2012. Arrived at the Lusaka Central Police Station, I was informed that there was no officer available to act immediately on that matter since it was in the aftermath of the “Police Annual Ball”.
He wrote, “I have to notify you that Olomide performed on the same Saturday evening at the Lusaka Government Complex, as nothing had happened despite the incident being reported on electronic, online and social media. On Sunday, December 30th, I tried to make a follow up with Lusaka Central Police station which was in vain. It was on Monday, December 31st 2012. New Year Eve, that I found my docket with officer Sibutoya. Officer Sibutoya asked me to provide a transport in order to apprehend the suspect who happened to be staying at Taj Pamodzi Hotel prior to the incicent, we found that he had already left since he was due to perform in Kitwe the same night. Officer Sibutoya promised that he was going to alert his colleagues in the Copperbelt in order to apprehend Olomide.”
He added, “The Zambia Police Headquarters had already started to confirm this “assault and battery incident “ and a “dully opened docket” against Olomide in separate interviews that were reported in local and international print, electronic and social media as early as December 29th , 2012 and thereafter ; alongside the Zambia Police quotes were the testimonies of eyewitnesses that came out publicly to confirm that “assault and battery incident “as Nawa Muyatwa , a Security Manager at of Kaya Gold Music , Ciko Eric Mukoka a ZNBC employee on duty , Henry Phiri aka BJ who was the Director of the Ceremonies just to mention but a few.”
Mandela wrote, “On Tuesday, January 1st 2013, I was shocked to learn through the same media reports that Olomide has left the country without being apprehended by the Zambia Police. On Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, I reported to officer Sibutoya, he promised me that the case is active and Olomide was due to put on “Interpol alert”. Unluckily, at the evening of the same day (Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013), around 2000 hours, on my way home aIong the Chilumbulu Kafue roads link, I was attacked by at least 5 people armed with AK 47 and opened fire on me, I felt down immobile (feigning dead) until they left after getting my back and camera bags that contained my laptop, external harder driver disks, a photo camera and other camera accessories. This incident was reported to Kamwala Police post the same evening and it was handled by CIO Shadreck Jere. My camera was later on identified in mid 2012 in the Lusaka streets. Unfortunately, the Police officers could neither use the camera recovery to track the culprits nor the Police could help me to establish if there was a link between the “assault and battery incident” and the failed assassination attempt.”
He wrote, “On Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, (it was after 563 day by day after the day of the incident) I received a call by Commissioner Charles Lungu, Investigations Director and Interpol Head through the Police spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda; during out meeting I retaliate my wish to “let the Law takes its course” and I was referred back to Lusaka Central DCIO F. Mumbuna. This came when, ZNBC and bill board advertising forthcoming performances of Olomide as the first one being scheduled at Mulungushi International Conference Center on July 31st, 2014; prior to this Commissioner Lungu call, I had tried to contact officer Sibutoya and failed both at his office or by his phone.”
“Lusaka Central DCIO F. Mumbuna confirmed to me in possession of my docket containing: My Statement, Medical Report, and Ciko Eric Mukoka testimony and asked me to produce more eyewitnesses; this DCIO F. Mumbuna insisted on the same, in the presence of Media Institute Southern Africa – Zambia Chapter Program Officer Kasonde Nkole who accompanied me on a “Finding Facts Mission” over the progress of a “photojournalist assaulted” case on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014. While I was trying to bring in more eyewitnesses, I learned through the “Media Reports” that the Zambia Police has “dropped the charges against Olomide.”
Koffi is expected to arrive in Zambia today for a series of performances.
This ka journalist will mess up people’s long weekend! I watched him on TV and can understand Koffi kicking his ass. Firstly, he is not Zambian. The name sounds Rwandese. Secondly, I hear he was told not to follow bene Koffi ku dressing room coz that was out of bounds but this dude decided to go all Paparazzi on Koffi and Koffi decided to go all Jackie Chan on his butt. I would advise this journalist to let it go. Do a kama outside court settlement and make buck. People want to have a superb weekend. Do not give reason for immigration to scrutinize your papers mate. Might find yourself on a boat going back to your real home.
Jean Mandela just suck-it-up, you lost the physical fight. You should have fought back right there, you also a man like Koffi.
By-the-way, Paparazi are always slapped, it is part of the job.
He is what is called today “Rwandese – Zambian”. A number of Zambian have given up their citizenships and have taken another. They aren’t denied being called their newly acquired citizenship just because some jealous people despise that they have become British, American, Dutch, Norwegian.
Aren’t some of you fighting for duo citizenship because you feel “alien” in your adopted land? Leave the “Rwandese – Zambian” alone.
Grand Pretre Mopao Mokonzi (MM) Jean Pato Guardiola Koffi Olomide Antoine Agbepa Mumba Gralibane Magic Mukulu Bilanga Nkolo Lupemba Quadra Kora Man
NINSHIMBI!!!! Banono!!!!!!!
You cannot effectively win a case if your facts are not right. Why did you get too close within “kick-reach distance?”. Possibly Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, acted in self defence having mistaken you for a bandit especially with those funny vests you guys wear which look like your ladden with cataputs and knives etc.
Get a life, and stop sulking!
The likes of Koffi Olomide add no value to Zambia in fact they subtract. He just encourages loose morals and during such times HIV infections sky-rocket. Such people do not travel alone, they arrive with millions of demons of immorality and people go under a spell of promiscuity.
Viva Jean Mandela! Pursue your case! In many countries you don’t even need to write the Police Chief. Koffi was going to be arrested the moment he landed in Zambia. But in Zed police pay attention more to politicians urging them to arrest so and so than to crime on the ordinary citizen. The fact that someone is a foreigner doesnt mean you can commit a crime against him.
But this guy Koffi comes often to Chingola. The latest was January 2014. Forget about this case because everybody in the system (police) are doing everything possible to turn a blind eye.
Mr. Jean u were interfering and interrupting one of the best artists Africa has been blessed with who was just doing his job. Fortunately and/or unfortunately your job involves being smashed in the face when u interfere. Don’t try to be a nuisance and let the people go & witness one of the wonders of the world that is Koffie Quadra Koraman Olomide, Le Grand Mopao.
Someone got paid somewhere that is the reason you were nearly assassinated and your case has been closed. Somebody has eaten. That is Zambia for you!