Family Members of Dr Rodger Chongwe have urged politicians not to make political mileage over government’s perceived intention to compensate Mr Chongwe following the shooting incident which happened in Kabwe in 1997.
Family spokesperson, Webster Shawa, observed that some people were trying to do politics on a straight forward issue.
Mr Shawa said human rights was a number one asset of every citizen and it was, therefore, necessary for all those opposed to Dr Chongwe’s compensation to know that he had the right to life and once harmed, he has must be compensated.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Chipata today by Mr Shawa.
Mr Shawa thanked President Rupiah Banda for trying to close the issue which had been pending for the last 12 years.
He said the Chongwe family knew how hard the president was working to sort out the mess created by those who wanted to look like they had the heart for Zambians.
“Dr Chongwe’s life was nearly lost on August 23, 1997 and some politicians want to make political mileage out of what is a straight forward issue,” Mr Shawa said.
He charged that it was the likes of those opposing the compensation that allegedly wanted to eliminate him because they felt he would take over government.
Recently, government’s perceived intention to compensate Dr Chongwe for the shooting incident in Kabwe in 1997 was strongly opposed by a named political party leader in one of the daily tabloids.
ZANIS
Rubbish. These Chongwe guys go on making noise about good governance. Why should he get millions of US dollars? How he maimed? Was he injured? Can’t he work? Is he on a wheel chair? This is nosense. Banda has taken Zambia to the dogs.
$5.9 million or ZMK 27billion is just too much. That is almost above half the budget of a small Ministry. No sensible President will spent such amounts on compensating a greedy citizen.
The Zambians who are greedy like Chogwe must be checked.
He became broke from elsewhere now he want to be rich. We will never believe any family member because those will take a US$200,000 each. They have no national interests but personal. To get the money and disappear.
#1 Good points. Compensation is due to loss of something or even earning potential. CAn these guys prove how they arrive d at that figure and besides the Govt was not represented in court, just like FTJ. If the govt act on this one then they better act on FTJ. THis Rodger Chongwe can still practise and was not mained ..this is day light stealing from a poor nation and this Chongwe at some point even wanted to be president. Dear me. These plunderers!!!
MMD is trying to Fundraise for 2011 elections. President Banda is trying to get some money here and there. Why can’t you people leave us alone.
You want FP-UPND Pact to beat us? Go banda! Go!
I will comment after seeing the outcome of the case…
Isn’t the tabloid that first printed issue now backtracking? Matter has been sent to the appropriate authority by govt to look into. Let us wait and see what the outcome will be before we start insulting Chongwe and his family. What is ironic is that certain members of the opposition were part and parcel of the government that wished to eliminante KK and Chongwe, and even went to the extent of being staunch supporters of Chiluba’s third-term bid. Lucky for them, Zambians have a short memory.
wako ni wako zoona( blood is thicker than water for sure) but this compensation for a man who is still leading a normal life is too much, obviously RB has interests in this case. pipo i have a friend i knew when i stayed in chipata, he was beaten by the polices using short buttons, knocked his back born over demonstration against school admin when he was in grade twelve at Anoya boys and right now he is in a wheel chair and he and his family has never been compensated anything by the government like $5.9 million Rb is giving to chongwe, .Now where is justice ?
correction on #8
” i meant police Not polices”
Mr Webster Shawa, We agree that Mr Chongwe deserves compensation but we are not comfortable with the sinister involvement of the president in this issue and the lies of Mr Mangani who claims that RB is not involved. The other problem is how the colossal amount of US$5.9 million was arrived at. Finally it is also unfair on the tax payer for the treasury to pay out all this when the man behind Mr Chongwe’s attempted assassination, Chiluba is left scot-free. It will be morally wrong to have this amount of money released before these queries are addressed. So Mr Shawa please relax.
He should go to Workmen’s compensation and claim. He will get nothing. He is not incapacitated. The man is as vocal as ever. Give him K500 million mwapusukeni like Dr K.D Kaunda got.
How about the many who could not afford to take their casez to Australia or indeed a Zambian lawyer?
#7 Shimwalule Dont mislead people. I think it has become a cheap habit to criticise the Post at every juncture by some half-baked people. Honestly all the Post did was to break the story some three days ago. When it broke the story the Post merely reported what the govt was intending to do as regards Chongwe’s compensation. After the story broke we had all and sundry giving their views including Mangani who chose to tell lies. It is only today that the Post gave it’s opinion about the issue. There is completely no justification for your cheap diatribe against the Post.
At times silence is the best form of conversation.
I must be in the wrong career , I need to get shot and run to australia maybe I will get a nice cheque as well
#7 SHIMWALULE- The Post only reported what has now come to be the truth. There were no insinuations and infact the POST has said they are for the compensation of any citizen maliciously injured by the state. What Mangani said yesterday is completely different from what Chongwe himself has explained. A news paper worthy its salt should not hide information from the public. We pay tax and this our country therefore we are entitled to know what is happenning to our money. Chongwe can get even $20m for all I care as long as this is done openly not behind closed doors. And why threaten the ones who brought this information to us. Law can be manipulted to suit situation so those legal terms being used is just there to confuse us.
If the Australian court has jurisdiction in this country, so is the London court.
This govt should first get the London high Court amount from Ka Chiluba before giving a cent to this greedy lawyer, even then the amount is too much elo it was an incidence from an unlawfull assembly
#13 Manuel thanx. I did not see your postings- Great minds think alike? You know when I was in grade seven some big chap called me fox, so when I asked him why he was insulting me he said the word meant man. I asked him to spell it and spelled FOLKS. I said but that is plural. That put him at a loss. This is what all these people who are attacking the POST can be described
I shall not exercise haste in commenting on this matter, but rather wait for governments next move. However, if government decides to register the Australian judgement, it will set a very good precedence for Chiluba’s case… and bring to memory Sata’s “misbehaviour” when he strongly advocated for FTJ’s third tern bid-contrary to the constitution!
Ok. Can every one with an outstanding claim get what is due to them.
#15 you are right I think we should line up and be shot at with blank bullets bluze ourselves in the stampede go to australia courts and get a cool $ 5.9m each.
This is a big joke. Is this not infringing on our rights as tax payers. I think as Zambians we deserve the right to question the use of our money. Yes Chongwe deserves compasetion but NO BANTU not to the tune of US $ 5.9m. My heart breeds with pain and anger and I wish 2011 was today I would have exercised my right.
Banda and his government are busy compresing presure of frastration in Zambians and creating a potential volcanic mountain. Came 2011 it will explode and he will fail to contain it. KAMULINDILA MUYOBONA.
Shouldn’t compensation be based on losses brought about by the incident? You mean to tell me if the shooting had not had happened mr Roger chongwe he would have made 5.9 easily in zambia. I would understand the figure if he was in a wheelchair or he was a paraplegic but this is surely not the case. Besides if no real consequences have happaned since the australian judgement it means nothing will probably ever suffice for non compliance. I say mr chongwe I think you should just stomach the idea of compensation away.
#18 yes unlawfull assembly and it has not been proved whether it indeed was a bullet that caused bloood to flow from KK’s head and Chongwe’s cheek. How could bullets have missed both KK and Chongwe by a divided inch? Rumour has it that the two used something to induce blood so as to aggravate the situation and later-on cooked up story. Just like Chiluba before him, our President is showing signs of carelessness when it comes to spending. Brown envelopes everywhere he goes, closed door deals, you name it.
#15 there is no justice and fairness in the world. Get shot and you will die withould a ngwee from the Govt. What did the UNZA and CBU students who were shot get as compensation from Govt?
I smell another scam, RP capital, Crude Oil, GMO,
RB na Chongwe will share the money later, natwishiba. Though Dr RC deserves compensation, but shafulisha. Then they should also give CBU/UNZA students who have been shot.
How many people are going to benefit from this scam?????? Icifukushi please, if you want to be rich in Zambia kuingila fye muma politics? Thats why we don’t see any development everybody is busy checking their book balances. I regret to be Zambian.
atase these people are taking us for granted. rubbish
With MMD its MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS but come 2011 when the PACT comes in it will be MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKETS. I know that someone will say I am dreaming but ICHILOTO KUWAMA. I will keep on dreaming and hopefully my dreams will come true.
The issue here is that all people who have been short by MMD-GRZ must be compasented the same amount $5.9 period. UNZA and CBU students please line up for payments you are in money guys . Just imagine $5.9 in you pocket. Let us also get the $50 from Chiluba and company…we dont want any st.u.pidy statements from GRZ – Mangani now. Pay all those who nurse the wounds of bullets.
It is the UN Human Rights Committee which ruled in favour of Chongwe. If you want compensation, you also appeal to this world body, no one is stopping you. The govt is only doing its part. Sata, apart from being a red eyed snake, is a chameleon who has no shame to twist facts. He supported Chiluba’s stance on Chongwe when it favoured him and condemned Mwanawasa’s over the same matter when it suited him. This is the kind of leadership we should expect from the man.
This kind of compensation where you are giving away money is what is wrong about our country. Why not honor him in a different way? How many other people where probably persecuted by previous leaderships for reasons best known to those leaders at the time and have not been compensated? I believe that before CHiluba’s reign anyone who seemed to be a threat was persecuted, giving away money like that when there are hundreds of needy children in compounds who have no voice to be heard whatsoever is wrong. Thats the problem i have with our politicians too much politics of appeasement.
Please dont reap where you did not sow. Chongwe and RB want to swindle Zambians. RB want money for 2011 campaigns thats why he is involved in so many scandles. He has no shame sure. Hospitals do not have medicine, schools no teachers, children dying every hour…and here you have a president who likes luxiary and misuse of money. What a president Zambia has. If USA can put $5 on the Head of Bin Laden , does it make sense for Zambia as poor as it to give $5.9 to Chongwe for useless meeting they had? What a country is Zambia????
The UNHRC’s decision can be overturned. Israel has successfully done so several times and with impunity. We are a poor country that cannot afford to pay such colossal sums of money to an individual needlessly.
Indeed these cases have been long over due.They are the ones causing cases to drage at the courts.These cases have been a draine on the taxe payers money at the ministry of Justice.Im happy that we a president who is bold enough to conclude all cases before the courts of law.
Chief MMD spokes person
this story is a special story.zambia has fallen in the hands of the criminals.we tried and pleaded to qualify as HIPC,and there is a famous politician roger chongwe asking the same country to pay him.i dont care what the law says zambia needs all the money it can come across.hospital,schools,roads,universities,coleges,the police housing are in a terrible state..if u stay out u can agree with me that kutiwalila.and no matter how much of there cvs we read.they are all same pathetics.only intersted in stealing,that is why i believe sata needs to come in and at least take law in his hands.gerry rawling did it.look at ghana today.in zambia we just hear names but thats all.zambia needs a new crop of leadership not what we see now.oh zambia
RB knows that 2011 tapali ichakwe,so kwibila chalimo….RP Capital,GMO,Selex,Dalbit,…the list is endless
People I need the Zambian Police to please shoot me slightly by my shoulder I seriously need money. Imagine a nice mansion in Kabulonga next to Kafupi, nice hummer, black berry, frequent Dubai trips shopping, holidays, etc.
In other words, lets be real, sensible and considerate. Abash selfishness and greedy. US 5 Million for a poorly managed country like ours is too much especially that only one individual will benefit. You never know immediately after being paid, then he goes with all that money back to Australia.
but kwena…mu zambia. bushe ninshi ilechitika.
Banda i want to see u in 2 weeks time, i will b in zambia – u have to explain how your plans are for zambia. u cannot just spend money on people like chongwe. there are many people who are injured by such events and then u say what…this is utter nonesens….
Zambian women – fake hair and skin bleaching spells inferiority complex. No wonder they tolerate domestic violence. No self worth!
My point is still valid. Was Sata not part of the government that wanted to eliminate Chongwe? Has he ever apologised to the Zambian people for wanting us to endure Chiluba for another term? The people who were macheted by his thugs should also be seeking compensation. What is good for the gander is also good for the goose. You can not be selective when it comes to justice. The government has not said that the money will be paid to Chongwe and yet people are already saying that Bwezani afuna akadyepo naye. The London judgement regarding Chiluba is being looked at.There has not been an announcement stating that it will not be carried out. As we speak now, Chiluba’s immunity has not been restored, so why all the noise?
#30, Shuungu… You are not dreaming at all. What you are talking about is more than possible. Why should people even bother to elect chaps to occupy political positions if it hadn’t been for that? We elect these chaps to build roads, rail lines, schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, airports, etc. These things come with employment opportunities which put money into peoples pockets/purses.
I think Chongwe needs real copper in his head with his insane friends.
Anyway where was he even shot?
Does he have a medical report?
Can he tell us where the Zambian government can get $6mill from?
Plse Zambian lets wake up and stop such nonsense happening.
What a clown he is with his friend.
read post today and see ow foolish they are. The Post has always supported Rodger’s claim for compensation, as well as the claims of others who were tortured in all sorts of ways under Chiluba’s criminal regime. What we did was merely to report that Rupiah Banda has authorised the payment to Rodger of that compensation. Others have the right to comment on it because it is a public issue and the money is not coming from Chiluba or Rupiah’s pockets but from the taxes paid by our people.
Mr. Rupiah Banda may not be a great President by the lights of The Post. However, he has personal knowledge of and is otherwise aware of numerous acts directed towards me including attempted assassination that led to my exile for over five years from Zambia. I wanted to meet him and under these circumstances some would feel he was duty bound to meet me.”
Dr Chongwe said the public could safely assume that President Banda had also been briefed by the Attorney General on follow-up complaints before the United Nations and any embarrassment in international fora this might have caused.
Dr Chongwe stated Mwanawasa on the other hand made apologies to other victims of human rights violations but pointedly excluded him from these apologies.
“Yet, of those still alive I probably sustained the greatest violence just as I endured numerous expulsive acts by agents of the Zambian State. This led to the current Attorney General of Zambia, then in the position of Chairman of the Zambian Human Rights Commission welcoming the apologies but asking why the same was not being offered to Dr Rodger Chongwe which statement was also reported in the Post Newspaper. In fact Mr Mwanawasa never saw fit to meet with me on my return from exile. Although he made appointments to meet me, he broke them on each occasion.
In fact Mr Mwanawasa never saw fit to meet with me on my return from exile. Although he made appointments to meet me, he broke them on each occasion. This was so although I had been his teacher, been Chair of LAZ when he was its Vice Chair as well as being the person he asked to recommend him fit for the honour and dignity of State Counsel, something which he set great store in,” Dr Chongwe stated. is pertinent to note that the article reports that the source says Mr Mwanawasa offered me a particular sum of money. This statement in itself indicates that it was in order for Mr Mwanawasa as President to decide to do so.”
Mr.Chongwe just shows us the lack of leadership Zambia has had and has.Zambia is broke, A country with a national treasury depending on donations from the west due to lack of leadership.Where is the Ministry of Finance going to get the money to pay Mr.Chongwe? The President too must be dreaming and not in touch with reality.Zambia is broke.
I am happy we sjambocked your national soccer team.
Ok so the chaps, are infact in Chipata, his home village!! Is it a syndicate? The Largest compensation in the the history of Zambia. RB will leave a great Legacy! Wats his friend FTJ saying coz hes the one who ordered the cops to fire.
If Rodger Chongwe is given what is being talked about then it just fair that everyone who has suffered some injustice by the Police be given something also period.
KA KAFUPI KALI PEEEEE.STILL ENJOYING OUR HARD EARNED CASH IN NIGERIA
After looking and studying this case critically late Levy offered US $ 60,000. Ofcourse i think the late president considered the capacity of the country. I think since RB does not have time to read he may have mistaken this US $5.9 million to be K 5.9 million because no right thinking president on this planet can authorise such colossal amount of money as compesation for merely being missed by a bullet, which bullet Rodger even never saw
This ka Shawa just wants a cut from the loot!!!
come on!!! 5.9 mill USA???? then how much will super Ken be given? coz he was grazed by lead.
Super Ken will be given One Billion Dollars, That is Zambia for you. This is the reason there conflicts around the global is because of the similar self centerness.
iyoo kwena this is a country mwe!