Luapula Province Minister Besa Chimbaka has said that stories on suspected ritual killers carried on Radio Yangeni, a local radio station run by the Catholic Church, might have contributed to inciting the people of Senama and Kapesha to resort to violent protests.
He advised the radio station management to observe responsible reporting and always strive to verify their stories.
Mr Chimbaka has described as unfortunate violent protests that have erupted in Mansa and led to loss of life and property.
Mr Chimbaka has also directed Police to fish out all perpertrators behind the violence that has rocked the district for the past two days for them to face the law.
The Minister said police should fish out those behind the violence, adding that rumour mongering is a crime and police must immediately deal with it.
He also called upon opposition political leaders in the province to condemn and stop the people involved in the violent riots from using their slogans and symbols, as no single person is supposed to take pride or use the riots for political purposes.
[pullquote]The Minister said police should fish out those behind the violence, adding that rumour mongering is a crime and police must immediately deal with it.[/pullquote]
ZANIS reports that the Minister said the riots that have culminated into burning and looting of shops as well as houses belonging to selected businessmen is unfortunate and will have a long time negative economic effect on the people of Mansa.
He said no Mansa resident must take pride in what is happening and noone should even make political capital out of the situation.
“What is happening is unfortunate because innocent lives have been senselessly wasted while investment that is supposed to provide jobs to the people has been destroyed.
” This will have long economic effects on the people of Mansa and is not good for future investment.
[pullquote]He also called upon opposition political leaders in the province to condemn and stop the people involved in the violent riots from using their slogans and symbols, as no single person is supposed to take pride or use the riots for political purposes.[/pullquote]
” Look at AMICO investment, look at ICM and PAPI, they all had invested and employed a lot of people who will now have no jobs and this means perpetuating poverty in the district,” Mr Chimbaka said.
Residents of Senama and Kapesha areas in Mansa have in the past two days taken to violent riotus behaviour following a rumours that local businessmen have engaged killers who are abducting children for body parts to use in boosting their businesses.
Business properties that were looted and burnt belong to four business people AMICO investment belonging to Ibrahim Sanaullar, Nana belonging to John Kambafwile, ICM investment owned by Ireen Chilongo and Country Grocery run by Papi Muzungu.
The rioters also burnt down houses and vehicles belonging to the businessmen.
Another businessman a money lender named Wilbroad Chishimba was burnt to death yesterday, his was also house destroyed and four vehicles set on fire.
Meanwhile, relative calm has returned to Mansa after riot police and army personnel intensified operations. Attempts by some protesters to ransack Country grocery and Rendezvous Nite Club were quickly thwarted.
Luapula Province Minister has called for beefing up of police personnel in Mansa so that people’s life and property can be secured at all costs.
Authorities have confirmed that affected business together with their families have been taken to safety house where they are being kept.
Inspector General of Police has since warned perpetrators of violence that they will be dealt with.
ZANIS
Irresponsible journalism with poor reporting by community radio stations must be condemned.
Tell us what was reported by radio yangeni. Always looking for a scapegoat, that’s human nature at its best.
People of these areas also, a person cannot do well in business then he is using ubwanga, just over twenty years ago there was a man by the of Spider Machinsa, had a lot of shops in Mansa and of course he had ubwanga, but everyone used to buy from, pa zed ubututu kwena!
Imwe bakapala lekeni ichongo. There is no smoke without fire and yes those so called investors have employed the locals inclusive the entire Mansa Police Force who are on there pay rolls hence the reason why they are no records of any report of missing children. What about the truckload of children which was intercepted. Please investigate before you start barking.
Iwe Besa, give us tangible data with regards to what the radio station reported and how that could have precipitated such a long violent situ reminiscent only of exenophobic atrocities of south africa. The problem with these leaders is that they always think using their f.ucking a.ss.es such that the play down even a very serious situation deserving serious approach!! Fu.ck!!
General Shikapwasha, nchito yaoneka! This is more serious than political songs!
This is just civil disobedience. He has brot bad air at state house
Not too different from those abductions and killings in Tanzania of albino persons whose parts were to be used for witchcraft.
The only true way to boost your business is by old fashioned hard work and dedication,some education and very prudent handling of finances.Anything else is an approach by a lazy,ignorant person coz no pain no gain.
Community radio stations should be regulated. This was irresponsible journalism.
Such heavy words, now you damage the radio stations reputation, govt could be sued for this. These officials just open their mouths without thinking. Give us a transcript of what they said EXACTLY and we will judge if it was responsible or not. You have all but acused them of causing the riots, and you cannot be catholic you galu you!
to all you dimwits out there, this is just a preview of things to expect under your so called progressive sata and his pf!
Hey the story published was like this. ” a pregnant woman has been found dead 40km from Mansa in unexplained circumstances suspected to have be the work of ritual killers”. This came amidst rumours over a month of suspected ritual killing. The news on the radio alert the public. The first two who died were found in an unfortunate situation as they were aguing over the phone, the child who was pushed in the process and fail down shouted “killers are after my life!” this drew the attention of the people at the market. The two were cought and burnt.
Cage the journalists!
Umeni ba fikala, they do not know that umweo kanani? Stupid ritual killers.
ba LT ichisungu at chishimba was burnt to death and his was also house destroyed please muletusebanya
The Lozi protestors did not kill or maim anyone or destroy private property or business premises. They only targeted police stations only after the police started killing and maiming them in their homes and on the streets. They attacked the police in self defence! Mwandini Abalozi I admire your discipline contrary to claims by those who always wish you bad. Can RB and his killers produce any body that was killed by Lozi protestors or a person that was harmed by Lozi protestors? RB HATES Lozi’s and its a FACT! Wonder why he is not showing the same zeal he showed in Barotseland against arsonists and mob killers in Luapula!
# 16 you got to be a hardcore tribalists to think in the twisted way the way you think. How do you compare the two? God help you my friend.
I hate RB, he is old fashioned, useless and other the other unpritables, but tribal? No my friend you have missed it. See a doctor , you need help my dear. Sad is there is no cure your for disease-tribalism
#4 Fools like you should be banned from the internet. So when i start a rumor that yo sister or whoever you are related to is a bycth. Its true coz their is no smoke without fire. The actions of Mansa pipo is so primitive
#17 Freedom You’ve just woken up from your slumber, and you are just a pathetic excuse 4 a human being with a single digit IQ. Dont you damn recall what RB said in defence of his violence in Barotseland? He said the police were sent to Barotseland to protect lives and property because Lozis (sic) were threatening to kill non Lozis and destroy property. Now get it in that thick head of yours that not a single non-Lozi was killed or maimed by these so called Lozi butchers! Look at what is happening in Mansa. People have been killed and property burnt. Why has RB reacted differently to the two situations? Heavy handedness in one in which the protestors didnt kill or harm anyone. And softly softly in the other in which people are been killed and property destroyed. Is RB impartial?
Iwe #17 Freedom; I expect you to explain why RB has acted in the way he has acted in the given two scenarios. Calling me names does not explain anything. I expect you to give me a reasoned answer as to why RB acted the way he did in Mongu and in Mansa given his ‘detest’ of people who threaten lives and destroy property. Please convince me that you dont have a single digit IQ by your reasoned explanation, I hope!
This is so cheap of Chibaka! The Radio station should not be accused coz this is something that has grown out of discontent! Where was the Shushushu who were suppose 2 have the 411 on the violence? This is bad and all perprators should be condemned and action taken. Don’t put the Radio station under pressure coz u hate the Catholics!
There is something wrong with our security in some parts of Zambia. How can police fail to detect crime or put down a riot for 2 straight days in a small town like Mansa and let property be destroyed like that. Its a big shame. RB should do something with the Police Command. These guys are brewing trouble for him. The Police command should be proactive as we heard towards elections. Imagine is there is going to be elections didputes between PF and MMD and riots broke out in thre to four Provinces will our security forces be in a position to bring them down without loss of lives. Let the men entrusted with seurity be on their toes in the field to ensure the Mansa event does not spread to other parts of the country. We need for every person living in Zambia including protection of property.
Why do our brothers in that part of zambia belive so much in witchcraft? Businesses do not thrive on magic coz if this was the case every Jim and Jack would be very rich. We have a very big problem pa Zed. If one is poor every one looks upon him /her down and laugh and when one works hard and makes some bit of money to live a comfortable life then he /she is termed to be practising witchcraft.Sub Sahara has lagged behind coz of petty jealous bad leadership, triblalism. We will never learn. Its unfortunate those businessmen have lost all their life time investments just coz of rumours.
Cage the riotors and Radio station in Mansa shud be banned like Radio Lymbai in Mongu is banned.
There is a danger of this riotous behaviour reaching each part of the country for one reson or another. I wonder whats going on? However, how come these ritual killers are never picked upby police or other agencies. We so much about business men doing these ugly things and yet they seem to go soctfree. Are our police involved? Why can;t their be a wing that traces these stories and proves them before lives are lost? I propose a wing under the police to investigate all suspected ritual murderers since they are usually know and taled about by the communties where they live or opearet their businesses. Unless it is cartel which then becomes a big national problem.
Chimbaka do not politise the issue. This tragedy is simply unfortunate and fingerpointing will not help matters. Create more jobs, training opportunities for the army of unemployed youths, mostly school leavers roaming streets of our upcoming towns, indeed even other towns on line of rail so that alcohol and mischiefs like drug smoking, rumour mongering is reduced among them. No wonder most looters and those killed totalling 8 are mostly youths, although the GRZ press is putting the figure at 3. Ba Shikapwasha verify the facts since Chimbaka seem to out of touch with issues in his own town.The Minister,Chimbaka has not even visited any of the businessmen who lost their property worth billions and were pillars in terms the economy of Mansa.
Its understood most of those who looted goods from Amico shops came from the nearby police camp. Can some shade more light on this report? If, its true the we are done as a country!
# 4 Makuugo: Shed more data on the truckload of children that was intercepted. Where, when, how, who, what?
#19: I am sure you can debate without insults.
I LIVED IN MANSA fron 2005-2007 and found local complaining over the same business people mentioned.I know them personally due to the nature of work i used to do and never doubted the allegations.In Ibrahim sanaullar-Amico was driven from Nakonde and Mpika in the same manner due to suspected rituall killings.Is this a coincidence???the Lady Ireen once went mad after the death of her brother and acquired enormous wealth immediately.in fact they have left out some sorceres who are businessmen.Most of these have congolese origins and need to have their backgrounds investigated as well as their source of income.Their is no smoke withou fire……By the way can some one tell me why ZNBC failed to capture this new item but MUVI TV did with clips of the burnt body of Wilbroad AKA Warute???.
We understand that Dr Solomon Jere was in Mansa and he featured on Radio Yangeni in live phone in programme together with the commanding Officer,bawesu,I dont want to say here what admissions the CO made publicly on Radio in answering questions from the public and after being asked to confirm by Dr. Jere if it was so.Bawesu can anyone say something on Dr. Jere’s mission to MANSA recently?
Ladies and gentlemen, my simple question is “What opposition political party is this dull Minister referring to?” We know he is PF. Let him come in the open! In Luapula the opposition is simply MMD which has less MPs and RB lost terribly in the region including late Mwanawasa(MHSRIP) in 2008 and 2006 respectively! Ubupuba bubi. By his mere statement the Minister is politicking. Amano mambulwa. I wonder on which ticket the guy will stand because he has terribly failed RB/MMD and PF has rejected him!