GOVERNMENT has instructed law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and arrest fundamentalists threatening to kill Southern Province Minister Miles Sampa.
Acting Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Emmanuel Chenda said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Government finds the threats unacceptable.
“Government finds the threats on Honourable Sampa unhelpful, retrogressive especially when you look at the strides this country has scored over the years, with regard to national unity and sovereignty. We will ensure that he (Mr Sampa) is protected to enable him to discharge his national duties in a conducive and peaceful environment,” he said.
“As a duly elected Government, we have a duty to safeguard the unity and peace this country has enjoyed over the years. Therefore, any activity away from this shall be treated as a subversive act and the necessary laws shall be applied on the perpetrators,” Mr Chenda said.
He said ministerial jobs are a national responsibility.
“Ethnicity should never be a pre-requisite to one’s suitability for any such appointment or holding of these portfolios,” Mr Chenda said.
Mr Chenda said service to Zambians comes ahead of any tribal, political or religious inclinations.
He said it is unfortunate that a minister appointed by the Head of State could be a target of unfounded intolerance, discrimination and hatred in the discharge of his duties.
And the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has called on police to immediately arrest perpetrators of hatred against Mr Sampa.
SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma says the police should act quickly.
“Police must investigate and arrest people behind the purported letter containing threats against Mr Sampa. We don’t need people who are bent on confusion,” Mr Chibuluma said.
Mr Chibuluma said it would appear that only a few individuals want to portray a negative picture of the people of Southern Province. “Zambians, including foreigners who are legally here, are free to live in any part of this country,” he said.
Mr Chibuluma said divisive elements will not build the nation. He appealed to Zambians to dismiss and ignore such elements.
And Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Garry Nkombo said he could not comment on the matter because the Daily Mail had not published the letter believed to contain the death threats.
“Don’t ever call me to talk about innuendos. Your paper must be factual. Your paper should have produced the letter. Do you want me to comment on rumours?” he said before hanging up.
Mazabuka police received a complaint accompanied by the letter.
The Zambia Daily Mail yesterday published a story in which it revealed that some people have threatened to kill Mr Sampa because they do not want him to work in Southern Province.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Every Zambian must be protected by law.Those perpetrating violence must be brought to book.We don’t need such nonsense in our country.It is time to focus on development.Support the govt of the day, and let the police find out those who are behind this nonsense and arrest them.
very bad politics….. lets be fair, if there is a reason why they dont want him lets just have it tabled,
Before persuing those alleged fundamentalists,kindly arrest those that you claimed are plotting to assassinate Govt “leaders”
Miles boyi, I’m a bit skeptical and believe this is just another one of your cheap publicity stunts. You’ve always been an attention seeker; from UNZA days to Barclays/FBZ. Surely, who would want to kill you now? Just continue doing what you do best; ‘slaughtering’ a wide variety of pu**y!
You must have a tiny one, you will swim in a tonga p.ussy
y did daily mail pick on garry nkombo alone to comment on this matter.y not HH or any of those tonga chiefs.
Nobody is trying to kill me
He just wants to come back to lsk. atase boza!
Kill him.
The earlier he is killed the better
this is the man who told tongs to marry bembas if they want to rule and he is receiving the dose of his nonsense
Kill the chap
This is really cheap..i earge the PF govt. to concentrate on development not mere politicking..this tribalism thing is between PF and UPND..The Zambians on the ground are living happly there are many bembas married to Tongas and Tongas married to Bembas..like here in southern there many bembas who are business men and women who are living happly. My appeal to all zambians is that don’t let politicians mislead us on their quest to gain political mirage.. we are one zambia one nation PF, UPND, MMD and other Political parties dont own this country they will come and go but we people should remain united as always..brothers and sisters.
# 12.wise indeed. Politics are means by which the politician feed their tams, and they will do anything to protect their means of living.
“Thou shall not kill,” says the inspired scriptures
Miles…you’re just guilty for insluting Tongas, go on run to your uncle and report. You are really an attention seeker, you probably wrote the letter yourself! Shame on you!
Cheap tactics and scare-mongering. Killers kill first and explain later. They don’t send hate letters to warn you. And Tongas are only good at stealing cattle; not assassinations.
# 12 Good God bless you.
my tonga brothers sure….. i thought this boyi had apologised for joking with us despite the fact that he is not our cousin…..lets lean to forgive and forget. i remember mwanawasa called the bembas “stinking bembas'” but they forgive him.
Gary is the man..this ka daily shit paper..atase..produce the letter we see..and why can’t that ka same kilometers sampa go and work in Northeren province..?after insulting the people you pretend to be all good..
Atase, it c0mes with the job description. Does this mean Government will also you tax payers money to protect miles and the rest of his children that he has fathered all over the nation and All those women , including the deceased ones (God bless their souls) Sampa is already a walking corpse, so Sata should just shut up, stop involving us in his family issues. We want to hear about Development issues, which are beneficial Ala
I knew this would happen. The Bantus in the Bantustans are now hunting the Boers! The best way to stop this is for State President PW Michael Sata to stop his discrimintory practices in his appointments and to allocate resources equitably to all the provinces of Zambia. He should also stop persecuting citizens of Bantustans and he should release all political prisoners.
Its unfortunate news to hear death threats to Mr Miles Sampa. However, polititians should make responsible statements to each other or groups of people. Zambians complain about PF govt’s threats to other people and are without protection. Miles Sampa’s case is of his own making belittling and reduled people of Southern province. True to Bemba chick, Miles Sampa went to school in Southern and that should have made him have personal special touch of Southern province, but being Bemba and in PF govt, thinks is a better person above the rest of Southerners and laughs by bizare suggestions of tribal marriages to yieled a Tonga president. What an insult PF govt can not defend or protect to people of Southern province.
Mr Sampa is seeking attention, these romours wont get people votes come next election lets just work!
I still think that if we analyse Miles’ statement about the Tonga quest for presidency, you also look at the regional and tribal voting we have seen in the past few years, Miles was right that Tongas must consider marrying Bemba women. The opposite is also very true. It will promote national unity. I think the guy was thinking demographics.
The statement I think was meant to say, the Tongas can win over a large Bemba constituency to vote for any Tonga candidate if they have a better understanding of a Tonga at family level as ba pongoshi, mulamu, uncle, dad bla bla and vice versa. Bravo to all the intermarried. I am Bemba, my wife is Luvale, very nice!