Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has announced the formation of the new cooperative organization, the Coalition for the Defence of the Democratic Rights (CDDR), which is aimed at monitoring and defending civil rights in Zambia.
In a statement availed to media today Mr Sikota said the coalition has been formed because of the growing illegality and violence initiated by individuals to advance their private and political interests.
Mr Sikota said the CDDR shall operate as a non-partisan organization focused on the observation of civil and human rights.
He said the judiciary has bravely fought to maintain its independence from the increasing interference and political pressure.
He further said in future CDDR will provide evidence with the aim of restoring civility and adherence to rule of law in the political discourse.
Below is the Launch Statement
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Inaugural Statement of the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights of Zambia
October 3, 2012
To all citizens of the Republic of Zambia:
Approximately one year ago, Zambian voters went out to the polls to exercise their democratic right to suffrage to select new leadership. Just one year later, these same constitutional and internationally recognized rights to free and fair association, political competition, and freedom of expression are under threat by an increasingly authoritarian state.
President Michael Sata and some members of the ruling Patriotic Front party have in many instances violated local and international law in their treatment of political opposition parties. In response, victims of state persecution are hereby announcing the foundation of a new cooperative organisation – the Coalition for Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) – in order to defend civil rights in Zambia.
The formation of this coalition has become necessary because of the growing illegality and violence initiated by individuals among the Executive abusing state power to advance their private and political interests.
As lawyers dedicated to the rule of law and democratic values, we are duty-bound to assist those whose political, civil and constitutional rights are violated. Our doors are open to all those who have suffered unlawful treatment at the hands of the Patriotic Front government over their beliefs, irrespective of ideology, ethnic origin, or agenda. The CDDR shall operate on a non-partisan basis, strictly focused on the observation of civil and human rights.
Among the first actions of the CDDR will be the submission of a comprehensive document detailing the Patriotic Front’s legal violations and judicial interference for submission before relevant international bodies.
It is our intention to make the international community aware of the current abuse of rights and threats of violence being deployed by this government, paving the way for future prosecution and accountability for the unlawful conduct currently being committed by the Patriotic Front.
The judiciary has bravely fought to maintain its independence from increasing interference and political pressure by the ruling party. The CDDR will act in defence of judicial independence and will expand these grievances to international forums to seek redress.
In future communications the CDDR will provide documentary evidence and factual support of the state’s campaign of harassment and persecution against opposition parties, with the aim of restoring civility and adherence to rule of law in the political discourse.
We hope that you will join us in our effort to enforce accountability on behalf of the elected leadership.
Sincerely,
Sakwiba Sikota
Robert Amsterdam
Sirkwiba, why not just call your organization “the Coalition for Defence of Plunderes” (CDP). When did Roterdam become you friend? Iyo ni sebana wikute.
Sakwiba is one big DISSAPOINTMENT!!
Yangu tata mayo eeh ba sa(kaduma)kwiba ubupulumushi. Iyo kwena sebana wikute elo yachilamo. Still trying to find ways to hide siphoned money eeh.
Wow. This is a move after PF behaviour. Is that not partisan enough?
It shud be called defense for plunders Association! Sakwiba you suck!
Welldone Bo sakwiba sikota this is where you belong. now what is yo say on Barotseland? We are feedup of being colonised, u as our leaders pliz direct us to freedom before we use our own reasoning. abash colonisation viva bulozi viva lewanika viva the litunga viva barosteland.
Reminds me of our Nevers Mumba formed his political party.He started just like this….with his national citizen coalition.I won`t be surprised if this becomes a political party in the long run.
You are having a laugh; a blood sucking lawyer like you! kekekeke So Bo Sakwiba what is the catch? This chap just wants to cross-sell and refer all cases to his practice; the chap wants to have his fingers in all the pies, leave some to the new graduates Bo Sakwiba.
Is it another route to ascend to the Presidency of the country? Nevers used the church, HH used the death of someone and now Sac want to use plunderers…Ndeloleishafye
 Robert Amsterdam! Not this vile chap again; the chief vampire, the Russian FSB should have sorted him out and detained him in Siberia when they had the chance if it was not for his powerful media friends; talk of the go-to-guy for thieving dictators and slippery bankers on the run.Â
This organisation is similar to a vampires blood donor organization when you donate your blood you just know it will never see the inside of a clinic or hospital.Â
I got two questions.
1. Is this guy still a politician or is reverted back to his practice full time?
2. Why is Amsterdam being allowed to form NGOs in our country, why has he suddenly become interested in the affairs of Zambia? Whats happening, have i missed something?
And this Amsterdam chap? what is he doing/ Sakwiba, when Sata was insulted by the media is RB’s time where were you? when Chiluba was aquitted where were your so called principles? Ignorant man
Is this another political party in the making?
SAKWIBA ?? DELETED!
Sakwiba you are a disgrace you will not win for you defend criminals shame on you your database are numbers the Lord will defend our land
They’re just throwing up a smokescreen ahead of their own prosecutions.
They are singing the human rights song, just like those other neoliberal losers, the MDC in Zimbabwe (who of course are generously helped by the media – Anglo-American wants the Zimbabwean people’s diamondsa and they have very deep pockets).
This has the touch of Robert Amsterdam all over it.
Google: Opposition petition donors through Henry’s lawyer maravi
So when are you going to announce the disbanding of the CCDR?
The lesson here is that you don’t have to venture into politics to contribute to your nation or to humanity. I knew Sikota as a rational person with a strong sense of justice and purpose. But when he became a politician these noble values seemed to evaporate. I hope he has now come back to earth with this venture..
ohhhhhhh not Sakwiba again
Jemusi Bond
My dear friend you are either very gullible or incredibly naive. Please choose one but in your case choose one get the other one free.
Smart move. Their can never be any other avenue to take with this thuggish govt. just answer one of the posts above, this is non-partisan in the sense that it shall serve interests or a cross ection of the community irrespective of their political persuasion. For instance, two civil servants have been imprisoned for alleged defamation of the Sata. A catholic priest was picked up under the cover of darkness, taken to a private location and with no legal representation was immediately deported. HH is under constant harassment from defence minister, the president and state security apparatus. Political opposition are gagged in parliant on matters around, party supporters are always harassed.Â
Blue or is it black liar? Here in Zambia we dont see what you are talking about dear.
Good luck Sakwiba.You have a tall order because an african is brought up not to respect anything- not civic rights,not orderly living in cities without trashing every corner,not public property and certainly not to respect keeping time.
You are a disgrace! I was brought up to respect everything. Never broke public property and never did any of the wrongs that you were brought up to do. Shame on your parents and their for bringing you up in a way that taught you to do all the wrongs.Â
I feel sorry for you and your children because you will train your children in the wrong way.
The first order of business must be to fight for Lawyers and judges to cease to wear those ridiculous white wigs on their heads. That is a disgrace and violation of sane human rights.
This is what can be called a desperado!. How on earth could you engage someone totally alien to your country as a co founder of your katemba. Shame on Sakwiba! Since when did we ever have judicial independence in Zambia? The cry of Zambians for a free and fair judicial system has been from time immemorial now to come and talk about PF’s one year in power as the worse in the history of our judiciary misbehaviour is but naive and preposterous to say the least. Sakwiba must rexamine himself before becoming the champion of the system to which he is a part and parcel. This is intellectual dishonest on the part of the so called learner lawyer. You are a real shame to the country and the law profession in particular. Everyone can see that, your motivation is nothing but money in your pocket.
Why didn’t Andalakeni announce formation of this NGO of which many intentions is to swindle donors, especially the Dutch & Danish Government?
isn’t this the same sakwiba who stole money during RB’s reign? The chap travelled at GRZ expense to campaign for RB yet he was not a government official. How much did grz spend on this self seeking crap?
Indeed this the end of this opportunist[-(
eeyeeeh tata Lesa what de nosense is this? biggest joke again, Sakwiba here showing off a big failure he is in politics again. why forming an indirect political party in the of NGO aimed at fighting government chosen by the people. Disappointingly enough, its easy to see that this crap came from this looser Robert Amsterdam, and he wrote this crap, an allein to our country whose ideologies are aimed at ruining Zambian name on international scene, unfortunately Sakwiba is entertaining such a monister, I now strongly believe Sakwiba is a biggest disappointing and political failure Zambia has everseen. crap, crap, crap.
rules formed to persecute someone will not work in the end so is  this organisation
Why the f.uc.k have retards at ZAMCOPS decided to terminate the rights for you tube to play zambian music? F.uc.k zambian music anyways. If you are retarded respond to my f.uc.king comment. I know this thread has a lot of retards. Check out Zambian watchdog where brainy people comment. F.uc.k all yall kaponyas.
Retard is my middle name. Paying the piper is part of running the music industry correctly. The local composers and lyricists have the same rights as international ones, which simply requires them to be credited and as a result paid per play. You Tube recently made a major adjustment to monetize music and so my guess is the source of material being broadcast online was not credited to the correct owners. You Tube will support rights organisations.
You see how foolish some Blacks can be. A foreigner is using Sakwiba to make sure his plans of defending plunderers in the likes of RB are achieved at the expense of discrediting our mother Zambia. What Sakwiba should know is that the effect of such propaganda are long lasting and may be felt many years after PF is out of power.It is very unfortunate that Amsterdam is failing to understand that he is dealing with plunderers. He will just end up tarnishing his name. Let us wait and see.
Hi Kwekwe,
” It is very unfortunate that Amsterdam is failing to understand that he is dealing with plunderers. He will just end up tarnishing his name. ”
Robert Amsterdam knows very well that he is supporting plunders. This is what he does, not only in Zambia (the Bandas), but in Thailand (Thaksin) and Russia (Khodorkovski).
This is how the (Rothschild clan) owners of Anglo-American De Beers, Rio Tinto, etc. control the political parties. This is how the two trillionaire banking dynasties operate.
They are trying to prevent 1) the ownership of natural resources by the people or state, 2) the levying of taxes on the transnational corporations, 3) the redistribution of land to the people of the contient. This is how trillionaires become and remain trillionaires.
MrK, very good advice indeed. Everyone knows Amsterdam is the biggest criminal defending and lying lawyer probably being paid my the mafia (anglo american owners). But his quest to the same to Zambia, ain’t gonna work. Keep up the good intuitive spirit of informing the uninformed brother.
Good move. Let the world know about the evil things these retards in government.
How can Sakwiba’s NGO be nonpartisan when he is a leader of a political party called United Liberal Party (ULP) which is strongly aligned to another political party – UPND? This Sakwiba certainly underrates the intelligence of Zambians?
Of course he underrates the intelligence of Zambians most of whom are gullible and danderheads, that explains why pipo like GBM can vye for president. Eko kwalola mwela eko twaya bane……
Good move. Let the world know about the evil things of these retards in government.
Robert Amsterdam the defender of the corrupt. Sakwiba the defender of the corrupt. Birds of the same feather flock together. I am not surprised but its a shame that even one of our own can join an imperialist lawyer like Amsterdam who has no respect for the will of Zambians. Is this Muzungu not the one who has been defending RB family’s corruption? Sakwiba should not have sunk to such levels. Sakwiba can do anything for money.Â
So you will take them to the Hague?
Actions of a desparate character. Is this part of his political party, and how does that foreigner Amsterdam fit in Sakwiba’s scheme?
I have heard some people say Sakwiba Sikota is a good senior lawyer in Zambia. But with the foregoing story
in mind, I tend to agree with other people who say Sikota is a selfish, half bred politician and a dull lawyer among intelligent lawyers. Shame.
WHY? ARE THIEVES TO PROTECT FINISHED NOW?
this fool should be the last person to talk about human rights, in countries like the USA were they follow the law seriously this dimwit could by now be in prison. who doesnt know about the scandals he engaged himself in with those italians during RB’s time.
kekekeke…what a useless speech? Sikota is now finished guys. Partnering with a wanted criminal in many countries Amstadam what ever he is…hahahaha…. Which Zambian can even be part of this useless organization of failures…shaaaa.Â
In theory, it is a good thing but let’s wait and see how it works out in practice. I wish they could also represent (free of charge) those guys who are thrown in jail for long periods of time on trumped up charges of defaming especially a ‘head of state.’Â
If they can speak for the voiceless especially, that will be a step in the right direction.
Sakwiba you are very dull chikala and if you want zambians to respect you stop what you doing with stupid friend.Atase bafikala mwatumpa.
sakwiba is the most dull loyer i have never seen.let him be like the kapumpa`s just get the money from those plunderers and chill do`nt waste your time on stupity things.do`nt take zambia like your home or your wife we are not stupity like u.i will clush your balls
What has Amsterdam got to do with this? Saki, you have just blown your cover, defender of thieves and looters. You do not qualify to take this moral high horse with the company you are keeping. Whatever little respect I had for you has evaporated, never to condense again.
Sakwiba you are have lost direction, associating yourself with plunderers and defending them at all costs simply shows who you are and what you made of ‘corrupt fibre” and that is what you are a corrupt and finished lawyer, failed politician and corrupt citizen
way to go sir Sakwiba..SC..well done..these mafias have taken us for granted..we are so afraid to speak out..
Zambia ranks 44th in the world as a failed state mainly due to Sata’s oppressive and repressive regime characterized by police brutality. Only a year ago, Zambia ranked 55th worldwide as a failed state. This rapid deterioration in ranking testifies to the country’s status as a police state. In view of this, it’s astonishing that there is such a loud outcry and open indignation against the formation of the CDDR by Sakwiba Sikota and Robert Amsterdam. Clearly, there are satanic forces that are thriving through this kind of violence being perpetrated by Sata’s regime. But there has to be rule of law for democracy to survive in Zambia and in any other country for that matter. Great Job Saki and Group.
To Kwekew, continued…
They are trying to create an international image of Zambia as an economic basket case and violator of human rights, which they can then hang an anti-Zambian campaign on that will result in ending donor support (which destabilises the government and leads to what WB Chief economist Joseph Stiglitz called “The IMF Riots”). If that doesn’t change government policy, economic sanctions follow. When those have sufficienty weakened the state, military invasion follows.
This is is how they operate. This is the New World Order, doing covertly what the British Empire used to do overtly. Same people, same interests.
Hi Kwekwe,
” It is very unfortunate that Amsterdam is failing to understand that he is dealing with plunderers. He will just end up tarnishing his name. ”
Robert Amsterdam knows very well that he is supporting plunders. This is what he does, not only in Zambia (the Bandas), but in Thailand (Thaksin) and Russia (Khodorkovski).
This is how the R owners of Anglo-American De Beers, Rio Tinto, etc. control the political parties. This is how the two trillionaire banking dynasties operate.
They are trying to prevent 1) the ownership of natural resources by the people or state, 2) the levying of taxes on the transnational corporations, 3) the redistribution of land to the people of the contient. This is how trillionaires become and remain trillionaires.
Good move, I was expecting something like that becoz all orgs which were talking alot b4 election are have gone to sleep.
You are a joker Sakwiba! Is this organisation going to be monitoring and defending civil rights in your home. Am sure money from plunderers is now not enough but you now want to cash in on donors.Shame of a lawyer….
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