Zambia has assured South Africa the countries will continue to have close ties following reports of insulting anti-South African remarks by Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Muyeba Chikonde was summoned to the International Relations and Cooperation Department to explain Scott’s remarks.
Chikonde saw the Deputy Director General for Africa Ebrahim Salei and told him that Scott was on holiday and could not be asked if the reported remark that South Africans are backward, arrogant troublemakers was true.
Chikonde assured the public that even if they were true, they did not reflect Lusaka’s view of South Africa.
He said the countries’ presidents remained close.
“Zambia is a second home for South Africans”. Chikonde said.
When he returns from holiday, Scott will be asked if the reports were accurate
He is a sick man.
Even me if you find me on holiday i will tell you things i can`t tell you in my office.Why beating about the bush about something which is true ? A short random survey was made yesterday in Kenya and Nigeria asking people what they think about Scotts remarks on South Africa 4 in 5 people agreed with his sentiments.So why pretending ? We love you Scott…continue with your honest and down to earth opinions
Mr Scott has a point though… South Africans tend to substitute materialism for brains… Intellectually the only concept they seem to be able to grasp is race, and of course money. It stops there. Without the race obsessions (both blacks and whites) they have nothing else to talk about because they can’t think of anything else. Oh yes, sport… I should know, I am South African myself and I experience this every day… and I get so fking bored !
Just organize a soccer match Zambia vs South Africa next week, and all the plans of those South Africans of burning things will be diminish.
It is interesting to read comments of our fellow Africans, especially Zambians. South Africans, From President to an average citizen, we applaud Zambians for their role in our struggle against racism (Apartheid system governance). I think our fellow Africans should get over this “BIG BROTHER Mentality”.
The one which seeks South Africans, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans to forever be told about how they were helped to get their freedoms. we all appreciate ur assistanc
As an African, i would like to see our countries, including the entire continent, working together to develop our continent. The statements by Zambia’s VP does not do us good. I think we took a good decision to deal with this matter diplomatically and close it. As Africans we have a lot of work to do in improving our continent.
Mr Chikonde why didn’t you just tell them the truth that our vice president was high on pot when issuing that statement and he is a stu.pid old white man? When one occupies such an office, they become an institution even when they are on leave. You can’t separate personal and public life at that level. If he was ordinary at that time, why was he picked, why didn’t they pick on any other ordinary person? Shame!
@kitwe boy…
you are very right!!! mr chikonde should told they the truth,,, fwaka sikoti muzungu opusa fwaka,!.. thats why he made that statement,
Now zambia as a nation is reduced to her knees begging for warm relations with RSA because of one muzungu opusa!!
Even if what Scott said had some element of truth in it, would he as Zambia’s 2nd top dog have uttered his private thoughts so loudly!? It’s true most Africans believe some South Africans are arrogant, and we know that some of them are xenophobic and have literally murdered their fellow Africans to drive the point home. But surely Scott could have found a better way around this problem without shooting from the hip with his mouth. Zambia seems cursed with wrong people governing it, starting with KK right down to the present.
When HH referred Scott to something, you all pointed your erections at HH. Fimuselela kwakaba imwe.
But chi Scott is smart, he even goes on leave!! Funny chap indeed.
Ati 2nd top dog! Yes he is a dog indeed and opusa futi! That’s why SA should not worry – the man is already finished anyhow!
spot on!
To hell with south africa!
@Charle, You say to hell with SA when there are thousands of Zambians making a living in that country who otherwise would be starving.
London Eye, we need to take things into perspective. The Zambians in SA are largely contributing to the progress of that country. They are marketable, and can work anywhere else in the world. The problem sometimes is herd mentality where we all just crowd into one space. Try venturing out and you will find Zambians (and the need for their expertise) spread out wide. I doubt very much that the Zambian professional will be stranded because some crazy South African has decided to mete vengeance based on the VP’s comments. Matter of fact they will just be confirming his assessments if they do go ahead with that. By the way, there is a rhetorical headline in one of the Namibian papers that states “South Africans Backward” [See the Sun newspaper]…
@Kitwe Boys, you’re spot on. Am told this man is big on dagga, and now he has even missed out on the opportunity to try out South Africa’s new invention called NYAUPYE!
Scott is the man.Umuntu kukwata personal opinion.Even Joe Bidden says things off the record, so crucifying him over things he siad while on holiday he not only unfair but lame.
To all PF Ministers, please feel free to visit my Mouth clinic. From today until the 10th May 2013 I will be offering free mouth cleaning services. We will be able to remove all the foul stuff from your mouths. We use state of the art equipment and detergents.
I also want to assure you that I wont report you to the authorities of Chainama Hills Hospital. Word going around Lusaka is that a number of patients escaped from that facility on 20 Sept 2011. Some of the inmates are reportedly been seeing in government offices pretending to be Ministers.
SCOT is that GUY…he is my main man….
OK, LET GUY SCOTT COME BACK FROM LEAVE AND TELL US HOW THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER MISQUOTED HIM …, WHICH EXPLANATION WE’LL AS USUAL BELIEVE, AND THEREFORE USE TO KEEP HIM IN HIS JOB. AWE SURE NI KAYA PA ZED!
On holiday? My foot! Scot’s sentiments are representative of most Africans’ opinion of South Africa. We don’t want their “true” democracy or successful economy per se. What we want is dignity in the way they treat Africans in their country, much the same way the Nigerian civil servant identified with their plight when he would donate 10% of his salary to their liberation struggle. Much the same way the township dweller in Lilanda, Mtendere would hide them under his bed when the racists death squads would hunt them down during the height of their struggle. Respect, is what we want, not lynching in the way their police chained a Mozambiqan man behind a moving van to his horrific death.
Just deal with your own Zambian or Nigerian problems! South Africans owe you nothing! What exactly do you want them to do for you? Wipe your as.sses? Police brutality is everywhere in Africa. From Cape to Cairo and from Libreville to Mombasa and in between.
Just tell your Guy Scott to build you a toilet in your village. After all the same Scott will retire to his Villa in Cape Town to enjoy his Zambian pension! Cape Town aka the mother city is the retirement home for all Rhodesians both Northern and Southern!
Stop wasting time on rubbish! Tell your Zambian or Nigerian govts to develop your own countries. 50 years after independence and all you do is complain about foreign countries! Honestly what do you want South Africans to do for you?
@Gunduzani, I was of the view that South Africans acknowledge the help given by our fellow Africans. I also know as South African that i am forever told that Africans helped us to attain our freedom May be know we need to speak about how we can help each other without referring to each other as backward.
The progress of Africa we depends on how we work together as Africans. We should not fight unnecessarily. Let’s exchange skills, knowledge, technology etc
FOREIGN HOLIDAYS: My small town in Zambia is need of local tourists to leave cash with the poor people that live there. Why should VP spend his holiday in Britain? Or wherever it is he went to?
OK, LET GUY SCOTT COME BACK FROM LEAVE AND TELL US HOW THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER MISQUOTED HIM …, WHICH EXPLANATION WE’LL AS USUAL BELIEVE, AND THEREFORE USE TO KEEP HIM IN HIS JOB. AWE SURE NI KAYA PA ZED, YET IN OTHER COUNTRIES HE’D HAVE RESIGNED BY NOW.
You may not have read the interview. Guy Scott was spot on. He spoke his mind and for that I respect him.
@Mei Matungu, thanks for the insight, but this how I understand it; If you’re American, whether you’re Republican or Democrat you’ll be offended if anyone that’s not an American says something insulting about Pres Obama or Americans in general. It is the same thing when you’re Zambian or South African, any negative statement about your head of state or your country is annoying when it comes from a foreign national. So, Mr Scott’s case is mostly disappointing because these are basics of political diplomacy. He is best suited to understand how far-reaching implications of certain statements are. I read the report of that interview and to honest the language was crude. To me, there’s a big difference between me Having a problem with you and HATING you!
Scot learn to be diplomatic
Even me if you find me on holiday i will tell you things i can`t tell you in my office.Why beating about the bush about something which is true ? A short random survey was made yesterday in Kenya and Nigeria asking people what they think about Scotts remarks on South Africa 4 in 5 people agreed with his sentiments.So why pretending ? We love you Scott…continue with your honest and down to earth opinions.
It was a stupid comment to make. If Scott was not stupid as stated by HH he would’ve resigned. There is a lot to talk about Zambia why talk about another country. Needless careless comments by Vice President . He should resign or sata must sack him
Masala market wherever you are you still have a job because you
keep your mouth shut, teach that to your old man Scott, he is a coward
too now our ambassadors have to pay for his unkind words
South Africans dont feel insulted. They firstly dont know what ‘bees Knees’ means..secondly they’re used to be insulted by white south africans, Scott wont make a difference. They only reacted beacuse they ‘heard’ from BBC that they have been insulted. When asked about Bees Knees, RSA presido Zuma said Bee keeping is a black empowerment initiative created by the ANC.
The ANC can’t handle the truth and they certainly don’t want the International community knowing the truth. They get all smug and smiley when they UK and USA blab on about how how wonderful South Africa is and how progressive our consitution is……hahahaha, if only they knew what a lie it all is. They should come here and be a man in the street, after taking their rose coloured specs off and see what is really going on…..or they could just log onto sites like this if they could be bothered.Good to have a leader with balls.
*They get all smug and smiley when they UK and USA blab on about how how wonderful South Africa is and how progressive their consitution*
A leader with Balls? Zuma still has his balls unlike some Presidents who have been to see Indian witchdoctors. Zuma has 4 wives and he does a lot of balling! Guy Scott is just an id.iot.
You’re just jealousy. Please just work hard and develop your country. South Africans did not say bad things about Zambians. It was your stu.pid VP who has made disparaging remarks about South Africa. Don’t start fights you cannot win.
You are just sounding more stu.pid every day that passes!
@Goncalves…just log on to this site using the link below using your facebook.You will see how the majority of the South Africans themselves have agreed with guy Scotts remarks.The truth hurts….paste this link(below) in your browser bro and enjoy.
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=275632095906796&id=160836574053016&set=a.201754193294587.53936.160836574053016&p=40&refid=13&_rdr
Does that facebook page qualify to be the ‘majority’ of South Africans? Why don’t you plaster all the South African websites that have covered the issue and then count those who are for Scott.
For God’s sake Scott was wrong to speak ill of South Africans and their leader. It does not matter whether you agree with him or not because the issue is not whether he’s right or wrong. He is the Vice President of Zambia and if he has issues with Zuma he should man up and discuss the issue at a bilateral level. He may have just succeeded in burning the bridges between the ANC govt and the PF govt with his outburst. The number of Facebook supporters does not matter!
It doesnt but in statistics one doesn`t need the whole population as a sample.A random survey of 100 people from different clusters are enough to be representative of the whole population.
As a South African i do not agree with what your Vice President said about South Africa. He says he hates South Africans. I do not hate Zambians. Do you think South Africans agree with his utterance when he equates President Zuma to former Apartheid President.
Can’t we as Africans focus on African development?
Vice President Guy Scot spoke the naked truth. History has it that diplomacy did make a kind to walk naked in public! Only a child had the courage to tell the public that their kind was naked!
Sorry, I meant to say “king” and not “kind”. Vice President Guy Scot spoke the naked truth. History has it that diplomacy did make a king to walk naked in public! Only a child had the courage to tell the public that their kind was naked!
Meitunga – both versions make pretty good sense! Thanks!!!
Spot on Scott..you are the man:-)
TOO MUCH BLAH…BLAH…BLAH… ON THIS BLOG.
OK, WHAT SCOTT SAID IS VERY TRUE.
BUT HOW HE SAID IT IS WHAT LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED.
AS VP OF ANOTHER SOVREIGN STATE HE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DEPLOMATIC.
AND THEIR BACKWARDNESS CAN CAUSE THEM TO RETALIATE BY ACTING WITH EVEN MORE XENOPHOBIA AGAINST OUR ZAMBIAN FRIENDS RESIDENT IN THAT COUNTRY.
let them retaliate and prove themselves of what the vp was saying…….you are even defending them when facts are there, just go and deficate may be you will start analysing issues objectively.
There is plain truth in scott said, otherwise, the so called ANC has made everything backward in the way they handle issuies coz of trying to prevent boers to rule them again.
If Scott cared about Zambia, would he say such rubbish about Zambia’s man trade partner?
Guy scott is a terrorist and should be monitored carefully. He is the architect behind PF violence and corruption malpractice’s. If he can say this about south african, what is he saying about Zambians? He should be fired but the PF have no guts to do this because it would be the end of their party.
This man is jealousy and tying to be famous since he was unknown he jealousy of our prosperity we are the biggest and most developed country in Africa no doubt about that.We have been sucessful on what ever we did and thats extraordinaire.We are hosting lots of his citizen and employing them but he creating some hatred against our brothers who have settled very well in our country.infact as a ordinary South African we don’t benefit anything from Zambia and i don’t think i will need help from his country now.
Mwanawasa called Zimbabwe ‘a sinking Titanic’. There was no war between Zambia and Zimbabwe. What is so special about South Africa? South Africa are very intolerant people especially against fellow africans. The biggest problem is that men have the least education (including Zuma) than women because they preferred to work in gold mines than go to school. There is no argument about the level of insipissated ignorance in South Africa. Guy Scott was right in spelling out the problem in one savage line of commentary. Well done mate!
@The Kimbanguist if we had least education we should be prosper and your brother could not come to our country for better education thats why our contry is world class.
The VP needs to be fired for making such a remark … or for not coming out and disputing it.
Well done Ambassodor Chikonde!
I think there’s an element of oversensitivity on the part of the South Africans and exageration of the significance of this event on the part of some Zambians, the latter whose views seem to be tinged with their pre-existing negative feelings towards the current Zambian government.
I take it the relationship between Zambia and South Africa is mutually beneficial. If it is broken, both parties will lose something. It’s not a one-way thing, by a long shot!!!
South Aficans have treated Zambians well compared to other Africans. This is because of our history together, eating nshima together and all that. It was totally unacceptable for this man to say that. I can understand where he is coming from because he has notfreedom fighting credentials. These are people that have been milking Africans throughout, getting the best out of the land without fighting for anything. Now he is VP. I say Sata must fire this man. There is precedence for this. Mwanawasa fired Nevers Mumba for a similar thing with Congo; Malema of SA was taken to task by ANC for saying bad things about Botswana. This is a very serious issue and it needs firm action from the Presidency, who is ultimately responsible for his VP
Educated SA citizens on the ground seem to agree with Scott and welcome his comments as a wake up call and its high time someone stood up to Zuma’s gov’t.
Well done Scott, no more two faced political gestures!!
Uneducated Zambians also seem to agree with Scott’s position. South Africans owe you nothing. Develop your Zambia and stop bothering people!
It is stu.pid for a VP to start shooting off at another country without any provocation. Deal with your poverty and squalor in Zambia. South Africans will also deal with their own poverty and squalor.
Besides Scott did not stand up to Zuma. He simply went to a newspaper from his ancestral home (UK) to cry. And quite rightly the Zambian govt has disavowed his insults!
I repeat: South Africans Owe YOU NOTHING!
Please South Africans Feel Proud of Your Country ! It is Yours and Yours Alone! Don’t let jealousy maggots from failed states put you down. They just wish they had a country like yours!
@Sepiso
Well instead of posting lame paragraphs why don’t you use that time to read what he actually said in the Guardian…..whilst you at browse through RSA fora on line. Lets learn to be objective for once!!
Honestly why do you want me to reread the same nonsense? It wont change anything. It was rubbish. That is why the South African Government summoned the Zambian High Commissioner to explain the reasons behind Guy Scott’s insults. In response your own Zambian PF Government of which your Guy Scott is VP has disassociated itself from Guy Scott’s statement .
And in your own usual shallow self ; you are asking me to go and read Scott’s interview again………honestly at what point are you going to grow up and accept that what Scott said is unacceptable coming from the Vice President of Zambia?
The question you should be asking yourself is: Why hasn’t the PF Govt supported Guy Scott instead of disassociating itself from him?
They did not reflect LUSAKA’s view of South Africa?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Am i missing something here?!?!?
So Ndola, Kitwe, Shangombo, Mporokoso…..are in agreement with Veep’s statement! I couldn’t believer the man actually said that. Maybe he thinks Lusaka = Zambia.
Wonders will never cease….
To hell with South African. What wud I lose if we spoil our relations with that country. They are backwards that’s the fact. Thanks VP Scott. In fact its SA that will be the looser big time on trade. On all those rubbish guds u come and damp on our soil. With fake outlets atie Shoprite etc
Well if relations are spoiled which will not; for starters your FAZ president who happens to resides in RSA will have a nightmare in camping the nation team there as GRZ will not release the funds so it can be wasted at his preferred SA training ground where he has vested interests…which is a plus for us (taxpayers) and local grass roots football of course.
I don’t how much a big deal it is for the likes of SEPISO. But if you look at most South Africasn websites, they are laughing at them selves! Some are suggesting Scot might actually be correct and think an introspection at this moment is necessary.
Spot on!!
Most South African websites? Don’t kid yourself! Try News24 and The Sowetan which have comments running into hundreds and search for Guy Scott , Zambia. You will get how ordinary South Africans feel about this issue.
There was no need for Guy Scott to say what he said. There was no provocation of any kind from South Africa. This is not about one or two pro Scott comments on some South African website. It is about the position of the South African govt. They are not happy. This is no introspection. In response the Zambian govt is equally not happy. Scott has been disowned. I hope he will do his own introspection. Please go to News24 and enjoy yourself. Zambia does not need this sort of rubbish!
It is interesting to read comments of our fellow Africans, especially Zambians. South Africans, From President to an average citizen, we applaud Zambians for their role in our struggle against racism (Apartheid system governance). I think our fellow Africans should get over this “BIG BROTHER Mentality”. The one which seeks South Africans, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans to forever be told about how they were helped to get their freedoms. we all appreciate ur assistanc
As an African, i would like to see our countries, including the entire continent, working together to develop our continent. The statements by Zambia’s VP does not do us good. As Africans we have a lot of work to do in improving our continent.
Mr. Scott, when you come back from leave, please don’t forget to apologize. Tell them (S.As) that you are sorry but,……………………………………..
By the way majority of SA people applaud Scott, follow the link below from news24’s website;
news24.com/Africa/News/South-Africans-are-backward-says-Scott-20130502-3
Why do you continue to say the ‘majority’. My dear no matter how much you repeat it ; it wont make it true. Scott boobed! Iam beginning to think you are Guy Scott himself. What is been written about Scott and Zambia on News24 is not good (I am more concerned about Zambia) ! Just apologise to the South Africans!
Yes, I’m Guy Scott and I am on holiday in the UK, I wholeheartedly apologise for being undiplomatic.
Are you happy now?
Guy Scott is a brat with no brain. How on earth can he call South Africans backwards, when it is the very country all Zambian politicians run to for medical treatment? Every do has its day, Scott just might need to be treated by the so called backward people. His remarks were totally uncalled for and he owes the South Africans a big apology, end of!
Hello he said backward in historical development!!
To apologies for what guys? We owe no one an apology! We behind our Scott
I have checked the News24 website. I am afraid there’s no silver lining for Dr Scott on that site. Most people are just making jokes about Dr Scott and Zambia. I found it to be Very embarrassing. Twasebana!
Please stop cherry picking posts with the words “Zambia” and “Scott” on that news24 thread and read all the comments there. And you will certainly conclude that MAJORITY of bloggers agree with Scott.
* MAJORITY of SA bloggers agree with Scott.
@Jay Jay, what is your problem mate?. I have read all the comments from top to bottom . And how does one cherry pick a site which is packed with comments? I am starting to think you’re delusional and in denial. Unlike you I won’t pretend to have read what is not there! The South Africans are having a laugh at the expense of Dr Scott and Zambia.
Zambia and Guy will NOT apologize to anyone for saying the truth. Would any sane person expect Sata to apologize to Zuma/RSA. I dont think so. For starters Zambia has distanced herself from Scott’s comments, Saying the’re personal. We all know Government official at VEEP is on duty 24/7 on leave or not. Coming to Scott, he will simply say he was misquoted. The fact is South Africa needs Zambia more than Zed needs RSA if one look at trade in/balance.
I’m equally from readin News24 & Scott is leading with support coming in from those backward citizens called South Africans. Interesting to read though
Too bad for Zambia! I don’t like my country been ridiculed. Scott should not have said what he said. Honestly , Zambia is very dependent on SA. Zambia needs SA not the other way round. More than 60% of consumer goods are from South Africa. Scott doesn’t need to apologise. He has already been thrown under the bus by his own govt. He doesn’t speak for the government. That is more insulting than apologizing. Besides the Zed govt is already suggesting that he might have been misquoted. Zambia has gained nothing from this spat. Check the Zimbabwean sites also. They are questioning the sanity of our top two and by implication that of the rest of us!
Zambia does not obtain all those “consumer goods” free of charge; The SA economy does benefit from those exports as well so its a two-way street. Change your mindset!!
It is absurd for any reasonable person to blow the issue out of proportion. South Africa hosts many different nationalities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, China name them, but in 2008 they unleashed their fury on fellow blacks in the name of xenophobia brutally killing close to 68 fellow Africans by stoning and burning them alive for no apparent reason and you expect us to simply forget. The honorable thing you can do is to rebrand yourselves period!
We zambians in RSA feel betrayed
Zambia needs South Africa more than South Africa needs Zambia. South Africa trades directly with the EU and is regarded as a peer. SA has a large sea front from end to end or east to west for her sea exports and imports but all we wanted to do was to import cars through these ports as Zambians. Short sightedness! Zambia is not a directly connected country with SA but we enjoyed relations as if we shared borders. Zambians have enjoyed a lot of respect from the South Africans until in recent years and these flare ups and miscommunication gaffes won’t help matters. The South African route is still the safest for Zambia exports and imports and I am not talking about the importation of a Datsun or a Pajero this and Mitsubishi that. I am talking of imports and exports that change people’s…