The Zambia National Women’s Lobby(ZNWL) has thanked President Edgar Lungu for pardoning Zambian Musician Clifford Dimba commonly known as General Kanene.
Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) Chairperson Beauty Katebe told ZANIS in Katete that her organization is happy with the President’s decision to give General Kanene a second chance.
Ms. Katebe said General Kanene is a young man who after committing a crime and reforming deserved to be given a second chance to be integrated back in society.
She said her organization feels there is no need for anyone to question the grounds on which General Kanene was pardoned by the President adding that the renowned musician has tremendously reformed.
She said the issue of Presidential pardon has nothing to do with how long someone has served their sentence but how reformed one gets.
She added that there are some people in prisons that have served many years but have not reformed and still remain a danger to society.
She pointed out that for the President to grant pardon to General Kanene, the prisons authority was convinced that he had reformed and therefore gave its recommendations for him to be released.
The ZNWL Chairperson stated that people should realize that prisons are reformatory facilities for perpetrators of various offences and not punishment centers.
She retorted that her organization was part of those that advocated for justice to take its course when General Kanene was being prosecuted.
She said since his sentencing General Kanene had reformed and regretted his actions.
Ms. Katete stated that her organization is working with former perpetrators of various vices and wouldn’t mind working with General Kanene if need arises.
She pointed out that the “I care about her ” program as one such good example of forums that has been created to allow former perpetrators of bad vices to teach communities on the dangers of committing such offences.
She has appealed to General Kanene to be a law abiding citizen as he reintegrates back in society and to be an ambassador as conferred by the President.
Meanwhile Ms. Katebe has observed that government through the Zambia prisons service commission still had much to do in raising the standards in prisons.
She said prisoners are still being subjected to overcrowding which she described as unhealthy.
Ms. Katebe has also urged members of the public to welcome those pardoned and give them a second chance as members of society.
If it was Beauty who had been raped, it is doubtful if she would have welcomed this pardon of her attacker, hardly punished, released for praise singing to somebody instead of offering an apology to her. She should have spoken to the victim and find out how she feels about Kanene getting away so lightly for this dehumanising abhorrent crime.
Zambian women are sick. How can you be happy that a child rapist was pardoned? Most of you are married to perverts anyway so you don’t see anything wrong with this.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Joaquín Guzmán (aka El Chapo) is hiding in some house along Independence Avenue, Lusaka, Zambia, AFRICA.
Cosby should not worry much if his Medal Of Freedom is revoked, he can reclaim it from Jamasoni.
Zambianwomen sick,sick!how can you really plaid this move? You don’t realise that once a man defiles a woman he will do so again. Obviously the women in ZWVL are not realistic! This is unbelievable! This explains why women are downtrodden in this society. Muvi mashilu! Nagano yalipela! In other countries women would rise against this me not applaud it!
Beauty Katebe were it your daughter defiled you wouldn’t the lauding this move byEL. El you are a lawyer! A paedophile or anyone who defiles should not be integrated into society! What guarantee do you have Beauty Katebe and your hopeless organisation? Crimes are being committed against women and young girls and you applaud when a defiler is pardoned. We mwanakashi mbulamano with your fellow women in that organisation.
It is not about Beauty or her daughter being raped – besides, those talking about rape do not even understand the case. He was charged and convicted of defiling a minor – meaning that even if the act had been consensual, the girl was too young to make a conscious decision (though I hear her age is in dispute). All of you are making noise not because Kanene was pardoned, but because Kanene was pardoned by Lungu. It is all about hatred and not rational thinking.
Ni Mwai wagalu… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoUdtrmVcQA Mauless!
MWAYI WA GALU? People that were selling ifyamba as a livelihood are rotting in Chimbokaila and yet this guy that sings a couple of songs about aLungu goes free! Justice my black matako! Rape one and sing praises to the Presido and there you go!
This is pathetic. my beloved country is run by empty suits.
Those with daughters beware, the law will not protect your children.
Pedophiles in Zambia are now free to defile as long as they promise to reform and sing a song of praise to our joke of a president called Janasoni Lungu
Beauty Katebe Phiri – the country has gone to the dogs! I warned that the fellas from Eastern Province haven’t moved along with the rest of Zambia, still primitive. There you have it folks, plenty of evidence, that part of Zambia is painfully backward.
Is there not other important issues to talk about in Zambia besides this Kanene issue.Kanene is an ordinary Zambian just like any other Zambian pardoned before him….lets talk about more important issues please.
What is the definition of ‘important’ to you? It’s seems you only have one definition of the word. If you don’t see the importance of this issue, then God help Zambia.
Is there any reputable evidence refuting the fact that ka Lungu and all his cahoots are mentally retarded?
Even the Women’s Lobby has lost its meaning…is this the selfsame organisation of 20 years ago? Have they done a research of prison records and come to this conclusion ..where defilers have been pardoned from their lengthy sentences where they have only served a quarter of that length.
I think we should also be debating on the maximum length that should be awarded and also need to review the powers of the President as this lazy bum Edgar has abused them excessively as evident by the pardons he has given to political sympathisers…let a board compromising of ordinary citizens be recommending these pardons…not what is happening today its a mockery of justice. What is the point of arresting Politicians in the ruling party if they are going to be later pardoned like Stephen Musamba.
I cannot fathom why and how LT has sunk so low as to cover such self serving propaganda from nonsensical belly political NGO’s that shamelessly contradict what they should/(were formed to stand for)! Disgusting!
it is obvious someone has bribed the womens lobby, because kanene can sing praises about ECL he is reformed? what about those who cannot sing? the womens lobby has completely lost, what a shame!!!
Surely Kanene has no proven record of reform apart from bribing the President with a song and some one says he is right to be pardoned. 18 years imprisonment means the offence is serious and you can’t detect reformation in the first year. For once,I agree with Nawakwi, dullness of the highest order every where
Who are the donors to that women’s lobby so that we can write to them over this because they stand for nonsense instead of protecting the girl child this statement from that f.o.o.I. I. S.have woman here is very seriously wrong.
What women’s lobby? Women are suffering daily and you have a hopeless body called women’s lobby. I hope a responsible government can come on the scene and deregister this hopeless organisation. Tell me what this organisation has done for the women. In fact, alangizi is more useful, productive and relevant than this useless body. For record,I am a woman
Look carefully, this is just another angle of hatred against Tongas and bantu botatwe in general from the comments I read. If Kanene was a Bemba, all would have been well received.
Allow time to be the next judge!
I support the stance of women,s lobby.
Wait until yo hh gets behind bars for the same case and the president pardons him. People are still in self denial about the fact that Edgar is president and will continue until 2021. People are not yet ready to replace him until they see his laid foundation yield fruits. Insulting zambians and their president won’t make them change their minds. Human beings have a tendency of going into defence mode when attacked and this is what is happening.
kanene’s conviction was questionable. The courts rejected the MRI scan to determine the age of the girl.
He should be the Head for ‘I Care for Her.’ That way he will remember to stay on the straight and narrow. He must demonstrate to society that he has conformed.
It was right to pardon him, he was previously successful and was clearly entrapped in his fame and fortune. This happens with entertainers. The punishment must be fitting. He lost his status and has had ample time to reflect. Now we can better use him to deter other abusers. He must be used in the campaigns and his crime must not be hidden, but forgiven.
This is evidence that Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is not only an imbecile, but is also so vociferously dull.
THERE IS NO SCENARIO IN ANY UNIVERSE WHERE ANYONE WITH 2 SENSE WILL PARDON A RAPIST, EXCEPT IN ZAMBIA, WHERE THIS FOOL HAS JUST DONE THAT!!!!!
What proof is there that this defiler has reformed? And don’t you think this the quickest reformation in the world followed by the quickest detection of that same reformation by the authorities.
Ba Kanene, just prepare. That ka 17 years remaining may come if a responsible government comes on the scene. But I just give you praise for your strategy to earn a pardon, you dribbled them clean by singing that ka song
Beware Lusaka residents! There is a defiler who has been let loose in Lusaka. Mind where your daughters are.
Kanene should rush to Pilato to thank him for this release. Also please pardon all defilers in our prisons, I think they have all reformed. Kanene, yenda ugwade kuli Pilato
This is not making any sense!!! NGOCC’s Sara Longwe is condemning this action and ZNWL on the other hand is commending the action, the women’s movement is not speaking with one voice!!!! Shame. ZMWL falls under NGOCC, and they have different views how can we listen to them?
Sarah Longwe is right to condemn the move. Obviously she is principled. Unlike Beauty Katebe who probably wants a job from EL. Or she only has sons! Senseless woman!
The women lobby group should make priority of what affects women. There are far much important issues affecting women in Zambia such as the harrassment of poor women traders at City market and Soweto at the hands of PF ‘ifintu ni lungu’ carders. Taxing them for their hard earned cash. These are the issues we want to here from this group. No about Kanene being released from prison. Not too long ago, one of their own, a poor woman at Soweto was assailed, humiliated and left to gasp for her breath in the muddy and dirty soweto waters. The Lobby group were no where to defend their own – a woman.
Criminal tag will never be erased on this Kanene. Just like kafupi carried the thief tag . mhsrip
Katebe must be kanene’s next victim. she is an *****, and please talking on behalf of the Zambian women, because clearly you are aPF cadre. Just shut your mouth. If it was your daughter that was raped would you have been rejoicing? You *****!!
fire this woman, she is as stupid as they come. shame on her
Indeed I also want to join ZNWL in applauding the president for pardoning general Kanene.Not what this prostitute Sarah longwe is saying, if she is clean and she has never sinned before let her come out in the open and tell the nation
Discuss issues, not personalities. Did you take critical thinking in college? This is failure to reason when you focus on an individual rather than the issue at hand.
Look now, another dunder head called Kalulu just appears on the scene and says Pilato should be freed because we have all sinned. Then what’s the use of having courts and punishment. The word deterrent means what to you?
Sorry I meant Kanene, I typed Pilato as I was in a hurry to hammer Kalulu
Whether Sarah has sinned or not is irrelevant. Let us all ensure Kanene goes back where he belongs. Does he have to do your daughter or sister for you to realise that this fake General is a danger to society. The case went through magistrate court, high court and supreme court and the chap can’t escape the offence by composing a song.
Since when did General Kanene reform? People who are extremely dangerous to Zambia, in terms of corruption and stealing money of the nation, resulting in more poverty, and child rapists are being set free. I wonder where Zambia is heading to
Is Ms. Katebe looking for a job or to be known to the president that she is there? If that is the power the president has, then the power is not being used properly
The merits of the pardon are not being discussed. The level of debate on this pardon has once again been reduced to politics. All because Kanene produced a song in support of Edgar. Even those that had been part of the free kanene campaign have disowned on the basis of his political affiliation. When are Zambians going to realise that they are in plural diverse political culture. This nonsense that every debate is reduced to politics is the more reason why the country is poor
Not everything is politics. Get that in your fickin lousy you *****s. Debate sues not all the time politics which is very unproductive
This is a decay of thought…there other defilers who are not musicians still behind bars…
So are we now telling the world that if you wish,,,you can equaly kill and once sentenced learn how to sing….Poor Beatrice Mwala who killed “Monica Chabwera Phiri” is also telling her relatives to contact suwilanji for Music Lessons, ,,,by december 2015 she is out…Just dont know how Dr Chabwera and family will feel after seeing her out!,,,unfortunately,Rape is Rape and the one defiled must be feeling like an ***** to be in Zambia…thats why when Jerabos die you send Kambwili…
it is a duty of the warders to assess prisoners who are perceived to have reformed and eligible for parole. The president merely signs on the list submitted to him. Other circumstances that play a role are credibility of the case. kanenes case was questionable in that nobody knows the true age of the girl, not even her own parents. many prisoners whose cases leave any trace of doubt have been pardoned in a similar circumstance.
Beauty Katebe or ugly Katebe. We shall see if you will be willing to forgive when your child is defiled or when you will be raped and some guy who rapes you starts singing songs against rape. How I wish this could soon happen to you.
Beauty Katebe, you have scored a zero on this one. Word of advise, please leave politics to politicians. Do you have any proof that Kanene has reformed? Malabishi bati.
Beauty Katebe. Your reformed boyfriend and ambassador against GBV and child defilement has now badly beaten his wife. We need to hear from your intellectual comment.
Gender-Based Violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence. Victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death. Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. So what are we really promoting here especially coming from women who themselves may have experienced gender based violence at the hands of men. Are we supporting GBV? What a shame!