Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu has alleged that the burning of his lodge in Choma was an act of arson. Speaking at a Media briefing in Lusaka today, Dr Kaingu said that he wants the police to investigate the matter in which Kozo lodge, which belongs to the Kaingu family, was recently burnt to ashes.
Dr kaingu said that he suspects the fire was started by political activists in the area who do not want him to work with the PF government.
Dr Kaingu said that the burning is both tribal and political.
Dr Kaingu said that the business was built over a period of 18 years and the torching of the place was shameful.
Dr Kaingu further said that there was no way a small fire can burn all the rooms at the lodge, before adding that the fire was properly organized to torch all the rooms.
Meanwhile, Dr Kaingu has appealed to the Copperbelt University (CBU) lecturers to be patient as Government is studying recommendations from the interim council.
Dr Kaingu says his Ministry cannot make any decision hastily without consulting relevant stakeholders. The Minister said this following CBU lecturer’s threats of going on strike.
Dr Kaingu said he should not be held at ransom over the matter as he was seeking to make a decision that will be favorable to all parties involved.
Dr said he could not stop the CBU lecturers from going on go-slow but that the action will lead to a closure of the university by themselves.
By the way the fire was approaching the lodge one could see it was Tonga ka? By the way the flames made noise one could see the fire was political ka? The smoke looked very UPND. Well done Kaingu you have very probing eyes.
Bo Kaingu, stop cheap politics. If you didn’t create a fire break around your lodge you have no one to blame but your wives. It’s no wonder the people in constituency don’t like you. My advice to you is please use your remaining money to rebuild Kozo because this time around you’re losing in Mwandi constituency
Kaingu all these past years you have been running your business in the tribal land…. surely you can be respective for a moment at least. Take your business to another area if these people do not like you. Kaingu be mature for a change.
Kaingu should blame Iris who was being bonked instead of running with buckets to quench the fire.
Why not thank the people of the region who offered you land and business. How do you expect to work with them in future? Wanina mutekwa mudaala hoping you will never get thirsty–you have burnt the bridge behind you.
It is possible that it is arson, we are so many who don’t like Kaingu, including CBU lecturers.
Even if it’s arson, how do you conclude its tribal arson? There are Lozi UPND members in Choma & suppose it turns out that its ‘political’ arson carried out by your fellow Lozis what would you do? Political arsonists can even be PF or MMD who want it blamed on the obvious suspect UPND Tongas!
Better just say you suspect arsonists to have carried it out. It can be truely tribal arsonists if you have evidence but not stereotyping the Tongas after all these years of living amongst them. It may just be political arsonists who cud be Tonga, Lozi, Bemba or Nyanja speakers. But most likely it may turn out to be business arsonists be it Tonga, Lozi, Bemba or Nyanja (remember you have business competitors in your hospitality business)?
This fire is very puzzling.For staters:-
a) No mention is being made of guests who must have been lodging at
this Lodge.Did all of them check out at the same time before the
fire broke out?
b) Are the Chalets too close that fire could just leap from one building
to another?
c) the Lodge has been in existence for 18 years.Surely over this long
period,has there been no bush fire near the lodge? How wide was
the boundary between the bush and the buildings?
d) Did the Lodge recently take out an insurance policy maybe for the
first time or upgraded the premium to astronomical levels?
I for one doubt both the tribal and political linkage to this fire.Hon Kaingu should not detract investigating agencies from looking at the right direction.
Insurance bwana minister….
Is he minister of Higher Education or General Education. Both are mentioned in the article. Sorry for the loss Dr Kaingu. I hope it is not one of the wives who was not having a lion’s share in this business.
May be the lodge was not insured
This is so cheap coming from a Cabinet Minister. Kingu should be asked of himself. This kind of hate speech should be curtailed and Edgar as the appointing authority should sack Kaingu for such careless talk. Kingu is foolish. He doesn’t even have any evidence to his claims. He seems to be doing so to appease Edgar and secure his appointment
There comes a time when one appreciates the importance of insurance, and this is a stark warning to all property holders – insure your properties please to lessen the burden in times like this.
Or maybe Kaingu burned the place for Insurance money? Also was it made of thatch? How did it burn so quickly? Any Kaingu fyobe ifyo!
Almost all, if not all the buildings had thatched roofs. It was a lovely place (assuming it was the same as it was a few years ago) if you ask me.
By the way the fire approached the lodge one could see it was Tonga ka? And the flames. The flames were so high and vicious they must have been political ka? The smoke was certainly UPND.
what?….the Tonga’s torched it? Be careful bwana minister, don’t rush to point a finger at other tribes.
Bo Kaingu don’t go this route please spare us. We are mourning with you for this colossal loss but your insinuation that it’s a political move is appalling at least and misleading utmost. The people who burnt your lodge are from Forestry department your workers told Muvi TV crew whilst it was burning that they came to inform you they were conducting prescribed burning which they have been doing on annual basis
Let investigations conclude and whatever the outcome Kaingu has to relocate out of the province as his allegations are very serious! Surely politics of worshiping/pleasing the appointing is very cheap!
What is tribal with fire sweeping through grass thatched buildings ba Kaingu. We sympathize with you, but with the massive heatwave attacking the country right now, if you have not put in place adequate fire defence mechanism, surely you don’t need to be a qualified Fire Safety Engineer to understand that those grass thatched chalets are fire hazards. Let’s not politicize everything
Agree that it is appalling for this to be linked to Tribalism and political moves as it is clearly personal property. This smacks of trying to abuse power to influence police to give preferential treatment.
The fire brigade had no water, was that political too??
Here is a minister suspecting foul play even before police or fire brigade have investigated. …the selfsame people also expect us to believe their lies!!
Come to think of it Jay Jay, the some nuasating atitude is always portrayed by the current UPND leader HH, on a number of topical issues in the country. For him the current power deficit is only dua to PF government. when empirical evidence is clear that the power defict is mainly dua to low investment in the power generation sector coupled by the climate change effects. For HH, the unstable kwacha is due to PF lack of plannig? This is a global phenomnon iginted by the law demand for primary materials in the chinese market! If a politician fails to show leadership on such issues how do you trust him with national leadership which comes with power!
If Hon. Kaingu’s claims is anything to go by, then this is taking politics too far. Lets embrace political divergence. The vote remains the sole weapon to express political disatisfaction. At the same time, let us (bloggers) learn to comfort ‘grieving’ souls and fix ourselves in their shoes,
Bwana Mkenya,Zambia remains more politically mature than Kenya.Remember we’ve never had bloody tribal clashes Kenya style and we’ve never had a priviledged tribe like the Kikuyus who’ve always ruled in Kenya.
Kaingu has been doing business in Southern Province since 1996. He has lived and worked with the Tonga people. His two wives are Bantu Botatwe. How can he point a finger at them for this accident? Even if they did, is that the best way of communicating a grievance against people who all these years tolerated and embraced him as one of their own? This is the only province in the country where people of all backgrounds have been given land to do business; the Sichones of Mazabuka, the Mfulas of Livingstone/Siavonga; the Mundales of Monze. The list is long.
All provinces in Zambia give land for development to willing and able indiviuals regardless of were they come from. Its cheap to mention peoples names in such an discource. the point is kanigu should not have said the tuoching of the lodge was tribal – Period. The nonsence of saying people have ”tolerated and embraced” is UnZambian and against the spirit of one zamia one nation, Any one can settle in any part of country Zambia, you dont have to be ”tolerated and embraced” by any one, you simply have to follow the law of the land. Kwamana
This will be a foretaste of anyone who is not tonga, this is the real deal. Deal with it.
Last evening onto Livimgstone and back to Lusaka this afternoon, I stopped at Kozo and commiserated with the Kaingu’s over this loss as I dejectedly looked at the remains of the ghastly inferno. I surmised it was an Act of God (per insurance jargon) but Bwana Kaingu has now gone tribolical……shame
Lott
Comment: please ba kaingu i have followed ur rants against tonga’s. Dont drive a wage where it can’t wage! Are u pure lozi. I need to dig a bit, Your hatred of people in who’s area u have invested so much laeves me wandering.
Aba Tonga efyo baba.
if these are the educated DR in gov the country can sing about then we are in big trouble as a nation.Even Iris i guess would reason better
Reason not to vote for a Tonga they will burn state House. Kikikikikiki
Kaingu for 18 years you’ve operated the lodge in choma and when it is burnt down it becomes political.This is the calibre of people calling for reconciliation and prayers. Do you think anything can be achieved with leaders like Kaingu. For 18 whole years he’s made money from choma and today he chooses to demonise the people who have hosted him.
Dr. Kaingu’s comment is very childish and he doesn’t deserve any sympathy. He should have waited for assessors and investigators to compile a report about that disaster. Now he is busy politicking and misleading the investigators and the public. He is too quick to clear his name and that raises more questions than answers. He could have torched it himself hoping to get compensation from an insurance company if insured. Dr. you are very reckless and suspect number 1.
Trust me insurance companies are not that foolish to insurance a thatched lodge with no brick and mortars!!
..what investigation is the police going to conduct when it has already been concluded by the owner….when you are still in a state of shock avoid at any cost to make statements…you may regret later….
…these CBU characters assured us that there were calling off their strike and returning to work without any conditions attached….barely few months past they are at it again….kubuta uku nomba man…..
Bwana Kaingu they can burn your lodge but they’ll never burn your business acumen or workable ideas.
I really feel for u and your family..
I’m Kaingu’s King but even me I doubt Tongas will fire up a Rotse’s property. Besides, Kaingu is married to a Tonga so these allegations are not only false but also highly offensive and divisive. It’s him who has been in government all along who should have ensured that the fire department was adequately funded. So many Zambians love property everyday through such fires, it’s his turn now so he should not cry foul.
@ Mzambia wa zamani: I concur, once bitten, twice shy. Political immaturity and tribal patronage, the Kenyan style, is detrimental.
Comment:A stupid DR.
There they go again, even before investigations are concluded he goes ahead to point fingers, his president is calling for prayers that, among other things, seeks to reconcile Zambians with one another but his very minister is issuing very divisive and upsetting accusations against the Tongas.
It is regrettable that Mr Kaingu can say such things for political expediency. Very sad for the man of his caliber to make such inflammatory statements when fires have been ravaging this country almost on daily bases and property worth huge amounts destroyed. Lets not do politics like this unless you have clear evidence of what you are saying of which for now its clear that you don’t. From the look of things you have no political threats to the people of Choma for them to do such a thing hence your reasoning is weired.
Fake white lady, How are you?
This man must apologize to the Tonga speaking people for insinuating that his loss of the Lodge is tribally influenced. How does he bring in the Tribe, a people that have embraced him, given him space and business over the years if not decades?? Let him uproot his business and shunt it elsewhere away from Southern province if he is not so pleased with the Tongas. Remember the wise Bemba saying: @ uwawa tabula kabepesho! Foolish DR of cultural philosophy.
SO KAINGU IS THE OWNER OF KOZO LODGE. WE AS TONGAS, AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING HIS BUSINESS FOR YEARS NOW IN TONGA LAND. AND A TRAGEDY HAS HAPPENED ON HIS PROPERTY WHICH IS IN TONGA LAND, AND THIS GUY CONCLUDES THAT WE HAVE BURNT HIS LODGE WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OVER THE YEARS, ON ACCOUNT THAT WE ARE TRIBAL. COME ON KAINGU. DON’T BE SO CHEAP MY MAN. US TONGAS HAVE GIVEN YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH IN OUR TONGA LAND, BUT THERE YOU ARE, CALLING US NAMES. STOP IT MY MAN.
There is no such nonsence as ”TONGA LAND” its the great Southern Province which is part of mother Zambia. Period!
If His Interest Is In Lodges And Discoteques. He Should Ve Bin A Tourism Minister, I Sympathize For Both His Wrong Posting In Govt And His Failures To Safe Guard His School Ho Sorry His GrassThatched Lodges From Fire, Perhaps He Is A Poor Planner
What a shameful accusation by an individual purporting to be a Doctor of Philosophy. An equally valid accusation can be levelled against Mr Kaingu that he burnt the lodge to claim insurance money. Does anyone honestly believe that an individual who has lived with the “natives” in peace for 18 years in spite of political differences can today be victimised due to petty political or imaginary tribal differences? These are your leaders! In any case, do not expect any meaningful development as long as Kaingu and his ilk continue presiding over the affairs of this nation.
What cheap talk from this Minister. You have been welcomed in the Area for all these years and today because you have joined PF you want to use this as an excuse to be nominated next year.
The truth your daughter and a customer were smoking in one of the rooms and they fell asleep, this is how the Room 3 caught fire. When the Security guard went to the room to warn Iris that there was smoke coming out of the roof, she chased away saying he just was peeping to see them bonking. Thats how he went away and only when she saw flames did she come out of the room screaming but naked.
By this time it was already late.
Such careless statements from Honourable Kaingu can jeopardize chances of his claim being successful with insurance company if the lodge was insured. Mr. Kaingu, this was just an accident. If your suspicion arises from your statement made in parliament that late Sata was joking when he promised a university in Gwembe, be rest assured SP took no offense to that. If anything, it might be the Sata family that felt offended by that statement you made. Cool down my half-brother or half-uncle. Work on insurance papers now so that you do not lose time.
Word of advice to the insurer: investigate this matter thoroughly. In some countries its big business to deliberately ‘lose’ assets/businesses in this manner and later claim compensation from the insurers.
LT at it again…Blocking harmless coments
Even if it’s arson, how do you conclude its tribal arson? There are Lozi UPND members in Choma & suppose it turns out that its ‘political’ arson carried out by your fellow Lozis what would you do? Political arsonists can even be PF or MMD who want it blamed on the obvious suspect UPND Tongas!
Better just say you suspect arsonists to have carried it out. It can be truely tribal arsonists if you have evidence but not stereotyping the Tongas after all these years of living amongst them. It may just be political arsonists who cud be Tonga, Lozi, Bemba or Nyanja speakers. But most likely it may turn out to be business arsonists be it Tonga, Lozi, Bemba or Nyanja (remember you have business competitors in your hospitality business)?
Ayempwe…. by going ahead kalundula kuwambawula insurance wilamba kukafwiti
I feel bad that such a thing had to happen to such a wonderful place. I have been at Kozo lodge and the place was simply amazing.
In the week of prayer, forgiveness and fasting, the minister comes to ‘poop’ in the media. Married to a tonga lady and you accuse her and her people, What a shame bwana minister. Going forth to protest against your verbal diarrhea, I will never sleep in any of your lodge sir especially the one in Livingstone.
You can even afford to pay, any even if you dont you are just one we can do without you sir!
I will only ccomment after investigations because such an incident can turn out to be either arson or an accident?
Kaingu you suffer some mental condition with your daughter Iris.
Its a pity Kozo Lodge is burnt down to ashes. I always used to stop there to by some smoked chicken each time I am in the country and trying along that road. To say that tribal people burnt down his lodge may be out of frustration because the same people supported you for a long time. You have just exposed your hatred for the people of Southern Province. I hope the premises was insured but for now like someone mentioned WANINA ATEKELWA. You have exposed yourself. Tonga people have a saying that “UKUNDWA TASISI MABELO”.
Something is amiss with this Fire.. Certainly Dr Kaingu is not talking from without. Something must have been happening to the Doc for some time now for him to come to this conclusion. We wait for investigations and the truth will come out. But i am amazed at the response from the Tongas. Is the status quo in Southern Province the same as when Dr Kaingu started his business 18 years ago ? It is not. It is dangerous for anyone seen to be working with the Government.
Everyone knows that when HH kisses the dust next year, that will be the end of the career of the Tonga God , and they can do anything to ensure that their God does not become extinct!
Mr Kaingu must stop being petty. Please approach this matter with a rational mind. Don’t rush to ill judgements which are neither here no there. Just because you are a minister doesn’t mean you cannot be a victim of such misfortune. When we tell you to equip some of these institutions so that they can have capacity to deal with such calamities you don’t seem to pay attention because you think you can never be victims. In Zambia as things stand now, the entire Fire Brigade, the whole country, has no capacity to handle such calamities. The entire country is at risk. We have no equipment to fight such fires. Now you understand why we keep telling you people in government not to only think about your pockets but to deliver social services to the people. This does not mean what happened to…
At present there are 3 certified products used to make a thatched building fireproof.
Thatchbatts
Aluminum Barrier Foil
Fire Retardant Spray
very careless and foolish talk. This man has to be disciplined by the president. too too foolish and cheap talk
Just we say and just if we say Iris’ father is following what Chungu at Chittah lodge did.
just we think and just we if think he is after big money from the insurance company. AND just we propose and just if we could propose the insurance company does not pay…….
Just we say Iris and just we say iris is not and not as beautiful as we have been made to believe……
Bo Kaingu….. ama Degree yakubu daala.. mukapena! I will be surprised if the insurance company pays out!
He is airing his grievances just in time for prayer and fasting for reconciliation, economic salvation and political success in 2016! Well timed, Kaingu, well timed…
SURELY COULD THIS BE FOUL PLAY WHEN THE WAS GRASS THATCHED AND NO ONE THOUGHT OF A FIRE BREAKER AREA WHERE THE BUSH WAS GOING TO REST INSTEAD OF BURNING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LODGE. MR KAINGU BLAME YOUR SELF FOR THIS OVERSIGHT. SOME OF US WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE VILLAGE WHERE GRASS THATCHED HOUSES WHERE BUILT NEXT TO THE BUSH AND TO PREVENT HOUSES TO BE BURNT BY BY BUSH FIRE WE USE TO COME UP WITH FIRE BREAKERS. IN THE EVENING YOU START BURNING THE BUSH FROM THE PLACE NEAR THE HOUSE TO ABOUT 15 TO 20 METERS AWAY. THIS IS A FIRE GUARD FORMULA. EVEN PLANTATIONS LIKE CHICHELE HAVE THESE FIRE GUARDS. NOW FOR THIS LOZI MAN HE NEVER THOUGHT OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT IDEA. BLAME THE MANAGERS OF HIS LODGE INSTEAD OF THE INNOCENT TRIBE. THIS TIME AROUND YOU GO AND INVEST IN YOUR HOMELAND.
As Hon. Kaingu studies the Report relating to CBU’s Academic Union wild allegations against Professor Ngoma and his management, Zambians should take into account that there are two camps that have been waging war against (1) Ngoma on one hand and (2) the PF Govt on the other hand.
Some lecturers led by a Professor of Maths, and one who actually failed to run Deanship of School of Business, wanted a status quo that existed in Musonda’s time when almost all Deans and Directors originated from one Province. The offence that Ngoma committed was his embracing academics from other regions to key positions at CBU.
Another group was born from UPND’s loss of the January Presidential elections. This group led by southerners/westerners have ganged up to coordinate unrest at three public…
Chipuba chikala uyu. Fire today has become political. Kaingu nimbwa