By Emmanuel Mwamba
In 1964 Vernon Mwaanga was appointed as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom-London when he was reportedly only 21 yrs of age.
This is a fact he has sold to his audiences when extolling virtues of why young people should be allowed to be involved in decision-making position despite their age.
Although his contemporaries think he was probably 26 years of age or older.
They cite Mwaanga’s own account which reveals that he attended Youth Conferences in 1957-in India, and Cairo -Egypt, 1961.
Could the United Independence Party (UNIP) have sent a Minor or an under age to such important conferences?
And could the colonial authority have issued a travel document or passport to a minor?!!!
So maybe the celebrated life of this Diplomat, Politician and Author is actually founded on a false narrative.
Anyway that’s an argument for another day.
In 1965 he was posted to Moscow as Ambassador.
In 1966 he was brought back and headed the Intelligence.
He was appointed to head the secret service institution as its Director General.
In 1968, he was appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations.
It’s during his tenure as Permanent Representative to the United Nations that he made a good name for himself.
Records at the UN show that he demonstrated remarkable leadership and participated in debates that promoted the Pan -Africa agenda.
Many African National Congress (ANC) veterans here in South Africa regard him highly and his tenure at the United Nations, they say pushed the liberation struggle agenda far better than any other African Ambassador.
His lawns of his Diplomatic Residence was home to many struggle students and leaders sipping away whisky and puffing smoke away (in their own words) as they planned and plotted on how to alienate the apartheid government from the rest of the World.
In 1972 Mwaanga was brought back to Zambia and was made Editor-in-Chief of the Times of Zambia ousting critical Editor to the UNIP regime Dunstan Kamana.
The paper was fully taken over by government in 1975.
Mwaanga took over the editorship of the paper at a critical period.
This was during the bitter period of transition and intense and forced political changes when the country was made to abandon the multi-party Democracy and changed to a one-party State.
Mwaanga was later made Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1973 and did remarkable things when he was touted as the youngest Cabinet Minister at age 28 (and again believing the theory of his contemporaries you might have to add 5yrs).
Later Mwaanga went into private practice joining controversial British businessman Tiny Rowland’s London and Rhodesian Mining and Land Company Limited (Lonrho).
But in September 1985, everything changed.
Sikota Wina, Princess Nakatindi, Vernon Mwaanga and a dozen businessmen, bankers and custom officials were arrested for peddling drugs-Mandrax.
Mandrax was a new synthetic drug made in mostly India and became highly popular in South Africa
Sikota and VJ renowned Diplomats were found to be at the centre of a cars-drugs-swap scandal involving Mandrax.
Luxury vehicles were brought from Apartheid South Africa while Mandrax tablets was brought in from Bombay(now Mumbai) and Lusaka provided as a market of exchange and swap for this new drug that was sought after in South Africa.
Mandrax was not illegal then in Zambia and was actually categorised as a sleeping pill.(that’s why their detention was under the Security Act and even if they were detained on other laws like smuggling conviction for smuggling was $25 fine! Something he could have paid).
Mandrax was later categorised and added in law as a psychotropic substance.
The trade in this drug was so lucrative( bought from Bombay for $4 (a box of 1000 pills ) but reportedly sold for $450!.
The scandal started with the detention of Sikota Wina in India.
Before this case, Sikota Wina (and his spouse), was a respected founding member of this country and Statesman and like Vernon Mwaanga, a distinguished Diplomat.
Sikota was detained in India for over 5 months but was now on bail.
Kaunda had to waive off Sikota’s Diplomatic Immunity to facilitate this detention and prosecution.
Sikota jumped bail and made a new passport (carrying a false name -Hussein) and flew back home as a Muslim!
South Africa, todate has earned herself the unenviable status as the largest abuser of Mandrax in the World and statics show that the illegal substance remains a drug of choice or preference in largest parts of South Africa.
Maybe and partly due to the sophisticated but shameful role played by people like Vernon Mwaanga decades ago.
VJ is said to have bargained for his release by allegedly writing a confession!, hence the the prefix “self-confessed-drug-trafficker” that preceded his name just a few years ago, ironically in a paper that now gives him acres of space.
But VJ and Sikota reinvented themselves when they spoke against Kenneth Kaunda’s regime and bravely denounced his dictatorship.
They were later instrumental in the Garden Hotel Meeting organised in 1990 by two academics; Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika and Derrick Chitala.
The meeting formed the Movement for Multi-party Party Democracy (MMD) that later unseated the United Nations Independence Party (UNIP) that had been in power for 27years.
Sikota Wina and Vernon Mwaanga later became Cabinet Ministers in the new Frederick Chiluba government.
But by 1993, the Paris Club Meeting strongly demanded the dismissal of Sikota Wina, Princess Nakatindi Wina and Vernon Mwaanga because of their drug past.
The Paris Club is a group from creditor countries that afford heavily indebted countries to restructure and reschedule their debts and economies and be eligible to receive new foreign loans.
Beyond the lives of the proverbial cat, they bounced back!
But because of the 1985 drug episode, VJ’s past is eternally chequered.
But here is an honoured but simple trick VJ plays to give himself more lives than the proverbial Cat.
At every Election, VJ wants to make himself inextricably relevant by claiming to be an electoral expert and usually issues loud statements loaded with wild claims.
He makes attention-seeking declarations which the media unfortunately, laps, ravishes and keenly publishes.
This gives him a new shelf life that clearly expired, in my view, in September 1985 when his days at the famous Moon City Night Club and his lounging at 5 Star Hotels was rudely cut short.
He was caught selling illicit drugs and enriching himself from the dirty and illegal trade.
In terms of politics, he clearly expired in 1985!!!
So why do we bother giving him a new shelf life?
Haven’t we done ourselves enough harm by regularly forgiving him and rewarding him with even more lucrative opportunities to serve us in high public offices despite the 1985 scandal.
In 2014, he claimed to have retired from his public life and comments.
In my view VJ should help this country by genuinely retiring from public life and he should restrain himself from commenting on the country’s electoral process.
For VJ has become a by-word for electoral malpractice.
Hasn’t he undermined, soiled and robbed it enough of credibility and trust, with his regular antics?.
I hope with this simple advice, VJ may finally retire from retirement.
VJ retired long ago but the only thing he is doing is excersing his freedom of speech and his opinion which can never be retired
I am more educated than VJ. Wait for my official response! Mwapya naisa!
VJ HAS NEVER HAD ANY MEANINGFUL EDUCATION, WISDOM (OR INTELLIGENCY). IF HE HAD ALL THESE OR SOME OF THEM,WHILE HE WAS OVERSEAS AND YOUNG, HE COULD HAVE USED THEM TO SPEND HIS MONEY ON EDUCATION WHICH DISCIPLINES MOST IF NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY PASS THROUGH ITS PHASES. AFTER EDUCATION AND AS AN HIGHLY EXPOSED PERSON, HE COULD HAVE USED THE ACADEMIC PRINCIPLES, WISDOM AND INTELLIGENCE TO COME UP WITH A WELL THOUGHT THROUGH LEGITIMATE BUSINESS MODEL WHICH WOULD HAVE EVEN HELPED CREATE JOBS FOR THE YOUTH. BUT HAVING TO JUST WANT TO DEEP HIS DEEP STICK INTO EVERYTHING HE IMAGINES TO BE SEEING IN A SKIRT PLUS QUICK MONEY HAS ALWAYS LANDED HIM IN TROUBLE. MAYBE HE MUST RETIRE EVEN FROM LIFE.
This coming from a Civil Servant that knowingly wanted to contest Matero against clearly stipulated regulation is grotesque. But we are dealing with Edgar a weak president who fails to discipline erring senior government officials
Emmanuel STOP THROWING STONES IF YOU LIVE IN A GLASS HOUSE, it is only recently you were PERSONA NON-GRATA pa RSA, if it wasn’t for Chagwa pleading for you – hence on 11/8/2016, YOUR SHOULD HEAD FOR ZED – “Katende mpela ulubilo!!”, becoz when the Govt changes, ama boys pa RSA are very quick – you will be in Gallows before the sun rises!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia forward!! Vote UPND!!
#chagwamustfall #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
Katondo boys beats the chameleon at its own game! Good luck brother.
It is very clear that Emmanuel Mwamba is a bitter boy. Even the flow in this article reveals how disturbed he is.
Iwe let him retire and rest in peace, he is not a model.
In only in Zambia where we allow sycophants like Emmanuel Mwamba, masquerading as ambassadors, to be writing such thinly veiled political attacks. Man up and go and stand in Matero. Don’t fight political battles from the comfort of your office in Pretoria, which is maintained by tax payers. Time for EL to recall this character.
The last time I checked Emmanuel Mwamba was a civil servant, why is he becoming political? Who says one cant exercise his freedom of expression after retirement? Infact it should be Emmanuel Mwamba who should be retired on National Interest.
VJ’s tongue is as lose as his old di*k. he must stop screwing small girls
WELL ARTICULATED ARTICLE. BRAVO MWAMBA
Brilliant! VJ has a embarrassing past which he doesn’t want people to know. So the more he opens his mouth, the more we will know about the dark side of his life.
A brilliant and illuminating article. It pains me to see the original founding members of MMD not enjoying the fruits of their labour. These were men who were not afraid to be detained in the UNIP era but as soon as the movement became popular other people came in to usurp power. This is also true of PF.
Emmanuel Mwamba is a Civil servant and should not involve himself in politics, no matter how relevant or important the topic is he still is a civil servant and should stay out of politics. Emmanuel please shut up.
@8 EMMANUEL MWAMBA DID NOT WRITE THIS ARTICLE AS A CIVIL SERVANT OR DIPLOMAT TO BE MORE PRECISE. HE WROTE THE ARTICLE AS EMMANUEL MWAMBA AND IT IS CLEAR RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. HE WAS JUST EXPRESSING HIS DISTASTE AT A MORE THAN GROWN UP !D!0T HE IS ALWAYS PRETENDING NOT TO GROWING OLD BUT YOUNG. VJ WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AND DEEDS(MAINLY BAD ONES) SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SOURCE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE FOR THE YOUTH. HE SHOULD HAVE EVEN BEEN WRITING HIS FRIENDS MEMOIRS INSTEAD OF ONLY ONE BOOK IN WHICH HE MOSTLY CONCENTRATED ON HOW HE USED TO USE HIS D1CK ON PROSTITUTES, AT HOME AND AWAY.
It is amazing how tax payers money is being wasted on this Emmanuel Mwamba. He is never in South Africa to do the job for which he is paid. Every time he is in Zambia , when is he going to do the job in South Africa? Money is being wasted by this guy flying around all the time.
Emanuel Bwamba ol sory Mwamba,why did you switch those pills that killed Chiluba under the instruction of sata,hence the reward as Ps.You think you are holy than VJ.Just shut up you murderer.Lungu stole from a widow and yet he is president so who is holy?This paka fye tente litulike ,ni no kutina,no kulala,its HH at war of amagedoni.
What if what VJ said is true?
VJ’s tongue is as loose as his wrinkled dick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not surprising that he has joined UPND, naturally, for isn’t that where their ilk all feel comfortable to congregate? GBM, Scott, Sampa, Bob, etc. Now when is the next parade at Chainama?
Lungu? Wina?
VJ’s impeccable CV is well known and has absolutely nothing to do with ECZ and PF GOVT’s plan to rig the 2016 elections. VJ is a Zambian, retired diplomat and a Senior Citizen with constitutional rights and freedom to express himself on any topic he chooses to. In fact VJ should sue some of the PF commentators for defamation. The simple issue is we dont want our ballot papers printed by the discredited Dubai Printer and we do not want our elections rigged in 2016. ECZ should appoint Renform to print our ballots and no rigging please.
He was a diplomat? Then he is an idyot in my opinion. Perhaps he was better off being a drug Lord.
Even if the ballot papers were printed is his own bedroom by himself alone, HH would still find reason to complain about the same ballot papers. Madness at work!
Not surprising that he has joined UPND, naturally, for isn’t that where their ilk all feel comfortable to congregate? GBM, Scott, Sampa, Bob, etc. Now when is the next parade at Chainama?
And then VJ is tonga clan, what other comments do you expect from the clan?
They make comments from the point of view that Emmanuel Mwamba is Bemba clan? But guys you now have GBM and Sampa, won’t the tribalism stop now? Or are the two hoodwinking themselves as others would say?
Emmanuel Mwamba is a cunning and untrustworthy devil.
At least VJ is not known to have killed anyone. It’s common knowledge that it’s Emmanuel Mwamba that killed Fredrick Chiluba and he was rewarded with a post of PS. That’s why lungu doesn’t want him near him.
@15 BA CHILYATA, IF YOU KNOW (AND YOU SEEM TO) SUCH INFO WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING FOR WHOLE THIS TIME. KILLERS SHOULD BE ON RECORD AND DESERVE TO BE BEHIND BARS. DON’T LET HIM KILL ONE OR TWO MORE BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN FOR PROSECUTING HIM.
@Peter you very right. Chilyata also bear in mind that drugs have killed a great number of people. Perhaps it is voices of the people who died whilst using VJ’s drugs that are tormenting the old man.
@Ndine pano: Stop blogging like a Zombie. You never saw and and don’t even know anyone who died from Mandrax – it is just a relaxant and does even kill. Compare that to a real killer! There were only 2 very close people to Chiluba in his last days i.e. his wife and Mwamba. Devil Mwamba literally killed Chiluba when his wife was in Ndola. No coincidence that the only witness of Chiluba’s mysterious death Mwamba. Worringly, the sate conceded to no postmoterm. Lungu knows this very well and doesnt want Mwamba anywhere near state house in case he charms someone to harm him. Use your head – this is more than politics!! Mwamba is a DOG!!
Chilyata you are a scared rat with no balls. Why didn’t you report to the Police if you have evidence. Otherwise shut up and stop making wild accusations.
Ba Mwamba well done for exposing the old fool. VJ has lived a lie through his life. How could V.J have attended a meeting in India at the age of 14 years later on the Cairo meeting as an 18 year old? It will be nice if VJ could show us documents he used to travel in 1957 and 1961.
This was in 2001
—————
By Brighton Phiri
Lusaka — It’s shameful and abominable for President Frederick Chiluba to appoint self-confessed mandrax trafficker Vernon Mwaanga as cabinet minister, said Zambia Republican Party chairman for economic affairs Dean Mung’omba yesterday.
Reacting to President Frederick Chiluba’s appointment of Vernon Mwaanga as information minister, Mung’omba who, on December 10, 1993 as deputy minister for National Commission for Development Planning, was among Zambia’s negotiating team at the Paris consultative meeting, said Mwaanga was among the Zambian ministers who the donor community demanded to be fired before financial assistance could be given to the country. Mung’omba questioned President Chiluba’s morality in appointing a…
Why are we giving too much attention to individuals with geriatric syndromes like VJ and Munkombwe? His brain is crowded with myopic regionalism and has joined the Southern band wagon thats trundling uncontrollably down hill where it will crash out of our political system on August 11th! The end to regional politics is inevitable!
As patriotic Zambians lets vote against the upnd and its endorsement charlatans for all it stands for, for denting the good name of the southern people, for planting poisoned seeds of mistrust against our southern brethren and against selfish demagogues bent on satisfying their egos and achieving petty vendettas!Lets vote for a leader with NATIONAL appeal and a God fearing leader!
Ever since the Election Rigging Plans were revealed PF Senior officials are in a panic mood. Their response to VJ’s allegations that ECZ and PF are conniving to rig the 2016 elections by using a discredited Dubai Printer confirm that these allegations are actually true. It appears the key to rigging these elections is based on Al Ghurair of Dubai printing extra and pre-marked ballots for Zambia. Now that this secret has been revealed ECZ and the PF govt are in a turmoil going forward. They have to change tact but at the moment they are in a state of confusion and figuring how to win the upcoming elections with their rigging plans in tatters. Zambians are awake and watching very closely every move that ECZ is making.
Do you know what is involved in rigging? Dont just yap you have to have facts, pre marked ballot papers being stuffed in transparent ballot boxes in the presence of polling agents for each participating political party including the highly suspicious UPND, how possible is that?
19.VIVA mary Chagwa a zagwa come 11th augast,2016.This year its Amagedoni,Ni no kutina,no kulala,paka fye litente litulike.Favour Favour pali ba HH.Twanaka kunsala.Ifintu tafili bwino.
It is Armageddon in your dreams SIDO MARK, not in Zambia. Zambians love peace, Satanists love blood! So go to hell and join your associates.
Emmanuel Mwamba is alleged to have been part of the rigging machinery for the Presidential by-election in 2015. Can we have a comment from him on this issue? t is further alleged ECZ and the PF Govt have connived to rig the forthcoming elections using the Dubai Printer, Al Ghurair to print extra and pre-marked ballots for Zambia. Can Mr E. Mwamba discuss these two issues. We are not interested in VJ’s CV. We are concerned with Mr Mwamba’s PF party stealing our votes on 11th August 2016. That is what we want to hear.
According to the records, Vernon Mwaanga was born in 1939. He is prosecuted for being a Tonga, otherwise what is this fuss about him where everyone wants to have a go at him. The fact that he has been in politics for a long time gives him enough experience to comment on any political issue.
Again going by the records, Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda was born on 24 December 1938, a year older than Mwaanga and the PF government still finds him useful. The man has no plans and certainly no vision for Zambian economic recovery and we allow him to lead us or is it mislead us. Chikwanda does not seem to know what he wants out of the Zambian economy. So he does not know what to do exactly to bring about the desired change. The only thing he seems to be doing better at is to contract one kaloba…
……..The only thing he seems to be doing better at is to contract one kaloba after another. By the time the old man is done with us, our debt levels will be much higher than the pre-HIPC times. It seems that this lack of economic foresight does not even bother Edger Lungu. The PF Government is just full of illiterates and savages and that is why they cannot find anyone better than him among its ranks.
So Emmanuel Mwamba, what is the whole point of discussing VJ and his history if he is that irrelevant to you and the PF? It is a pity that we tend to include all sorts of trivial issues instead of just sticking to the issue at hand. VJ like any other Zambian has the right to issue an opinion and get involved in discussion of issues going on in the country. Just because he said he is retired you really expect him to zip up his mouth? Why are we so quick to demonize people in this country. Ba Mwamba ou are not an angel, your Lungu also store money from a client and yet we do not even refer to that issue anymore. Do we need to hold VJ accountable for the crime he committed 30 years ago, mwe ma christians!
Emmanuel Mwamba AKA Katondo boys is a disgrace to humanity.Enjoy your diplomatic appointment whilst it lasts.Its only 3 months and you are heading back to Lusaka using a CR bus.Shame on you ngwele for attempting to have your cake and eat it at the same time.
He who has no sin let him cast the first stone on VJ!!!! Honestly if we were to dig the negative side of each one of us, there would be few who would remain standing. I admire this great son of our country and I know one day God will give me an opportunity to meet him in person and learn from his experience. VJ is a living encyclopedia and anyone who wants to learn on what and what not to do as a public officer, VJ is the shining example. Since I don’t want to cloud my mind with negatives, I have chosen to learn from VJs positive life.
I thought there was a declaration on avoiding hate speech!!
Awe sure, if it was a lowly ranked civil servant, writing trash like Maamba has done, General order nganaimwikata, nomba nabamwine, teti wishibe nga kwaba ama code of regulations for senior civil servants and for surbodinates, Dish!! Zambia the real Africa. You can not take away what VJ has accomplished, e.g when he was Chief Govt spokesman, there was sanity in Govt way of issuing statements, maturity etc, not now, it hate speech or threats kwaliba?
Blame it on the Secretary to the Cabinet who is head of the civil service but has no power to guide, counsel or discipline civil servants. Generally, it is a break down of law and order in the country. Lawlessness is evident everywhere from looting of shops to plunder of national resources by politicians and senior civil servants.
Well said and to the point! I cannot add air subtract anything. If all of us ignored VJ as I have done I do not think he would even have room to say anything to the public! Retire from retirement VJ. Period.
Emmanuel Mwamba must desist from such vile allegations because we also know he was the last man to see Chiluba the night the Iturian pigmy kicked the bucket, he is the one who truly knows what killed him. Or might we say he isbthenone who gave him what killed him?