Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba has called for a meeting with Amnesty International to discuss an alert the organization has issued on Zambian musician, Fumba Chama whose stage name is Pilato.
Mr Mwamba stated that the alert issued by Amnesty International was alarming and did not reflect the correct status of Zambia on Human Rights.
“Our country does not have any citizen that has fled into exile on account of threats on their lives because of what they said, wrote or sung about, its alien to us and unheard of”.
He said that the Government of Zambia respects human rights especially those of its citizens.
He said the rights and freedoms enjoyed by its people reflects the standing of the country as enshrined in its democratic constitution.
“Watch the videos of Opposition leaders and the manner they describe both His Excellency President Edgar Lungu, members of his Cabinet or his government. Has anything happened to them?” Mr Mwamba asked.
He said the open and free discussions that happen on Radio and television stations demonstrates that Zambians are enjoying freedom of expression and reflects government’s respect for freedom of expression and human rights.
He dismissed the allegations that there were threats on the life of Pilato describing them as unfounded and not credible.
“It is for this reason that we have called Amnesty International and Mr Fumba Chama for a meeting to discuss their concerns and fears” he said.
“ There is no threat on the life of Pilato from government, from state organs, or from the ruling party. But I am aware and have listened to the so called threats that arose from voice-notes and a video on a social media platform -WhatsApp group. Pilato, many political and civic players are aware of the banter and nature of such discussion and verbal exchanges on social media”.
Mr Mwamba stated that he had seen and watched on social media similar banter regarding both ruling party and opposition youths exchanging such videos and voice-notes.
“Of course the language is unpalatable and unacceptable but that does not in anyway mean these people will be harmed or kill each other”.
He said that he hoped the meeting with both Pilato and Amnesty International would yield positive results.
“Pilato is free to live in his country of his birth, or if wishes to live in South Africa, he should do so without damaging the reputation, integrity or standing of his own country or government.”
Mr. Mwamba said President Edgar Lungu had consistently been on record condemning political violence and cadres that have broken the law have not received protection or shielding from his government.
“We had an incidence of party cadres that had a scuffle over land plots that resulted in a loss of life in M’tendere township in Lusaka. Those cadres have been jailed beyond 15years”
He said there are many political cadres that were involved in violence that were arrested and jailed.
“President Lungu has been deeply concerned about the rise of violence in politics that he even set up a Commission to enquire into the causes of violence during elections or political activities. Zambia is a democratic state and it is ideas and thoughts that should reign supreme and not violence”
He said Pilato had previously done songs that many would consider more offensive than his current satirical song and no harm or discernible threat has come to him.
Amnesty International issued an alert and called on the Zambian Authorities to immediately take steps to guarantee freedom of expression for Pilato.
Pilato Kanshi ni kuwe. Strong man die for their principles . So he was singing no mwenso. So who is Koswe now?
You are a wasted human being.
Pilato decided to leave Zambians on his own, leave him alone. He is not homeless.
Some of us run away from witchcraft and same with Pilato, fi PF can just injured you pofye.
You can’t trust Emmanuel mwamba and live to see another day, chiluba trusted this chap died very quickly!,
some ambassadors, in name only
@Nubian Princess, and coin! Mostly that!
Just yesterday and in full view of the police, PF cadres were attacking NDC members on camera and this retard Mwamba is saying the human rights record in Zambia is blah, blah, blah!!
Running away from a mad man is not bukuwe, David ran away from king Saul, Joseph ran away from potipher’s wife, that preserved this guys for the future.
ATI AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL? JUST DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME ON ZAMBIA. GO TO USA OR SOUTH AFRICA IF IT IS FUNDING YOU NEED. THESE COUNTRIES ARE WHERE THREAT OF LIFE IS REAL. ZAMBIA IS A PEACE-KEEPER. TAMUKWETE FYA KUCITA IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FUNDING?
Ba Mwamba if i dare write anything close to demeaning, insulting or threatening your life I know the PF organizations like ZP and ZICTA will have me in court, charged and sentenced because you are PF. But since alleged PF cadres are doing it to Pilato then its mere banter?
PF’s style of leadership is by violence, threats, warnings. MCS named PF after Mugabe’s ZANU-PF whose violent record is well published. ZANU-PF also rules by violent cadres, violent elections, election rigging, imprisoning opposition leaders (remember foto of Tsvangirai coming out of police custody with a swollen battered face), police brutality.
Emmanuel Mwamba aka- katondo boys do not cheat the world with hypocrisy and deception. You and your president lack morals of decency. Any Zambian who has expressed worry over their life is true. Examples are filed up already by the world. Your myopic rebutted will not wash away oppression going on in Zambia. You are a shame to Zambia.
Serious operatives at work, this is how stupid they think of us –
“Awe kachepa sana. We are in charge …we are serious operatives. In fact kulefwayika fye kafwile mu jele. Ni mweba Amos you are too soft this should have been done immediately we came from Mongu,” said Kampyongo.
However Chanda who was seemingly concerned about the media backlash said he had already instructed the public media to stop any form of coverage.
“We need to manage what comes out of the media…otherwise abantu must not be fed on this ka HH. We discussed naba Mwamba how we must handle the who thing. We managed to turn the incident in Mongu against UPND. A ka perfect opportunity presented itself kaili nomba balamba ukupapata and they will now recognize P1 as President,” said Chanda.
Chanda who was drinking…
These thieves Anthony in Germany and this sly crook both crave for the spotlight…the foool in Germany is releasing photo a white hotel staff holding an umberella for him and he is very proud of this.
This Emmanuel mwamba is not only a thief, he is a murderer too,
Pilatos case maybe different but the Ambassador is not correct to say this unheard-of in Zambia. Many people went into exile in the 27 years of UNIP rule. This is not alien to Zambia.
Rupiah Banda’s children were in exile, but for stealing in their case.
Lombe (MA) you are lying. Get your facts straight. There were no Zambians that went into exile during the 27 years of UNIP rule. It was only during Chiluba’s MMD rule that Zambia started exporting people into exile.
Silent observer how old are you?
Lombe is right.
A good number of them fled kk’ s noose.
Then there was another wave during ftj’s time.
Give examples
Do not just write heresay. Those who fled must be Zambians and they should have names. Please name just three to be credible. They country has gone to the dogs with exaggerated statements and lies without substance.
Silent observer and Amagenge,
Both of you are certainly very ignorant, very young, or both. Some of the people who went into exile during KK’s time in the mid-1970s include former UNZA leaders like Munyonzwe Hamalengwa, Alexander Kamanga, and Younus Lulat. Dr. Hamalengwa has since come back and is lecturing at Zambia Open University. Lulat is now in the UK. I don’t the whereabouts of Kamanga who was once UNZASU President. I am sure other bloggers many other Zambians who went into exile apart from the ones I have mentioned. This is greatest tragedy of our young generation; they are so ignorant of their country’s history.
Silent observer and Amagenge,
Both of you are certainly very ignorant, very young, or both. Some of the people who went into exile during KK’s time in the mid-1970s include former UNZA leaders like Munyonzwe Hamalengwa, Alexander Kamanga, and Younus Lulat. Dr. Hamalengwa has since come back and is lecturing at Zambia Open University. Lulat is now in the UK. I don’t know the whereabouts of Kamanga who was once UNZASU President. I am sure other bloggers many other Zambians who went into exile apart from the ones I have mentioned. This is greatest tragedy of our young generation; they are so ignorant of their country’s history.
@Silent Observer
Silent Observer, take interest in understanding your country’s history.
The owner of your party PF The Late Sata, went into exile possibly running away from brutality. The ‘munyamas’ existed in KK’s time.
Ba Facts – You are talking about riotous students going into exile, are you serious? Do you really understand the term exile? Your silly musician Pilato ruffled his fellow cadres who want to sort him out – he has just run away and should not claim to have gone into “exile” unless he wants Amnesty International to look after him because of his failed music career.
Nkaka Puta was one of them that was in exile
Who is Pilato? We have never heard of him and we shall not hear of him in the near future. The true music giants are the likes of JK, Dandy Crazy cause clearly when they hit those strings Ichilema remains confused.
Emmanuel Mwamba is right. Zambia has had no history of political exiles, whether under UNIP or MMD. What Silent Observer is referring to is a case where Chiluba deported people like William Banda, currently a presidential advisor to HH, and a few others on grounds that they were Malawians. Banda and his colleagues did not go to Malawi as political exiles but as victims of circumstances. Pilato left the country on his own and is free to come back. He is not an exile.
But who allows people in diapers to come and comment on the history of Zambia??
Hmm so is Mwamba saying that KK was in fact a terrorist to be jailed by MMD and there was no political element to his jailing? Or is jailing someone “banter”? What about HH? What was his criminal offence again to lead him to be jailed for months then suddenly nolle prosequi?
Anyway maybe this propaganda organ Mwamba thinks Amnesty International falls under the Office of the President that he can call them for a meeting kikikikikik
Iwe Mwamba! NDC supporters were hacked by the same PF cadres yesterday and for that, at the central police station.
Amnesty international is on the ground and well informed
Send Mwamba back to school!
The Long Dark Gross Human Rights Violations in Zambia perpetuated by the Zambian Intelligence and condoned by Zambian Government, have escaped both both National and International attention. This is largely due to the institutionalized culture of Terror, Torture, Impunity, Fear, and Death, perpetuated by the Zambian intelligence also infamously known as the Office of the President (OP).
The OP wields absolute power in Zambia. It is a State within a state; It is more powerful than the President; It has a track record of influencing all election results, by rigging elections in favor of Candidates of its choice; It is the self appointed ELECTORAL COLLEGE in Zambia, where popular vote doesn’t count at all – on behalf of the electorate, the OP decides who should be President and Ministers…
It is a good thing. There are people in any country that are protectors of the country beyond any man that will just be there for a season, it is a select few who protect the greater good of a country. Check any country around the world.
The boys bank account like CKs is DRY no more grz contract. Publicity is for boosting sales of his music.
Anmentsy international. ..what a disgracing organisation. ..keep ussueing alerts without investigating matters properly. .They juat woke up from slamber and want to make a point. These useless institutions doing notjing and offering not solution to human lives.
For Pilota we know it’s a name you want make brother. .do not worry will keep downloading your songs but I can use my.money to buy songs that add value to my love and society sorry.
@ OBSERVER: Please do not insult Amnesty International. When AI issues alerts about your country you should take notice, even when you are busy eating with the Gestapo. AI has stood by people in the grips of blood thirsty dictators. They have saved more people from dying in cold, secret cells than you will ever know.
They reflect the best about humanity and the human spirit of selfless support for others. And you insult them, you magg.ot, for the scraps you are receiving from your pay master. Have some decency and shut up. One day, you may need AI and they will be there for you.
Do we understand what bullying and intimidation, does to someone’s life?
He who fights and run away,
Lives to fight another day.
You blind supporters of a terrorist regime of Lungu are really full of dead brain cells not to notice and the level of intolerance , physical aggression and threats to kill those with different views but dictator and corrupt lungu. We used to live side by side even when we belonged to different political parties. Today we have become the enemies and adversaries of our own brothers and sisters. Peace can be easily destroyed but it will take years to rebuild this rare treasure that has been the envy of many surrounding country. Lungu is Moslem if things hots up he will end up in an Arab country just like idia Amin did. Tomorrow another government will come in and what will you be doing or perceived by those you are persecuting and want to kill? The same jobless and homeless young boys…
That is so true,problem with Zambians can’t analyse politics that is why they are now falling all over fro dreadful Kambwili
Insulting my father then running and hiding behind a giant and claiming you have rights to insult him is not wise.
Mwamba is a PF cadre who is just concerned about his belly; don’t listen to his lies;
“My advise to the most excited and undiplomatic diplomat is, yama bukeni. You are young and intelligent, be an instrument of benefit to the people not only to those who have conspired to rob our country. You are sacrificing too much for too little. Wake up my brother and see that there’s something more to life than just money and power. Quit being a devil’s pawn and let the light of God shine in your life.” Pilato
Thank you
Welcoming problems is the source of improvement. Question everything we do and know the target well and most importantly the expected result. If your intention was to provoke a situation, then expect a Reaction. Running away to me is not the solution. What goes up eventually comes down. Zambians have lost lives while in the foreign countries and how can one expect total shield from perceived enemies? They say BEARD THE LION IN ITS DEN.
What I mean by loosing life while outside is that one cannot avoid dying no matter what. Some in sleep, in hospitals, in the Air, under water and so on. Not even the bible has prescribed the avenue for each one of us, but it shall remain untimely death for ever.
the most popular and fast growing industry in Zambia is cadre industry! gvt shud creat a new ministry for this industry! responsibilities : in charge of lands commission, local gvt (councils) and ZRA (tax collection). doesn’t this industry deserve a ministry of its on, coz gvt recognize it already en of course they are above the law coz they can arras en beat en one in full presence of the police.