Exiled Musician Pilato has charged that Freedom of expression in Zambia has deteriorated under President Edgar Lungu.
Pilato who fled the country after receiving death threats at the start of after his song Koswe Mumpoto (Rat in the pot) was seen as critical of the government.
Rights group Amnesty International described the threats to Pilato’s life as a “brazen” attempt to silence dissenting views.
The singer-songwriter has been charged with “disobedience of lawful order” due to his participation in a protest during September in front of the country’s parliament building, according to the country’s state broadcaster.
Spotlight on Africa spoke to Pilato about his controversial song, the death threats he received and its implications for free speech in Zambia…
What is Koswe Mumpoto (Rat in the pot) about?
The song talks about the rats that have invaded a house, they’re taking advantage of the situation – they’re stealing, they’re even stealing things that they can’t use. It’s about the destruction that the rats are bringing to this house which is under their control.
Q & A: FUMBA CHAMA AKA PILATO
Are you really talking about rats or is this an analogy?
It’s definitely an analogy for leaders that instead of serving the people, end up serving themselves. In Zambia, we have a scenario where we have the bush mice and the rats. The bush mouse is a delicacy, it’s a food for a certain tribe in the Eastern Province. In the song, I’m saying we asked for bush mice so that we could eat them, but instead you gave us a rat. Now this rat is eating what we’re supposed to be eating – this rat is stealing things that it can’t even use. It’s destroying things that we treasure the most, so it’s an analogy of a leadership that instead of serving, is self-serving.
You’re talking about the government, the ruling Patriotic Front party, President Edgar Lungu?
Not exactly just that kind of leadership. I’m talking about the government obviously, I’m talking about church leadership, I’m talking about local government – it’s not targeted at one group of leaders. Instead of serving the people, these leaders are serving themselves.
You’re talking about authority figures, the ruling elite – does this also include the opposition?
All the leaders, everybody in leadership who does what’s not expected of them. Leadership, by design, is supposed to save the people. It doesn’t matter which platform – if they’re not serving the people, they’re serving themselves, they are basically rats in the pot.
What was the response to the song?
It’s been great – people are dancing, I’m excited. It’s only disturbing that a certain group of people decided to attack me, threaten me with death. It’s a little bit off, I didn’t expect that humans would resort to such thinking.
What threats did you receive?
I had threats from people who are connected to the government – these are youth organs, cadres. These cadres are like militias responsible for the brutality that happens politically in Zambia. They attack people, even at police stations, even at graveyards. These people have been responsible for a lot of criminality – beating and killing people. They sent me voice messages, they sent me a video clip warning me and telling me what they’re going to do to me. This has not attracted any response from the police, the police have not stepped in. It’s these threats that pushed me to leave the country because I don’t feel safe anymore. These people are powerful enough to even attack you at the police station itself.
Did you go to the police, the authorities to make a complaint about this?
Our institutions have broken down such that you can’t trust the police officers. The police officers are weak, powerless at the moment. The people that have power are these cadres who are literally militias. These guys are capable of attacking you at the police station – this has happened, the police have no power over them, me going to the police is just surrendering myself to them. Even going to the courts, I’ve got voice messages of them telling me that even if I go to the courts they’ll come and snatch and kill me from there. Even if I were to go to any embassy in Zambia, they’re saying they can actually get me and attack me. I would have loved to have gone to the police, but police don’t have power over these people.
It must have been scary to receive those threats?
Very scary, especially if you are an individual like me. We have political parties, who have faced this brutality, but they are groups – they have various channels, security apparatus in their own setup. I’m just an individual who doesn’t even have a gun. So it’s very scary, very dangerous.
Radio stations and television channels have been ordered to stop playing your song. Does the song itself actually break the Zambian broadcast code, as far as you know? For example, using profanities or inciting people in some way.
It doesn’t, it’s a pure song, and it’s a song that doesn’t even get anywhere close to criminality. But I must also mention that this didn’t just start with this song. I’ve been a musician for the past eight years. I only enjoyed radio time in my first three or four years. I had DJs calling me, telling me how their bosses were ordered not to play anything by Pilato – even just a social commentary song or any other neutral song. They’ve been told not to have anything to do with me. Private or public media institutions – I’ve got no space there, my name is like a crime. My music is like a crime regardless of what it’s about.
What do you think about the state of free speech in Zambia?
It’s non-existent, considering that even social media is being clamped down upon. We have reports of people that have been arrested and jailed for just sharing their opinions on Facebook. I don’t think we enjoy the freedom of expression, the freedom of speech as we should do.
Do you think this has worsened under President Lungu?
It has worsened. I’ve been in this space for some time, so any slight change affects me to a great extent. During [former President Levy] Mwanawasa’s time, I had no idea I could even go to jail for a song or face threats for a song. I did music under Mwanawasa and there was nothing like that. During [former President Michael] Sata’s time, I did music and although I had little scares, little threats from distant cadres, I never went to jail. Under President Edgar Lungu, I’ve been arrested two times for expressing myself. One time was because I did a song – I was arrested. The other time was because I protested the misuse of public funds. The government had bought second-hand fire trucks for one million dollars each. Me and my friends protested asking how could the government justify that misuse of funds – we were arrested. This is not something that has happened to anybody in the previous governments. This is worse, this is a new height of abuse of power and abuse of people’s freedoms.
Have you asked yourself whether it’s worth continuing being critical of those in power?
I do question myself every time I feel lonely – I ask myself is this necessary, is this worth it? I think it’s a deserving fight. It’s necessary because if we don’t do it now, it may be too late tomorrow. If I was to be self-centred – to say, ‘I’m not the only one who’s seeing these things, maybe just let me be like any other person’ – tomorrow it might be deadly for me, or family members or friends. And it may be too late to challenge it, so I feel this is necessary now – if it can be stopped, it has to be stopped. We can’t wait for it to get worse tomorrow.
How long will you remain in exile?
Not for too long, I can’t surrender my country to a bunch of thieves.
RFI
Mr potato in a Xenophobic nation..they will deal with you there. Heroes don’t run away
Pilato is the voice of the voiceless, the tongue of the dumb. He must have a platform. The world will afford him one. Too bad Zambia has no room for such. Too bad Zambia is a no go country for those wishing to express themselves freely. The victim here is not just this exiled musician. The list is long.
If they want to eliminate u,,,they can follow u wherever u a in RSA.. The chap smokes too much.there is freedom to insult as u wish in Zambia. What more do u need… He can even undress in public….even an I.diot like foulmouthed Sata was President.just craw back to your rat hole… no one gives this scroundel a sh.it..
Pilato went too far.
Koswe is a bad creature, just like umubulu (wild dog).
A mouse is better, but if it decide to turn into mouse, no human should be compared to it. Same as:
Dog is a good animal, but if it decide into a wild-dog, and go about doing unclean acts like Kaiser, then….
Pilato described accurately what lungu’s govt is all about. THIEVES! One of the very few Zambians that dare open their mouths to voice disgust at the bandit illegally occupying state house. Pilato is a hero!
@mange Pilato is only your voice! the voiceless do not need to call the President koswe to be heard! what did Pilato say about governance? he was just calling names and you call that voiceless? if pilato talked about corruption he would have spoken for the people, if he talked about the cost of leaving he would have spoken for people and if he talked about higher taxes he would have spoken for people. now he and the dull of our great nation zambia think he is a hero but whose hero? maybe UPND and other fo0lsssss
Governor. It is cost of living not cost of leaving. Cost of leaving can only be costly to Pilato.
Mange ta Munya Upa,
You UPND guys are certainly running out heroes. Pilato is “the voice of the voiceless”? My foot!!
Get back to Zambia, usurp power from the power thief and champion freedom of expression. You are a savior Zambian has been waiting for. If it is unsafe as you have indicated fight the cause and ZAMBIA SHALL TRULY BE SAVED. Not the saving that Nevers Mumba was talking about. I mean the real saving of the masses. You are a son of the soil and I personally salute you because you had a chance to bootlck when you reconciled with Koswe after bash Tasila-Pichen Kazembe song BUT YOUR CONSCIOUS COULD NOT LET YOU. Fight, fight and fight you are a true Zambian HERO. Aba bambi nibangwele!
It is reported in the Bible Jesus’s parents had to run to Egypt for his safety. It is reported that Emerson Mnagagwa had to run to South Africa for his safety before ascending to the throne.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to insult others. We all have rights to be respected. Did any security agents arrest him for insulting the president and all his Ministers? The guilty are afraid. You will always live fearing your own shadows
Sometimes I wonder what freedom Pilato wants. This man produced songs insulting the president and all those songs were done in Zambia. Koswe muponto was sang and at no given point was Pilato arrested. He has insulted and done anything a man can do but nothing has been done to him. I don’t know what freedom as Zambians want
Its because you have never tasted freedom
Insulting a f**k of a president
Would you rather the PF cadres that threatened him attack and worse still kill him for you to believe that press freedom is non-existent? Do you need to be a victim of HIV in Zambia to believe that HIV does exist and is doing harm in Zambia?!!
Stop wondering. Freedom of expression is really nonexistent in Zambia. There is no democracy in the world that controls 90 percent of its country’s media. If anything, democratic governments don’t control media. The Zambian govt owns every major media from DeadNBC, Times, Daily Mail, ZANIS Why? because it wants to control freedom of expression. Govt wants to supervise newsgathering so that Amos Chanda and his political party dictate what the citizen has to listen to.
The tragedy is that all the country’s lawyers and journalists are failing to challenge this unconstitutional ownership. Lawyers and journalists in Zambia are pathetic because these two should be at the forefront of championing the nation’s freedom of speech. It has now been left to musicians to fight for this freedom.
When mwanawasa was called cabbage by sata, his response was am actually not cabbage but steak.
So what does that supposed to mean? By the way he imprisoned the guy that coined the name for three months.
Free expression is good however responsibility is expected from everyone , we dont have to encroach on other people’s lives , treat other people with respect even if you may not agree with them give them space just as you want yours .
Agreed. Best comment on here today
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Disrespect is an act of expression, An ediot of a leader is disgusting and always loathed. Where there is discontent their is bound to be disrespect.
Respect is earned and not forced upon, Unless you are a king and those days are long gone.
What is respect? Ignoring the corrupt acts of those in power? No! Respect is not something that is demanded it is voluntarily given and if it is not given you dont cry for it. if a President is not given respect wont he work? Did he go into the office to be respected? No He went there to work for the people.
Don’t involve us in your senseless battles, you’re not a hero. Koswe ni wiso
The quest for fame can wear different coats. This one is really sad that an individual cans ink so low Mr. Pilato.
This is what desperate people do. Dying hoses are very dangerous. This is the worst king of unpatriotic that you can resort to tarnishing your Country’s image without shame. You guys must realize that what you are doing will be done against you as well. This is really sad. Sad indeed. You might be dancing that the President name is going down the drain but I say this; Posterity will judge you harshly.
I understood Upnd are paying for his upkeep while there.
If what the great pilato is saying is untruths why are the PF rats so worked up ?? Let the international community see for them selves….
@Spaka I knew you’re going to spring on this. I admire how emotionally you become when it comes to defending your beloved upnd. By the way are you also in exile?
What is sad is the thieving and stealing by a corrupt ruling class which is disadvantaging the very people that entrusted them with the mandate to rule.
Is this guys really Zambian? The cadres are his friends – they are made from the same cloth. I have read and heard critical views about Lungu and PF government on radio phone in programmes and online news but no-one is running away from Zambia. Pilato should just not run away from the responsibility of taking care of his family. Surprised some people are celebrating this guy.
Yes, UPND and their partners in South Africa are bankrolling the whole thing. At some point, this whole scam may blow up in their faces.
@6.3 ndanji
FYI I am not UPND but will support anyone who is against the moral decay, corruption and mismangment going on…
@6.5 Amagenge
Lungu only sets his PF thugs on people he perceives as real threats ……..not the mulogoties and daunte sunders…
@6.6 facts
Don’t cheat yourself about UPND controlling all dessert to lungus stealing among Zambians…..private citizens like some of us are instrumental in a media effort to enlighten the world of the looting and mismangment going on in Zambia….we are telling the world that the charade of lungus fake democracy is nothing but fake….
ubupuba ba pilato. you run away from your own house. lol!!!!! your stay there is temporal my friend.
just come back and do the right thing.
Funny that the guy could be easily by thugs aka cadres. When we fought KK, it was tougher…In fact you cannot compare it to these thugs….we had vigilantes ready to kill. You had to have a Unip card to board a bus or ent a market. But defied them, we never went into exile….if we did Unip would still be in power.
If kambwili can be slapped around parliament buildings and his supporters hacked in front of police what of poor pilato ???
@Ndanje Khakis, I am so shocked you do not have any shame to tell lies. Which vigilantes were killing people in Zambia? Can you name any person who was killed by vigilantes. As I remember, the vigilantes were neighbourhood security similar to the current neighbourhood groups affiliated to the police.
Any way I do not think that Akashambatwa or Mbita Chitala who called the Garden House meeting would even know you (they are both alive and were not killed or threatened by vigilantes).
Ndanje, you are a liar trying to give excuses for the current thugs carrying pangas and hacking people. Where in Zambia did vigilantes ever carry pangas?
But Kambwili hasn’t run away. It appears anything against PF is your soup. You insulted Pilato when he made peace with PF remember?
[email protected] I said ready to kill not that they killed anybody. Reading culture is really poor. Surely you can’t understand a simple sentence like this?
MUKULA MBULU AYANGA NA MAKA – I think you are too young and a bit raw to fully comprehend what Ndanje has said.
@8.2, what Ndanje is saying is true, the vigilantes he is referring to were ruthless, ferocious and heartless Homo sapiens who were ready to maim a brother in defence of their Party UNIP. They were found mostly in the lower structure of the party. They morphed into a fearsome militia terrorising citizens with impunity. Each time this topic comes up, William Banda’s name comes to my mind. There were chronic shortages of basic commodities such as food, detergents, bath soap and salt and a Party card usually softened them up somehow. The cadre of today is driven more by personal benefits than belief in their PF Party.
Other peoples freedoms and rights start… Right after his nose…
Nothing good can come out of being used by Dr Fred Mmembe. HH has come on board as well supporting crude insults. Pilato doesn’t seem to b that intelligent as a poet or artiste. Ni gonga chi.kala. He is being used and lead into darkness…..
Pilato, i like you alot, but on this one , you have clearly lost it. Even there in South Africa or UK where you are hiding, there is a limit /boundaries to “Freedom of Speech”. You come across as Philosophical and intelligent thus you should know better. I don’t know whether you are now developing a mental disorder or being funded by people; either way now you have completely lost control over your life. In America you cannot insult a President or even a friend or fellow artist and get away with it. Yes people express themself in Vulgar language and throw shade, however, all that is within limit. Why do you guys live a life of MOVIES Real Western people or Americans don’t do the crap you are doing. Get out your cave and come to reality before you destroy your life. Since you are in…
Zuma is called corrupt everyday and any government official thought to be corrupt will be insulted and resign in Europe …..lungu is a corrupt theif
Thats the problem of living in Zambia and being ignorant. Who has imprisoned the people who insult Trump everyday….? Stick to what you know.
They say if you have never tasted butter you don’t know how sweet it is…. maybe you have never tasted freedom
That’s a new one @Spaka theif?
Every knows what mean , and lungu himself does not deny that he is a corrupt thief….or a corrupt theif
So if your friend insults his father you can also insult your father. South Africa is not the only country in the world. If south African boys can sleep with their sisters should Zambian boys also do that. China is million years advanced in technology compared to Zambia but you Mr Xi the president at your own peril.
Ba Spaka too much emotions, sometimes I suspect you’re either HH’s son or some very close relative.
@ Kachana Banda. Why are you lying? The president of the United States gets insulted on a daily basis by ordinary people. No one so far has been arrested. Just a few months ago, a lady on a bike gave the presidential motorcade a middle finger when they tried to tell her to give way. Was she ever arrested? Don’t talk about things you don’t know. America is a truly functional democracy where people’s opinions are respected. I think people like you need to go back to secondary school to truly understand the extent of your rights. Pilato did nothing wrong. You have seen how much political intolerance is in Zambia right now. Just last week, Kambwili’s supporters were hacked with machetes in the presence of the police, with Pilato, It could have been worse.
@Davis Mwila: That lady was fired from work!! Even in USA, you don’t get away with s.t.u.p.i.dity!! It’s only you primitive and unethical Africans who think you can get away with anything. Kambwili’s supporters hacked in front of police-really?? In the first place why did Kambwili get hooligans from Chingola to come and cause confusion n Lusaka??? When police summon you, why go with unruly thugs?? ZP had a challenge controlling those thugs, so much so traffic was disturbed and we delayed on our deliveries that day, and is that DEMOCRACY to you?????
@Zambian Citizen. She was fired yes, but was she threatened by cadres? Was she given a treason charge? The people that fired her did so out of their own conviction. No one ever took her to court for that. You must be some old f00l who went to school during the Kaunda era where civics was taught the dictator’s way or you’re extremely dull. How many times has Trevor Noah insulted Donald Trump? Has he ever been threatened or taken to court? Trevor Noah is not even an American but a South African living in USA. People like you who support Stupidity and corruption really irritate me. No normal person thinks like you. You must be mentally ill. Oh, I am not even a UPND cadre or Tonga (not that there’s anything wrong with it) , just a concerned Zambian.
More like concerned and extremely confused!!!! So do your children insult you in the name of DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION???
@ Zambian Citizen. You don’t get it. Do you? My child cannot insult me over the decisions that I make because I am using my own resources. Resources I’ve personally earned. You must understand that the presidency is an institution. When the president makes a wrong decision, it’s my money that will go to waste not his personal money. Even most people who criticize him do that because what is being wasted is their taxes. If H.E ECL was in private life making those decisions and wasting his own money, no one was going to question him but he was elected to oversee the prudent use of our resources as Zambians and if he’s not doing that people can get upset. The effects of these decisions go a long way affecting millions of people some even dying.
Every leader in the world has positives and negatives. The problem is you dwell on ECLs negatives. What pilato is talking about is total cow dung which is surprising that an educated person like you can fall for it!!! It’s not about private or public life, the key words here are TRUTHFULNESS and RESPECT.
Davis Mwila seems to be conversing with retards. These people need to understand the difference between government and the family. They need to understand why freedom of expression is demanded in a democracy. Freedom is what makes a democracy. People need to have the freedom to point out the wrongs of their leaders.
When people can speak out about how they are being ruled they are PARTICIPATING in their rule. You dont vote someone into office so you can admire him. You elect him so he can deliver. If there is no freedom of expression thieves will take advantage of their position to steal.
Anyone who has eyes can see the examples that Davis Mwila has given and draw conclusions. Trevor Noah would have been killed in Zambia’
…oh no…if you can believe pilato’s cow dung, you must be what are called useful 1.d.i.o.ts-intelligent but can’t analyse matters objectively but prefer to be lazy and selfish and convince your mind to believe what you prefer…pathetic!!!!
YOU WANT ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION …FREEDOM TO INSULT OTHERS ….WHAT ABOUT THE FREEDOMS OF THOSE INSULTED……??? FREEDOM EXPRESSION SHOULD GO WITH RESPONSIBILITY….!!!
Calling some one corrupt is not insulting ??
@Hibalwa: What you have posted, my brother, deserves to be quote of the day. SPOT ON!!!!!
If you cant work because you feel you have been insulted then you should not be in office. You are too weak or unfocussed to be a political leader. Stay, remain in your private practice where you can pick staff who respect you. Political office is called public office
FACT…..
EVIDENCE?
CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI ON UNZA RADIO 29 JANUARY 2018.
Just come back my friend and change the title of your song(Mumpoto tumuli koswe)
Pilato sure! What is your motive? There are so many critics of the President and government, even individuals, but why are they not running away? LET’S BE FAIR TO ONE ANOTHER GENYLEMEN!!!!
NDC supporters were hacked with pangas in front of police….
I dare you to produce a similar “Koswe mumpoto” about the leaders in that country where you are hiding and see if you will last a night there. You have now lost complete control over your life now, which is very sad . Don’t cut the hand that feeds you. (ZAMBIA IS YOUR COUNTRY, HENCE IT FEEDS YOU) I love your work a lot, but now, its not relevant anymore. Okay. Provide tangible solutions, and do some community work., not just complaining and throwing vengeful shade. It not adding value. STOP IT.
Stop lying …..watch on YouTube zuma being called a corrupt theif by MPs ….
Spaka like lilo – Yeah, that is why Kachana Banda has challenged Pilato to compose a similar song in South Africa where there is freedom of expression.
I would not have such a dirty looking guy as my chief advisor in Music/politics. HH, what a selection of advisors!!. What sort of advice do you get from Chi Kapondo ichi.
@ Chitapankwa Allepo Trump HH and UPND are desperate – anything that goes against Lungu becomes a superhero to them. GBM was called all sorts of names when he was under PF now he is their second in command. Kambwili is their hero etc. Even Mulenga Kampamba might even become their spokesperson if she had to denounce ECL. I hate people who have no principle – even bad ones. When you called GBM corrupt, uneducated, thief etc – you need to stick to this description whether he joins you or not – that is what we call being principled.
@Chitapankwa Allepo Trump.
Don’t accuse HH wrongly. Last time I checked, Pilato was a PF cadre wrapped in PF Chitenge material. He’s only in exile because of intolerance in PF where everyone who disagrees with corruption is seen as an enemy. Sort those problems in the PF and Pilato will be back as a supporter of H.E Edigar Chagwa Lungu. I have other examples such as Kambwili and Harry Kalaba who’ve left the PF because of the same reason.
No, Davis Mwila Kambwili didnt leave PF because he disagreed with corruption. Kambwili is corrupt and when fellow corrupt PF politicians decided to leave him out of the corruption dinner he started selling himself as an angel. Kalaba I cant say.
Ba Davis Mwila @16.2 – Actually, what we can conclude is that Pilato was planted as a mole in PF. The project failed and the dull young man just has to go back to his unprincipled roots.
He is speaking some sense here Pilato. The moment he cuts ichunsu chakwe many people ll start taking him seriously…
Many PF rats are very worked up about pilato telling the truth…..NDC supporters were hacked with pangas at central police station…….the same thugs smash up radio stations
NAMWALA
Lungu does not deny that he is a corrupt theif ……so You want people to accept and keep quiet ??
Pilato you are a coward. Why do you release such songs if you know that you love yourself?
Freedom of Expression does not mean insulting others please. This Pilato chap is just being used by anxious politicians who want to get power by all means! In our Zambian culture insulting elders is not allowed and is taboo
Democracy and freedom of expression is all failure and open to abuse. As a Christian nation we all know this fact. The bible tell us to express our self in a more respective and dignifying manner, especially when talking to those in authority .Respect all those in authority both in government or opposition unless they ask us do things in contrary to God will.Pilato seem to have crossed the line . Return no evil for evil .I feel the man is wrong and also those threatening him are wrong.
What Christian nation are you talking about baba? A Christian nation of thieving leaders that don’t care about ordinary people who are dying because they’ve stolen money which is supposed to serve lives?
live on pilato. one love. some of us are too heavy to walk on egg shells, that’s why we’re not in zambia
Zedians – you take things too seriously for your own good. Look at Namibia (aka Nambia) making marketing capital out of Donald Trump’s utterances. I am sure if Zed was called Zamibia there would have been kerfuffle of useless proportions… we are a christian nation, blah blah, blah… no wonder you still use archaic colonial laws that your former masters have long abandoned. Ba Koswe!
Is politics the only profession, if at all its one, without code of ethics? The current trend of character assassination, the use of insults, unpalatable and disrespectful language as a way of presenting views is worrying. Where is the church in this whole thing? Do these players have Pastors in their lives? Surely the church can help to bring order and sanity to our politics to reduce this unacceptable culture of insults. One can still present his views on the matter without necessarily insulting those in authority. Lets do politics based on issues and the character of an individual.
We can only appeal to ECZ( Electro Commission of Zambia) to amend its laws to compel politicians both in Government and Opposition to use appropriate language and apply sanctions to limit insults in the…
Correction: Lets do politics based on issues and not the character of an individual.
spaka ,you are a nonsense even to upnd your party, if you cant respect lungu wat of hh and your father you cant ,dont driven by bitterness this are just politics tomorrow it will be another president not hh are you going to continue insulting what corruption do you talk about go and report and dont follow this self centered politician always talk about corruption in govnt without proof you wii become mad
If hh is called a corrupt thief and he does not deny so……he too will get it…
ONLY A TONGA MUST LEAD UPND says Sejani. This UGLY thing Pilato is being funded by HH and GBM to denounce the president because even HH at his recent press conference was calling the president and his government BA KOSWE, therefore Pilato and HH speak the same abusive language against the presided, he is actually being mentored bad manners by HH. This kind of insulting in the name of freedom of expression is not only uncalled for but it is also unzambian. This dirty headed thing must learn to respect the leaders even when he feels the leaders have not done a good thing. My advice to HH is that he must stop misusing this creature by sponsoring him to unleash his trash on the government to dent the country’s image outside so that he reaps cheap political capital. ONE ZAMBIA ONE PEOPLE
I was very shocked when HH used the KOSWE to describe ECL and his team. HH is not a tribal cousin to ECL and if he were intelligent (fortunately he is not) he would have been very careful in using that term. Just by using that term against ECL he is losing more than he is gaining. Even f00lish Pilato is trying to capitalize on this traditional cousinship but unfortunately being used by the wrong people and ends up going too far.
When you base anything on truth, mountains move. That’s how Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, our Freedom Fighters got their motives turned into reality. When you base your struggle on lies, falsehoods like upnd and these pilato clowns, sooner rathr than later, everything flops, fizzles out. upnd has seen this with the petition, rigging, dictatorship rhetoric that has died a natural death as is thier corruption also doing. Pilato f.0.0.lishly decides to jump onthe same bandwagon thinking he can profit by doing it differently. But it is all doomed to fail. IT’S ALL LIES, HOGWASH, COW DUNG!!! Everyone is aware for a fact upnd is sponsoring pilato’s stay in RSA. We all know the Amnesty International regional director, Muleya Mwananyanda, who is supporting pilato is a former…
…post newspaper/M’membe employee…SO WHAT’S NEW???? IT’S REALLY GETTING BORING AS upnd IS USING THE SAME TACTIC. AS WITH THEIR ATTEMPTS ON THE PRESIDENCY, IT IS ALL FAILURE. DAFT CHIMBWIS WITH NO PLAN, THESE 1.D.I.O.TS!!!!!!!!!!!
PILATO IS AN ECONOMIC REFUGEE WHO FAILED TO MAKE IT IN ZAMBIA. ANYONE BETTER THEN HIM TO HIM IS A THIEF. YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR COUNTRY ZAMBIA WHEN NJALA IZAKUNYOKOLA WHERE EVER YOU ARE
This is the strategy most people use when they want to live abroad. Just insult the president and run to the USA, UK or some countries that can accept you and claim political asylum. The Iron is that even HH, GBM Kambwili and others are still alive in Zambia. How can one sink so low to discredit your own country? Do you think that all is well in the country that you have run to? For those who are comparing America and Zambia, please keep in mind that these are different countries with their own laws. And for you Zambia living in the USA, make plans to buy land back home, look at how black Americans are being killed in their own country.
I dont like this guy but I like his music including the koswe song. I think he is the official opposition in Zambia. I hope he is bathing where ever he is hiding. But keep pricking our greedy leaders but uzi samba
LOL. Yes dont touch his freedom of expression. You can loathe his looks but not what comes out of his mouth
What is interesting is seeing the endangered Pilato fleeing Lungu’s Corruption and hiding under the wings of the most corrupt president in this region. Hasn’t he heard something called ZUPTA.
Really it makes a mockery of his case. Let him choose a holier destination that is governed by a rust-free presido.
Zuma’s Nkandla resort makes Lungu’s flats look like toys.
Ndiyeso.
@ Chalo Nkhanza.
Zuma maybe a very corrupt element but he doesn’t threaten or cause ANC supporters to hack the supporters of his critics. Zuma has not been reported to be using state resources to sort out his political opponents. You should see how Zuma gets grilled in the South African parliament. I would agree with you though about Zuma’s corruption.
Just admit South Africa protects its constitution better than Zambia. The govt tries to interfere with Freedom of expression but there are too many institutions and NGOs that fight for this freedom
Ba Davis Mwila – But when he says nothing about xenophobic attacks, it’s okay?
PILATO ASHILABENGWA, ENDA NAFYONONA.
Mange ta Munya Upa,
You UPND guys are certainly running out of heroes. Pilato is “the voice of the voiceless”? My foot!!
Don’t you see the energy he has ignited, even just from your own foot, and yet you are not a footballer?
This Pilato and his cronies like princess spaka, tell them that we have seen his type come and go but Zambia has remained, together with all its eight neghbours. The loser in all this is mr pontius pilato himself and numerous others before him.
By the way I hear that musicians in Zambia including pilate actually struggle to make ends meet? No matter how sensational a song can be it will nit make much moneyfor the owner, its just reality ba pilato, teimwe mweka mweba pina. Could explain why he need crumbs from h.h. but h.h will not feed yoh forever ba pilate besu.
Malabishi yaba undees, people have already lost faith in you guys, 2021 is just to confirm this because decisions have already been made based on the rubbish that they have presented so far, anything else that comes next up to 2021 cannot be worse.
@Davis Mwila
YOU ARE VERY RIGHT, DAVIS.
DONALD TRUMP OF THE USA, LEADER, OF THE SO CALLED FREE WORLD IS INSULTED AND CALLED ALL SORTS OF NASTY NAMES, BUT HE TOO HITS / INSULTS BACK……no wonder FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT CALLS HIS MOUTH A ‘S H I T H O L E’ mouth.
It’s only a backward party like UPND that call a person like Pilato who can’t even coherently play a single musical instrument a musician.
A songwriter?
Hayi kona man!
In Zambia we have genuine songwriters and not that dirty and broke guy called Pilato.
Financially Pilato has been in exile.
Musically Pilato has been in exile.
If Pilato thinks he is a political genius,let him join UPND so that we can see.
His music cant sell, hes simply begging from the west in the name of press freedom…
If there is no brutality in zambia against dissenting voices to corruption no one will support pilato in exile….
The truth is there for everyone to see. Only a cadre can deny the state of affairs in Zambia Currently. The moment most people react to the lawlessness that has strongly been given to cadres it will be too late to save mother Zambia. You should stop arguing with retards who cant understand simple things Mwila. What do you expect from a country where street cadres are in leadership? They will fail to understand simple issues.
Pilato, your friends go out to other countries as expatriates not ordinary political cadre. You will realise that you have wasted your precious time in exile for nothing when your friends back home are establishing themselves. Those sponsoring you now will not give you gratuity or pension, they are using you as a bet. Be wise. How come them are comfortable in Zambia but you as poor as you are the country has suddenly become too small for you. The cadre mentality in Zambia is bringing the country down. Just work hard and when its time to vote, just vote wisely. We all know whom we want as our leader, why fighting ourselves? Don’t be used. You will never find HH fighting ECL physically, they just talk but us we are busy fighting with pangas why? A ballot is your secret weapon to fight any…
Just admit South Africa protects its constitution better than Zambia. The govt tries to interfere with Freedom of expression but there are too many institutions and NGOs that fight for this freedom
So, why do they fail to stop xenophobic attacks?
What is happening in ZAMBIA is animal farm.
Anywhere in the world,heroes never go into exile but are loved by majority citizens!!
Even in your father’s house,you cannot call Mr Chama a “Koswe” and expect him to just look at you and say well done my boy but he could beat you to teach you good manners.Pilato went too far and if he steps his legs into Zambia,police should cage him and send him to mukobeko where he belongs!!
MOREOVER,PILATO TELL YOUR HH TO GIVE YOU FREEDOM IN DUNDUMWEZI!!!This fo0l called Pilato will be killed for nothing while Kainde who sponsors continues enjoying life at his Chalala house.yes all musicians support various politicians but they dont insult leaders!!!
You are a liar. If the state wanted you dead, you would be dead by now regardless of wherever you are. You are just a nobody who wants to make noise and get public attention. Ask Ronald Penza or Paul Tembo. You are just ball imbecile.
Dull & childish like his leader!
What a shame a political/social commentator turned into a cadre/stooge with no direction. I hope while in South Africa he will take time to rethink and reflect on his life and nation. It is never too late to change.
Pilato is a victim rented by UPND. This posting purporting to originate from Pilato has actually been authored by UPND in collaboration with Mmembe and the CARTEL that not long time ago captured the Presidency of Mwanawasa and Sata to harass former Presidents FTJ Chiluba and Rupiya Banda. Who ever crafted the script for Pilato must be politically DULL. The World knows the rantings of Mmembe, HH, GBM, Kambwili and Kalaba against President EC Lungu, but President Lungu has never reacted directly against this crop of traitors. GBM made an attempt to seek asylum in Swaziland but was rejected only to see GBM return to make uncoordinated noises in peaceful Zambia. Pilato must read the climate in South Africa where foreigners live in fear of homophobia.
Ba Kay, there is no word in the English language” Temporal”. Its TEMPORALLY. As for Pilato, be mindful who you tamper with in the name of freedom of expression. Even when am so angry I do not loose grip on respect for my neighbors and especially the elders. When you disrespect the elders how can you then expect protection from the same? End result is running away from your own shadow ’til you can run no more.
Your opinion is an example of too much POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. Pilato has not personally attacked anyone.
“You are guaranteed freedom of expression in the country but I cannnot guaranteed you freedom AFTER expression” Idi Amin
So many definitions of Freedom expression from bloggers. Lets use one that we can all agree with, the one according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS THE RIGHT OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO HOLD OPINIONS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE AND TO SEEK, RECEIVE AND IMPART INFORMATION AND IDEAS THROUGH ANY MEDIA AND REGARDLESS OF FRONTIERS. From this definition let’s gauge if there is freedom of expression in Zambia. Is there censorship, restrictive legislation, harassment of journalists, bloggers, or anyone holding/voicing a different opinion? If the answer is a yes to any of the above, then Zambia doesn’t have true FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. We MUSTN’T forget that Zambia is a signatory to the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have a problem of too much POLITICAL…
We have a problem of too much POLITICAL CORRECTNESS in Zambia. It doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not, this is a FACT.