Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lubinda Rubbishes Amnesty International Report, it reads like a page from a Failed African State

Share

Former Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has brushed off a report from Amnesty International that alludes that Zambia has a questionable human rights record.

Mr Lubinda, a long-serving cabinet Minister and legislator has also implored the NGO to encourage states that are doing well rather than paint “every African country with the same brush of impunity.

The former minister was speaking after AI, a notorious NGO with a propensity of doing damning reports of Africa launched its 2021 report on Zambia on Monday.

In its report widely seen as biased by many analysts, AI accused the government of President Lungu of all manner of atrocities starting from extrajudicial killings to unlawful arrests including suppression of private media.

“The reports reads like page from a failed African state,” Mr Lubinda said, “it is in no way a Zambian story of decades of peace and stability that is being portrayed its biased and cheap propaganda essay that must be dismissed with contempt.”

Mr Lubinda said AI deliberately ignored to recognize President Lungu for among other things, reducing sentences such as death for reformed prisoners to life.

“Every good student of human rights does recognize that under President Lungu, prisoners have never had it better starting from reduced sentences, no death sentences including visitations for none flight risk convicts,” Mr Lubinda said.

He said while the rest of the democratic world commended Zambia for holding peaceful elections since independence, AI only saw it fit to paint Zambia black for “sporadic and minor” incidents of violence, which are still regrettable but not unique to Zambia.

“There´s no all out war in Zambia this is a country ranked by several respectable international agencies as a beacon of peace on the continent,” Mr Lubinda.

The former Justice Minister said the fact that Zambia has held free and fair elections, has had six Presidents without going to war, “should count for something.”

Mr Lubinda said where arrests have been effected or institutions sanctioned, “there has always been recourse to the courts and the arrests have been effected only if the law was abrogated just like any other country in the international community because without laws there´s bound to be anarchy.”

The former Minister expressed disappointment that AI that has been given a “direct personal audience with President Lungu in the past five years could turn around and bite us like a snake.”

He deplored the “dirty tactics” the institution used in arriving at its findings which he said fell directly in the realm of the Zambian opposition.

“The report looks like something AI wrote in cohorts with the opposition,” Mr Lubinda said, “but we are happy that the international community can see beyond the sensation AI uses to catch attention and please their donors.”

Zambia has constantly been on the top five lists of most peaceful and stable countries in Africa, as well as a country that adheres to strict governance covenants said Mr Lubinda.

Mr. Lubinda added that under President Lungu, Zambia would continue abiding by the laws in order to avoid anarchy.

He expressed doubt on whether President Lungu would open his doors to AI again after re election on 12th August this year, which he has been billed to win by expert observers.

58 COMMENTS

  1. SH*U*T UP OBVIOUSLY YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL RUBBISH THE SIGNS ON THE GROUND
    I SUPPOSE YOU GOING TO CALL IT THE MOST PEACEFUL ELECTION IN ZAMBIA’S HISTORY
    PF WILL BRING THIS COUNTRY TO ITS KNEES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ALL FOR THE SAKE OF SELF ENRICHMENT

    21
    5
  2. Wake up Lubinda, Zambia actually IS a failed African state. Edgar China Lungu has completely WRECKED the economy, the Kwacha has HALVED in value, DEMOCRACY has been removed, VIOLENCE is at the order of the day. You want more proof???

    25
    4
  3. Of course, we can see there’s no open innovation in PF administration.

    “Open innovation is the concept of enlisting the crowd to help solve your problems unlike the old power method where a small number of Experts have a Exclusive access to tool, data, and mechanism.”

    6
    1
  4. Look at this du.ll minister of justice …….

    AI talk about reduced democratic freedoms, he points at lungu giving prisoners voting rights ……….

    AI point at violence and intimidations during elections , he points at past elections of 10 years ago……

    He thinks Zambians are du.ll

    .

    19
    2
  5. Zambia will become a failed state if we continue to throw filth at ourselves when attacked externally. Zambians are capable of dealing with their own internal affairs. The day HH will stand up and criticise these neocolonialists, he will have my vote otherwise he is a traitor and deserves to be treated as one. As KK once said “The enermy is hell bent on demoralising the moral of the people”. One Zambia One nation scares the hell out of these people. Let’s unite against the real enemies of our country. Ba funa kutipoka chalo nafuti!

    8
    16
  6. Well, this may come as surprise, but Zambia IS A FAILED STATE. Pf cadres can assault citizens with impunity, the economy is in free fall, health care system in tatters, govt coffers looted…need I continue?

    17
  7. Amnesty International has cited a number of Extra Judicial Killings. Lubinda has failed to answer those specific charges. Nobody has been convicted of those killings. Its a fact. What is worrying is ZPS is responsible for all the killings. Recently ZPS shot dead Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda in cold blood and no one has been convicted. Amnesty International’s Report is spot on. Another 5 years for ECL and PF Cadres means more killings of Zambians. Gassing of Citizens will return. On August 12 ECL and PF “ku wire “.

    2
    1
  8. PF, Welcome to the new power world.

    “Ability to produce intended effects”-Bertrand Russell

    “That ability is now in all of our hands. today, we have the capacity to make films, friends or money; to spread hope or spread our ideas to build community or build up momentum.”

  9. “a notorious NGO with a propensity of doing damning reports of Africa ”
    The Author of this article , who is clearly a dull PF cadre , does not understand that Amnesty International gives governance reports on many countries around the world.
    Don’t think all Zambians are dull like the average PF cadre.

    13
    2
  10. When a person justifies a wrong just know that he’s far from repenting and that he’s destined for destruction. They will not see anything wrong until the economy is on its knees.

    2
    1
  11. Lusinda making useful noise. We can easily count 20 bodies and none is in jail! Keep yapping until you find yourself in jail. The fear of people in Zambia to voice out their thoughts is brain numbing.

  12. Lubinda is Power drunk. Like an Ostrich Lubinda’s head is buried in the sand so he can’t see that Zambia is already a failed State run by the heavily armed ZPS and the marauding PF Cadres, Militias, Commanders and Generals. After August 12 should Lungu steal this Election expect more Killings and Repression. God forbid ECL and PF must be removed from Power at the Ballot Box. People are Angry and Hungry for a change of Govt on August 12. Lets hope they will vote for HH and UPND Alliance for peace and devt.

  13. Mr lubinda it’s there to observe and do a report.Now that we are on the wrong side
    We don’t want to respect it.Lets swallow the
    Bitter pill and rectify the problem.You should
    Be in the forefront as former justice minister
    To respect these bodies.

  14. The neo imperialists want our gold..open your eyes. This is what they did in Iraq. A f00Iish upnd diasporan has been brain washed to believe this ldiocy

    4
    11
  15. Let them keep their human rights record there in America where they kill black people. We will keep our zambia

    6
    11
  16. Mr Lubinda and the writer of this article appear to belong to the same whatsapp group – really laughable that they are listening to their own voice! The writer says “AI, a notorious NGO with a propensity of doing damning reports” really? AI writes negative writes all-over the world, including against developed country.
    Lubinda says there is only “sporadic and minor” incidents of violence, and as usual, defers some of blame of the AI report on the opposition lol 🙂 Is HH that powerful to control this many international organizations!
    As Africans, I believe we are able to think on our own. Indeed any normal thinking person can see, there is opposition repression in Zambia, the economy has deteriorated, etc. we need not wait for AI to tell us – this what the opposition has been crying 4…

  17. Yeah KZ, your horrible thieving president doesn’t kill black people??? Forgot about the innocent citizens that were SHOT and KILLED by Edgar China Lungu’s police, and who’s guilty officers have never been charged??? Go dig a hole for yourself and stay there!

    11
    1
  18. BLACK PEOPLE CAUSE 90% of the crime in USA
    Tr000ll DESPUTE THAT PLEASE !!
    AND BESIDE DIDNT OUR POLICE SHOOT 2 INNOCENT PEOPLE

    2
    4
  19. You should try your best not to take anything trolls say seriously. No matter how poorly they behave, remember these people spend countless unproductive hours trying to make people mad. They’re not worth your time of the day.

    4
    2
  20. People like Given Lubinda used to make a lot of sense when they served under the PF of Michael Sata. Apa nomba they have become something else. Amnesty International has written a damn true report on this country which has been greatly ruined by this brutal regime

  21. Look at the dum troll above who told us he was in a cabinet meeting after parliament was dissolved ……..

    Ati they want our gold ? Tuma 300kgs ?

    Other countries mine tons of gold , platinum and diamonds yet no one wants their minerals…….

  22. Those that think organisations such as AI, amnesty international, IMF, missioneries are there to save you, ask yourself the question, “Why didn’t they do so when they had full control of you over 50 years ago?” Why were they allowed to create segregation in your own country? Why are black people still fighting for justice in Europe and America today? What makes you so special for them to care so much about you? Name just one country that is a beneficiary to these organisations you hold in high regards? Mugabe knew these people very well because they used and dumped him. HH is following the footsteps of the likes of Morgan Tsvangirai and Raila Odinga in selling out their own people.

    2
    3
  23. Corrected:

    I am yet to come across a man who ate human right record for breakfast. Fuseke
    No corruption your f00Iish greedy tribal leader was told not to take his fellow f00Iish cadres to police. He decided against this and cause the death of innocent people. Was ECL there?

    2
    4
  24. #25  FutureZed
     June 29, 2021 At 10:38 am

    “…… Name just one country that is a beneficiary to these organisations you hold in high regards? Mugabe knew these people very well because they used and dumped him…….”

    Ghana …….

    Look how mugabe died …..isolated and alone.

    The times for nutcase conspiracy paranoid dreams is not now , especially for a broke country like zambia that only has copper…

    Why are You with your tails between your legs running to the IMF to beg for a bailout if you think they they are plotting against you????

    Have you no pride ??

  25. A ggod number of people here you are either in USA or have close friends and relatives in USA. Which country between Zambia and USA would you call a failed state? The parameters to use should include people who are shot dead by police every month, homicides every month, protests that destroy and burn down business properties, violence on buses and trains, and the like. If Amensty International can call what has been happening in USA has peaceful way of living then and democracy then they have no value in the world today except to stigmise Africans. Zambia is more peaceful than USA and every sincere person knows that. AI should produce a report on USA if they are really an international organisation or are they Amnesty Africa International? Did AI produce a report about what was happening…

    3
    1
  26. Did AI produce a report on China about what they did in Hong Kong? Arresting protesters and jailing anyone with divergent political views. Are these people only formed to check democracy and governance in Africa? As Africans we should be ashamed of ourselves to support such biased institutions because given HH wins this years elections they would accuse his government of the same if he refuses to dance their song. Museveni was USA’s darling until he refused to dance one tune they played. Kagame was their darling until he refused to dance one tune they played. Lastly if Amnesty international is international how many Africans decide the contents to publish on western countries? Iran recently held elections with around 45% voter turnout, what AI’s views about that or they were not aware…

  27. @SPAKA, “Ghana” really? the country that said “No to IMF borrowing” actually you are right, Ghana rejected any influence from these organisations and publicly humiliated the french president by rejecting their strings attached aide. I stand to correct you, Zambia does not need the IMF, the IMF need Zambia. We didn’t invite them, they invited themselves. Not sure what you’re reading mate but it’s clear that you are exiled in the UK far too long. Go to the embassy, they will sort you out with a travel document to visit your family home. They may just about send you some mobile money for your flight ticket.

    5
    1
  28. DUE TO THE SUPRESSION OF THE PRESS AND ROGUE GOVERNMENTS PUSHING OUT FAKE NEWS
    AI IS ONLY THERE TO ENLIGHTEN THE PEOPLE AND THE WORLD AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR VIEW
    YOU ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO YOURS……….
    HOWEVER ALL FINANCIAL ORGANISATIONS AROUND THE WORLD ARE READING THEIR REPORT AND TO THEM ITS MEANS A LOT
    OBVIOUSLY THIS GOVERNMENT WILL RUBBISH IT
    BECAUSE TO THEM A SPAPE IS NOT A SPADE BUT A CROWN JEWEL

  29. @Dominion, you can’t reason with 1d10ts, most of them are sponsored bloggers from the same organisations who try to spread lies for their own selfish agendas. How do they claim to even be Zambian with their relentless attacks on the nation. They will never break us, the more they do this, the more they ignite the fire in our belly to fight them.

    2
    1
  30. YOU IGNITE THE FIRE IN YOUR BELLYS FUTUREZED
    SEE WHERE THAT GETS YOU ALL …
    YOU NAME WILL CHANGE TO NOFUTUREZED

  31. #30  FutureZed 
    June 29, 2021 At 11:13 am

    “@SPAKA, “Ghana” really? the country that said “No to IMF borrowing” actually you are right, Ghana rejected any influence from these organisations and publicly humiliated the french president by rejecting their strings attached aide. I stand to correct you, Zambia does not need the IMF, the IMF need Zambia……..”

    Pleas, you are in the UK , I assume you have Internet access…….

    Just Google ” Ghana and the IMF ”

    Just the other day the Zambian finance minster was chasing for the IMF to bail out Zambia……..why would the IMF need Zambia ???

    Hehehehe……..PF supporters are indeed as du.ll as lungu.
    In this age of information overload at our fingertips , they think Zambians are still in the dark……

    1
    2
  32. No stup!d KZ, your horrible thieving president was not there himself, but his GUILTY POLICE OFFICERS were there, they fired the shots in impunity, protected by CORRUPT PF government officials. But Zambians have got a loooong memory and on August 13 the prison cells will get filled, starting with Edgar China Lungu and YOU!

    1
    1
  33. Ignorance is what is killing Zambia……..

    Just like inthe abundance of water , the foo.ls are thirsty, in the abundance of information the PF fo.ols remain ignorant…

    Just like their leaders in PF , looks like PF supporters are totally ignorant of global affairs. All they think of imaginary colonialists wanting Zambias minerals…..

    Who in the world thinks the IMF need Zambia more than the Zambian government needs the IMF ?????
    Only a PF and their supporters

    Shocking.

  34. It’s important for Given Zayelo Lubinda as a person so close to the Presidency not to speak in the manner that he has. Most of what Amnesty International has raised in its report indeed happened. The Police and the PF never allowed any form of gathering, you risked being attacked by cadres or arrested. There are several murders that haven’t been concluded like that of Simuwelu, Menyani Zimba, Ruth Mbandu, Vespers Simuzhila, etc. What happened to those that were picked as suspects in the gassing project? How many times was Harry Kalaba arrested for trying to mobilize his Party? Zambia isn’t your motherland alone, it’s for all of us. So take it easy and reflect, don’t be blinded by power. Please address the issues raised

    4
    2
  35. @SPAKA, ngati ndiwe mu Zambian when last were you in Zambia? I’m a proud supporter of UNIP and Zambia is my pride and joy. I’m critical to wrong doing whether UNIP, PF, MMD, UPND na fyashala. So niuze, usapota ndani? who is your sponsor because you appear to be a very bitter person to one individual who happens to be the president. Lungu ankuchita chani? Anakulasila gelo? I don’t agree with some of the things the president has done but boy, this Spaka and fellow vuvuzela tikki would burn down the whole country with their hatred.

    3
    1
  36. Under your watch there have been extra-judicial killings, unlawful arrests (Police have been used to arrest people for undefined charges with detentions going beyond the stipulated legal time) and clear muzzling or bans of the private media. So what’s the ‘rubbishing?) Typical of this regime to deny everything adverse that it actually does.

  37. There are more killings in South Africa, DRC, Myanmar, etc – when did AI call the them failed states? This nonsense of publishing sponsored articles by some irrelevant NGOs is a recipe for problems. Yes, we have problems, but in no way is Zambia a failed state.

  38. #43  FutureZed 
    June 29, 2021 At 1:34 pm

    “@SPAKA, ngati ndiwe mu Zambian when last were you in Zambia? I’m a proud supporter of UNIP and Zambia is my pride and joy. I’m critical to wrong doing whether UNIP, PF, MMD, UPND na fyashala. So niuze, usapota ndani? who is your sponsor because you appear to be a very bitter person to one individual who happens to be the president. Lungu ankuchita chani?……”

    Do you know why I hate lungu ???

    Lungu will be found to be the most corrupt president ever in zambia. Today PF cader thugs over rule the police and hold the zambian public to ransom in markets and other public spaces. Lungu has watched while while his senior ministers and party officials have sawn tribal hatred.

    I have never seen Zambians being lynched and burned alive in our…

  39. #43  FutureZed 
    June 29, 2021 At 1:34 pm

    “@SPAKA, ngati ndiwe mu Zambian when last were you in Zambia? I’m a proud supporter of UNIP and Zambia is my pride and joy. I’m critical to wrong doing whether UNIP, PF, MMD, UPND na fyashala. So niuze, usapota ndani? who is your sponsor because you appear to be a very bitter person to one individual who happens to be the president. Lungu ankuchita chani?……”

    Do you know why I hate lungu ???

    I have never seen Zambians being lynched and burned alive in our streets and towns like culled diseased animals by fellow Zambians during the gassing of our people under lingu……..and you ask me aku Chita chani lungu ?

  40. More than 50 innocent people were burned alive by fellow Zambians for 2 whole weeks while lungu watched hoping for HH to get the blame…….

    Only when forigne ambassadors called lungu fora meeting did he act to put a stop to the slaughter of innocent people…….

    And someone has the audacity to ask why people hate lungu ????

  41. More than 50 innocent civilians were lynched and burned to deaths by irrate mobs , including someone I know……a mentally challenged boy.

    Deaths of innocents all in vain….

    Has lungu even bothered to address the nation or update the nation on this very darkest of spots in our history ???

    Never , like nothing happened.

  42. Lubinda has forgotten the way he was slapped in the face by PF cadres in Kabwata. KKKKKK Zambia is a failed state indeed.At a christian nation my foot,when its a jungle full with blood thirst primates roaming around with Pangas.

  43. @Spaka, you are not Zambian. Reveal yourself man, what do you want from us? I recall you had the same hate for RB and the MMD. Ndiwe ndani? You chat sh1t. Stop googling Zambia and pretend to be intelligent atase.

  44. GIVEN LEE IS NOT SINCERE; THAT IS WHY HE SUPPORTED BILL 10 VEHEMENTLY AND HE HAS FOLLOWED IT IN ITS COFFIN LIKE A DULL HOUSE FLY THAT FOLLOWS THE CORPSE TO ITS GRAVE. HE IS SO MOROSE THAT WHO EVER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT PUBLIC ORDER BILL, POLICE REFORM, OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM, HIS ONLY RESPONSE IS: “ALL THAT WAS IN BILL 10 WHICH UPND SHORT DOWN”. DOES IT MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE LEGAL REFORMS ANYMORE JUST BECAUSE BILL 10 IS DEAD AND BURIED? AMNESTY SEEMS CORRECT: ATTACKS ON A RADIO STATION IN MPIKA, ATTACKS ON ANOTHER RADIO STATION IN EASTERN PROVINCE BY A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER BECAUSE IT HOSTED UPND; KILLING OF NSAMA CHIPYOKA AND JOSEPH KAUNDA BY STATE POLICE; THE BEATING OF ‘COMMANDER’ INNOCENT KALIMANSHI BY PF CADRES; STATEMENTS BY KAMBA URGING CADRES TO ATTACK THE…

  45. Futurezed don’t take ka spaka seriously. We know who he is via his IP address. He is a useless small boy.

    1
    1
  46. @KZ don’t worry I want to undress this tw@rt. I can’t stand people who side with foreigners to degrade their own country. I don’t agree with KZ at best of times but when it comes to attacking Zambia, I will fight with him.

    1
    2
  47. The Amnesty International Report makes a sad reading. The loss of life during ECL’s Rule is alarming. What is more worrying is what the Brutal ECL will do in future. The PF controlled ZPS and the PF Cadres and Thugs will make our lives miserable beyond August 12. Zambians should realise that the Violent ECL Regime with its unruly and armed PF thugs will kill more People in future should Brutal ECL retain Power after August 12. It will be suicidal for Zambians to have ECL in Power beyond August 12. ECL and his Panga Family thugs will finish us all. Its crucial that ECL and PF are voted out on August 12. Its very important that measures be put in place to protect the vote. Unlike 2016 when PF rigged the Election with impunity this year UPND Alliance Youths and Voters have put in…

  48. Ati we know who he is ?

    You only know how to steal you useless sewer rats ……

    RB is my blulu FYI ……

    And you ka future zed if your are licking lungus butt , do it your self…

  49. Even after being beaten really you can say that? Which other country do you have a sitting minister being beaten? Then wait until you are on the other side

  50. Learn journalism. Dont editorialise. Just report. We dont want your opinions Ati: a notorious NGO with a propensity of doing damning reports of Africa
    We willmake up our own minds if it is notorius notyou LT

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading