The government does not own MV Gauja, the cargo ship that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea on suspicion that it was carrying illegal arms, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation (IR&C), Ambassador Chalwe Lombe has said.
And Ambassador Lombe says Government does not own MV Antalya general cargo ship and has never registered the vessel. Ambassador Lombe said Government has never at any time issued any registration of the general cargo vessel, MV Gauja.
“The Government is yet to set up an International Ship Registry. Further, the Government is not undertaking any operation in the Mediterranean Sea,” Ambassador Lombe said.
He said as a consequence, Government had communicated to the International Maritime Organisation to inform the body responsible for all maritime matters, of this position.
The Permanent Secretary was responding to a press query on allegations suggesting that a vessel registered in Zambia and bearing the Zambian Flag was intercepted by the European Union Naval Force on suspicion of carrying illegal arms.
Ambassador Lombe also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in receipt of communication from the European Union Naval Force dated May 10, 2021 regarding the vessel MV Gauja that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea.
He said the matter was being addressed through the relevant diplomatic channels.
“The Government of the Republic of Zambia remains unequivocally committed to safeguarding the interests of the country and its people, and reiterates its unwavering commitment to the principles that underpin its Foreign Policy in furtherance of cordial relations with other countries,” Ambassador Lombe said.
Meanwhile, Government says it is in receipt of communication from the European Union Naval Force dated June 21, 2021 regarding the vessel MV Antalya that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ambassador Lombe clarified that Government does not own MV Antalya general cargo ship and has not issued any such registration.
“The Government of the Republic of Zambia has not yet set up an International Open Ship Registry and does not issue registration for international vessels,” he said.
Ambassador Lombe reiterated that Government is not undertaking any operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
“In view of these developments where organisations are illegally using the Zambian Flag and the Zambian Ship Registry, the Government of the Republic of Zambia has continued to engage the International Maritime Organisation, the body responsible for all maritime matters, and the European Union Naval Force to ensure that the matter is resolved urgently and conclusively,” Ambassador Lombe said.
He said it was unfortunate that a private tabloid published two articles regarding this matter without seeking an official Government position.
Why Zambia of all countries in the world? Do the Russians know that everything is negotiable in Zambia?
I really wouldn’t be surprised if Edgar China Lungu – who is doing absolutely everything to get his greedy hands on whatever money is around to pay those godforsaken criminal cadres – has got a secret shipping register! Five minutes work to falsify a ship license, a Zambian flag, a phoney bank account and Bob’s your uncle!
Opposition party chaps in the diaspora are working very hard!
What was a Zambian flag doing on that ship when it was intercepted.
Let me guess the Russian captain played Russian roulette which country’s fish to be put.
Something does not add up. Convict lungu and his so-called mercenary mate up to something
Yes, opposition party chaps in the diaspora are working so hard that they hoisted the Zambian flag on 2 Russian ships carrying suspected illegal shipments of weapons to Libya. This is all intended to bring the name of the country into disrepute.
EU knows it has to be a country on sanctions. A Tanzanian flag was once used.
If you remember the government didn’t know the owner of the townhouse built in Lusaka, how can the know who owns this ship?
I am too tired to write a detailed comment. I have been busy working on the ground strategizing since 5am. I am now opening a bottle of 40 year old whiskey. Cheers
This is a serious offence against our republic. Those names are not even Zambian: Gauja, Antalya – they sound Türkish. Whoever is going around abusing our national flag in a perfidious plot to implicate our peaceful country must be found and punished accordingly.
Abane Kaizer Sulu ati opening a bottle of 40 year old whiskey, Vina Bwela Mo Chedwa baba. Collect as much as you can from State House you have got two to go.
Watch “Vina Bwela Mo Chedwa Paul Ngozi Zambian Music” on YouTube
This is not a diplomatic case. This is a criminal case.
Chief Denier!!!
I think the remedy for crimes of these nature is to force people, countries, organizations, crime syndicates, crooks, extra, forfeit the ship/vessel to the country whose flag is been abused. That country can then decide what to do with it (sell it, scrap it, or run it.) And watch how this sort of nonsense is going to disappear. The IMO should get on it and come up with such a rule a.s.a.p!
This Zambian leadership l can’t deny it, these no smoke without fire.
As usual the standard procedure with these thieves is to denial everything.. this boy is nothing but a pen pusher he wouldnt know anything …do you expect them to say otherwise just Google the name of that ship, it clearly states that; ANTALYA (IMO: 7615232) is a General Cargo that was built in 1979 (42 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Zambia.
It’s carrying capacity is 5390 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 6 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 100 meters and her width is 15.2 meters. I wouldnt be surprised if there is a connection to Alexander Zingman, a businessman and alleged arms dealer with close links to Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko. Lazy Lungu’s arms dealer friend to the frequent flights of the Presidential Jets to Ankara. Just look at Joseph…
As usual the standard procedure with these thieves is to denial everything…do you expect them to say otherwise just Google the name of that ship, it clearly states that; ANTALYA (IMO: 7615232) is a General Cargo that was built in 1979 (42 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Zambia.
It’s carrying capacity is 5390 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 6 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 100 meters and her width is 15.2 meters. I wouldnt be surprised if there is a connection to Alexander Zingman, a businessman and alleged arms dealer with close links to Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko. Lazy Lungu’s arms dealer friend to the frequent flights of the Presidential Jets to Ankara. Just look at Joseph Malanji’s sudden riches …procuring helicopters,
My comment is awaiting moderation
Just Google the name of that ship …its didnt start last night sailing under Zambian flag and the name Antalya is from the Turkish town…an investigative journalist can have a field day with all this information.
My comment is awaiting moderation X 2
The ship had a Zambian flag and the businessman owner was once photographed with Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Just a piece of information for your ‘digestion’.
Tarino change your ways if you don’t want my partners at LT to moderate you. You don’t listen
Obviously dirty players around the world love the company/association with corrupt gov’ts like Lungu’s GRZ .
This scandal is worst scams PF got involved. This will be the toughest task for HH to clean up.
We all know the theiving id1ot who is in power, can do anything for a buck, if the theiving moron can steal from a widow, this is not beyond his thieving ways….
THE SEWERAGE IS OVERFLOWING AGAIN SORRY BLOGGERS ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT
THEN WE CAN SAY GOOD BYE TO THE TR000LL
IN A WAY I FEEL A BIT SAD AS HE WILL BE UNEMPLOYABLE FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS
JUST SH U U T T UP
WORLD NEWS STATED THE VESSEL WAS “BELIEVED TO BE” !! CARRYING A ZAMBIAN FLAG
LET THE NAVAL AUTHORITIES DO THEIR JOB AND ISSUE A FINAL REPORT
Kaizar Nyirenda Zulu will be unemployable forever. PF is finished. People like kaizar have destroyed their leader because of bad advice.
No wonder they ordered fimandamanda. Fili uko tuleya. Kaizar pray that you were not involved.
Yambayamba @13, that’s good thinking. I like good thinking.
Drinking expired alcohol is not healthy. KZ, thats why you are always having stomach aches and diarrhoea……kikiki
Upnd cadre you must be backward. I thought that as a diasporan you would know that whisky gains value with age. You must have moved directly from shangombo to diaspora.
tikki – You honestly think the UK based troll will care if Lazy Lungu loses..it will just reinvent itself like it has done over the years it has no affiliation whatsoever to the ruling Party.
The dots are becoming clear the Diggers Investigation revealed that the Rwandese National called Nsengiyumva Appolinaire, who was named by self-proclaimed Major Nsabimana Callixte Sankara a Rwandan rebel leader currently undergoing trial said in a court testimony as his link to Zambian President Edgar Lungu is actually a member of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) procurement committee in Zambia.
Appolinaire has told the Zambian newspaper News Diggers that he has heard about the allegations levelled against him, but declined to explain his links to the rebel movement in Rwanda and his association with President Lungu, saying he was not in a position to talk about the issue because he had been unwell for the past seven months.
President Lungu has vehemently refuted media…
There is no need to deny either. No one will ever believe the fake news.
The criminals are known to use the ships for their plans. They are least bothered if it is registered in Zambia, Tanzania or even on Mars. So this argument is completely baseless that since the ship was registered in Zambia, government has to do anything with it. This is like accusing a house owner, if a stray dog in his area attacks a passerby.
@Bwafya you are setting new standards for being mindless. With this logic of yours, there should be no problem to consider that Hakainde Hichilema is friends with CIA agents and militants, because he too has been photographed with them.
I have noticed that some who frequently comment on the news in LT, are highly dubious. Their names and the DP they use need to be probed. I hope government takes this seriously.
@Nostradamus Don’t fly that high. Be careful, it will be highly painful landing on August 12.
There is no concrete information that the ship had Zambian flag. Can anyone share photo/video of the ship with Zambian flag? This is classical example of peddling fake narrative and get your buffoons to spread it further.
This story has many loopholes. I am sure, it will fall flat when even the superficial layers are removed. So, it is too early to jump the gun.
There is nothing new in this. It can happen with any country. The smuggles have flags of all the countries with them, used to hide the identity and mislead the authorities.
@Ray Yes, you are absolutely right. Now let’s see who has lit the fire and why! I am sure it has a close connection with Russian mafia being hand in glove with HH’s CIA handlers. They must have planted the Zambian flag on a Turkish ship to defame the PF government.
@Tarino Orange You seem to have all the time in the world to type this jargon. Why don’t you put it to constructive use? It will help you a lot in life.
Yambayamba – You think Ship owners or ship captains simply pick up any flag in their closet and sail with it like that Nicolas Cage movie; Lord of War ..really laughable….why should they choose Zambia of all countries? This ship is registered in Romania and has Turkish owners by the name, its not hard to connect the dots …Presidential Jets has been flying to Ankara frequently especially the Bombardier Challenger 604 callsign 9J-ONE.
Kaizer Sulu it seems you don’t get it. Drinking a bottle of 40 year old whiskey, even school boys wouldn’t sink so low. They would rather be boosting about coming up with better lab technics to speed up testing of covid-19.
Let’s hope you are not busy living graffiti on State House toilet walls “Kaizer Sulu was here 2015 to 2021”
The blogger from RSA who posts under dozens of aliases consecutively is telling me I have too much time…really laughable
Mukwasu – it is much closer to you in UK than anywhere near Zambian border
Paul kaseka that f00I tarino is unemployed and lives off the UK government. He has all time in world