Minister of Local Government, Gary Nkombo has received widespread condemnation for forcing a woman and her children to the illicit local brew called Kachasu.
This follows the widely circulated video in which the Minister forced children to drink a locally brewed beer commonly known as Kachasu, as punishment on their mother for engaging in illegal brewing of the local beer.
Mr Nkombo yesterday raided the townships and destroyed litres of Kachusu that were being brewed at the time and alleged that the drink was responsible for destroying many lives.
Leading the condemnation was now Human rights Laura Miti who said that forcing a mother and her children to drink the Kachasu she brews made her heart weep.
Ms Miti acknowledged that the country has a frightening crisis of alcohol and drug abuse in the townships, and it is one that is consuming youth and women, especially and badly it needs emergency attention, and added that that attention, however, is not raids and abuse of brewers.
Mr Miti told the Minister that the substance abuse in Zambia’s communities is a symptom of the deep poverty, high unemployment and attendant hunger in the country, just as the numbers of vendors on our streets are.
“The answer is not to abuse a poor woman on camera. Humiliate her in a way you would never do to the children of the rich, who gather every weekend in fancy homes in leafy suburbs to drown their privilege, in underage binge drinking of expensive liquor and abuse of drugs,” she wrote.
Ms Miti said that the only reason that the woman was bullied and humiliated by the Minister is that she is poor and faceless and that, in this Zambia, that means she is not a full human being.
Ms Miti urged the Minister to invite these communities to discuss the crisis consuming them.
“Gather women, youth, civil society actors, church leaders, some Kachasu brewers in a community hall to come up with structural answers. Small changes like refusal to sell the brew to the 10-year olds we see totally plastered.
“If you do not know how to talk to communities, other than through a campaign microphone, invite civil society. We will facilitate it for you. You will be amazed at what you will achieve.
“Believe me, the poor can think. They can address their problems, given the respect and space, ” she concluded
Joining the condemnation is the group calling itself Advocacy for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) which has called on Local Government Minister, Garry Nkombo to resign on moral grounds.
ANDD executive director, Samuel Banda is shocked and disheartened that Mr Nkombo can go to such lengths to mistreat the mother and her children in such an inhumane manner.
He has since called on President Hakainde Hichilema to take action against the Minister with immediate effect if he will not resign on his own on moral grounds.
“Yes that could be an illegal business of brewing the illicit beer, but such treatment and embarrassment to the family are uncalled for and unwarranted” Mr Banda has observed.
He said that the government’s role is to empower citizens and not incapacitate them as was observed yesterday adding that a sober approach while looking for solutions is what the Minister should have done.
He has condemned the behaviour, with a call from all stakeholders such as the church, civil society organisations and all well-meaning citizens to equally call for justice on the matter.
“This is not about politics, but about moral obligation especially on sensitive matters that border on the welfare of the poor. Let us be sober-minded and condemn a wrong when it occurs” Mr Banda has said.
Yes Nkombo went too far…………
Nkombo you need to apologise to the community for your actions………
That was wrong…….
Nkombo , you are now acting like Bowman lusambo………
You are wasting your time,President HH will deny that such an incident never occurred and his Minister is within his new dawn government code of conduct
TERRIBLE SHOCKING MAKING HER CHILDREN DRINK THE BREW
THATS WHAT POWER DOES TO THE UNEDUCATED
HE MUST MAKE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ALL ZAMBIANS
LEAST NOT FORGET THE SINOMA ISSUE STILL NO ANSWERS
MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS SHOULD PURSUE THIS TO ITS FINAL CONCLUSION
REMEMBER FREE SPEECH !!
Did I just see the Minister force underage looking children to imbibe that portent brew? The same one he says destroys people?
Is this the best solution to the problem that the Minister could come up with?
Lord have mercy on mother Zambia.
Power is getting in their head.
He won’t resign and HH will not ask him to resign. This is a govt of hypocrites who are still bathing in people’s praises. They see nothing wrong with abusing people. If this was done by PF, Laura would have been the first to call for the Minister to resign or be fired. Now that she is eating with them, she can only make general statements.
And HH will hold a press conference and deny that it never happened…watoloka imisu wanyanta pamafi….Zambia this is the change you wanted…..Nkombo should be charged with assault…..he assaulted that poor family
This is why I got this f00l garry beaten at a filing station in mazabuka. Then people thought I was wrong but I hope they now understand how childish and f00Iish this boy is. He thinks he is making videos with his silly daughter. This is real life. Have some respect you condensating f00I
On such article you won’t see any comments from that frustrated tonga f00I tarino. Oh wait now he is going to come put up some superficial comments criticising garry.
These are the some people who put you in offices occupy, you knell down when looking for votes today they are no body to you shame on you politicians
Ba mambala ma loyas were are you light now? This is a laipu case for star ting a plo bono case, sure the minster of row call government and Antony General.
Possibly cases can bee
1. Criminal coercion
2. Four sea a miner to dlink alcohol
3. Finshi fimbi?
PF AT LARGE AGAIN
NOTHING CONSTRCTIVE NOTHING NEW NOTHING HELPFUL
JUST CONDEMNATION >>> IT UNIP A WHILE TO GO INTO THE WILDERNESS
LETS HOPE PF WILL BE QUICKER
thus terrible Mr. minister we didn’t you to act like that we have alot of respect from its not human sir
Human Rights where are you? This is abuse of minors. Garry Nkombo must be reported to Kajoba.
I’m surprised at all. Unlike some of you who did put hope in New Dawn govt. Doesn’t Garry know that there’s difference between VODKA, Whiskey and Kachasu except in packaging? Legalize the business and Zambia will cease to import the spirits and on FOREX. Aikona man that was uncalled for and warrants your dismissal from govt though have doubts if your boss can lose a single sleep over your act.
These are true intentions and colors of the UPND.
Garry will not apologize and he will not be fired.
Why fire him, he is doing a great job teaching underage to drink kachasu.
And yes Garry as Minister and HH are above the law and can do anything.
Well done Garry and HH. This is a working government. Continue teaching Zambians lessons
I live in the USA and my mother never sold Kachasu so she can provide for me…i have plenty friends who’s mothers sold Kachasu and I live with them here in the USA….what nkombo did was barbaric and i don’t know why he is still in office …..that was assault of the worst kind…..he should be arrested and sentenced to jail….he is sick in the head
My advice and request is to H.E. HH ; Please dismiss the idio.t
If HH fails to take disciplinary action against Garry NkOmbo, we will ensure it is done after 2026 elections.
Am pro poor and every time I see someone mistreat poor people it breaks my heart….Nkombo should be fired…..nothing to debate about and that poor family should press charges and sue the government
Saulosi we warned these same poor people who were screaming we want change.
My mother brewed alcohol to send me to school. Look what I have achieved. Garry is a f00I.
#28 Saulosi.. someone has got a lunatic within his house elyo alaita abana babene ati lunatic.
Very shocking behaviour, totally wrong, abude of power, humiliating poor lady and ababusing her kids in public like that. Quite ttraumatising and out of this world.
IM SURE SOMEONES MOTHER DISOWNED THEM AT BIRTH JUDGING BY THE COMMENTS
I now believe what Sean Tembo said about Garry Nkombo, that he lacks empathy, which is necessary in a leader.
He is barbaric and cut from the same cloth as William Tekere Banda. Their mindset is to inflict maximum pain on another human being.
And by the way, doesn’t he have anything better to do as a minister than roaming compounds with council police looking for kachasu brewers?
This guy called Garry Nkombo his not helping poor zambia’s has a minister should do, he only think for himself and otheir rich people around him only, so that the can make more money in their pockets not those with small illegal business. If it come’s to compare a minister of local and a simple village headman. A headman can run the government,because his able to understand the poor mindset what they really want compare to Garry Nkombo has a local government /a rich man.
I am sure Garry regrets his actions. He has to be level headed. His Ministry is huge. He has a lot of work. He should consider forming cooperatives in these compounds and improve the quality of kachasu to a controlled brew like Malawi Gin and Uganda Waragi did.
The upnd chaps are heartless…I feel for the mother and daughter and very soon they will increase the cost of fuel…. Clueless
I LIKE THE WORD CLUELESS
ESPECIALLY APPLIES TO MOST BLOGS ON HERE
That is not the way you resolve issues? Nkomba knows the reason why these women are enganged in that business. Does he want them to do prostitution????
THE PRESIDENT CALLED HIM ON PHONE ,HE EXPLAINED WHAT REALY TRANSPERED THAT DAY,HE SAID IT WASNT HIS INTESION BUT ONLY WANTED TO SEE HOW PEOLPLE WILL REACT TO IT A ND THE PRESIDENT IS HAPPY WITH IT.
@ 23 Kaizar Zulu
God bless your mother….that was pure mother’s love….whiskey and brandy is the same thing all killers…just because Kachasu is fermented by our poor families then you label it a killer….why not go after Duncan Gilbey and Matheson…….if Nkombo won’t be fired then the Zambian voters should get rid of the entire UPND in 2026….
and thats why they walk arround with security because they’re cowards…..otherwise if i find Garry on street i will whip his assssss
I will be very brief. Do you know that the so called poor are killing people? Go to Chainama and see the results of your poor. This country is dying slowly and only a few can see it. Lawlessness is unacceptable anywhere. Must we allow people to become robbers because they are poor? Think again
All comments in this matter appear to support illegality in Zambia.This explains how the immediate past regime helped the poor become more poorer to such extents of exposing society illicitly activities like the one that has attracted attention with very negative outbursts that does not address the rehabilitation of minds of the poor brewers whose status hss been contributed by the former administration that cared less for TT heir citizens for the last 10yrs.Yes we can’t cherish certain reactions,but let us not be offshore in our arguments.The past regime exposed citizens to harsh conditions ,poverty,unemployment creation,etcetra.To them that was merit.What I have observed is just politics,and this kind of arguments won’t take this country anywhere, because we have today the educated…
Now I know why his elections competitor for Mazabuka Central Seat Hon Edify Hamukale told him off on when Nkombo was tearing off campaign material for Hamukale. He told him that Mazabuka central is not a peroneal to holder asset and ended by saying FACKO COME FORM ME IF YOU A MAN ENOUGH
wATCH IT HERE HAMUKALE TELLING OFF NKOMBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ujOSClEzNo
There is no difference between what Mr. Minister and the NOTORIOUS TOKOTA BOYS of the Copperbelt did to
one of their victim by subjecting him to eat his own waste not many years ago. I believe the same legal punishment given
to TOKOTA BOYS should apply to the Minister. Over to you Mr. IG.
We will wait and see