Dr. Henry Kanyanta Sosala
PART II
The Amos Chanda Saga
One of the world’s greatest evangelists, Billy Graham once said, ‘’Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone.’’ And this has been true in the life of Amos Chanda. In the first place when he was a star at State House, he operated a sort of night club which used to be packed to capacity by people who thought Chanda could pass some words to the President on their behalf. But, alas, as soon as he suddenly lost the post, nobody went there and it was closed.
Second, when PF lost power and in what he thought was a ‘’clever tactical move’’ to find favour within UPND, he ditched the PF. It is in our human nature and we all need sympathy when we face certain situations. And after Amos was arrested, cited for serious criminal charges and remanded in the cruel world of prison, he desperately needed sympathy. And the only remaining institution according to him that could offer blind unreserved sympathy on tribal lines was his tribal lineage i.e., the Bemba Royal Establishment.
Amos Chanda then wrote the following article which his sympathizing fellow press men published in the Watchdog: ‘’The Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE) is disturbed that Amos Chanda, the former State House press aide has been kept in unlawful dentation for almost a week without being taken to court when the offence he is charged is bailable.
On Sunday night Senior Chief Mwamba sent a message through his representative who visited Mr Chanda at Kabwata Police station where the former State House press aide had been detained since Thursday last week.
Senior Chief Mwamba said he was an emissary of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, of the Bemba people. Senior Chief Mwamba said the Mwine Lubemba was particularly concerned that Mr Chanda was allegedly being persecuted over an offence that was bailable and over a court matter that the Royal Establishment understood closed in 2020.
The Bemba chiefs are concerned that the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the other law enforcement agencies had targeted Mr Chanda for harassment in a bid to get to the former President Edgar Lungu who he served as special advisor for press.’’
But unfortunately his desperation led him to make the Bemba chiefs over-sympathize far beyond their capacity. For sure we chiefs know nothing about bailable cases since we do not deal with those situations in our traditional courts and not even in the nearby local courts. On the other hand, the chiefs in their lines of duty only know the people that they daily see and interact with such as the C.C.P.A., the local court messengers, the police, the soldiers, prison warders and the district messengers who accompany Provincial Ministers, Permanent Secretaries or District Commissioners when they visit their palaces. But we definitely know nothing about the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and we therefore cannot issue any statement regarding any situation since we do not know what they do.
But what had really motivated Amos to apply the ‘’cunning tactical maneuver’’ to manipulate and involve what he supposed to be the ‘’institution of ignoramuses’’ to his advantage? I believe Robert Sternberg, ‘’a stupid expert’’ can help us understand Amos Chanda’s motives in this scenario: ‘’…….this is not actually stupidity in the classical sense, which is usually thought as of a very low IQ. This kind of foolishness must be distinguished from the ‘’mental retardation.’’ And this kind of idiocy has been identified with inferiority complex arising mostly from highly questionable family background. This kind of stupidity comes with displaced ambition; such stupid persons believe that because they are so smart; the world does and should revolve around them. They are gripped by the omniscience fallacy. They are convinced that they know more than everyone else and can influence public opinion to their advantage and that others are just big idiots whom they can easily manipulate.’’
And incidentally who is Amos Chanda and what is so special about him that could cause the BRE such furore inspite of him being arrested and detained on alleged criminal charges! I have known Amos Chanda as a Bemba from Chinsali in Muchinga Province and I know one of his closest relative and is not in any way connected to the Bemba royal family by marriage, sweat or any other way.
The old institution of chieftaincy also like courts of law draws a lot from past precedents. For example, the Bemba Royal Establishment was silent on such a Bemba political hero like Mr. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe who resigned as Zambian Republican Vice-President ‘’because the people from the northern part of Zambia, the Bemba-speaking people if you like, have suffered physically and sometimes been beaten. They have suffered demotions and suspensions because of my being Vice-President. I cannot sacrifice any longer these people……’’ He was later detained, not on criminal charges, but when his political party the phoenix-like United Progressive Party (UPP) was banned.
On the other hand, the Bemba Royal Establishment is currently silent on Mr. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba. He resigned as Defence Minister when I was being harassed by President Sata. And the President asked him to choose between his highly remunerative and prestigious job and myself. And here are his words: ‘’ ‘’ …it’s important for Zambians to know that I hail from the Bemba royal family and it is therefore unacceptable for President Sata to stop me from visiting my grandfather. There is no way I am going to forsake my own blood for the sake of politics. So for me as GBM, I am sorry. I am a very principled person and I resign from government.’’
Mr. Mwamba had risked his own life besides his businesses by standing on the principle of being loyal not only to me personally but to the Bemba people and tribe. And him being a member of the Bemba royal family he failed to betray his tribe for the sake of money and position.
If the Bemba Royal Establishment could be silent on such heroes who gave up great privileges for the sake of our tribe, how on earth could we be so concerned about such an unknown and insignificant individual as Amos Chanda.
And here is what Amos chanda himself later wrote after being released from custody: ‘’Good afternoon. I have been granted bail by the court. My only word for now is that I am thankful for the professionalism of the court which rejected DEC’s absurd opposition for bail on grounds that if released I would repeat the same offence. How can I repeat an offence that I have ever committed in the first place.
‘’The vitriol malice and personal hatred is extraordinary. But I will confront all this during my defence once trial begins on November 23. Magistrate Washimanga directed that there was no legal basis to deny me bail for an offence that is bailable and ordered bail for K10,000 in the recognizance of the two working sureties. I also wish to thank the Bemba Royal Establishment which sent His Royal Highness Senior Mwamba to come and give moral support during my unlawful detention for six days in a crowded cell at Kabwata Police Station.
‘’I have since met Senior Chief Mwamba here in Lusaka and spoken to the Mwinelubemba, Paramout Chief Chutimululi of the Bemba people to assure him that I was well and ready to defend myself against the absurd charges from the DEC’’
On the other hand, Senior Chief Mwamba confirmed that Amos Chanda went to see him at the hotel and apologized for all the misinformation that had taken place while he was in custody. The chief, however, told me that he does not know even where Kabwata police station was and he added that if ever he was taken there could any police man identify him as having ever visited Amos Chanda ? But deducing from his press statement, Amos merely twisted his visit Senior Chief Mwamba to reaffirm the statement that he had posted on the Watchdog
But on my part, I believe Amos Chanda has become a pathological liar since to the best of my knowledge I have never spoken to him for the whole of this year and for him to claim he spoke to me means that his incarceration is having a negative impact on his brains most probably leading to dementia.
Epilogue
And in closing, being the most senior member of the Bemba Royal Establishment, I must declare that I myself and all Bemba Chiefs are committed to work with the current UPND government and President Hakainde Hichilema, just as we cooperated and worked with the Patriotic front government and President Lungu. And I furthermore wish also to recognize and appreciate the fact that we are represented in government by our sisters and brothers from the three Bemba-speaking provinces i.e., Luapula, Northern and Muchinga and we have been honoured to have the Republican Vice-President who hails from this region.
Amos chanda was a very detrimental slimy character at state House………..
All the DCs who were blocking the opposition free movement most likely got instructions from Amos chanda………
I don’t wish to add to what I said when Amos made those claims
DISOWNED, INSULTED AND DISLODGED
Chanda is suffering from dementia by stating that he talked to Chitimukulu.
Kapwepwe is a political hero and Chanda is a nobody, though they both come from Chinsali with no BRE connections. If Sosala and his nephew GBM received their harassment share from Sata, what more a non entity like Chanda? Please get your share of the UPND dog bites and let the Lubemba be loyal to the Zambian government.
Epilogue & National Anthem.
Amos Chanda,what is your flight plan?
Weshau nalisham,
konse uko kalolo,
Kaya nalio
Weshau nalisham,
konse uko kalolo,
Kaya nalio,
wesham talishala.
What do you expect under hh and upnd who hate bembas. Very tribal bunch of criminals
No one hates anybody. If you must know. It is the Bembas (if they exist) themselves who hate themselves so much that they would like to live in falsehood world that anything good is bemba and anything bad mwinafyalo.
We are all human beings as such we all make mistakes in this would.
No one is an angel in human form.
We all must come to terms and run this country as normal human beings and respect our own laws and order.
Twilaba abamwendafwe iyo.
Nasosa.
Firstly the article is abiquase and centers on tribal and an insult to the BRE, i quickly ask the BRE to go through this article and surmon the author of this article very urgently so that he is pinalised.Amos is a zambian and we have hardcal criminals who are runing up and down free,IG were are you do the needful we trust you for your job since you are good at arresting do something we are waiting.kkkkkkkk
Why should Amos Chanda alone receive special treatment from the BRE as if he’s the only subject of the Chitimukulu who’s facing criminal justice issues? It’s Chanda himself who has the illusion of having a special status.
The chief Tribalists have spoken. Michael must be laughing at us from heaven. Thinking “why didnt they keep him under house arrest? why not stick to my plan?” BRE can assign this issue to some else, not letting the King be the responder to anything and anyone. BRE do not have a Kapaso??? kikiki
Total nonsense of an article, one fact Bemba is not the most important language, all the 72 are equal not this tribal nonsense keep that shxxt that side in Kasama not kuno
Ba ntambalukuta ba chitimukulu please look for a writer who can present your arguments with clarity. I fail to grasp the gist of your article when I read some of the paragraphs. The assertions that your chiefs don’t know state institutions such as the DEC are I guess not what you want to say. Chiefs being human custodians can’t only know the C.C.P.A., the local court messengers, the police, the soldiers, prison warders and the district messengers. They should make efforts to know as many of their subjects as possible. I don’t support arrogant Amos Chanda but it’s not good leadership to rate him as a subordinate citizen to GBM and Kapwepwe. Aren’t they all Bembas? This is the 21st century.
Upvoted this contribution but it no register
The Chiefs, in their capacity as as traditional leaders, must NOT involve themselves in politics, but rather they are expected to embrace all their subjects – including the mentally disturbed persons. This particular traditional leader has opted to venture into politics and has proved to be very sarcastic to some members of his tribe, and has little of no respect to other seemingly junior Chiefs. In Zambia, the Chiefs who have earned their respect and who not meddle into political arenas are: (1) the Litunga of the Lozi people and *2) the Paramount Chief Gawa Undi of the Chewa people.
e Chiefs, in their capacity as as traditional leaders, must NOT involve themselves in politics, but rather they are expected to embrace all their subjects – including the mentally disturbed persons. This particular traditional leader has opted to venture into politics and has proved to be very sarcastic to some members of his tribe, and has little or no respect to other seemingly junior Chiefs. In Zambia, the Chiefs who have earned their respect and who not meddle into political arenas are: (1) the Litunga of the Lozi people and *2) the Paramount Chief Gawa Undi of the Chewa people.
Taking into account the prevailing climate in Zambia, what is the motive of throwing young Amos Chanda into the jaws of the crocodiles? Luapula Prov. is home to the Ushis and Lundas; Muchinga Prov. is home to a sector of Bembas, the Bisas, the Namwangas and Tumbukas; Northern Prov. is home to another sector of Bembas, the Tabwas, the Lungus and Mambwes. We need the intellectual prowess of Prof. Robert Rotberg, author of the book titled: “The Rise of Nationalism in Central Africa: The Making of Malawi and Zambia, 1873-1964”, to provide a historical genesis that led to the creation of Luapula and Northern Provinces in Zambia.
Taking into account the prevailing climate in Zambia, what is the motive of throwing young Amos Chanda into the jaws of the crocodiles? Luapula Prov. is home to the Ushis and Lundas; Muchinga Prov. is home to a sector of Bembas, the Bisas, the Namwangas and Tumbukas; Northern Prov. is home to another sector of Bembas, the Tabwas, the Lungus and Mambwes. We need the intellectual prowess of Prof. Robert Rotberg, author of the book titled: “The Rise of Nationalism in Central Africa: The Making of Malawi and Zambia, 1873-1964”, to provide a historical genesis that led to the creation of LUAPULA and MUCHINGA Provinces in Zambia.
personally i am advocating for traditional chiefs to be partisan because all spheres of life which obviously emanates from politics affects them as well, hence them being the direct custodians of people, they must have a voice. so the Ba mwine lubemba sosala is just ok to comment on all the current affairs of our nation.