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Former Republican President Dr Kenneth David Kaunda
President Hakainde Hichilema has just touched down in Chinsali, Muchinga Province, ahead of the Centenary Birthday Commemorations of Zambia’s First President, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, scheduled for later today.
Amidst a warm reception from the people of Chinsali, President Hichilema expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic welcome and acknowledged the enduring legacy of President Kaunda’s vision of One Zambia, One Nation.
As Zambia commemorates the birthday of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the nation pays tribute to a towering figure in its history, whose contributions to independence and the early shaping of the republic are held in deep respect and gratitude.
Dr. Kaunda, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 97, served as the leader of Zambia during a crucial period of transition, playing a pivotal role in guiding the nation towards stability and progress. His unwavering dedication to the welfare of the Zambian people and his steadfast commitment to democratic principles left an indelible mark on the country’s political landscape.
On this day, Zambians across the nation reflect on the enduring legacy of Dr. Kaunda, whose vision and leadership continue to inspire generations. His advocacy for unity, integrity, compassion, and the pursuit of justice resonates deeply with the values that define Zambia as a nation.
Despite his physical absence, Dr. Kaunda’s spirit lives on in the hearts of those who cherish his memory and uphold the principles he championed. His legacy serves as a beacon of inspiration for all Zambians, reminding them of the importance of service, sacrifice, and selflessness in the pursuit of a better future for the nation.
As Zambia celebrates the birthday of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the nation honors his memory and reaffirms its commitment to the values he held dear. His remarkable journey from liberation struggle to statesmanship continues to serve as a testament to the enduring power of leadership and the enduring spirit of the Zambian people. Happy birthday to a leader who will always be remembered for his service to Zambia and his enduring legacy of leadership.
In a press statement released today, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced the indefinite postponement of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) following a court ruling upholding an injunction against the association.
High Court Judge Greenwell Malumani declined FAZ’s application to discharge the injunction filed by non-members Damiano Mutale and journalist Mabvuto Phiri. Despite FAZ’s early appearance for the court hearing on Saturday, Judge Malumani upheld the injunction and scheduled an interpartes hearing for Thursday, May 2.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expressed disappointment at the court’s decision but assured members that the association would communicate its next steps. He urged members to remain calm and assured them of ongoing updates throughout the process.
While the AGM delay has prompted concerns about potential consequences from FIFA, Kamanga stated that it was too early to speculate on immediate repercussions. FIFA had previously directed FAZ to proceed with the AGM as per constitutional requirements, but the court injunction halted these plans.
FIFA has given FAZ until April 30 to provide comprehensive information before making a decision on the Zambian crisis.
Below is the Full Press statament
JUDGE MALUMANI DECLINES TO DISCHARGE THE EX-PARTE INJUNCTION ISSUED AGAINST FAZ AND ADJOURNS THE MATTER TO NEXT WEEK
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to inform its members and stakeholders that the planned Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been postponed indefinitely following a sustained court order.
High Court Judge Greenwell Malumani threw out the FAZ application to discharge the injunction filed by two non-members Damiano Mutale and journalist Mabvuto Phiri.
Judge Malumani had set Saturday 27the April, 2024, as the date for interparte hearing with the FAZ turning up for the court hearing early this morning.
After declining to discharge the ex-parte injunction , Judge Malumani set Thursday, May 2 as the date for interparte hearing (to hear arguements from the lawyers from both sides).
Meanwhile, FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga says the Association would communicate on the next step.
“The meeting was unable to takeoff due to the sustained injunction by the High Court. We had respectfully turned up at the court to apply for the discharge of the injunction but the court has declined our application and set a new date for interparte hearing which is Thursday,” says Kamanga.
“We advise our members to remain calm and pledge to keep them informed at all stages.”
Kamanga says it is too early to say if there will be immediate consequences from world soccer governing body FIFA.
On Friday, FIFA directed FAZ to hold its AGM as per constitutional requirements following a court order halting the AGM.
FIFA has given FAZ up to April 30 to furnish it with full information before a decision is reached on the Zambian crisis.
For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Sydney Mungala
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
The world soccer governing body FIFA has directed the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Government Complex.
In a letter to FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga dated April 26, 2024,FIFA Member Associations Officer, Kenny Jean-Marie said the reported injunction by the Ndola High Court freezing out the FAZ AGM amount to undue influence by third parties.
Jean-Marie said that failure to hold the AGM by FAZ would provide possible grounds for suspension.
“In addition, please note that the order of the High Court of Zambia dated 24 April 2024 appears to clearly amount to undue influence by third parties which could be considered as a violation of Article 19 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Statutes and Article 7 paragraph 1.g. of the CAF Statutes,” reads part of the letter from FIFA.
“As a result, FIFA takes the view that any further attempt by a third party to prevent the FAZ Annual General Meeting from taking place might be considered a violation to the above- mentioned principle, which would oblige our institution to bring the matter to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration of possible sanctions in line with the FIFA Statutes.”
FIFA adds: “For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the infringement of the aforementioned provisions of the FIFA and CAF Statutes may give rise to grounds for the suspension of FAZ irrespective of whether the infringement was attributed to FAZ or not.”
FIFA further states that any suspension by FAZ would deprive Zambia of any sporting participation with any country dealing with Zambia risking sanctions.
“Finally, we would like to remind you that a suspended member association may not exercise any of its membership rights. Other member associations may not entertain sporting contact with a suspended member association. The Disciplinary Committee may impose further sanctions (cf. art. 16 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes and art.8 par.3 of the CAF Statutes). A suspended member
association loses all its membership rights, as defined in art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes and art. 6 of the CAF Statutes, with immediate effect and until further notice,” says FIFA.
“Likewise, the representative teams as well as the affiliated clubs of this federation can no longer take part in international competitions until the suspension has been lifted. In view of the foregoing, FAZ is directed to conduct its Annual General Meeting.”
FIFA says it has taken interest in the reported arrests of the FAZ president, Mr.Andrew Kamanga, General Secretary Reuben Kamanga and other officials by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) “We took note with great concern that the FAZ President, two standing committee Members and yourself, were jointly charged and arrested by the relevant authorities for a number of counts mentioned in your correspondence,” says Jean-Marie.
“In view of this, and in order to have more clarity on the situation, we would like to kindly request that you provide us, latest by 30 April 2024. with copies of any documents received in relation to the accusations and ongoing investigation against the above-mentioned FAZ officials as well as any additional information that may have been brought to your attention since the
arrests took place,” FIFA says.
FAZ is scheduled to hold its AGM on Saturday (tomorrow) at Government Complex with delegates across the country trickling into Lusaka.
For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Sydney Mungala
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
In a remarkable display of bravery and selflessness, Mephrine Moonga, a recent Bachelor of Science graduate from Eden University, has been awarded employment in the Civil Service for her heroic actions in saving the life of former Chipolopolo captain Rainford Kalaba.
The Civil Service Commission, led by Chairperson Dr. Choolwe Beyani, extended this employment opportunity to Moonga as a testament to her courageous act of performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Kalaba following a road accident. Dr. Beyani emphasized that Moonga’s appointment was not based on Kalaba’s fame but on her dedication to duty under challenging circumstances.
Speaking upon receiving the letter of employment, Moonga expressed gratitude to the Civil Service Commission and President Hakainde Hichilema for recognizing her modest contribution. She highlighted the profound impact this opportunity would have on her family, being the first to secure formal employment among her siblings. Mephrine Moonga the heroine who performed CPR on Rainford Kalaba
Reflecting on the incident, Moonga revealed that she had no prior knowledge of Kalaba’s identity and only discovered his status as a football icon through social media after the event. Her actions, she emphasized, were driven purely by her passion for serving humanity.
Recalling the day of the accident, Moonga narrated how she intervened immediately upon witnessing the distressing scene on Kafue Road. Minutes after a road traffic accident on Kafue Road, Moonga asked the driver on the bus she was traveling on from Lusaka to home in Chikankata to stop so she could help the casualties. At the scene, she noticed the female victim was lifeless but the male was still showing signs of life. Despite her unfamiliarity with Kalaba, she administered CPR for approximately 20 minutes until signs of improvement were evident.
In recognition of her dedication and skills, Moonga has been appointed as a Registered Nurse in Livingstone District, Southern Province, where she will continue her service to the community within the Civil Service.
A Chinsali based historian has described the late First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda as a positive influential leader towards the country’s liberation struggle.
Mr Michael Kamambi says the good leadership qualities that Dr. Kaunda possessed resulted in Zambia successfully being liberated from colonial rule.
Speaking during an interactive forum with students from Kapasa Makasa University on the life of Dr. Kaunda, Mr Kamambi said the influence that the late President had during the liberation movement, motivated others to unite towards achieving the country’s freedom.
He observed that even when Dr. Kaunda was released from prison, Mainza Chona who was the party President for the Zambia African National Congress (ZANC) willingly passed on the party’s top leadership to him due to his influential leadership style.
“Just from the confidence that the members of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) had in him, we can tell that he was a good leader that they entrusted to lead them towards gaining independence,” he added.
Mr Kamambi further called on students to emulate the late Dr. Kaunda’s positive influential leadership qualities, as they are the future leaders that need to learn from visionaries like him.
And Kapasa Makasa University Lecturer of Education, Edward Nkonde said Dr. Kaunda’s legacy should be preserved through exhibiting good leadership in society.
Mr Nakonde said Dr. Kaunda did not give up in fighting for the country’s independence due to the support from other freedom fighters that believed in his great potential to lead the liberation struggle.
He stressed that the interactive forum on the life of Dr Kenneth Kaunda is meant to remind the students of the positive impact of the late freedom fighters’ contribution to the country’s independence.
Meanwhile, Mapalo Chisala, one of the students noted that Dr. Kaunda’s vision is being implemented through the various economic reforms that he had introduced.
Mr Chisala said other reforms such as the free education policy which has been re-introduced was spearheaded by him, adding that the policy is contributing positively towards the development of the education sector.
The Interactive Forum was held ahead of the centenary birthday celebrations of the late Dr Kenneth Kaunda on the 28th April, 2024 at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali district.
Since our so-called governance system is hankered on Western style democracy, we shall not shy away from giving the United States of America as an example. Whenever the most powerful nation in the world is faced with situations whereby terrorists are holding its citizens hostage and they want to start making certain demands; officials at the State Department will always a familiar answer: The United States of America does not negotiate with terrorists!”
This is of course a far cry from what we are witnessing happening on our shores. It’s becoming common practice nowadays to see criminals ‘surrender’ whatever they’re suspected to have stolen from our people and walk away scot free! For instance, a radio disc jockey found with staggering amounts of crispy clean Bank notes that she had no reason to keep in a garage is yet to see the inside of prison!
A lawyer that helped himself to money from mining giant Konkola Copper Mines……more than enough to construct schools and hospitals in about 40 constituencies just forfeited ‘part’ of the loot to the state and they him off the hook.
Meanwhile , a former First lady who couldn’t give convincing reasons as to how she acquired certain properties in upmarket areas of Lusaka is as free as a bird!
On the other hand, children of a former head of state have forfeited a massive portfolio of assets to the state – among them impressive fleets of motor vehicles, highly mechanised farms, breathtaking mansions in secluded neighborhoods and staggering amounts in their Bank accounts are still walking around the streets of Lusaka with their heads held high!
Talk about senior government officials – cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, directors etc that served in the previous administration; near-paupers in tatters and flip-flops who’ve since incredibly transformed themselves into overnight millionaires are seemingly not bothered at all about discarding their designer outfits for the not fanciey orange garbs any time soon rest assured they’d reach an agreement with the state any time soon!
What sort of a message are we sending to those serving in the current administration who may be tempted to steal from our people? That there’s nothing to worry about when you steal public funds, as the state would simply ‘negotiate’ with you to return part of the loot?
President has already demonstrated political will to rid this country of corruption – be it previous or current. Why are are we treating suspected criminals with kid’s gloves?
To the law enforcement authorities; please ,refrain from bungling cases of corruption or embezzlement of state resources. Do you your investigations thoroughly, take the suspects to court in good time, haul the convicts into the Kasalangas enroute to grow Cabbages on our behalf!
Recent weather trends associated with El Niño have decimated harvest prospects and point to rising prices and import needs
Rome – Cereal production prospects in Southern Africa have taken a sharp turn for the worse since last February, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned today.
The foreseen shortfall in production, especially for maize, is expected to intensify households’ food insecurity, push up domestic prices and spur a surge in import needs across the subregion, according to a new assessment from FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System. White maize accounts for almost 20 percent of calories consumed in the subregion.
The disappointing forecast comes after “widespread and substantial rainfall deficits in February,exacerbated by record high temperatures, a particularly damaging combination for crops,” the report said, noting that there are scant hopes of a recovery before the harvest period commences in May.
Acute food insecurity in southern Africa, estimated at 16 million people in the first three months of 2024, could deteriorate in late 2024, FAO warned.Food prices, already rising at annual rates above 10 percent, are likely to rise further and, based on
current projections, South Africa and Zambia, typically maize exporters, will not be able to cover the supply shortfall, and Zambia has started importing maize to meet the shortfall.This combination of reduced harvests and rising food prices is particularly harmful for agricultural households and restoration of production,, as farm incomes are set to be squeezed while more resources will be needed to purchase food, said Jonathan Pound, economist at FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System.
Plan ahead for shift to La Niña
This observed pattern is typical of the El Niño weather phenomenon in the region, FAO noted.Current forecasts however point a high likelihood of a transition to a La Niña phase later in the year,with more beneficial precipitation patterns.
That makes it “imperative” to scale up resilience-bolstering measures enabling farmers to prepare adequately for the next agricultural season starting in September 2024, FAO said.The governments of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have already declared drought emergencies.Teaming up with the NASA Harvest programme, FAO geospatial observations suggest that key cereal
crops will suffer adverse impacts in parts of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique expected to see a notable jump in import needs.
Tool box on left and Matuzi in TumbukaBy Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.
Emeritus Professor of Sociology
Entendre is a French language word which is a verb which means “to hear “. For example, “Have you heard that your son has come?” “Kasi mwapulika kuti mwana winu mwanalume wiza?” According to the Oxford English dictionary, Double Entendre means a word or phrase which may have two meanings; one meaning may be the good one and the second is often risky and not intended. This article will discuss double entendres or meanings in Tumbuka language which may also apply to the other 72 Zambian languages and dialects.
First the article will describe why as discussed about Tumbuka, almost all Zambians may experience and practice double entendres either intentionally or often by accident when they want to be funny or to practice milangwe. Second, I will discuss examples of several of Tumbuka double entendres. The readers will be free to identify some of their own. Lastly, I will discuss one of the funniest Tumbuka entendres which Tumbuka speakers may understand if they know and practice the malonje traditional village custom.
The vast majority of 19 million Zambians are either bilingual or multilingual. This means in our normal process of life; we Zambians tend to speak and understand at least two languages if we are bilingual. We may speak or understand several or many languages if we are multilingual. Since English is our official language, most of us learn English at school but we will also learn a Zambian mother tongue or just any other Zambian languages such as Nyanja, Bemba, Tonga, Lozi, Kaonde, Luvale and many others of the 72 indigenous Zambian languages and dialects. Double entendres happen when we Zambian mix with each other.
I will never forget this example. I was 18 years old as a first year or freshman student in 1972 at University of Zambia in Lusaka. I had been exposed up to this point to Tumbuka and Nyanja only. I was beginning to be exposed to other Zambian languages as I began to mix with other students at UNZA from different provinces of the country. One Saturday night I was attending a party where there were several young men and women friends from UNZA who were also freshmen. There was dancing, loud music, and drinks were flowing.
Suddenly this Bemba classmate who was also a psychology major Florence Katongo (not her real name) walked up to me, grabbed my hand in a friendly way while she smiled, and pulled me towards the dance floor.
“Iwe Tembo!” she was saying. “Isa tuchinde!!”
I almost fainted with embarrassment while nervously looking around the room just to make sure no one else had heard her. She was saying “let’s have sex” which I later learned means “to dance” in Bemba but “tichinde” in Nyanja means to have sex. This was a horrific double entendre for me. Katongo had meant no harm because it was clear to me then that she did not know either that “ukuchinda” had a different meaning in Nyanja. She was also playing the chimbuya that Bembas and Easterners have between ourselves.
Tumbuka Double Entendres
Tumbuka has many double entendres. I will discuss a few of my favorites that we used to laugh about when I was growing up.
1.In English: “See my cat” Means looking at your cat or Kubeka kachona. In Tumbuka: “Sima yikati” means “The sima or nshima said something”.
2.In English: “See my hen” means “Look at my chicken or female chicken”. In Tumbuka: “Sima yiheni” means “Bad sima or nshima.”
3.In English: “Can you pass me the tools?” in Tumbuka: “Munipileko matuzi abo?” which is can you pass me the urine? One time I was travelling by minibus in the rural part of Lundazi in deep Tumbuka country. The minibus had broken down and the driver shouted to an older man at the back of the minibus. “A mdala mutipileko matuzi!!” The old replied annoyed; “How can you ask me to pass you urine?”. The tool box was in the back of the minibus.
Tumbuke Malonje
Among the Tumbuka, malonje is a very serious traditional custom. When a guest arrives, he or she is offered a seat. Malonje is a formal social process during which the guest speaks for sometime to describe the purpose of his or her visit. The host takes some time also to describe the state of the home; any illnesses, marriages, school achievements, and if there is a good or poor harvest.
Once both the host and just arrived guest have comfortably sat down:
Host: in Tumbuka: “Mutimaso bii, mwatendela?” Literal translation in English as: “Our hearts are dark with worry, what is the purpose of your visit?”
The double entendres or meanings are first: the host is worried about the purpose of the guest’s visit. The second meaning is a bit of an insult the host implies: “The guest has very dark eyes and makes frequent worthless visits, maybe just looking for a meal”. In Tumbuka: “Muti mumaso biiiii mwatendela?” The double entendre is based on “mtima” and “Mutimaso biii” or how the suffix “-so” is enunciated in “mtimaso”.
Copperbelt University’s institute honours late UN chief
Then a sleepy town, Ndola was yanked to global prominence overnight on 17 September 1961, when the DC6-B, the Albertina, crashed there with 16 passengers perishing. Shoks Mnisi Mzolo took a trip to the Copperbelt to go through the encrypted page on Cold War.
The truth is so precious and fragile. So, some people would cover it in layers of lies for their protection,quips a middle-aged political animal, now a Cabinet Minister in East Africa.
My mind drifts to that aphorism when I meet Jacob Phiri, a conservation assistant at Zambia’s Heritage Commission and curator at the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial National Museum in Ndola.
Notwithstanding its tiny size, the museum’s aircraft-shaped library, made of masonry indigenous to this region, also chronicles Congo’s decolonisation. Hanging on its walls are photographs of United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, revolutionaries and statesmen (from Kwame Nkrumah to Patrice Lumumba).
Sitting in the copper-rich region, Ndola is a sleepy town in Zambia yanked to global prominence overnight on 17 September 1961, when the DC6-B, the Albertina, crashed here with 16 passengers perishing in turn.
Congo’s then-Prime Minister, Cyrille Adoula, blamed “moneyed powers”. Reasons given for the crash included foul play and pilot error. Curiously, European exiles in New York accused Nikita Khrushchev of Moscow.
Twenty-five years later, pilot error was again given as an excuse in the crash that claimed 25 people,including Samora Machel, then-president of Mozambique.
Amid zigzags, the quest to rescue the truth in the 1961 crash has seen the setting up of the Hammarskjöld Inquiry Trust a whole 50 years after the fact, with Lord David Lea as the chair, and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Susan Williams and other prominent figures named as trustees.
Patrice Lumumba meets Dag Hammarskjold in July 1960
Journey to Ndola
Ndola sits some 320km from Lusaka. My bus crawls for eight hours. Cars hurtle down the T2/T3 highway. Trucks slog.
Some are heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo, from as far as the region’s bustling Durban port,or Walvis Bay, Namibia. Trucks routinely take weeks to traverse the subcontinent due to stifling bureaucracy.Still, it’s about time the DRC optimised its access to the Atlantic as a trade route within Africa and beyond.
Though 70% of the country’s nearly 100 million population languishes in poverty, the land is endowed with minerals – from diamond to gold and, for mobile phone users, cobalt and lithium – but the mining industry here is gripped by exploitation.
Views of long white charcoal-laden sacks spool past along the T2/T3 highway. Such sights are familiar in Zambia. Savannah and a sprinkle of hills define the landscape. It’s too bland, but the people are warm,as I’ve repeatedly found out.
For me and a few others, the trip ends when the bus hits the drizzling Ndola after 22h30. Passengers’ luggage includes bags, suitcases, bales of clothes, and wooden chairs.
The drizzle does nothing to dampen my Friday mood. I discovered later that dance floors in this tiny city answer to Afrobeats, Amapiano and R&B. The Zambian leg of my heritage sites tour, via Botswana and Zimbabwe, weaves Lusaka and the Albertina crash site – on Unesco’s tentative list for over 25 years.
Home to almost 500,000 people, equivalent to half the population of Ibadan, Ndola is a copper-mining city of low-rise buildings. The nearest DRC border is just 20km to the north. Some 200km, as the crow flies, on the other side of the border, is north-westerly Lubumbashi – once the bastion of Belgian colonial settlers.
I head to the site this Saturday after a morning stroll in the scorching Ndola city centre and a stop at the bustling Chifubu market.
Near the expansive location – home to the museum – are a police station, a school named after the UN chief, and a new airport.
The mood is poignant at the museum, officially opened by Zambia’s founding father Kenneth Kaunda in 1981.The site and its story are as good as an encrypted page on Cold War. The mirage on the road from central Ndola is a tragic metaphor of how the path to the truth has unfolded (or not unfolded): illusive.
“We are still digging, sifting through evidence,” says the museum’s well-versed Jacob Phiri, taking me through the on-off-on search for facts.
Hammarskjöld had travelled to Ndola to meet exiled rebel Moïse Tshombe, Belgium’s puppet. Some
sources say the former’s crime was his stance on decolonisation, angering the West. That is not to affirm the UN’s decision to bring fighters to Congo.
The 78-year-old organisation hasn’t been impartial. Separately, Congo is a victim of its riches, with foreign invaders accused of stoking chaos to enable looting.
From his Lubumbashi base, Tshombe seceded Katanga province into a short-lived republic at the behest of Brussels.
Museum curator Jacob Phiri at work with a Cobberbelt patron
Eyewitness accounts
The crew, soldiers and UN staffers were aboard the plane, including Alice La Lande, William Ranallo and Heinrich Wieschhoff. The victims’ remains were found on 18 September (Monday) afternoon. So was Harold Julien, who died in hospital ten days later.
While on his deathbed, he recalled that Hammarskjöld had moments before the crash shouted to the pilot: “Turn back”.
Alas, explosions followed. Locals from Ndola’s Twapia put the subsequent bang way before midnight.
Edvard Persson’s body (with mysterious bullet wounds) was recovered on Tuesday. The political climate hit new lows when Katanga broke away from the newly independent Congo. A messy near future lay ahead.
The first year of the DRC’s liberation was tragic: the central government had fallen, the country balkanised, millions displaced, and atrocities synonymous with Belgium’s bloody years returned. Soldiers ran the show. Congo was on its third Prime Minister before its first anniversary as an independent state.
Lumumba had been ousted, jailed, and assassinated “by a firing squad under the command of a Belgian officer” in January 1961 outside Lubumbashi, observed Martin Meredith in The State of Africa. Scores of patriots were killed.
Some among the droves who fled their mineral-rich homeland, like Laurent Kabila, joined forces with Víctor Dreke-led Cuban guerrillas, including Che Guevara (known as Tatu or “Three” in Kiswahili, a lingua franca in south-eastern Africa).
Now for a step back.
The nation earned its independence in June 1960 under the baton of Lumumba. The liberation project soon foundered thanks to Belgium, which, after an eight-decade rule of mutilations, displacements, and killings, had left its cash cow, Congo, grudgingly.
By 1961, Hammarskjöld’s attempts to talk peace had gone nowhere. That opened the door to blue helmets – soldiers drawn from Ethiopia, India, Ireland and Sweden.
Nigeria’s contingency was led by Brigadier-General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi, the first African to command a UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. He became renowned for his bravery.
While Belgium propped Katanga’s rebels and apartheid-era South Africa supplied mercenaries, fighters from Harold Macmillan’s Britain and the John F. Kennedy-led United States of America – countries, like South Africa, accused of foul play – were officially absent.
Back to the Albertina – seven secretaries-general and six decades later – all there is are promises of a new probe when fresh evidence arises. No single soul has been held to account to date.
Digging and siftings have been zigzagging, meanwhile. UN boss António Guterres has recommended that countries “appoint an independent and high-ranking official to conduct a dedicated and internal review of their archives.” Disparities remain seven years into Guterres’ shift.
UN’s zigzag, inconsistencies and false promises
The UN’s former chief Ban Ki-moon had inspired new hope too, ten years ago, when he remarked: “It is my assessment that the documentation presented by the Hammarskjöld Commission includes new evidence.” Where to now? The half-hearted UN’s zigzag continues.
None of that has deterred the families of the Albertina victims and people like Phiri from digging. He describes his discovery of village eyewitnesses as fortuitous as we walk about the sprawling garden towards the anthill where Hammarskjöld’s body was found (100 metres from the wreckage).
That spot is marked by a plaque signed by Kofi Annan in 2001. Today, the wreckage, items and documents from the crash, or official records on it – meant for public viewing – have not arrived in Ndola—cue reluctance.
Just days after the crash, nephew Knut Hammarskjöld, who’d flown in from Sweden, was struck by the British authorities’ unwillingness to hand his uncle’s personal effects over. His uncle’s briefcase “showed no signs of charring despite the inferno that had engulfed the Albertina when it crashed”.
There’s more by way of inconsistencies. “In 2000, still new at the interpretative centre, showing farmers and businesspeople around and telling them about the memorial site and how the Albertina crash had happened,” remarks Phiri.
“I was startled when one of the guests, Mr Ngongo, said: ‘No, that’s not how it happened. I saw the crash”. I’d always thought that the Albertina was by itself, but for the first time now, I heard that there were two planes nearby. I also heard that the Albertina circled three times before crashing. None of that evidence is in the UN report.”
Phiri then made it his task to test John Ngongo’stake through further witness interviews: Margaret Ngulube, Dickson Mbewe and Custon Chipoya, a charcoal burner in the forest preparing his kiln.
“Chipoya saw it all: he was within 500m of where the Albertina hit the ground and saw the second plane.”
Eyewitness accounts align with what the Ndola airport room observed and colonial officer Adrian Begg recollected. He cited a cover-up in his blog in 2011. Airport controls had observed Hammarskjold’s plane flying overhead at 22h10 on Sunday to align with the runway.
Then away it flew. However, a search party was called on Monday morning and stumbled on the scene as late as 15h30 on 18 September. That’s the official line.
Perplexed to be sent home late at night on 17 September, officers asked their senior in charge about the much-anticipated aircraft. Referring to “Supt. Bob Read if memory serves me correctly”, Begg added:
“he just shrugged and said that ‘apparently Hammarskjöld had changed his mind and gone elsewhere’.”
Cuthbert Alport, the British High Commissioner, had set that official line. Begg also questioned the state of the body of a UN soldier. “[It] had what appeared to be bullet wounds, and my recollection is there was a 9mm sub-machinegun in the wreckage nearby.”
For their part, Ndola eyewitnesses had held back out of fear, explains Phiri. Some villagers recalled being driven as far as Salisbury (now Harare, Zimbabwe) and endured “bitter whipping” by the Brits.
“People were still fearful even after so many years,” he adds, then singles Moses Chimema’s account.
“He’d first said that he saw what happened that night but took too long to talk,” Phiri says. In propping
their misrule, colonialists clamped down on outspokenness.
That was then.
Yet, the truth about the 1961 crash remains in shackles. Why would the UN stand that fog? The Cold War is long over but the mist lives on.
Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe is concerned with the increasing cases of Malaria in the area in the last two years.
Mr Mwanakampwe noted that the Province recorded an increase from 198 to 250 per 1000 population from 2022 to 2024.Mr Mwanakampwe who was represented by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Godfrey Chitambala at the commemoration of the World Malaria Day and launch of the 2024 Africa Vaccination week in Kabwe, said the government conducted a mass distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets to 3,369, 265 people in an effort to eliminate Malaria in the Province.
Mr Mwanakampwe added that it is the government’s priority to ensure that efforts made to deliver maximum impacts in the fight against malaria contribute to universal access.
And Kabwe Central Member of Parliament, Chrizoster Phiri cautioned the community against taking self-prescribed drugs saying they should seek professional advice from health facilities.
Ms Phiri appealed to the Ministry of Health to consider giving Community Health Workers (CHWs) allowances to motivate them as they carry out voluntary work.World vision Project lead Manager, Simon Sakwiya augmented the government’s effort to ensure that Zambia’s integrated communication management network for malaria is expanded nationally.
Mr Sakwiya said that World Vision international trained 2500 CHWs, 1200 neighbourhood vigilantes for security stating that Central Province accounted for 60 percent of the total.Ngabwe and Chisamba are the most affected districts in Central Province.
Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana has condemned calls by former President Edgar Lungu for the international community to check Zambia’s record on human rights abuses under the current administration.
Mr Kamwana said it is this government that has brought an atmosphere of peace and the rule of law in the country that many Zambians now enjoy.
The Permanent Secretary therefore dispelled assertions by former President Lungu that the new dawn government is dictatorial.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Mr Kawana clarified on the purported harassment of Martin Mbaya saying that no enforcement officer crashed into the church to arrest the suspect, and that the rule of law was duly applied.
Mr Kawana explained that Mr Mbaya had a conversation with the officers before his arrest, and was later given police bond after being charged.
“It is not correct for President Lungu to give an impression that Mr Mbaya was harassed and picked up from church, that is far from the truth,” Mr Kawana said.
He noted that the international community cannot be influenced by anyone because they are able to see how President Hakainde Hichilema is running the affairs of this country, including his global leadership ranking.
And the Permanent Secretary stated that the current administration has scored so far, 80 percent of its assurances to the people of Zambia.
Highlighting some of the key achievements, Mr Kamwana cited employment creation in various sectors including education, health, defence, agriculture and in the private sector, and restructured the debt burden.
He added that the Cabinet has approved the creation of an independent debt management office with support of the Germany government through GIZ.
Mr Kawana noted the reduced year to year inflation rate from 24 percent in 2021 to 13 percent as of the end of January 2024.
The Permanent Secretary expressed confidence that in the remaining two and half years, President Hichilema’s administration will be able to fulfil all the assurances.
In a momentous gathering, distinguished land component commanders from across Africa, Europe, America, and South America convened to discuss pressing security issues on a global scale. Hosted under the theme “Regional Solutions to Transnational Problems,” the conference proved timely amidst the complex challenges facing nations worldwide.
The significance of the conference was underscored by Zambia’s pivotal role as Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). With a commitment to fostering regional stability, Zambia and fellow SADC member states are diligently working towards collective security objectives.
For President Hakainde Hichilema, the conference provided a platform to exchange best practices, technological advancements, and intelligence-sharing among regional blocs. The goal? To forge collaborative efforts in pursuit of global peace and security.
Each participating regional block brought unique insights into the security landscape, emphasizing the importance of mutual learning and cooperation. As President Hichilema reiterated, the summit’s focus on addressing specific security challenges reflects its critical importance in fostering a peaceful environment conducive to trade and commerce.
Recognizing that security concerns extend beyond national borders, leaders emphasized the interconnected nature of global instability. For them, instability anywhere poses a threat everywhere, underscoring the imperative for collective action.
Former President Edgar Lungu has accused UPND government under President Hichilema of wanton abuses and a break down of the rule of law.In light of this, the Former President wondered under what criteria President Hichilema ranked among the top 5 Presidents in Africa.
Below is the Full Statement
Good morning fellow citizens,
Last Sunday a fellow Zambian named Martin Mbaya, a PF member and known associate of my family was forcefully ejected from a church service at Lusaka’s Bethel Christian Centre in Nyumba Yanga while praying.
The unfortunate incident occurred in full view of his wife, children and other congregants that remain shocked today at the action of unruly DEC officers. From the church they drove him to his house where they broke down doors, stormed into his house and commenced a search, which I understand was for money, that could belong to “Edgar Lungu.”
The search ensued from morning to midnight, but alas no money was found.
My point here is that what happened to Martin could easily happen to any Zambian under the current administration of President Hakainde Hichilema where the rule of law is breaking down fast right in front of our eyes.
You have seen good people like mama Edith Nawakwi and Geofrey Mwamba being frustrated at the airport whenever they attempt to travel out of the country for medical attention.
You have seen people like Dr Chris Zimba, Emmanuel Mwamba, Raphael Nakachinda, Chilufya Tayali being arrested on flimsy grounds while others like Hon Given Lubinda have been dragged to court without enough evidence for conviction.
Sadly, all these wanton abuses are occurring at a time President Hichilema is being ranked as a ´top five leader´on the continent, we wonder what criteria is being used in the light of all abuses in Zambia.
All we ask is that the government of President Hakainde Hichilema march their words with action regarding the rule of law and arrest wrong doers only after thorough investigations have been concluded.
That is what President Hichilema has publicly called for repeatedly after all.
Zambia is a democratic state not a DICTATORSHIP where law enforcement become the law unto themselves, its not the wild wild west.
The international community, the European Union group, Britain and the United States and fellow African embassies should take cognisance of these rising abuses under Mr Hichilema.
In a democratic country governed by the rule of law, how can law enforcement agencies disrupt church proceedings with impunity, forcefully pick out a suspect whom you haven’t established a case against and bundle him into a car and break into his house?
If law enforcement officers can break into houses and churches where will citizens seek protection?
I urge peace loving Zambians to speak out against rising abuses and shrinking democratic space because if we remain silent today it won’t be long before police start attacking people at funeral gatherings and hospitals.
Crimes must be probed but let us remember that everyone is presumed innocent in Zambia until tried and found guilty by a competent court of law. I pray with you that our country doesn’t slide into total dictatorship soon.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu
Sixth Republican President of Zambia.
