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File picture:Andrew Banda and Sakwiba Sikota leave Woodlands police station after signing a police bond
Assassination of Herbert Chitepo
On the morning of 19 March 1975, my father shook me out of my deep sleep to buy the newspapers for the day from the neighbouring Chifubu township. We lived in Kawama township in Ndola. The previous night, we went to bed late after hours of intermittently listening to Zambia Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Voice of America, and the propagandist Chichewa Service from SABC. The occasion of the moment was that just after 8 am on 18 March 1975, an explosion had shattered the morning routine in Chilenje South at House No. 150 Muramba road instantly killing the prolific freedom fighter, Herbert Chitepo and his bodyguard, Silas.
According to a book by David Martin and Phyllis Johnson (1985), the repercussions of Chitepos’s murder, and particularly the Zambian response, have had far-reaching effects, some of which persist to this day (1985: 60). Zambia responded by protecting its image. The protection was in form of accusing the freedom fighters of having killed Chitepo. In particular, the Zambian government through its police blamed the Karangas within the freedom fighters and Tongogara in particular, of Chitepo’s death. Members of this tribe and Tongogara himself suffered persecution from the Zambian security agencies. A total of 1300 freedom fighters including the general staff from ZANU PF were locked.
The Zambian government spent so much money in ensuring that the wrong people were incarcerated. Kaunda went as far as establishing a special international commission of inquiry chaired by Reuben Kamanga. In April 1976, the Zambian government charged 23 members of ZANU PF ‘for jointly and severally…actively desiring to bring about Mr Chitepo’s death, and in fact for bring it about.’ The chargers were later thrown out. The killer, Hugh ‘Chuck’ Hind, who had earlier been brought to Zambia by Kaunda as a member the team that established and trained the paramilitary force, was allowed to roam the streets of Lusaka freely and thereby committing more atrocities against the freedom fighters. He died in a road accident on 28 January 1977 on the Chirundu road while on a mission to eliminate more freedom fighters.Herbert Chitepo had been a CIO (Southern Rhodesian Central Intelligence Office) target since 1969 when he was identified as the “brains” behind the review in military strategy and the conduct of the guerrilla war.
Persecution of Andrew Banda
Going to Eastern Province, the PF have recognised Andrew Banda as the brain in the halting of PF’s advance in the province. Andrew is an extremely experienced and lethal politician. He is better on your side than on the other side. He blends in with the poor as if he has never tasted life of the affluent. Recently on a campaign trail with him in the rural outskirts of Mkaika, villagers’ faces glowed with affection that would make one think the whole province is one family whose father is RB and the first born son being Andrew. When Andrew was attacked, the Zambian police response was to allow the attackers to go free and instead persecute Andrew as the perpetrator of violence despite the fact that the attackers took Andrew to the police in a terrible state after beating him.
The previous evening, Andrew’s attackers had been reported to the police for assaulting the PF’s candidate’s elder brother, Michael Phiri. Despite knowing the attackers, the police turned a blind eye as the attackers were serving the ruling party’s interest and there was an assignment pending – an attack on the uncle to PF candidate, Ambassador Joe Mwale, Andrew Banda, Hon. Mushili Malama, and myself. We sensed danger after visiting Michael Phiri and quickly convinced an otherwise stubborn, old man, Ambassador Joe Mwale, to leave town. We escorted him out of danger in under 20 minutes.
The attack on our team perpetuated by the PF was a sad and a very annoying affair. Firstly, it was facilitated by fellow MPs and Ministers in charge of the PF campaign. Secondly, it was allowed to happen by the Police who knew that there were violent people in the PF camp who had been reported to them for assault, but they were allowed to roam free most probably on the instructions of the PF candidate and the ministers in the PF campaign team. The attack was a surprise and spontaneous event. We never anticipated it. We had been accredited the previous day by the ECZ to carry out electoral monitoring on behalf of the MMD. Campaigns had ended and there was no need for confrontation – it was voting day.
When the assailers attacked us, they abducted Andrew Banda who did not put up a fight at all. When they tried to abduct me, I punched my way out of the attack and escaped with a punch on the eye which I sustained when I mistakenly thought I could negotiate with the leader of the assailants. Andrew was badly assaulted. The assailants were a hastily assembled group of hungry youths who did not even know each other. Because they were not in uniform to tell each other apart and because the attack had no organised formation, the assailants hungry to spill blood ended up hacking each other and when they were done, they surprisingly jumped back into the same vehicle they had come with while assisting the injured. They then assaulted Andrew all the way to the police station while questioning each other on how they sustained injuries against an un armed group of two people one of whom was secured at the inception of the attack. Annoyed and embarrassed, they dumped Andrew’s badly injured body at the Container Police Station in Katete and made false statements claiming that they had been attacked by Andrew (alone) and that he caused all the injuries.
They proceeded to take the badly injured youths to the hospital while Andrew in his state got thrown into the cells. It was important for the police to do this – as it had to be consistent with the mandate from the politicians on sight. The target was Andrew and either way, he had to taste police cells and eventually the court.
What Andrew is going through is similar to what Tongogara went through. Saving the interest of the principal is paramount for the police. In Tongogara’s case, the killers could roam the streets and it was ok as what mattered was the reputation of the principal.
The prosecution of Tongogara was halted after the authorities’ lies could not be sustained in a court of law. The persecution of Andrew is going nowhere as it is stupid, frivolous and out rightly ridiculous!
Police! Do your job professionally and do not listen to misplaced politicians. Zambians deserve your protection and not persecution.
The 2012 National Assessment Survey Results at primary School level have revealed that learning achievement levels have remained low over a period of 13 years.
Speaking during the launch of the Results in Lusaka today, Education Minister, Dr. John Phiri, says only thirty percent of Zambian learners are meeting the minimum levels of achievement in reading in English, Mathematics and Life skills.
Dr. Phiri says this is the reason why Grade nine pupils have continued to perform poorly.
He has since pledged government’s continued support to the education sector so that reading skills are improved among primary school going children.
Dr Phiri says the Patriotic Front (PF) government will correct this by allocating more resources to the education sector in the 2014 National Budget.
And Dr. Phiri has noted the need for Teacher Training Institutions to be provided with modern learning materials so that they teach pupils what is current.
He says government will continue to work to hard by recruiting more teachers and continue to improve the schools infrastructure throughout the country.
Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mwansa Kapeya (c)
President Michael Sata has with immediate effect appointed Mwansa Kapeya and Harry Kalaba as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection respectively.
Mr Kapeya replaces the late Kennedy Sakeni, who died on Thursday, September 5, 2013 and Mr Kalaba replaces Mr Wylbur Simusa, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same capacity.
President Sata said that he was confident that with their vast knowledge and proficiency, the duo will perform to his expectations and that of the Zambian people.
He wished the newly appointed ministers success and God’s blessing as they serve in their assignments.
Philip Mubiana accused of involved in a homosexual relationship walking into the court room while covering his face
Amnesty International is calling on Zambia to release two men who have been in jail since May on charges of engaging in homosexual acts “against the order of nature.”
James Mwansa and Philip Mubiana, both 22, will appear in court today for a judge to decide if they should be detained longer.
“It is high time that individuals stopped being persecuted because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Human rights are about the dignity and equality of all people,” said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zambia researcher.
The pair was arrested after a neighbor reported them to the police, according to Amnesty International.
Authorities subjected them to anal examinations without their consent and forced them to confess, the human rights group said.
“Anal examinations conducted to ‘prove’ same-sex conduct are scientifically invalid, and if they were conducted without the men’s consent, contravene the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment under international law,” said Simeon Mawanza, an Amnesty researcher in Zambia.
It was the second detention for the two men in recent days, the group said.
On April 25, authorities arrested them, and later released them on bail on May 2.
They were arrested again just four days later after a neighbor went to the police, according to Amnesty.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
Zambian officials were not immediately available for comment.
LIVINGSTONE District has been hit with a shortage the BCG vaccine that is given to newly born babies for prevention against Tuberculosis (TB).
The shortage of the vaccine has not spared Livingstone General Hospital and Batoka Hospital, which are the two major hospitals in Zambia’s tourist capital.
Livingstone District Medical officer Cliff Hara confirmed that the entire district had been hit by a shortage of BCG.
Dr Hara however said the shortage of the BCG vaccines was being handled at National level.
He said the Vaccine ran out about a week ago and that he was not in a position to know when or what was being done because only people from the national office had answers for most queries.
“I can confirm that as a District we ran out of BCG about a week ago but as you are aware this is being handled at national level. So I would refer most queries to Lusaka because we also don’t know exactly what is happening,” Dr Hara said.
He also said there was no need for parents to worry about BCG as it could be administered to children even at two years old.
And in a separate interview Livingstone General Hospital head of clinical care Muzaza Nthele said the two major hospitals in the tourist capital had run out of the BCG.
Dr Nthele, however, said that the two hospitals were not responsible for primary care but that the district medical offices were the ones responsible.
“Our two Hospitals do not handle preventive primary care because that responsibility has been given to the district.
“Anything to do with vaccines such as Yellow fever or BCG and any other in Livingstone, the official position has to come from the District Medical office because we also just request for the vaccines when we need them from their office,” Dr Nthele said.
Dr Nthele said the two hospitals depended on the district medical office for logistics and supplies of all vaccines including statics.
And commenting on the on-going male circumcision campaigns, Dr Hara disclosed that the District Medical Office had so far circumcised over 950 people out of the initial target of 460.
He said the response has been very overwhelming and the Medical team would continue with the exercise which was initially intended to run for only a month.
“The response for male circumcision has been very overwhelming, we were given a target of 460 to do in a month but we ended up doing 960, so the period has elapsed but we shall continue with the exercise as people come because we will not turn them down,” Dr Hara said.
August 2013 was declared male circumcision month and the male folk were encouraged to access free services to reduce the risk of infections especially sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Fackson Shamenda has dismissed as mere politicking plans by the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) to seek international sanctions against some senior government officials over the violence that took place during the Mkaika parliament by-election.
The CDDR says evidence of criminal conduct by the PF in the just ended by-election will be presented before the United States government, the European Union, and other international organizations in order to explore possible sanctions against individual PF officials, such as travel restrictions.
But Mr. Shamenda notes that such maneuvers will take the CDDR nowhere just like other previous attempts by the opposition political parties to seek international sanctions against the PF government proved futile.
He has advised that civic organizations in the country to work with the government and if they have any concerns against the government engage the government directly without involving the international community.
Mr. Shamenda who is also labour Minister, says calling for international sanctions against senior government officials is not good for the country and is unpatriotic on part of the CDDR.
Speaking in an interview with QFM News, Mr. Shamenda notes that doors to his Ministry and other government Ministries are open for dialogue to discuss any issues of concern with any aggrieved organization that would like to engage government.
Attorney General (AG) Mumba Malila has refuted media reports suggesting that he together with Director of Public of Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito and Solicitor General Musa Mwenye are getting excessive salaries more than Judges.
The media reports have revealed that Mr. Malila earns K353 million per year, while Mr. Nchito and tMr. Mwenye both earn K343 million a year.
This is also in comparison to the Chief Justice who reportedly earns K272 million a year, Deputy Chief Justice K267 million, with the Supreme Court Judges earning K226 million per year and High Court Judges K218 million per year.
Mr. Malila has told Qfm in a telephone interview that salaries for the Attorney General, DPP, Solicitor General, the Investigator General, and the Auditor General are all matters of law and that there is nothing to hide about them.
Mr. Malila states that the prescriptions of the said salaries are set out in an ACT of Parliament and Statutory Instruments.
He has also dismissed assertions that the salaries paid to him, the DPP and SG are allegedly a form of bribe for them to continue bringing Patriotic Front-inclined frivolous cases to court.
The Patriotic Front risks disintegrating and crumbling should President Michael Sata not run for a second term, Minister of Defence Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has predicted.
Mwamba, who is popularly known as GBM, has charged that those who were against the endorsement of President Sata for the 2016 polls should know that the ruling party would easily crumble without the leadership of the President.
Mwamba told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that his crusade of endorsing President Sata as a sole candidate for the 2016 general elections was meant to save the party from what he termed as “political scavengers.”
He said under PF, it was only President Sata who could give the ruling party another victory because the President still enjoyed massive support and popularity from Zambians because of his determination to create employment and develop the country.
Mwamba said President Sata constitutionally deserved a second term and that those who were against him recontesting the presidency were being politically mischievous.
He said it was too early for President Sata to leave the party he had worked so hard to build for over a decade adding the PF would never be the same without the Head of State.
Mwamba said the ruling party would only allow President Sata to retire after he had served the second and groomed his successor that would be easy to sale to the electorate.
Mwamba said he would continue appealing to the Head of State not to abandon his own boat stating the clique that was scheming to unseat him would never succeed because the President was aware of their dealings.
He said Zambians were talking about the PF because they knew that President Sata was at the helm and that it would be risky for the party to participate in the 2016 elections without the President.
“If President Sata left the party now, it would easily crumble and disintegrate because it is the President who is holding the party together. And because of this, I will continue endorsing President Sata for the 2016 general elections and those who are against the President ruing for the second term are mischievous. Under PF President Sata is the only candidate who can give the party another victory because he is still enjoying massive support from the electorate,” Mwamba said.
Mwamba launched the President Sata endorsement campaign in Kasama and the campaign has since spread to Luapula, Eastern, Lusaka, Southern, Copperbelt and Western Provinces with each region declaring that the President would have to run for the second term.
The Zambia Rainbow Coalition has charged that calls by Coalition of African Political Parties President Wynter Kabimba for African states not to recognize the International Criminal Court is misplaced.
Coalition President Cleophas Phiri said Mr. Kabimba’s statement should be condemned as it signifies a lack of adherence to the rule of law.
Mr. Phiri said that Zambia, like many other African states voluntarily joined the ICC as a way of enhancing governance and public accountability.
“We find it misplaced that Mr Kabimba could now be pushing for African states to dump the ICC, for us this is a sign that despots are emerging on the continent and should be stopped,” Mr Phiri said.
“It appears Mr. Kabimba and all those African leaders he seems to be speaking are looking for a licence to butcher their own citizens without being held accountable.”
Mr. Phiri however noted that the ICC needs to reform and ensure that it treats all nations equally.
He pointed out the need for the ICC to try former US President George Bush and his British counterpart Tony Blair for crimes against humanity.
The ruling PF in Lusaka’s Matero Constituency has warned that groups opposing the ongoing endorsement for President Sata for 2016 will not be tolerated.
PF Matero Constituency Chairman Morgan N’gonga told a news briefing in Matero that the constituency has fully endorsed President Sata for the 2016 polls.
Mr. N’gonga said President Sata deserves to be supported by all well-meaning PF members.
“For us, President Sata is our candidate in 2016 and beyond. We have since endorsed him as our President for life,” Mr N’gonga said as audience full of PF youths cheered him on.
He explained that President Sata has initiated a number of developmental projects in the two years he has served as Head of State.
“For those who do not agree with our endorsement, we are warning them that Matero is a no go area for them. We will deal with them if they continue opposing what we are doing.
Mr N’gonga revealed that Matero now joins three other constituencies such as Chawama, Kabwata and Kanyama in endorsing President Sata for the 2016 general elections.
Nkana missed another chance to go back to the top of the FAZ Super Division table after forcing a 1-1 draw against Roan United in Luanshya on Wednesday.
Kalampa failed to take advantage of leaders Zesco United’s goalless draw at Nkwazi in another midweek delayed match.
Jimmy Ndhlovu’s 54th minute goal was cancelled by Arthur Kaseloki five minutes away from the final whistle.
The first half was a 50-50 affair as suggested by the 0-0 half time score-line.
John Lomani almost gave Roan a 25 minute lead when he headed wide inside the box.
Five minutes later Roan keeper Steven Kabwe kept the Kafubu outfit into the game when he saved Festus Mbewe’s powerful shot on the edge of the box.
Nkana beat Roan 1-0 in the first leg at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, Nkana are now on 37 points, two behind leaders Zesco, who have played two more games.
FAZ Super Division
11/09/2013
Week 16
Red Arrows 0-Zanaco 0
Roan 1-Nkana 1
Week 17
Nkwazi 0-Zesco United 0
President Michael Chilufya Sata has transferred Western Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with immediate effect.
Confirming the development to QFM News, Mr. Mwamba stated that he had taken the transfer with delight and with a deep sense of responsibility.
He disclosed that he had already discussed the matter with his colleague, Amos Malupenga who the President swapped him with.
He stated that he had called for a Heads of Department slated for Monday 16th September 2013 and also invited all district commissioners as part of handover and takeover formalities to new Western Province Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga.
Mr. Mwamba also stated that the development initiatives he had embarked on in Western Province would not suffer as they had been planned for and have since taken off.
He disclosed that he had also ensured that major projects pronounced by President Sata such as the new Mongu Stadium, the King Lewanika Stadium and agriculture projects in livestock, wetlands crops, fisheries and cashew crops were given focused attention to ensure that the status of Western Province as the poorest was changed in the shortest period.
Mr. Mwamba expressed gratitude to President Michael Sata for his continued trust and confidence in him and for the opportunity he has been given to serve in various places and capacities.
He also thanked the Litunga, the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE), Bishop Evans Chinyemba of Mongu Diocese, the church and other stakeholders that helped him work smoothly in implementing government programs in Western Province.
Mwamba has served previously as Permanent Secretary in Northern, Eastern and Western Provinces.
The opposition National Restoration Party says it is confident of recruiting 750,000 new members by the end of this year.
Party President Elias Chipimo said the recruitment drive for new members which commenced in February this year is progressing well.
Mr. Chipimo could however not disclose how many new members have been recruited so far but said that the party would issue a comprehensive report by the end of October this year.
“It’s not an easy thing but we are determined to reach our target. We believe if we can have a million card carrying members by December this year, that would give us some impetus to go ahead and grow the party even further in readiness for the 2016 general elections,” Mr. Chipimo.
He said the party’s strategy involves selling itself to the youth population in the country and using it as a launch pad into State House.
“The greater population of this country is youth and that’s what gives us the confidence that NAREP will grow into a huge movement in Zambia and go ahead and win the elections in 2016.”
