Rupiah is paying for his iniquities - Lubasi

Rupiah is paying for his iniquities - Lubasi
By Roy Habaalu in Mongu
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 14:30 CAT

RUPIAH Banda was a stubborn, merciless leader who is paying for his iniquities, says a Mongu grandfather.

In an interview, Phillip Lubasi, the grandfather of late 16-year-old Barotse child detainee Kabayo Kabayo who died in police custody in Mumbwa over the Mongu riots, said former president Banda's cries for forgiveness would not be entertained because he showed no remorse.

He said Banda got blinded by power and thought he would fool all the people all the time.

"I was praying to the Almighty God who is the giver of life, day and night and he has answered my prayers by sending him (Rupiah) out of State House through the ballot so that he can explain why he hated and killed Lozis," Lusabi said.

Lubasi who quoted Jeremiah 9:23-24 said those in authority should not boast of their strength or riches but boast that they know the Lord.

"When you are stubborn like Rupiah was, one day you will be crushed and never recover and become a shame to your parents. Rupiah deserves to be deserted because that's what he chose. He never listened to anybody. In Lozi we say yasautwi likelezo utautwa likelezo zamanon'gu (whoever doesn't listen to advice falls in the trap and dies anywhere in the plains and vultures will feed on him)," he said.

He said former president Banda was paying for his evil deeds and brutal killings of the people of Barotseland.

He said the blood of innocent Lozis that were arrested, persecuted and jailed on trumped-up charges had defeated Banda.

"The blood of those innocent children of Mbuyawamwambwa who were killed for expressing their views in a civilised manner is haunting Bo Rupiah. In the Ten Commandments, the Bible says love your neighbour as you love yourself, thou shall not kill. Rupiah never showed love to those he offended. He killed, so you can see how evil this man was. I don't think he was chosen by God to be a leader.

In Proverbs 29:16 the Bible says, ‘When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall," he said.

He pleaded with the PF government to urgently constitute a commission of inquiry into the killings of Mongu residents and perpetrators made to face justice.

Lubasi appealed to President Michael Sata to release Barotse detainees and establish the whereabouts of some who had gone missing.