Muteteka warns MMD youths over ‘violent’ resolutions
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 28 July 2011, 13:59 CAT
SOME of the campaign resolutions suggested by Lusaka youths border on national security, says Moses Muteteka who is the MMD national youth chairman. And former Patriotic Front national youth secretary Eric Chanda says President Rupiah Banda should tame the MMD youths who have resolved to respond with violence once provoked.
Muteteka, in an interview, said the resolutions made by Lusaka youths led by Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe were not approved and are not final.
“I am summoning Chris Chalwe because the society does not agree with some of the resolutions as they border on national security. We have been advocating for no-violence campaigns and issue-based campaigns so we realise that we must not embrace any form of provocation,” Muteteka said.
He said as chairman of the MMD’s youth wing, he would not tolerate any behaviour that is likely to incite violence.
¨Any suggestions that have been made by the youths, I appeal to the public not to take them serious. I am getting to the youth and they have to explain how such resolutions were made,” he said.
Muteteke also acknowledged responsibility of the two MMD cadres that were arrested for assaulting Muvi TV journalists, warning cadres of stern action if found wanting.
The MMD youths in Lusaka this week came up with 14 resolutions, calling them the “rules of engagement in this year’s campaigns”, where they resolved, among other things, that they be allowed to reciprocate violence if provoked by the opposition.
Chalwe threatened that any media organisation that oversteps its role in the electoral process would be met with unspecified action from his party’s youth brigade.
And Chanda said from the 14 resolutions of the MMD youths, it was clear that the youths were not interested in having a peaceful and fair election, but only in causing anarchy in the country.
“I want to challenge President Rupiah Banda to tame these youths like Chris Chalwe who want to bring anarchy in the country because this country is not meant for violence. It is not meant for civil strife, we want peace and tranquility to prevail in the country. If president Rupiah Banda cannot do this, I think he has to handle the outcome of the violent acts of these youths,” Chanda said.
He said the violent conduct of the youths was a true reflection of the MMD as a party.
“I think this violence is the true picture of the MMD and their election campaign strategy. It gives the people of Zambia an indication of what these people are planning to do. For instance, in their 14 points, they have threatened the media organisations and we know it is not the public media because they are in good books with them. We know they are threatening the private media,” Chanda said.
He said Patriotic Front youths had condemned in the strongest terms the violent behaviour of the MMD youths.
“Now we want to tell them that if they are peace-loving Zambians, they should do away with these threats over the media. Let them do away with these threats of violence because it is not the opposition political parties that are threatening violence, but it’s the ruling party. We want these coming elections to be peaceful for the sake of the peace-loving Zambians who want to see this country move forward,” said Chanda.
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, MMD, MMD YOUTH LEAGUE, MOSES MUTETEKA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Chalwe threatens to go for Kapiji
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 10 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
LUSAKA Province MMD youth chairperson Chris Chalwe has threatened to block Judith Kapijimpanga from attending the party convention if she continues ‘attacking the President’.
Reacting to national executive committee (NEC) member Kapijimpanga's statement that she would continue speaking out on the violence perpetuated by Lusaka Province MMD chairman William Banda, Chalwe yesterday said it was their duty as youths and members of the defence and security wings of the party to block people like Kapijimpanga.
“As you come to the convention, you need to ensure that you are in good books with the party. If I were her, I would call William Banda and iron out the differences that might be there instead of rushing to the press,” Chalwe said.
Kapijimpanga recently said William Banda should be caged in order to have a violence-free 2011 general election.
But MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu described as nonsense Kapijimpanga's statement on William Banda, saying the latter had every right to defend President Rupiah Banda’s interests.”
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA
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2010 has been wasted year for media - Chanda
By Salim Dawood
Sun 02 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PAZA says 2010 has been a wasted year for the media. In an interview, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda said the media directed most of its efforts last year trying to convince the government on straightforward issues on the importance of a self-regulated media.
“The year has been a characterised by the controversy of the creation of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC). Government has been pushing very hard to pass laws that regulate the media, to bring the media under the political control of politicians,” he said.
He said the media fought hard and resisted the government’s attempts to impose statutory media regulation because that would limit not only the media freedoms in the country but also freedom of expression.
“So a lot of time has been wasted. The downside has been that a lot of effort that could have been taken to other activities of media development was instead consumed trying to convince government on a very straightforward matter regarding the sanctity of media freedoms and freedoms of expression which must be protected from any form of interference,” he said.
He said the year had also been characterised by physical attacks on journalists working both in private and public media institutions.
He said the attacks where as a result of the deteriorating relationship between the media and politicians which were brought by the politicians desire to control the media.
He said the much delayed ZNBC and IBA Act had still not been implemented eight years after being enacted and underwent amendment in parliament last year.
“There has been cosmetic changes made to the ZNBC and IBA Act, but those Acts still remain unimplemented eight years since they were enacted. So in 2010 you see a minister presenting to Parliament amendments to the two laws that have never been implemented but even with those amendments the implementation has still not taken place. It’s been generally a wasted year,” he said.
Chanda said 2011 would not be any easier for the media especially that 2011 was an election year.
“We can’t delude ourselves that it will be an easy year, it will be a difficult year. What has been happening in 2010 had been a result of the anxieties and is likely to dominate the minds of politicians in view of the forth coming general elections.
“But I would like to see that politicians must understand that the separation that exists between Parliament and executive and the judiciary must be the same separation that should exist between the executive arm of government and the media as a fourth arm of government,” he said.
He warned that politicians would attempt to gain political control but they must not delude themselves that the media would let them.
He said although the media scored a few positives such as the conviction of MMD youth Lusaka youth chairperson Chris Chalwe for assaulting journalists, the year had more negative incidents to the media than positive.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, CHRIS CHALWE, MEDIA, PAZA
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MMD youth leader okays verbal assault on Rupiah’s critics
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 12 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT
AN MMD youth leader claims it is not wrong to verbally assault those who attack President Rupiah Banda. Speaking yesterday, Watson Mtonga, Lusaka Province youth vice-chairperson, said the MMD would appeal against the conviction of youth chairperson Chris Chalwe. Mtonga said he was confident the higher court would overturn the judgment.
“He Chalwe is a committed soldier for President Banda. It is true. He is a gallant soldier. He is not a coward and whatever the verdict, we are praying for him to remain strong,” Mtonga said.
Mtonga said Chalwe was not a violent person.
But when reminded that apart from beating journalists, Chalwe and his group threatened to gang-rape FDD president Edith Nawakwi, Mtonga said the threats of violence did not manifest into reality.
“Yes, it was a political threatening assault because Nawakwi also was insulting and demeaning our President,” he said.
When asked if it was right to verbally assault those attacking President Banda, Mtonga responded: “Yes, because they are also injuring the image and the heart of the President. The words they use are also very bad.”
Mtonga said the MMD youths would not back out but defend the interests of the party.
“The key thing is that in MMD, we shall not promote violence,” said Mtonga.
Senior resident magistrate David Simusamba on Tuesday jailed Chalwe one year with hard labour for common assault. Chalwe assaulted Post Newspapers journalist Chibaula Silwamba and Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka.
However, magistrate Simusamba acquitted Chalwe on a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, MMD YOUTH LEAGUE, RUPIAH BANDA, WATSON MATONGA
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A lesson against political violence
By The Post
Thu 11 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT
The conviction and jailing of MMD Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe for violence of a political nature against journalists Chibaula Silwamba and Anthony Mulowa will help put an end to this growing scourge.
And senior resident magistrate David Simusamba is right in noting that “the offence committed was of a political nature and that it was becoming rampant to our young democracy”. But what is sad in this whole issue is that Chris is not the real criminal behind this crime.
The real criminals will never be arrested and convicted for violence of a political nature because they use the impoverished unemployed youths to commit political crimes on their behalf. Ultimately, Chris is not evil; his inhumanity has been foisted upon him by selfish, heartless and intolerant political leaders in his political party. Chris behaves like a brut because he is rewarded for brutish behaviour.
Clearly, the ultimate issue may now well be how to prevent our youths from being used to carry out acts of violence against the political opponents of their masters. If we don’t arrest this violence, our people will lose the habit of thinking and exchanging creative views and thoughts. People will have no real interest in the future nation – only the present will owe them anything.
We shouldn’t allow our politicians, especially those in government, to hold the common citizen to ransom. The tragedy of our leaders is their inability to value every single innocent life and bring happiness to their people without making them feel they alone have a sacred right to rule.
We hope from Chris’ case, our youths will realise the selfishness of the people they are serving, of those who reward them for committing political crimes against their own people. All along, Chris used to think he was well protected and no one could touch him, let alone have him sent to prison for political violence.
For a long time, Chris and his friends were a law unto themselves. Even police officers feared to touch them. It took a lot of persistent effort to have this matter before our courts of law. All efforts were made to try and frustrate it. But unexpected things sometimes do occur in life. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. There is no need for us to accept these standards, the standards of violence set by selfish politicians.
We shouldn’t surrender to these criminals. Yes, things are sometimes hard. But we shouldn’t surrender because suffering breeds character and character breeds faith. In the end, faith will not disappoint. What looked impossible has become possible. Who could have imagined Chris being jailed for political violence!
When things became too hot, Chris was abandoned by his masters. They were not even helping him with legal fees; he was going to court alone. And today, he will be alone in jail. Although it is sad that Chris is going to jail alone while his sponsors are nowhere near to help him, he deserves it.
Chris is a grown-up youth with a wife and children who should have known that the wages of violence is prison. If an adult accepts to commit a crime on behalf of another person, they have to accept the consequences of what they are doing. For the privileges that Chris was enjoying by being seen to be the most willing to maim or kill on behalf of Rupiah Banda, going to jail may not be a bad price to pay for his crime.
Political violence was starting to get out of hand and something had to be done to try and stop it. Senior resident magistrate Simusamba’s conviction of Chris could not have come at a better time than this. We say this because campaigns for the 2011 elections will soon get into top gear. And if this type of crime is allowed to go unpunished, democracy, peace and stability will be threatened in our country. Political violence can only do one thing, and that is to breed counter-violence.
We hope Chris’ conviction will make our youths realise that the use of violence against anyone is something that puts them next to animals. And as we have stated before, no doctrine, no principle or proclaimed political position can justify the atrocious acts of political violence that Chris was engaged in. No crime can be committed in the name of politics. There is need for political tolerance.
The use of political violence by anyone is against justice. Political violence is injustice.
We cannot talk of peace in this country without justice. The future of our country and the happiness of our people will depend on the kind of peace we establish in our country. There is the peace of death. There is the peace one experiences after the total extermination of one’s enemies. There is the peace in which no guns are fired but in which people are trodden under foot, harassed, humiliated, assaulted and very unhappy. There is the peace in which people do not talk to one another, the peace of the dumb, because hate and fear one another; because there is selfishness, greed, pride and so many other walls they have built between themselves. Indeed we need peace that is worthy of human beings and enjoyed by everyone. No human being will exert one’s energy for meaningless peace.
Political dissent and criticism should not be criminalised. More time should be spent in seeking ways and means to improve the quality of life of our people. A nation united in purpose, in pursuit of true ideals such as justice and truth cannot fail to enjoy the blessings of peace.
Hatred is more than want of love. It separates us interiorly from our neighbour. It destroys the only sound basis of civil life. It is directed against a person of our neighbour. Hatred grieves at the propensity and rejoices at the adversity of others, exaggerates their faults and discounts their virtues. It wishes evil, and it does not stop at malediction, calumny and detraction, but often assails the very life. Hence, the Bible says: “Whoever hateth ones neighbour is a murderer” (John 3:15). Again: “If a person says he loves God but hates one’s neighbour, that person is a liar” (1 John 4:21).
The political violence that Chris was involved in is a terrible demonstration of what hatred can do. To live together peacefully and harmoniously, we must learn to tolerate the differences that exist among us. Peace is a frail and fragile possession. So much in us and about us conspires against peace. Progress would be destroyed by greed for power. The forces of discord that unleash themselves in violence are hidden in every human heart. Too often they surface, to the great distress of others, in the frequently lamented evils of injustice in all its sordid and selfish guises. We shouldn’t forget that any form of injustice lays a foundation for violence. For this reason, we should oppose and denounce injustice in all its forms or manifestations. We hope our courts of law will do more to stop this culture of political violence. And we appeal to all our youths to learn something from Chris’ conviction and jailing.
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, EDITH NAWAKWI, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WILLIAM BANDA
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Politicians must realise they’re not above the law - Nawakwi
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 11 Nov. 2010, 04:02 CAT
Edith Nawakwi has hailed the jailing of MMD Lusaka Province youth chairperson Chris Chalwe as a lesson to him and others that violence does not pay.
And Nawakwi said William Banda was the last thing politics needed in Zambia.
Commenting on the jailing of Chalwe to one year imprisonment with hard labour for common assault by the magistrates’ court on Tuesday, Nawakwi who is FDD president, asked politicians to realise that they were not above the law, whether in the ruling party or the opposition.
She said she hoped Chalwe’s conviction would signal the end of political violence which had engulfed the nation.
“I am sure he will realise that violence doesn’t pay because prison is not a place where you wish even your enemies to be. I think while we all have the opportunity to live in a peaceful country, we need to seize the opportunity to live a life that is exemplary, especially those of us who are in politics,” Nawakwi said.
She said countries around the world had collapsed because of violence, adding that it was worse if politicians extended their violence to non-politicians like journalists.
“It simply means that all politicians must realise they are not above the law, whether they are in government or out of government,” Nawakwi said.
“And unfortunately criminal conviction in this country does not entitle politicians to hold office, so young Chalwe all he has achieved is to cut his political career. But as for me as a mother all I can say is that people should pray for him. Prison is not the best place even to an enemy.”
Nawakwi said the judgment sent a clear signal that violence does not pay, more so in a civil place like Zambia.
She said a nation which used violence to stifle political divergence would only end up in mediocrity.
Nawakwi said elements like MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda were not needed in the country’s politics.
She said she had experienced the behaviour of Banda.
“And truly one can only say that he needs to be born-again. The Church from time to time should call William Banda in the quiet of the pulpits of the Churches, they should pray for him. Truly he is the last thing that politics needs in this country,” Nawakwi said.
“I can honestly say that he is the last person that our head of state needs around in terms of the progress of the President as a leader of the Zambian people.”
She said people like Banda thought they owned the presidency and government.
Nawakwi said it did not pay for people to go to prison on account of other politicians.
Nawakwi was recently a victim of threats of violence from MMD cadres who had threatened to gang-rape her for criticising President Banda. Police effected no arrest despite Nawakwi reporting the matter.
MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu refused to comment on Chalwe’s jailing saying he did not follow the matter. He said he had not even studied it.
Senior resident magistrate David Simusamba on Tuesday jailed Chalwe one year with hard labour for common assault.
However, magistrate Simusamba acquitted Chalwe on a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In this case, Chalwe stood charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to sections 248 of the Penol Code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post newspaper journalist Chibaula David Silwamba.
Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm.
Passing judgment, magistrate Simusamba convicted Chalwe on a charge of common assault under section 247 of the Laws of Zambia but acquitted him on the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm because the prosecution failed to establish that there was physical harm inflicted on the two victims.
He said the medical reports cast a doubt on his mind.
“I note that the offence committed was of political nature and that it was becoming rampant to our young democracy,” said magistrate Simusamba.
Magistrate Simusamba said Chalwe had a right to appeal within 14 days.
Earlier, when defence lawyer Keith Mukata was about to mitigate, magistrate Simusamba said there was no mitigation because he had already mitigated for him.
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, EDITH NAWAKWI, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WILLIAM BANDA
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MMD militia
By The Post
Mon 11 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD are at it again. The comments by Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe is another clear signal that Rupiah Banda is determined to use violence against his opponents or anyone that he thinks is not supporting him.
But what is wrong about Chalwe’s announcement is that he is actually confirming the Copperbelt MMD's claim that they are running a militia. This is a serious development that Rupiah should not continue to ignore. These Gimboz, as they call themselves, will land Rupiah into a lot of trouble.
The desperation that Rupiah is showing is a serious threat to the peace and stability of our country. Anyone who enters State House should know the day they do so that no matter how long it may take, they will leave it. This is a system of government that we have chosen for ourselves.
To go into State House with a mind that does not accept the possibility of exit leads to desperation that can result in the sort of irrational behaviour that we have seen in Rupiah and his minions.
It is indefensible that they have decided to exploit unemployed youths and other desperate people to carry out these evil acts. Instead of working to provide employment and other opportunities for these able-bodied citizens, they are using them to fight aimless political battles.
The possibility of leaving the presidency should not be so worrying for somebody who has been doing correct things. We saw this in Levy Mwanawasa.
He seemed prepared to leave the presidency even after his first term. This made him independent of cheap political manipulation. He understood that his job as president would not always make him popular.
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Levy also seemed to understand that some of the decisions that he was taking for the benefit of the people could cost him his presidency. But as we said whilst he was still alive, there was something noble about Levy. We do not think that Levy would have resorted to the kind of violent desperation that we are seeing in Rupiah.
Even the current gymnastics about abuse of office are a result of people being worried by the inexplicable acquisition of property and wealth that Rupiah and his league have engaged in.
But even with those problems that they have, it is not proper for them to start creating militias.
As we continue to remind them, this sort of violence may appear beneficial to them today but it won’t be long before they find themselves on the receiving end of the same violence that they are fomenting today.
Everybody can now see that William Banda’s operation orders are to molest and inflict harm on any of the political opponents of Rupiah.
This explains the courage of the likes of Chalwe, the Lusaka thug that can take a public platform and tell the nation that they are the defence security and military wing of the party. Why should a political party need a military wing? We saw in Chilanga the other day why the MMD needs a military wing.
The attack on UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is a clear indication of things to come. Rupiah’s recklessness is threatening to Balkanise this country.
What they are forgetting is that today, they might stop Hakainde from going to Chilanga because they have got their thugs to block him. But tomorrow, they also may fail to go into an area where Hakainde’s party is strong. This is not an acceptable state of affairs. But clearly, Rupiah thinks that this is okay.
It is not too long ago that George Kunda had to stop to give way to PF president Michael Sata’s motorcade during the Chifubu by-election. There was no violence involved but the reaction that came from Rupiah and some of their paid social commentators and ‘non-governmental individuals’, NGIs, was shrill.
To them, giving way to a group that was bigger to pass was an insult that they could not stomach. And yet they are busy sponsoring thugs to molest their political opponents.
If anyone was in doubt that Rupiah was behind what is going on, his silence on the matter speaks volumes. How can a president who was sworn to uphold the Constitution keep quiet when his party functionaries continue to announce the existence of illegal militias that they are going to use to bully and inflict violence on his opponents?
It is interesting to note that Chalwe’s threats were targeted at Enoch Kavindele and Jonas Shakafuswa.
These threats were issued because according to this militia, Kavindele and Shakafuswa had issued negative comments and insults against the President. Chalwe also said that the threat to bar Kavindele and Shakafuswa from attending the convention applied to other senior people who know that they are in bad standing with the party.
Predictably, the statement that Chalwe issued was copied to William Banda, Rupiah’s personal demon of violence.
These thugs have decided that they are going to mete out violence against people that they claim to have insulted Rupiah. But what they do not tell us is what those insults are. They also go further to tell us that they will bar anyone who has issued negative statements against Rupiah.
To them, speaking against Rupiah or criticising him is an insult. This is the kind of democracy that Rupiah wants to develop. It is also understandable that these thugs are allowed to confess to being members of illegal militia groups without any consequences. As long as something is said in apparent defence of Rupiah, it is acceptable. Even if it is criminal, no criminal sanctions can ever follow.
This matter needs to concern all people of goodwill in our country. We cannot allow this kind of lawlessness to develop whilst we are watching. For our part, we will continue to denounce this nonsense. As for Rupiah, he seems prepared to commit treason if that is what it takes to keep power. That raises the question: why does he want this power?
If he wanted this power in order to help our people and do correct things for our country, he would not be prepared to resort to violence in order to serve. That would be a contradiction. The logical explanation for what is going on is that this desperation to keep power at any cost must be because Rupiah and his minions would like to continue the RP Capital and Zamtel type of deals.
And to do this, they are prepared to turn themselves into warlords that exploit unemployed youths and other desperate people into their militias to ensure that by hook or crook or any amount of violence, they retain power.
We challenge the police to tell the nation why they so shamelessly allow these MMD thugs to continue issuing threats and telling the nation that they run militias.
Is there anybody in this country who is allowed to run a private militia? What we saw in Chilanga the other day is simply the beginning of something that Rupiah would like us to get used to. We know that Francis Kabonde is a disgraced chief of police but there should be levels to which he is not prepared to go if he has to continue considering himself a human being.
A policeman who respects himself cannot allow thugs and all sorts of criminals to continue announcing their illegal activity without fear of the law. Kabonde, like all of us, is a Zambian who should have some pride in his job. If he cannot do his job, he should do the decent thing – go home and rest!
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WILLIAM BANDA
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Kavindele vows to attend MMD convention despite threats
By Ernest Chanda and Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 07 Oct. 2010, 14:10 CAT
ENOCH Kavindele has vowed to attend the MMD convention, saying no one can stop him since he is made of hard stuff. And MMD provincial leaders in North Western and Western provinces have opposed the position taken by the party youths in Lusaka Province to bar Kavindele and Katuba MMD parliamentarian Jonas Shakafuswa from the convention.
Commenting on Lusaka Province MMD youth chairperson Chris Chalwe’s warning to him, Shakafuswa and other senior leaders that were not in good books with the ruling party not to attend the party convention, the former Republican vice-president, who is in Solwezi, challenged Chalwe to provide a party constitutional backing.
“I don’t think I can be barred because I’m made of hard stuff. Those who remember during the UNIP era, I was threatened prior to the convention in Kabwe, but I braved them and went. In fact, there is nowhere in the party constitution where it says I can be barred by him Chalwe,” Kavindedele argued.
“This is indiscipline which is leading to the weakness of the party, where a junior chap can talk on behalf of a Republican Vice-President to bar me. My intention is not be Republican Vice-President, but party vice-president. Let him ask those of his colleagues who tried to attack me at the 2005 convention and I defended myself, much to their embarrassment. So, tell him that I’m capable of defending myself.”
And North Western Province MMD chairman Pinakin Patel said he would not support Chalwe’s move to stop other party members from attending the convention.
“I wouldn’t support it,” Patel said in an interview from Solwezi yesterday.
He said for as long as the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) had not found the duo wanting in terms of abrogating the party constitution, they were free to attend the national convention.
“Then I would understand (their being barred) not by mere threats like that. I think as a province we don’t condone that,” said Patel. “We have our party constitution which talks of who is allowed to attend the convention…if they are within the party lines and the NEC finds nothing against them, then they are free to attend.”
And Western Province MMD chairman Simasiku Namakando also disagreed with Chalwe and his cohorts.
“You see, in a democracy there is no one who can bar somebody. Let the people choose,” said Namakando.
On Wednesday, Chalwe warned Shakafuswa, Kavindele and all others he claimed were insulting President Rupiah Banda to stay away from the convention.
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, ENOCH KAVINDELE, MMD, PANAKIN PATEL
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MMD’s Chalwe found with case to answer in journalists assault case
By Namatama Mundia
Tue 13 July 2010, 14:30 CAT
Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba (above).
LUSAKA senior resident magistrate David Simusamba has found MMD Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe with a case to answer in a matter where he is charged with two counts of assault.
Magistrate Simusamba put Chalwe on his defence. The state called a number of witnesses to testify in the matter. This is in a matter where Chalwe is facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba. Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.
Facts before court are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka District did assault Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm.
Chalwe pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Ruling on whether Chalwe had a case to answer or not yesterday, magistrate Simusamba said he had considered the evidence before court and was satisfied that the state had established a prima facie case against Chalwe.
“Upon consideration of the prosecution evidence and upon consideration of submission by the defence councils, I am satisfied that a prima facie case has been established and I put you on your defence,” magistrate Simusamba said.
Defence in the matter has been set for August 5, 2010.
Labels: CHIBAULA SILWAMBA, CHRIS CHALWE, THE POST
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Police record warn and caution statement against ‘gang-rapists’
By Sandra Mulowa
Thu 04 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT
POLICE in Lusaka on Tuesday recorded a warn and caution statement from Lusaka Province MMD youth leaders Chris Chalwe and Scorpion Kadobi for allegedly threatening to gang-rape FDD president Edith Nawakwi.
The duo appeared at Lusaka Central Police on Tuesday afternoon around 14:00 hours in the company of several MMD cadres clad in party regalia.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said the case had been referred to the DPP.
Police on Monday summoned the MMD cadres that threatened to gang rape Nawakwi for questioning at Lusaka Central Police Station but they did not appear.
Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda on Tuesday said failure to compel the MMD cadres to appear before police on Monday was a symptom of weakness in the police.
“It is a symptom of the fact that the police in Zambia do not operate without interference. It is also possible of the fact that MMD as a party are above the law and they are capable of daring the police,” he said.
“Had it been an ordinary citizen or even a member of the opposition such as Chishimba Kambwili they would have by now followed them to their home and locked them up. Not too long ago Mwenya Musenge, a member of parliament, was denied a police bond as though he were a common criminal.
Two days ago another member of parliament from the opposition was questioned, warned and cautioned and his docket is there with the DPP, awaiting further instruction. If members of parliament can be treated with that level of contempt, the police's failure to arrest the rapist is an infringement on the rights of Zambians and is compromise on Zambia's security.”
Lubinda challenged the police to arrest the MMD cadres.
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Rupiah’s justification of Chalwe’s violence
By Editor
Tue 26 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
DISCIPLINE is the most powerful weapon in any struggle one may be involved in.
A political party can only carry out its mandate if there is discipline, and where there is no discipline there can be no real progress. For this reason, the leadership of the ruling MMD need to pay a lot of attention to Sebastian Kopulande's call for discipline in the party.
And more particularly, the MMD needs to heed Kopulande's call for the punishing of Chris Chalwe. The behaviour of Chalwe will only be tolerated at the risk of the MMD totally losing its respect among our people.
Such criminal behaviour cannot be justified in any way. And it is extremely embarrassing to learn that Rupiah Banda finds Chalwe's criminal behaviour justifiable. No political position can justify Chalwe's behaviour. No crime should be allowed to be committed in the defence of Rupiah or anyone else for that matter.
For Rupiah to say Chalwe's behaviour should not be condemned because he was merely reacting to Edith Nawakwi's insults against Rupiah is absurd. It seems anyone can commit crimes in the name of Rupiah, in defence of Rupiah and get away with it. One can commit any crime, as long as it's being done in support or defence of Rupiah then it’s alright - it ceases to be a crime.
This is a very jaundiced way of looking at things. No crime should be committed in support or defence of Rupiah. There are many legal ways in which Rupiah can be defended or supported. There are sections in our Penal Code that protect Rupiah, as President of the Republic from being defamed or insulted. And where the attacks on Rupiah are of a political nature, political counter-attacks can be launched in his defence. But again, these have to be within the law.
To us Rupiah seems to be the kind of father who if he found another boy fighting with his son, he would join and hold that other boy's hands and allow his son to turn him into a punching bag. For a man of Rupiah's age, his attitude towards violence is frightening.
The man's heart seems to be bursting with intolerance and vengefulness. Rupiah is clearly a merciless leader who doesn't seem to care about the plight or wellbeing, humanity of his political opponents. Rupiah deals with his political opponents mercilessly.
His blindness to the plight of others makes him unsuitable to such a top position in the leadership of our country, for a leader must temper justice with mercy. However, it is said that you cannot know a man completely, his character, his principles, sense of judgment, not till he's shown his colours, ruling the people.
Rupiah should at least show some restraint or compassion where Edith Nawakwi is concerned because she was part of his campaign team in 2008. Nawakwi risked a lot politically to support Rupiah and she is still battling to correct her dented political image resulting from that unpopular political alliance. If Rupiah can treat Nawakwi in that manner, what chance is there for those who campaigned against him?
As we approach next year's elections, we must express concern regarding violence, intolerance, intimidation and lust for power. In the present atmosphere of fierce competition, we remind our politicians and their cadres of the noble goals of political activity. Politics should be aimed at promoting the common good and the service of all the people. Political campaigns must be carried out in a peaceful way, devoid of violence.
All our politicians and their cadres must be guided by the truth, integrity and justice. It is necessary to remind Rupiah and all other politicians that politics is for the good of our people and our country, and not for the political survival of any individual or political party. If the spirit of the primacy of the common good were to animate all our political parties and their leaders and cadres, we would not witness threats of violence and violence which leaves the public dismayed and disheartened.
It is very difficult to justify or defend Rupiah's justification and defence of Chalwe's threats of violence, threats to gang-rape Nawakwi. But this is not the first time Rupiah is justifying and defending the violence of Chalwe and other MMD cadres. When our journalists were being attacked by Chalwe and other MMD cadres, Rupiah's response was that they were provoked because of the insults against him.
For Rupiah violence or threats of violence are welcome as long as they are being committed in the defence of his political interest.
This is certainly not the best way a President of the country should look at violence. Those who offer themselves for leadership positions are expected to listen to the concerns of the people and be selfless in responding to the needs of all; they should be courageous in speaking out the truth and show concern for the rule of law and for justice. Good moral standing is important in a leader. Rupiah's defence of Chalwe does not show good moral standing on his part.
It is said that a skilled craftsman is admired for the things he makes, a leader's wisdom is proved by his words and actions. Someone who speaks rashly and recklessly will be feared and hated by many. A wise leader will lead his people away from violence, and his government will be orderly. And all the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler. An unwise leader will ruin his people, but a government will grow strong if its rulers are wise.
We are also told that "when evil men are in power, crime increases. But the righteous will live to see the downfall of such men" (Prov 29:16).
There are many verses in Proverbs that are of great value to any leader who wants to govern the affairs of his people in a more efficient, effective and orderly manner.
It is said that "poor people are helpless against a wicked ruler; he is as dangerous as a growling lion or a prowling bear. A ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant, one who hates dishonesty will rule a long time" (Prov 28:15-16).
And Rupiah should not be so incensed with criticism. As a leader of the Republic, and not a monarchy like his young friend Swazi King Mswati, Rupiah will be subjected to a lot of criticism, and some of it very harsh. And he should learn to stomach all that.
After all, he's well compensated for all that through the gigantic benefits he gets from the Zambian taxpayer. And moreover, curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are said to be like birds that fly by night and never light.
Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later. If you plant seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your oppression of others will end. But wicked people are always hungry for evil: they have no mercy on anyone. However, the wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people; they get caught themselves in the traps they set for others.
It is said that the wise king will find out who is doing wrong and punish him. Anyone who thinks and speaks evil can expect to find nothing good - only disaster; evil people look for ways to harm others; even their words burn with evil. Those who are good travel the road that avoids evil. Evil people listen to evil ideas as liars listen to lies. An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
Good leaders cannot tolerate evil, because justice is what makes a government strong. Wise people walk the road that leads upward to life, not the road the leads downward to death. Stupid people are happy with their foolishness, but the wise will do that which is right. Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity. You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake. Honest people hate lies, but the words of wicked people are shameful and disgraceful.
Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice. Those who are wise in the MMD leadership should meditate deeply over Kopulande's observations about the need for discipline in the party, especially Chalwe's criminal behaviour.
Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin (Prov 10:8). Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticises works for peace (Prov 10:10).
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Katele’s wife seeks action against MMD ‘gang rapists’
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 24 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba's wife Lumba has asked her husband to take action against the MMD 'rapists' who have threatened to rape FDD president Edith Nawakwi.
Commenting on the threat by Lusaka Province MMD youth chairperson Chris Chalwe and other party cadres to rape Nawakwi, Lumba said if Chalwe thought raping was politics, he was in a wrong place and needed psychiatric treatment at Chainama Hills Hospital.
“I would be ashamed to be related to that man Chalwe. I have complained to him Katele, yes I have as his wife, as a woman, and as a member of MMD. I have complained to him that something must be done, it's disgusting. I don't think there is any female in Zambia who can say Mr Chalwe has said a wonderful thing,” Lumba said.
“Nawakwi is a woman, she could be our mother, she could be our sister, she could be somebody close to us. Regardless of what she has said, she has an opinion. If her opinion is not to someone's liking, then they give a counter-opinion back. But to threaten someone to say 'we are going to gang-rape you', that is criminal.”
Lumba asked Chalwe to put himself in Nawakwi's shoes, assuming he was married or had daughters and then someone threatened to gang-rape them.
“Would his wife be happy to hear that my husband is going to gang-rape that person?” she asked.
Lumba asked Nawakwi to follow up the matter to its logical conclusion, saying threatening rape was a very serious crime.
“Rape is one of the worst things you can do to a woman. People who talk about rape are cowards because they want to use physical force,” Lumba said.
“If he has got any infatuation over Nawakwi, he should approach her properly. The party should condemn him, as a woman I am disgusted, insulted, shocked, and any man who supports that also needs psychiatric treatment. Just imagine that is your mother, or your wife, or your sister they are talking about?”
Lumba asked Chalwe to apologise, not only to Nawakwi but to all the women in the country.
“If he said that to me, honestly he would not sleep at night,” said Lumba.
MMD cadres recently threatened that they would gang-rape Nawakwi for her critical stance on governance matters.
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, EDITH NAWAKWI, KATELE KALUMBA, LUMBA KALUMBA, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Threatening violence isn’t an offence, says Kabonde
By Patson Chilemba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 20 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
INSPECTOR General of Police Francis Kabonde yesterday said the threat by MMD cadres to gang-rape opposition FDD president Edith Nawakwi does not constitute an offence. But the Church and civil society organisations have condemned the violent threats by MMD cadres to gang-rape Nawakwi.
Commenting on MMD Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe's threat that he and other MMD youths will gang-rape Nawakwi, Kabonde said Chalwe and his colleagues had not committed any offence.
“Now let me ask you, after that I will give you advice. If somebody says 'I am going to rape you', what offence is it? You advise me. If I say 'I am going to rape this woman,' what offence is that? You mean you can't advise me yourself? You consult young man, you consult,” Kabonde said. “If somebody says 'I am going to rape you'… You know, let me advise you.
I hope you get my advice. Are you ready for my advice? Yah, cases of threatening violence do not relate to future. For instance, I can't tell you Mr. Chilemba that 'I am going to rape you tomorrow' then you go to the police and report violence,” Kabonde said.
“No, the law does not support that one because it must relate to the future. (2) The issue that you are raising about the alleged intended raping, it does not constitute an offence for now, but once they do it, if they are to do it, then they will commit an offence.”
Asked if it was lawful to use such words as gang-raping against other individuals, Kabonde responded: “No, it's not lawful, it's not proper.”
Asked what police would do about the matter as enforcers of the law since he said the words were not lawful, Kabonde responded: “You, I have explained to you. My explanation to you is if somebody says 'I'm going to rape somebody in future', I don't see how it constitutes an offence. And in any case, Nawakwi herself has not reported the matter to the police. Basically for me as a police officer, I have to have a report from a complainant, you understand that?”
Kabonde said if Nawakwi reported the matter to the police, police would consult with other lawyers to see if there was any offence or not.
“But basically out of experience that is what I can tell you. Threatening violence does not relate to the future,” said Kabonde.
“You cannot say 'next year I am going to beat you', and you run to the police that this person is saying he wants to beat me next year.”
Kabonde also denied assertions by Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata that police were behaving like MMD vigilantees.
But Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Suzanne Matale stated that the Church in Zambia was perturbed by the increasing incidents of politically-motivated violence in the country.
"CCZ would like to give a timely caution to all political parties to restrain their cadres from perpetuating physical violence on anyone regardless of the amount of provocation," Matale stated. "The democratic and acceptable way to resolve issues is through dialogue.
Zambia is beyond the ancient and primitive stone throwing means of settling scores."
Matale stated that the threats against Nawakwi and PF Munali member of parliament Mumbi Phiri's incident in Mtendere were totally uncalled for, and would not resolve any issues but rather create more violence.
"Political cadres must also watch their language because an insult on one woman is an insult on all women and this is totally unacceptable. The Zambian people are already weighed down with socio-economic problems and they do not need any more challenges added to the poverty and hunger issues that they are grappling with every day," stated Matale.
"It is CCZ's earnest appeal to all political parties to ensure that violence is eliminated in all their activities. Peace is an important ingredient of development and development issues should stop the agenda of this nation and all discussions and campaigns must be hinged on development. Zambians would like to know how they will be taken out of their poverty."
And the women's movement has asked President Rupiah Banda to sack MMD youth chairperson Chris Chalwe for exhibiting blatant disregard for the laws of the country.
NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale condemned the threats by MMD caders on innocent citizens.
Mwale said it was shameful that the ruling party cadres could parade themselves before the media and threaten the lives of other people and get away with it.
She said that kind of intolerance of other people's views was unacceptable in this political dispensation.
“We urge the police to move quickly and arrest the cadres who have threatened FDD president Edith Nawakwi and PF spokesperson Given Lubinda. The Zambia Police Service should be the first organisation to know that threatening violence against anybody is a criminal offence which calls for prosecution against the offenders especially where there is already overwhelming evidence like in this instance,” she said.
Mwale said NGOCC had noted, with regret, recently that party cadres from all the political parties had been exhibiting gross intolerance against dissenting views both from within and outside their parties. She said this was a recipe for violence and if not stopped immediately, could lead to serious political instability especially as the country approached the 2011 tripartite elections.
“As in any violence situation, women and children are bearers of its negative brunt… We call on presidents of major political parties in this country to prevail on their overzealous cadres and publicly condemn any threats or acts of violence. Specifically President Rupiah Banda must immediately denounce and sack MMD youth chairperson for exhibiting such blatant disregard for the laws of this country,” said Mwale.
And women activist Sarah Longwe said President Banda was quick to categorise Post news editor Chansa Kabwela's genuine concerns over a woman who gave birth outside the hospital as pornography. She said she would be interested to see how President Banda would react to threats by his own cadres to gang-rape Nawakwi. Longwe said MMD did not see women as human beings.
But MMD acting spokesperson Mike Mulongoti, who seemed reluctant to comment on the matter by initially referring the queries to the party youth chairperson as well as national secretary Katele Kalumba, condemned the threats of violence against Nawakwi.
"I do not think anybody in MMD would like to see such a thing. So as far as l am concerned, I have not talked to Mr Chalwe, I do not know whether what he said was coming from himself or whether he said it, because I did not even watch the Muvi TV that they are quoting," Mulongoti said.
However, Mulongoti said the MMD did not support violence and lawlessness.
"The position of the party is that we support the rule of law, and will not support lawlessness. So, no violence, no raping, no what and what," said Mulongoti, before warning that political leaders from all the political parties should not abuse others, because if they did so they would be appealing to other people's emotions.
Home affairs minister Lameck Mangani initially referred questions on the matter to Kalumba, saying the issue involving Nawakwi was a party matter.
He said Nawakwi had not complained and that he had not watched the same footage where Chalwe threatened to rape Nawakwi.
Reminded that some PF cadres were arrested without the victim officially complaining to the police, Mangani responded: "No, but there was police presence there. Police were watching."
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said police could not do anything about the matter if Nawakwi did not complain.
"If there is no complaint, who will be the first witness in your view?" asked Kapeso. "Edith is responsible enough to know what the procedure is.”
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, EDITH NAWAKWI, FRANCIS KABONDE, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Rupiah will be held responsible should anything happen to me, says Nawakwi
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 19 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
FDD president Edith Nawakwi yesterday said President Rupiah Banda will be held squarely responsible should anything happen to her over threats by MMD cadres to gang-rape her.
And MMD Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe, who is also facing a criminal offence for beating a Post newspaper and Times of Zambia jounalist, has warned that he and other MMD youths will gang-rape Nawakwi. Reacting to Chalwe's threat on Muvi TV's Sunday evening main news, Nawakwi charged that the youths had the backing of President Banda and the MMD government.
She said Chalwe, Kadobi and the other youths were not speaking from without, saying they had the backing of the party leadership.
"As far as I am concerned, I am consulting my lawyers. This is a direct threat by the government and the MMD. If anything happens to me, Rupiah Banda is squarely responsible," Nawakwi said.
"We have heard from works and supply minister and also acting MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti, we also heard from the minister himself saying that MMD cadres will react accordingly, so they are authorised."
Nawakwi said it was sad that the ruling MMD and the government, which claimed to be fighting violence against women, was the same government spearheading violence.
She said she would be interested to hear comments from President Banda and the most Reverend information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha over the threats by MMD youths.
"Now I know that if anything happens to me, who is responsible? It is President Rupiah Banda. He wants me dead, that is all. I mean, he doesn't want any opposition voice, so the best for him is to eliminate those who are talking. But look, this Republic you kill one, then another one is born.
And so, obviously these party officials can't be this insolent if they are not paid. The likes of Kadobi, you meet him, he will tell you 'we have been given ngwees'. You know Kadobi, he's paid to do this," Nawakwi said. "If anything happens, it will squarely be on the shoulders of the President, unless he can dissociate himself from this. But the way I know him, he is actually smiling, and saying well done."
Nawakwi said President Banda and the MMD would not be able to address their incompetence by threatening violence against other citizens.
"The issues are very clear, the fuel price hike is real. The fact that they have subcontracted the collection of revenue to a company of questionable reputation is real and we need answers. You can't expect a Zambian, for example, to go to Europe and say 'I want to collect revenue on your behalf' nor can you expect a Zambian company to go to America and be contracted to be in the revenue board. How can you hand over the treasury of this Republic to an individual, not only to an individual but a foreign company?
Let's not hide in violence," Nawakwi said. "They will only shut us up when we are in the grave." Nawakwi charged that President Banda was offering contracts to his friends in order to steal and channel money towards the MMD convention and campaigns for 2011.
But Chalwe said on Muvi TV's Sunday main evening news that MMD youths had a remedy for Nawakwi. "We are going to give her a very good remedy for her madness. We are going to rape Nawakwi, gang raping Nawakwi in day light as she brings her cabbages to Soweto, as she brings her tomatoes to Soweto," said Chalwe as MMD youths who flanked him cheered on.
"If she eludes us, we will wait for her at Arcades Shopping Centre or Manda Hill. We shall catch up with her because that is the best remedy for Nawakwi. She needs strong men because she is a very powerful woman. So we will do just that to her.”
On government's opposition to the 50 per cent plus one, Nawakwi said Zambians had always followed the 50 per cent plus one until it was mysteriously changed. She said this should not even be an issue.
Nawakwi reminded President Banda that the people he was trying to silence removed Dr Kenneth Kaunda from office, and fought the ill-conceived third term bid by former president Frederick Chiluba.
"Does he want to be stopped unceremoniously? Maybe Rupiah has forgotten that this woman has slept in the bush for hours on end. I have walked long distances alone at night in the bush to fight the third term in the face of a vicious regime. Under a vicious regime we still carried the day with the help of the people. Does he want us to go back to the streets and mobilise again?" Nawakwi asked. "We are going to mass mobilise...this is nothing.
I mean Rupiah is the weakest Head of State we have had, so it is not difficult to get him out." Nawakwi said the 50 per cent plus one was one of key aspects in the constitution-making process, saying President Banda should stop the constitution deliberations at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) if he was not interested in 50 plus one.
"I would like to think that he is thinking positively, and not thinking like Kadobi," said Nawakwi.
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, EDITH NAWAKWI, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Court adjourns Post journalist assault case
By Maluba Jere
Wed 25 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
TRIAL in a case where MMD Lusaka province youth chairman Chris Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted two journalists was yesterday adjourned for the third time since it commenced.
Prosecutors in the matter applied for the adjournment to December 14, 2009 because the court could not sit and proceed with the matter as the magistrate handling the case was preparing to leave for a workshop out side the country.
In this matter, Chalwe, 42, is facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post journalist Chibaula David Silwamba.
Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.
Facts before court are that Chalwe on July 29 in Lusaka did assault Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm.
Chalwe pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Both Silwamba and Mulowa have testified in the matter since trial commenced about three months ago.
The matter comes up on December 14, 2009 for continued trial.
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, MMD, THE POST
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DPP rejects media bodies request
Written by PFC
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 4:52:39 AM
DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga has refused to grant permission to two private prosecutors to be joined to the proceedings in a case where MMD Lusaka youth chairman Chris Chalwe is charged with assaulting two journalists.
This is in a matter where Chalwe, 42, is facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post journalist Chibaula David Silwamba.
Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.
Facts before court are that Chalwe on July 29 in Lusaka District did assault Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm. Chalwe pleaded not guilty to both counts.
The two private prosecutors, Musa Mwenye and Eddie Mwitwa, were appointed by Zambia Union of Journalists (JUZ), Media Institute in Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia), the Zambia Media Women Association (Zamwa), Panos Southern Africa, United Nations Information Centre and the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID) to join the proceedings to ensure the case was prosecuted in a transparent manner.
But the DPP declined to authorize the private prosecutors join the proceedings.
According to a statement issued by media bodies released last Friday, Mchenga had declined to authorize the private prosecutors join the case without any good cause.
The media bodies have indicated that they would issue fresh instructions to its lawyers on how to proceed with the matter and have vowed to closely watch the proceedings of the case.
The case comes up for commencement of trial on September 17.
Labels: CHALWE MCHENGA, CHRIS CHALWE, DPP, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Post journalist testifies in MMD cadre’s case
Written by Maluba Jere
Friday, September 18, 2009 5:24:30 PM
POST journalist Chibaula Silwamba yesterday testified in the Lusaka magistrates' court in a matter where MMD Lusaka youth chairman Chris Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted him together with Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.
When the matter came up before magistrate David Simusamba, state prosecutor Pepulani Mbewe told the court that although two private prosecutors had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asking to be joined to the proceedings, the response was still not known. However, Mbewe said the state would proceed with trial.
Chalwe, 42, is facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Silwamba.
Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Mulowa.
Facts before court are that Chalwe on July 29 in Lusaka District did assault Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm. Chalwe pleaded not guilty to both counts.
When the matter came up for commencement of trial, Silwamba, the first witness, told the court that on July 29 this year he was assigned to cover President Rupiah Banda's arrival at the airport on his return from Uganda where he had gone to attend the Smart Partnership Dialogue.
He told the court that while awaiting the President's arrival, he was beckoned by Chalwe who was with other MMD officials and asked him if he was from The Post.
Silwamba narrated that Chalwe told him that he knew that he [Silwamba] was from The Post and when he responded in the affirmative, Chalwe charged at him and grabbed him with his right hand and started dragging him.
"At that point, he told his colleagues to help him drag me out of the airport because they did not want journalists from The Post to cover President Banda's arrival," he said. "His colleagues did not touch me but followed behind as I was being dragged. After dragging me for about five metres, I pleaded with him saying ‘since ‘you don't want me to cover the President, I'll leave this place but please allow me’, since I didn't know where he was taking me, ‘to use the gate we usually use when we are at the airport to cover presidential assignments'."
Silwamba explained that at that point, Chalwe raised his voice and slapped him heavily on his left cheek.
He said the slap was extremely painful.
He said after being slapped, he called out for help to Lusaka Province commanding officer Greenwell Ng'uni who he said was within the airport but that Ng'uni did not respond and instead looked the other direction.
"Immediately, Chalwe slapped me again on the right cheek and it was very painful. From the look of things, the police officers were not coming forward to rescue me and Chalwe continued dragging me," Silwamba said. "...As he was dragging me, his colleagues were coming and two plain-clothes policemen came and pleaded with Mr Chalwe saying since I had accepted to leave the premises, they told Mr Chalwe saying ‘boss please allow him to walk on his own and where you are taking him, there are so many people and it will be very embarrassing for him'."
Silwamba testified that when the police officers advised Chalwe to leave him alone, he told them that he was above the police and continued dragging him.
He said after reaching the main lounge past the security checkpoint, Chalwe let go of Silwamba but warned him sternly saying "you should not come here again and tell [Post photojournalist] Collins [Phiri] also. If we see you here again, if I see you coming back, I will command my boys to beat you, we will kill you."
Silwamba told the court that he was traumatised after the incident with Chalwe and that he was then advised by the police to go to the police post within the airport.
He testified that a group of police officers, after learning that he was from The Post, advised him to leave saying the situation was volatile and that they could not assure him of security.
Silwamba told the court that he later went and reported the matter to Lusaka Central Police where he was issued with a medical report.
Silwamba said after the medical report was issued, he went to Kamwala clinic where he was examined and given some medication but that he was asked to return the following day to have the report stamped.
Another witness, Mulowa narrated how a group of MMD members approached him and other journalists at the airport and demanded for their press passes.
He told the court that he refused to show the cadres his press pass because he was not obliged to do that especially that he had already been screened when entering the airport.
Mulowa said he declined to produce his press pass when asked to do so by Chalwe because he was not a competent authority to ask for it.
He told the court that when he refused, he was punched on the left side of his abdomen by Chalwe.
"I was in a state of shock and pain and I immediately pulled out my press pass and gave it to him. I was shocked... I obliged to his demands and also to save my life," Mulowa said.
He explained that he produced a press pass issued in his name by the National Assembly and that after looking at it, Chalwe asked him why he refused to produce it earlier.
Mulowa told the court that when President Banda arrived at the airport, he indicated to him that he was beaten.
He told the court that later that day, he went and reported the matter to the officer-in-charge at Lusaka Central Police who authorised police officers to give him a medical report and go to any government clinic or hospital.
Mulowa added that by the time the report was issued, most clinics were closed and he went to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where he was examined and given some pain killers.
The matter continues.
Labels: ANTHONY MULOWA, CADRES, CHIBAULA SILWAMBA, CHRIS CHALWE, COURTS, PEPULANI MBEWE, THE POST
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MMD cadres vow to continue violence
Written by Ernest Chanda
Monday, August 03, 2009 12:16:22 AM
LUSAKA Province MMD youth chairman Chris Chalwe has declared that the party cadres will continue to “sort out” Post journalists in their own way. But Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba, who was beaten up by Chalwe, has declared that no one would force him to go against his principles of professional journalism.
And Post managing editor Amos Malupenga has said MMD cadres are behaving like hunting dogs that have been released to annihilate Post journalists.
During a CBC Television special interview on Thursday night, Chalwe said going to the courts of law to complain against The Post was a waste of time. Chalwe attacked and beat up Silwamba who had gone to Lusaka International Airport to cover President Rupiah Banda’s return from a Smart Partnership Summit in Uganda.
Asked why MMD cadres could not go to court to seek redress if they were aggrieved with the manner in which The Post was covering President Banda, Chalwe said MMD cadres had their own way of operating.
“We are not taking the law into our own hands. If we wanted to take the law into our own hands, we would beat up those Post reporters. You would see them with scars, swollen heads. We are not above the law ourselves. We are law-abiding citizens also. All we are demanding is for them to be more professional in the way they report. And we are not going to sit back; today they insult, tomorrow they insult. How many times are we going to go to court? We have got our own way of operating as cadres,” Chalwe said. “…If we want to go to court, we will go to court. We are not saying we cannot go to court. We can go to court, yes, but how many times are we going to go to court; every day from January to December we have to go to court? And how many cases are going to be before the court? The court has more serious business to attend to than Post journalists.”
Chalwe declared that cadres would not allow The Post to make President Banda a laughing stock.
“Yes, all the people have a right to know what is happening to the President because he is a Republican President. We are not going to allow The Post to make the President a laughing stock. This is not negotiable. I must make it very clear…anybody who wants to make the President a laughing stock, insulting whatever. I’m sorry we are not going to be good friends,” Chalwe vowed.
Asked what had offended the cadres about the way The Post was reporting, Chalwe accused the newspaper of choosing pictures that dented the image of the MMD.
“You know, of late, The Post has turned out to be an opposition political party because of the way it is reporting, bias reporting; that is against the President, Mr. Rupiah Banda and the MMD itself. We have always extended an olive branch to them so that we work together. We know they have a duty to disseminate information to the nation at large. Now the way they’ve conducted themselves has been very, very unprofessional. I might call that as verbal assault on the party and the President,” Chalwe said. “They have become a political party and their intention is to bring the MMD and its leadership down as far as they are concerned. For example, you saw the picture from Mutomboko. You mean there were no other pictures that were taken there? Only that mother of ours, the chitenge slips and then the cameraman goes to see what is inside of the mother and they bring that as a headline. Like now they are portraying that mother went there to actually show the President what was inside the mother. What type of reporting is that? Let’s be more professional journalists.”
When reminded that photojournalism was about taking pictures that told a story, Chalwe accused journalists of throwing away traditional values.
“…us as Zambians we have got a tradition and culture that we follow. If you guys as journalists you have thrown away the traditional and culture, those values that we have here in this country as Zambia then I’m afraid you guys you will be lost. You can see even that picture of a mother who is delivering, is that what you call proper journalism?” asked Chalwe. “Some of these things, you have to know what to publish and what you cannot publish. There were other pictures that were taken. Accidentally, if that chitenge flips from that mother of ours, does that guarantee you to say this is the right picture to make the news; there are no any other pictures apart from that one? There’s another case where the President was seated alone in Livingstone, they bring Dora’s picture and they cut, they do the graphics and they say oh, they sat with the President!”
Chalwe declared that MMD cadres would not allow Post journalists to cover President Banda anywhere.
“We didn’t want Post to cover the President and we are not going to allow them to do that. They would rather be covering a president of their own, or the party of their own. If they want to be covering Rupiah Banda and MMD, they must change in their reporting. We went there [at the Airport] to ask for their IDs [Identity Cards], their colleagues produced the IDs them they were hiding. They scampered for safety because of their unprofessional way of reporting,” Chalwe said. “That is final because The Post, as far as we are concerned as MMD Lusaka Province youths, they have turned themselves into a political party. And as such we will take them as a political party, an opposition political party.”
Asked who among the cadres was asking for identity cards and who gave them the authority to do so, Chalwe admitted having spearheaded the search.
“The youths, including myself, we wanted to know who the Post reporters were, that was the motive behind. We asked the Post reporters to leave, then they left. We know the law does not allow us to do that, but we have a duty as youths to protect our President and to protect the party from unscrupulous and biased reporting from The Post,” said Chalwe. “Yes, they did identify themselves, The Post reporters went. Of course there was a scuffle but nobody was beaten. As usual The Post reporting is biased... Even if something is straight, they will try to twist it as much as possible. You can see even the headline, ‘Thugs’! Have we ever stolen from The Post? As long as they don’t be professional, they will be biased, they will be insulting the President then we won’t be friends.”
But Chibaula Silwamba said it was insane for Chalwe and the MMD to deny that they beat him up.
“Everyone saw what happened at the airport. I think it is just insane of them to say they didn’t beat me, may be they’ve just seen that the situation is getting hot. This issue has attracted international interest. For your own information, between yesterday [Wednesday] 15:00 hours and today [Thursday] 14:00 hours, I have received about five calls from Western embassies accredited to Zambia. So you can see how much interest this issue has attracted outside the country,” said Silwamba. “To some extent, there are high levels of lawlessness among the MMD leadership, starting with the President of the party who is also the Republican President, Rupiah Banda. We do not do things to suppress an individual or to promote an individual. It doesn’t matter what they do to us. They can kill us but our beliefs will be continued by other people who will come after us. I don’t care if I was killed today because I know that what I believe in, there are so many people in the media fraternity who also believe in it. And I know that they will continue from where I will have left off.”
And Malupenga said MMD cadres were trying to justify their criminal acts.
“We have heard that allegation before where they accused us of being biased against their party and the Republican President. The bottom line is that they have resorted to violence because they want to intimidate us, they want to silence us. And everyone knows why they are acting the way they are acting. The President himself is on record so many times where he condemns violence in one breadth and condones it in another,” Malupenga said. “What do you make of the President’s statement where he is saying that ‘no I don’t support violence, but when you attack me you should know that I also have my supporters who can be annoyed and react?’ What is he saying? And so it is very clear that these MMD cadres are just behaving like hunting dogs. They know that their boss is watching somewhere and so they have to deliver. They have been released to go in the field and hunt The Post journalists. So they have to go back to the boss and say ‘these people who are writing whatever they are writing about you we have sorted them out on your behalf’.”
Malupenga said MMD cadres were not editors to decide what The Post should or should not publish.
“Unless the cadres are telling us that they have become editors of this newspaper; they can’t be telling us what to publish and what news angle we should take to a story. They should not tell us what the picture is. We decide what to publish, after taking into consideration all the professional concerns,” said Malupenga.
Labels: AMOS MALUPENGA, CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THE POST
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Stop the violence, threats against our reporters
Written by Editor
The continued physical harassment of Post reporters will not go unchallenged. We have complained to the police and to President Rupiah Banda about the physical violence by ruling MMD cadres against our reporters. But the impunity continues.
And on Friday, Lusaka Province MMD youth chairman Chris Chalwe openly declared, in the presence of information minister and chief government spokesman Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha, that physical discipline will continue to be meted on Post journalists as long as the newspaper continues insulting President Banda.
Our reporters have been physically attacked by MMD cadres in the presence of the police. And nothing has been done to these lawbreakers, these thugs.
If there is any offence that this newspaper and its reporters have committed against anyone, the courts of law are there. It’s lawlessness for the police to surrender its powers to MMD cadres and allow innocent citizens to be assaulted and harassed by these thugs with impunity. The right to equal protection of the law is fundamental to any just and democratic society. Whether political ally of those in government or opponent – all are entitled to equal protection before the law.
And under no circumstances should those in power impose additional inequalities; they should be required to deal evenly and equally with all the people of this country. No one is above the law. If our reporters have committed any crimes or offences against Rupiah, let them be arrested and be accordingly prosecuted. It’s a promotion of anarchy for Rupiah and his friends to allow these senseless thugs to be a law unto themselves; to harass innocent citizens with impunity.
They are setting a precedent that will tomorrow be used against them. It’s just a matter of time, their hour will be over and another group’s hour will come. But this is not the Zambia we should create because it will be a very dangerous one for all of us.
No democratic society, no sensible and decent politicians can tolerate or promote such indiscipline and lawlessness in the country. What is happening only goes to show the type, quality and character of politicians we have in power.
Everyone in government, in the police and indeed in the whole nation is aware of what has been happening to our reporters. It seems we have exhausted the possibilities that are there for the protection of our journalists and we may now have to turn to the outside world.
We will not sit and watch our reporters being battered every now and then with impunity. If Rupiah and his friends do not move quickly to stop this nonsense, we will turn to SADC, the AU and the UN for protection. We will launch an international campaign to protect our reporters. And if this happens, they should take responsibility and not blame us for the consequences of such a campaign.
This is not an empty threat, we are part of a strong global media. We are members of the World Association of Newspapers and the International Press Institute. And the editor of this newspaper is honoured by these institutions as a world press freedom hero. It will not be difficult to launch such a campaign in a defence of our reporters.
If we have wronged them, we have no right to do so with impunity and the courts of law are there to deal with our alleged transgressions. We are not above the law.
It is said that every man or woman should have an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he or she pleases before the public; to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press; but if he or she publishes what is improper, mischievous or illegal, he or she must take the consequences of his or her own temerity.
Clearly, the freedom we are campaigning for is one that should protect unpopular and inaccurate speech. Press freedom is a farce if it means merely the freedom to report pleasant things. Inaccuracies can be overcome or minimised through training and retraining of our staff.
The free and pluralistic press we are campaigning for is primarily designed for the protection of the public by making the widest possible flow of information a cornerstone of their governance system.
We are not in this profession, in this business to protect Rupiah from his critics. The press freedom we are campaigning for is not meant to protect the government from critics. It is meant to protect people from government, from possible abuses by Rupiah, not government or Rupiah from people.
A free press which is capable of checking the arrogance, the abuses of those in government is a essential to our democratisation process. Since informed public opinion is the most potent of all restraints upon misgovernment, continued harassment of our reporters by thugs close to Rupiah cannot be regarded otherwise than with grave concern.
Our people have a divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, we mean the characters and conduct of their rulers, of Rupiah and his ministers.
To some people, reporting on the characters and conduct of political leaders is irresponsible journalism that should be punished by flogging. This being the case, then we think the best newspaper, the best reporter is probably the most irresponsible newspaper, reporter. In such a situation, we feel as soon as our press begins to try to be ‘responsible’, it suffocates itself under the blankets of its worst pretentions.
Imagine if all the printers were determined not to print anything until they are sure it would offend nobody – there would be very little printed. The whole point of a free press in our country is not to make the policies and actions of those in government, of Rupiah exempt from criticism but to expose them to it. Actually, there should be a provision in our Constitution guaranteeing the right of the people to criticise truthfully the conduct of their public servants, and that this right should not be taken away by any thug, by any law.
We have never understood the reasoning of those people who seem to be saying that the press will enjoy full rights when it is worth of them; when it is more “responsible”. Constitutional rights do not have to be earned. We hold that the greatest right in the world is the right to be wrong, that in the exercise thereof people have an inviolable right to express their unbridled thoughts on all topics and personalities, being only legally liable for the abuse of that right.
We know that freedom of the press in this country has only worked well in speech and has not done as well in practice. But for better or worse, as long as this country continues to aspire to be an open society, a democracy governed by the rule of law, a just, fair and humane society, a free people, a free government and a free press – are going to be stuck with each other.
A strong, free country and a strong free press are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. No nation ever has, and none will. We believe an independent and plural press will help promote full and free discussion in our country. Full and free discussion keeps a society from becoming stagnant and unprepared for the stresses and strains that work to tear all its achievements to pieces.
However, for full and free discussion, one needs a vigorous, flourishing, pluralistic press and for this, there is need to regard the press not merely as an extension of the government’s public relations machinery with a mission to educate the “uninformed masses” about development programmes and what their government claims to be doing to help them, but as an independent and legitimate part of our system of government.
Clearly, those thugs attacking our reporters are attacking the very basic fundamental of a free society, the right of citizens to have free and open access to information. If journalists are attacked, are beaten, society as a whole is a victim. Without a free press, you cannot have the type of democracy you are trying to build in this country. An independent media brings transparency and accountability to government – indispensable elements for a healthy economy as well as democracy.
If journalists are being harassed with impunity, then nothing we do to improve their professionalism will be enough to ensure a free press. The danger for the free press in Zambia is today greater under Rupiah than ever. It is a difficult time with a lot of harassment from a government fighting what it sees as threats from an independent media.
Journalists and their organisations are on the frontlines of freedom of information. When they are harmed or intimidated, the victim is not only them but democracy. Where there is no freedom of the press, there is no freedom. Our reporters should not have to work in fear of Rupiah’s thugs harming them simply for doing their job.
Today in Zambia, being a journalist in an independent media like The Post is carrying the most hardship and burden that is imposed from an intolerant regime of Rupiah. Whatever their claims, Rupiah and his friends are not promoting democracy and advancing liberties in this country. They are nothing but a bunch of intolerant, ruthless, corrupt despots. They will not leave this country better than they found it; they will leave it worse than they found it. They will actually ruin it if Zambians don’t collectively stand up to them and stop the rot.
There is need for Rupiah and his friends to recognise the importance of journalists and that the need for them to work free from the threats of violence is essential. They have a duty to protect all journalists in this country from harassment. And such protection measures must, of course, apply to all media personnel regardless of their professional or political affiliations. The safety and protection of journalists remain two of the key priorities for the full implementation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The harassment of journalists is a direct threat on media freedom itself. By hindering the work of journalists, they are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.
We are not in any way saying the media always carries out its functions responsibly. They can sometimes be sensational, superficial, intrusive, inaccurate and inflammatory. The solution is not to beat them up, harass or intimidate them or devise laws that set some arbitrary definition of responsibility or to licence journalists as our friends in the Media Council of Zambia wish to do, but to broaden the level of public discourse so that citizens can better sift through the chaff of misinformation and rhetoric to find the kernels of truth.
Labels: CADRES, CHRIS CHALWE, THE POST
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