20 August, 2013
Western Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba has with immediate effect suspended four civil servants that were involved in last week’s Barotse Protest.
The four involved a Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), public prosecutor Muleta Kalaluka from Mongu. Others are Community Development Officer, Mutaba Mutaba and District Works Supervisor, Lawrence Mukena.
The Permanent Secretary has also suspended a teacher from Sioma Secondary School; Masialeti Masiye in whose house the so called Administrator General Afumba Mombotwa made a video of the swearing ceremony and address.
On August 14th 2013, Linyungandambo Chairperson, Afumba Mombotwa is alleged to have circulated a video depicting him to be sworn in as Administrator General of Barotseland. He is currently on the on the run together with his co-conspirators.
The so called swearing-in video of Mombotwa which was shot in Sioma was made available on the internet blog sites, the Barotse Post and Barotse Radio on 15th August 2013.
The four suspended officials are among the 45 protestors that were arrested on the 15th August 2013, following the circulation of the so called swearing-in-ceremony.
Of the forty five (45), nine (9) were arrested from Mongu and another nine (9) were arrested in Senanga while the twenty seven (27) were arrested in Kalabo following a synchronised public demonstration.
The 45 are members are mostly members of the Linyungandambo association.
Police confiscated banners, Linyungandambo Identity Cards, fliers, CDS and other documentation.
Mr. Mwamba has warned that Linyungandambo with its associated groupings are illegal with no formal government registration. He stated that any activity being conducted by the group was illegal.
Mr. Mwamba has also warned local radio stations not to publish or aide in the production of illegal and subversive material.
He said it was clear that after Afumba Mombotwa shot his video at Sioma Secondary School, the seditious video was processed and uploaded in a studio in Mongu. He said these activities undermined the security and peace of the province, and that government would not hesitate to shut down any entity promoting and circulating the material.
And Mr. Mwamba stated that government was aware that the financiers and architects of the protests were using innocent young men and sponsoring the protests. He warned that government will track down and prosecute whoever was involved in the inimical activities.
He however stated that the province was calm and the conduct of ordinary business was going on without disruption or incidences. He said that the isolated but planned seditious and subversive activities will not deter government’s commitment to Western Province.
He said that Western Province was enjoying unprecedented government attention with the area benefitting from some of the largest infrastructure development in the country.
He also stated that government was enjoying warm and cordial relations with the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) and all other ethnic groupings. He said that Western Province consists of 38 ethnic groupings most of them enjoying distinct culture and language.
Mwamba stated that it was government’s determination to promote the co existence and unity among all groups in the province.
Those arrested are held at Mongu Remand Prison and are expected to appear in Court on Monday 19th August 2013.
They include, Siisi Simasiku a retired police officer. Also arrested is the oldest man Mubita Mubita aged 80 years. Others are Kalaluka Muleta, Mubiana Mubita.
Police also arrested Linyungandambo Secretary, Etambuyu Akapelwa.
Very poor journalism.
Why put up a picture of the wrong person?
This is an article from during PeeEfu era.
When Mwamba was enjoying the trapping of power.
Today PeeEfu are siding with Barotseland successionists against UPND and the people of Zambia. The same people they arrested 7 years ago.
Shows total lack of direction, principle and leadership. PeeEfu have consistently acted in their own selfish interests.