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Zambia News Online - (25), 8/18/97

Zambia News Online - (25), 8/18/97

ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE

Edition: #25 18 August 1997

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A fortnightly update of news from Zambia!

ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is written by Zambian journalists in Zambia and brings you the news from their point of view. It is assembled and edited by South Africa Contact, the former anti-apartheid movement in Denmark, publishers of i'Afrika, a quarterly magazine concentrating on Southern Africa.

ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE joins MALAWI NEWS ONLINE, MOZAMBIQUE NEWS ONLINE, ZIMBABWE NEWS ONLINE and TANZANIA NEWS ONLINE in providing up to date news from our established network of journalists in Southern Africa. These newsletters will be followed, in the very near future, by individual news updates from other countries in the region.

ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is brought to you through a co-operation between South Africa Contact and Inform, Denmark's leading alternative information network.

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In this edition:

Feature:

ZAMBIA HEADED FOR VIOLENT CONFRONTATION

Stories:

1. CIVIL SERVANTS AND PUBLIC WORKERS WITHDRAW THREAT TO STRIKE

2. WORKERS RESIST GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH REFORMS

3. ANOTHER MINE SOLD IN PRIVATISATION PROGRAMME

4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AT LOGGER HEADS WITH TAX COLLECTORS

5. TRIBAL CONFLICT RESURFACES IN WESTERN PROVINCE

6. NEW POLITICAL PARTY FORMED

7. FAO ADVISES ZAMBIA TO SOURCE FOOD

8. TOURISM SECTOR HEADED FOR A BOOM

9. CENTRAL BANK IN BOMB SCARE

10.HIGH COURT JUDGE RESIGNS

11.HUNT FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM STEPPED UP

Feature:

ZAMBIA HEADED FOR VIOLENT CONFRONTATION

With efforts for a peaceful solution to political differences all but shattered, Zambia now seems headed for a violent confrontation as an option for settling political disagreements. In recent weeks a protest march by some of the opposition parties was brutally quashed, street vendors have been on an orgy of destruction and Lusaka's main market was gutted by fire. The Cabinet Office, the seat of government, has also not escaped the violence. All of these acts of violence are said to be politically motivated and already one person has been killed.

Some opposition parties like UNIP, which is headed by former president Kenneth Kaunda, are categorical about their decision to defy the law in an effort to press for what they contend would be a just government. UNIP and several other parties have formed a loose alliance called the National Patriotic Coalition aimed at pressuring government at every opportunity for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections. This pressure, coming mostly through a campaign of civil disobedience, has led to violent confrontations with the police. And now, virtually every action against the law is regarded by government as being politically motivated by the opposition parties, and in particular the UNIP.

The opposition parties agree to being the cause of some of the lawlessness. Kaunda, who recently launched the civil disobedience campaign through the burning of voters cards, has challenged the police to arrest him. He has publicly set cards alight even after the police had said doing so was an offence. Up to now, there has been no effort to arrest him. UNIP and some other opposition parties oppose the use of the cards in the electoral process, insisting that they were designed for rigging of elections.

Other leaders of the opposition parties have, however, faced the wrath of the police. Recently, members of the opposition alliance organised a protest march in Lusaka to demonstrate against a ruling by the Supreme Court rejecting an application that President Chiluba and a man claiming to be his father undergo a DNA test to ascertain parentage. The demonstration was broken up by a horde of policemen who fired tear-gas and beat up demonstrators, including some UNIP leaders, as they assembled at the party's headquarters in Lusaka's main commercial centre. Among those beaten up was Kaunda's economic advisor, Rabson Chongo, who was also arrested together with 17 other UNIP members.

Police spokesman, Stanwell Lungu, explained that the demonstration was stopped because it was illegal. No police permit had been obtained as required by law. A UNIP spokesman said that for several days the opposition parties had been trying to obtain a police permit but could not get their application approved. UNIP Administrative Secretary , Basil Kabwe, said the opposition parties would not be discouraged by the police action against them and would continue their civil disobedience.

In condemning the demonstrations, President Chiluba said that the opposition parties were fuelling violence to send the wrong signals to the outside world that all was not well in Zambia. He said the National Patriotic Coalition action was 'disgusting and detrimental to the country's development'. He also said the notion of freedom of expression by the opposition parties was being exaggerated and he commended the police for restoring peace and order.

The demonstration, albeit brief, caused confusion in Lusaka's town centre as business was brought to a halt and motorists sped out of town in fear of an escalation of violence. Shops were closed for fear of looting and hundreds of people were sent scampering for shelter after police fired tear-gas to disperse the demonstrators. The tension was highest at the UNIP headquarters, Freedom House, where Kaunda and other opposition leaders were meeting but were forced to abandon their discussions after tear-gas was fired into the building. The police said they would be on constant alert to avert any further eruption of violence.

More violence, however, broke out a few weeks later when street vendors went on an orgy of destruction. The new wave of violence was triggered by a decision by the local government administration to burn all make-shift stalls on the main streets of Lusaka's commercial centre. The decision was effected soon after midnight to ensure that the task was done without hindrance. The previous day, President Chiluba commissioned a new market, giving an assurance to the street vendors that more of such structures would be built to help get them off the streets. At daybreak, however, the angry street vendors took to the streets, smashing windows, cars, street lights and anything they could damage as they headed for State House, the official residence of President Chiluba.

Deputy Minister at State House, Eric Silwamba, told them that government was not aware of the action to burn the stalls and blamed the destruction on opposition parties. The Lusaka City Council also denied being responsible for the burning of the stalls, but some observers reportedly saw council vehicles and personnel carrying out the burning exercise, and that they had police protection.

Another fire followed at the Cabinet Office. One whole floor of the four-storey building was gutted and several pieces of furniture and documents destroyed. With only one fire-tender available for a city of some 1.2 million people, the fire fighters were unable to put out the fire and much damage was caused by the early morning blaze. Hardly 20 hours later, another fire burnt down a large section of Lusaka's main market, destroying goods and market stalls worth millions of Kwacha. Again the poorly equipped fire-fighters could do little about putting out the fire.

The market fire triggered off a fresh round of violence with some of the affected stall owners grouping up to march to State House to seek an audience with President Chiluba. This time the police cut off the march and this triggered the chanting of anti-government slogans, the stoning of cars and attempts to loot. The police, who were on alert in the city centre, reacted by launching an operation to rid the centre of everyone.

Using tear-gas, batons and other riot gear, the police attacked anyone they found on the four main streets of the town centre. One man was reportedly battered to death by the police while several others sustained injuries. Women, including some with babies on their backs, were particularly vulnerable as they could not run away from the charging policemen and they received no special treatment from them. Lusaka Police commanding officer, Anthony Kabwiku, who headed the operation defended police action saying that it was justified in trying to restore law and order.

At a press briefing later in the day, State House spokesman Richard Sakala said that government's initial investigations into the fires and acts of violence indicated that these were caused by UNIP. Government spokesman David Mpamba also said that the fires and the violence were the work of the opposition parties. Sakala said that some of the youths who had marched to State House to protest the burning of the stalls later regrouped at Freedom House, the UNIP headquarters. Sakala also said the probe would soon be completed and the culprits brought to trial.

UNIP president Kenneth Kaunda denies that his party was responsible for the fires and charges that they were in fact started by the government. He claims that the fires were deliberately started by the government to cause confusion in the country and provide the government with an excuse for declaring a State of Emergency and to ban UNIP.

Some members of the ruling MMD have called on President Chiluba to declare a State of Emergency amid growing speculation that there could a dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Lusaka. However, Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC), national secretary Derrick Chitala, said the truth about the violence being politically motivated was in the MMD's failure to find an economic solution for the street vendors. Earlier, Chitala said that the National Patriotic Coalition had infiltrated several arms of government including the army and that their effect would eventually be felt.

Several civic organisations have condemned the excessive use of force by the police and the accusations being made about the fires and the violence being politically motivated. Some have also urged the political parties to get back to dialogue. For now, however, although both sides state that they are ready for peaceful talks, no side in reality seems ready for negotiations.

STORIES

1. CIVIL SERVANTS AND PUBLIC WORKERS WITHDRAW THREAT TO STRIKE

Workers in government and in government funded institutions have retracted their threat to go on strike over government's failure to effect new salaries, and have agreed to enter negotiations for new conditions of service. Leaders of the Civil Service Union of Zambia and the National Union of Public Service Workers said the threat had been withdrawn because government had responded favourably to demands that negotiations start promptly.

However, the civil servants union chairman, Leonard Hikaumba said this was the last time the union would allow government to drag its feet over talks for improved conditions of service. In a letter to the union a government spokesman said the delay had been caused by the need to consult extensively before engaging in such talks.

2. WORKERS RESIST GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH REFORMS

Health workers have rejected government's decision to transfer them from the Public Service Commission to a newly formed Central Health Board. The over 20,000 workers contend that the transfers are in bad faith and that they would suffer monetary losses if the plan was effected. They also argue that it is illegal for an employer to transfer a worker to another employer without the worker's consent. The Central Health Board will be an autonomous body at liberty to run health institutions. The workers have since taken the matter to court which has ordered government to halt the transfers until the issue is amicably resolved.

Health Minister, Katele Kalumba ,says that there was no cause for the workers to fear either losing their jobs or losing money. Dr Kalumba says that the fear of monetary loss was with the unions who would lose out on the contributions the works are now obliged to make.

3. ANOTHER MINE SOLD IN PRIVATISATION PROGRAMME

The privatisation of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) is continuing on course with the sale of another division of the giant conglomerate.

Chibuluma Mine has been sold to Metorex Consortium which has undertaken to begin development south of the mine immediately, continuing for a 36 to 48 months period. The cost of the mine has not been disclosed.

4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AT LOGGER HEADS WITH TAX COLLECTORS

Efforts by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), to increase collection of tax in order that government can meet some of its numerous financial obligations, has triggered anger among local government authorities who have in recent weeks been a key target. The ZRA has frozen bank accounts of several councils around the country for their failure to remit dues.

The ZRA contends that no one, whether private, a service institution or a parastatal organisation, should be spared in the aggressive campaign to rake in as much money as possible for the government treasury. President Chiluba has in fact encouraged the ZRA to be tough on everyone and has warned that all tax evaders would soon be taken to task.

The ZRA swoop on urban and district councils has angered administrators of these service institutions. They say that it is unfair for the government to encourage freezing of its accounts when the main cause of the councils' failure to pay dues to the ZRA was the government itself. Town Clerk for Ndola, Emmanuel Chenda, points out that the government owes his district council billions of Kwacha and yet the same government, through the ZRA, wants to freeze the council's accounts for a debt of much less than that amount.

Revenue collection has improved drastically over the past three months with government boasting of a K42 billion (about $35 million) budget surplus for the second quarter. The first quarter recorded a K12.5 billion deficit (about $10.4 million). Finance minister Ronald Penza had earlier expressed concern over government's ability to service an increased wage bill for civil servants. But, with the surplus he says , government is now able to pay the dues.

5. TRIBAL CONFLICT RESURFACES IN WESTERN PROVINCE

Wrangling has erupted between two main tribes of Zambia's Western Province with one now demanding from the government that it be allowed to secede from the province. The Nkoya people, who have been dominated by the Lozi, want a new province created to cover some regions of the current western, Centraland southern provinces. A Nkoya Royal Council spokesman says the Lozi Royal Establishment should have no authority over the Nkoyas. The Lozi have dominated the Nkoya and other tribes in the province, with their paramount chief appointing subordinate chiefs to rule over some of the minor tribes.

The Lozis have themselves threatened to secede from Zambia because of government's failure to honour a pre-independence agreement on granting the Lozi paramount chief special powers. However, the threats have since died down.

6. NEW POLITICAL PARTY FORMED

Another political party has been formed in Zambia. The party is lead by politicians who have broken away from another vocal but ineffectual party. The National Party for Unity was (NPU) formed by some members of the National Lima Party (NLP) after the NLP pulled out of the 13-party National Patriotic Coalition. NLP leaders now accuse the break-away party members of being stooges of UNIP, the main member of the coalition.

7. FAO ADVISES ZAMBIA TO SOURCE FOOD

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has advised the Zambian government and the private sector to start thinking of from where to source food to make up for an impending food deficit. The FAO representative in Zambia, George Mburathi, reportedly said that food being a human right, it was up to government to make efforts to source it to avert hunger in the country.

Despite good rains last farming season, the Food Reserve Agency has forecast a serious grain deficit which can only be covered through importation of food. However, most of Zambia's neighbouring countries either have a deficit themselves or have not grown enough food to be able to cover Zambia's shortfall. Some Zambian farmers argue that there is still a lot of maize uncollected around the country and wonder why government should be thinking of importing grain.

Vice-president Godfrey Miyanda said recently that initial signs showed there would be hunger in Zambia this year unless organisations like the World Food Programme assisted. He could, however, not say how much food would be needed because data was still being compiled.

8.TOURISM SECTOR HEADED FOR A BOOM

Zambia's tourism sector is said to be headed for a boom following approval of applications for 30 would be tour operators who have pledged an investment of about K10 billion (about $8.3 million).

Zambia National Tourist Board chairman, Anderson Mazoka, said recently that the investment would also create over 500 jobs. Mazoka also announced that tourism operating enterprises have increased from 226 last year to 250 this year and that there were indications already that the number of tourists coming to Zambia would increase.

9. CENTRAL BANK IN BOMB SCARE

Over 400 workers at Zambia's central bank, the Bank of Zambia, were recently rushed out of the building after an anonymous caller said that the structure would soon go up in flames. Bomb experts, police and personnel of the bank's internal security combed the six-story building in Lusaka's main commercial centre but did not find any explosive devices.

Some workers charged that the call could have been made by members of opposition parties to cause confusion in the country. Last year several bomb threats and actual attacks were made by a group calling itself The Black Mamba. Several leaders of the opposition UNIP were arrested and charged for the bombings and threats but after a six-month trial all were acquitted.

10. HIGH COURT JUDGE RESIGNS

A Lusaka High Court judge, Kabazo Chanda, has resigned his position because of alleged incompetence in the judiciary. Judge Chanda had been serving an indefinite suspension pending the outcome of a tribunal appointed by President Chiluba to probe circumstances that led to his releasing 53 suspects awaiting trial.

Judge Chanda said confidants had advised him not to subject himself to the tribunal because he would not get justice from it. He alleges that two Supreme Court judges were working against him.

Judge Chanda released the suspects after they complained of their cases not being brought up for trail in many months. His decision riled the police who said that among those released were dangerous criminals. Judge Chanda contended that keeping a suspect in detention for months without bringing him for trial was against basic human rights.

11. HUNT FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM STEPPED UP

The Football Association of Zambia has intensified its hunt for a national soccer coach in an effort to improve the team's performance. The team has been without a full-time coach since the forced resignation of Fred Mwila four months ago. Although the association has called for applications for the job from any qualified person, government has stressed the need to get an expatriate. Already two applications have been received from Europe, but FAZ has declined to disclose who these are.

Meanwhile, three key players have been fired from the national soccer team, for indiscipline. Goalkeepers James Phiri and Davies Phiri and defender Hillary Makasa have been expelled from the team for allegedly inciting other players to protest over low allowances offered during a recent four-nation tournament in Tunisia.

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From: AfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk (Africa_news Network) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 16:26:38 +0200 Subject: ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE #25 Message-ID: <1262350302.104921499@inform-bbs.dk>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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