Sata goes International: Zambian opposition warns of looming dictatorship
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — An island of calm among its chaotic neighbors, Zambia long seemed a democratic model for Africa: opposition parties won elections, results were largely unchallenged and power transferred peacefully.
That appears to be changing.
A year and a half since the election of Michael Sata as president, opposition politicians have been arrested and accused of corruption as a way of settling scores, they say. Police have broken up political meetings, and journalists and other critics of government face intimidation and arrest.
Opposition leaders and civil society groups have become so nervous about their security that they decamped to Johannesburg for a news conference this week to appeal to South Africa for help.
“The very fact that we were not able to hold this meeting in [the Zambian capital] Lusaka gives you a sense of the situation,” United Liberal Party leader Sakwiba Sikota said.
The briefing was chaired by Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam, who’s represented Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and exiled former Thai President Thaksin Shinawatra.
The opposition leaders hope hiring him will help draw international attention to Zambia’s human rights abuses.
Amsterdam also works for former President Rupiah Banda, who’s faced corruption charges since he lost to Sata in September 2011.
Banda has said he won’t appear before a government anti-graft panel investigating those charges because his status as former president gives him immunity.
Zambia’s “very dramatic” situation, Amsterdam said, has failed to register abroad.
“There clearly has been a disconnect between the activities going on in Zambia and the perception in the rest of the world,” he said. “It took years for people to understand what had actually been happening in Putin’s Russia.”
Copper-rich Zambia had been considered one of Africa’s most stable democracies since the end of one-party rule in 1991, in sharp contrast to neighboring Zimbabwe, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Sata, nicknamed the “King Cobra” for his notoriously sharp tongue, and his Patriotic Front Party came to power on a platform of job creation, attracting voters frustrated about the lack of improvement in their daily lives despite Zambia’s mining riches and growing economy.
The Johannesburg news conference didn’t fail to attract attention.
Government spokesman Kennedy Sakeni called it an “act on foreign soil by … disgruntled opposition leaders.” He denied Sata’s administration is guilty of human rights abuses.
Separately, a group of Zambian Catholic bishops has also raised concerns about the political climate.
A letter released last month highlights “the arbitrary use of power by government officials, intimidation and threats of arrest against leaders and individuals who speak against government,” as well as “threats to our own Catholic priests for sermons seen as critical of government.”
The bishops noted a rise in police violence in the breakaway region of Barotseland, in western Zambia, where there are allegations of abductions, arbitrary arrests and torture.
“Despite having instruments and institutions designed to promote and protect human rights, the human rights situation in Zambia is deteriorating in a manner that is causing worry,” the letter said.
Among those recently arrested — three times in the past two months — is Nevers Mumba, president of the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy Party. He warns of early warning signs that the country is being turned back into a one-party state.
“This government wants to reverse the many gains that have been made over the past 20 years of a democratic state,” he said.
Accused of financial impropriety during a diplomatic posting to Canada, Mumba urges change before it’s too late.
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69 Responses to Sata goes International: Zambian opposition warns of looming dictatorship
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Rory Cuffia - February 20, 2013
10:40
if pf cadres behave as human beings i m sure the insults will reduce but the whole cadre team or now its called a government behaves like there high on tea leaves you expect anyone to respect them please set an example before you say stop insulting you yourselves stop the insult pf is very childish all of them should grow up and behave as men not to bana atase
Lloyd mumba - February 20, 2013
00:57
Under Sata, Zambia is simply a failed State
Blago - February 20, 2013
00:50
Thisz the worst govt since independence! A despot in control ! A cabinet of tired leaders Kabimba probing others including dead ones and yet he s not clean criminals r being shielded as long as they cross over to PF WHER S justice The President s biased and hardcore tribalist!
GLM - February 20, 2013
00:41
Sata uses his Ass to think,How i wish he could use his Brains.Hes an Asshole
Tentacles of Evil - February 19, 2013
23:56
If the catholic wont help undo this, my blood will be on thier hands if i convert to islam. Islamic blood is honest true to type. please honour Christ and dont omit to conderm evil in the strongest way it deserves. You may prevent future evil by acting now. What did God command to be done to a serpent? Strike it on the head lest it bites your heel.
Ushilangwa - February 19, 2013
21:27
Better i become a muslim nd blow myself in th presence of Sata.am tired of ths!
Ituri forest - February 19, 2013
20:58
Am a Muslim and I wana tell u samthng.go blow urself infront of hueva u want for Woteva reason and go straight to hell.suicide in Woteva form in Islam is a sin.straight to hell my bro
Muslim - February 19, 2013
22:25
so it is settled ubunga is above kr50. so de directive ws a propaganda or a lie.
lol
frank - February 19, 2013
18:37
When you vote for a president based on his lies this is what really happens.
Chi president icabula amano-uselless satan for sure.
Abaume Benenene - February 19, 2013
16:11
imwe the so called opposition leaders plz do proper politics not what you have started of dirtening our image to the world. plz we want to continue enjoying our peace. you, have money and any problem you will sneak away with your families. where do you think will habour with our children? what you are doing is purely satanic and uncalled for. more especially Nevers (zambia shall be saved) you seem to have fallen completely and have lost your vision.
72 Tribes - February 19, 2013
15:57
It is not our image but Sata’s that’s being portrayed to the international community. Sata’s dictatorial rulership (please note that he is not a leader but ruthless ruler) is what is going to plunge this country into chaos and untold suffering. Please, open your eyes and see. We are on the verge of terrible governance situation which most of you will live to regret if this dictator is not stopped by whatever means. Don’t look at individuals look at what is happening. Don’t use emotions (hatred or love for people you dislike and those you like) to judge the situation. If you have children as you state in your blog, you would be concerned with the deteriorating governance situation in our country. Open your eyes and see.
Straight Talk Zambia - February 19, 2013
20:59
our president needs to be tamed before he gets out of hand..
blacky - February 19, 2013
14:12
Zambians deserve what they get. its like a man advised by friends that the woman he is about to marry has no womb, but chooses in his wisdom to go ahead. After 6 months of hard work in bed, he realizes that the woman truly can’t conceive. The question is should people feel pity for such a man. HELL NO, he didn’t listen to advice.
leading inventions - February 19, 2013
14:11
WHO IS THE OPPOSITION ?IS IT HH,MUMBA,SAKWIBA?BECAUSE WHO ARE THEY REPRESENTING,IF THEY HAVE THE MASSES BEHIND THEM WHY DID THEY AND HAVE CONTINUED LOSING ELECTIONS?
GEN K - February 19, 2013
12:31
They lose because they don’t lie to the youth and the poor.
….and to UNZA and Hone students (aka idiots).
Achievement In Motion - February 19, 2013
12:38
NO NO NO, on the contrary they lose because they are fragmented, working with hichilema only brings chaos.
why - February 19, 2013
13:02
There are only two things win or lose. Losing does not mean they are not opposition. Sata lost three times but he was still opposition leader. 4th time he won. I am sure they also pray that on 10th attempt they will win. Work by faith and persistent. If there is one thing we can learn from Sata’s politics it is resilience, faith and believing in oneself.
Wale - February 19, 2013
14:04
The pf president lost many elections before winning the zambian presidency in 2011.
SUPAFOS - February 19, 2013
14:31
if u look at the grup tht wnt to hold tht conference,sak is 0.001%popular in zed, pastor mumba dumped his church,his rp party for a job in mmd,rb destroyer of hh armsturdam,he dont understand zam politics.HH please we need u 2016 dnt get lost
joe - February 19, 2013
12:21
HH CANNOT WIN AN ELECTION,HE HAS BEEN LOSING AND DO NOT CHEAT YOURSELVES THAT 2016 HE WILL MAKE IT,WE AS THE PARTY WE SHALL TRY OTHERS AS PRESIDENT TO REPLACE HIM,HE CAN HANG WITH HIS MONEY.SO WE AS TONGAS INCLUSIVE AND THE ZAMBIANS WE SHALL HAVE ANOTHER LEADER TO LEAD UPND,FROM THE CURRENT CHOLABOYS
GEN K - February 19, 2013
12:36
Don’t expose your ignorance… how many times did Sata lose elections before he finally won? If you have issues with HH talk about things that you know and not ignoring the facts, tell it as it is.
The truth. - February 19, 2013
12:53
A Lunda should replace a tonga!
why - February 19, 2013
13:04
A Lunda should replace a tonga
why - February 19, 2013
13:06
GEN K weknow you, you are someone who is a puppet to Sata.
KUMENDA ABILA - February 19, 2013
15:23
Dirty language! It’s just a failure to reason!
Jacky Gondwe - February 19, 2013
12:16
How ignorant and stupidity to insult your own president you have voted. Even if there is democracy and free of talking in the press, watch your tong when it comes to a talk about a person you have put yourself to be the heard of the state. What do you think the developed countries and its people thinking about you when you use insults when talking about your on president SATA.
OBS: for your own mind am not a politician or do i belong to any party in Zambia. But i feel really sometimes it is embarrassing to read what some people are commenting. Instead of coming with sensible things to complain about what the ruling party should put in place as they were promising when before they came to power. One has to ready just nonces and insults. GROW UP ZAMBIANS YOU ARE EMBARRASSING YOUR SELVS. REMEMBER THE WHOLE WORLD IS READING WHAT YOU ARE WRITING. DO NOT ACT LIKE MONKEYS. IF YOU HAVE NOTHING SENSIBLE TO WRITE ON THE NET, THEN STAY AWAY FROM EMBARRASSING ZAMBIANS.
Docas/Sweden.
docas svensson - February 19, 2013
12:02
If Zambians are insulting their head of state now ask yourself WHAT IS THE WORLD COMMUNITY DOING, LAUGHING AND MAKING JOKES ABOUT ZAMBIA, ONCE THE HOPE OF AFRICA NOW THE JOKE OF AFRICA. IF THE HEAD OF STATE CAN INSULT WHY NOT ME TOO, HE IS MY EXAMPLE SO LET PEOPLE SPEAK OUT THEIR MINDS SOMETIMES INSULTS ARE NEEDED TO BE HEAD IN A DICTATORSHIP
Zambian with knowledge&I can reason sapere aude! - February 19, 2013
12:24
DocasSvensson,is that your real name and Swede too? I find it had to believe because I know Sweden and its democracy and a Swede can write like this given what is happening in Zambia and the new Governance set up??? Are you married to a Bemba and you have been brainwashed? this is unbelievable.
Nyakwawa - February 19, 2013
12:50
Absentee President busy ranting on QFM about HH’s Wealth instead of addressing real issues. Get over it HEMCS! The Man is a Self-made Tycoon capable of turning the Economy around using the same acumen that he used to create his Wealth.
Prof Langdon - February 19, 2013
11:54
If Sata is the best Bembaland can offer, let them take him along with themselves and leg it off, back to Ituri where they came from. These tailed primates have caused enough damage to the state already as it were, stealing all the time!
iNkhosi Mzilikazi DiniZulu - February 19, 2013
11:29
EATING WELL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE.YES LIFE COULD NOT BE BETTER,BUT FOR HOW LONG?
ANALYST - February 19, 2013
11:15
Sometimes it’s nice to be mindful about your language. You end up missing your whole point because your mind is clouded in insults…ala!
xfactor - February 19, 2013
11:02
As a Bemba I must say that people not eating in Zambia are just useless. Ba Sata has given us good jobs and plenty opportunities. Life could not be better. I believe that we must all unite and protect our beloved leader and country. He was sent by the angels above. Bless his heart and soul because he has a good and strong vision.
grk - February 19, 2013
10:34
You are fool you call dictorship a strong and good vision.
zambiano - February 19, 2013
10:51
Why cant you just make your point you idiot, always castigating other blogger..frustrated fool…take your frustration to your family imbwa iwe!..a sniff of your own herb!
xfactor - February 19, 2013
11:05
Are you high on some serious weed??? I think you are living on a serious delusion or either benefiting directly from the grapevines of the mess that is currently being cause by your so called leader(s).
mcp - February 19, 2013
10:58
CORRECTLY STATED,BEMBA AND LIFE COULD NOT BE BETTER!UNFORTUNATELY THAT CAN NOT BE SAID BY THE MAJORITY OF THE ZAMBIANS.YES I AGREE WITH YOU HE WAS SENT BY THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS ABOVE.THE ONLY VISION HE HAS IS TO BRING BACK DICTATORSHIP IN ZAMBIA AND TRY TO EULE UMUYAYA.SORRY THE PF DAY NUMBERED.
ANALYST - February 19, 2013
11:05
Satire, right?
Realist - February 19, 2013
11:21
well with the tribe on your side all should be well with you and soon a diplomatic appointment must be on its way. for sure your man is the man of your tribe.
Zed@crossroad - February 19, 2013
11:57
@grk confirm this is written toungue in cheek, surely.
The Corrector - February 19, 2013
12:25
Which jobs has he (MCS) given the majority? Selling on the streets? Perhaps you belong to the few that have been appointed, but what about the youths who thought they would truly have more money in their pockets. They even thought donchi kubeba was meant for the MMD!! Alas it was meant for them – ‘don’t tell the youths what we mean – they are niaive’
nchonde - February 19, 2013
14:38
Grk,
You are not different from ur icon. Learn 2 be explicit.e.g.
You did not say which angels sent ur adorable. Am sure they are angels of death-A misfit and pain in this generation.
Kwaza - February 19, 2013
17:20
The end will tell.
Mapumba fwiiii - February 19, 2013
10:33
heheheh! this will go nowhere!
sensible - February 19, 2013
10:33
SAD development. Sad indeed
MATRIX - February 19, 2013
10:24
Chimbwi no plan!!
2 RAIN - February 19, 2013
10:15
Fellow Zambians, some of you laughed at the Zimbabwean situation. Mark my words; The Zambian situation will be worse off. I feel sorry for my beloved country. Very soon, most Zambians will be economic refugees in neighboring countries – doing odd jobs – just because of one IDIOT: MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA
Crisis - February 19, 2013
10:13
mr editor cant agree with you more
it is sad that pf is so myopic not to see that there are lossing more people than they first thot Why are people so short sighted when they get into the realms of power? it is so soon that pf could not sleep galavanting to upnd offices to ask for help so they can remove mmd from office in that it was violating people’s rights? Today u areon the other side, what was bad is now good, surely should we continue with such people definetly NO pf put your house in order now or never we are watching and when all of us shall say NO enough is enough, you will have yourself to blame
Everyday on the pf znbc only pf cadres are paraded A bunch of directless ministers campaigning everywhere for their fellow failure at the expense of us poor tax payers ITS SAD The most unfortunate thing is that these intimadations are done at the expense of nation development They go round cheating our innocent masses with impunity that no development if do not vote for us SHAME
maposa - February 19, 2013
09:58
Satamania!
silu ni silu - February 19, 2013
09:57
MWAONA MANJE!!!! WE TRIED TO WARN THIS GOVERNMENT BUT IT FELL ON DEAF EARS.
AKASHAMBATWA - February 19, 2013
09:51
Today he is peeping again in cameras to appoint his tribesmen
scree - February 19, 2013
09:41
Time will tell – Bob Marley
Jacob Zume - February 19, 2013
09:30
Oh yes, it is a matter of time!
Mubanga - February 19, 2013
09:54
Jimmy Cliff
The Corrector - February 19, 2013
12:21
Did we not warn you about this old F.O.O.L
TheEngineer (Australia) - February 19, 2013
09:29
You warned us boss but we were too naive to listen!
Mubanga - February 19, 2013
09:55
THJIS RUBBISH YOU PUBLISH,MWALEPA KUMWENU BAFIKALA
GEN K - February 19, 2013
12:38
We need jobs,we completed school with good courses and good results, just sleeping at homes of our parents at this age. When are they going to benefit from us?
Neede chimuka - February 19, 2013
09:29
This is bad for our country.We are not used to this.Sure Sata after voting for you is this the legacy you want to believe?
Calculate - February 19, 2013
09:27
Who to blame? Ourselves ofcourse, i remember in september 2011 the country were making noise of joy because of dont kubeba,what it mean we dont know but now its time for tears. I feel pity for mother zambia,indeed its shame.
Neede chimuka - February 19, 2013
09:24
The is something i fail to understand about ka sata the man basically bonked women from all the nine provinces of Zambia,he did not discriminate so long you agreed with him and wore a skirt sata would bonk you.But now 90% of his appointment are his tribesmen or his friends why is he discriminating now.In sex he does not practice tribalism but in politics he practices tribalism.Why is he like this?
zambiano - February 19, 2013
09:23
spot on
RASTA - February 19, 2013
09:59
A good one but sex has no tribe
Original - February 19, 2013
10:00
Sorry bro, no Tonga woman would bonk such a one!
SindisoNkatya - February 19, 2013
11:05
Wapya munzi wa PF.
Wanzelu - February 19, 2013
09:15
Cheap ruling of monkey. We as youths are now doomed to zero level.
Neede chimuka - February 19, 2013
09:13
No,No, No YOU ARE NOT DOOMED.DON’T LOSE HOPE YET.I CALL UPON ALL YOUTHS NOT TO BE USED AND THROWN AWAY LIKE ‘SHINDA PAPER’.BE WISE IN YOUR VOTING.
ANALYST - February 19, 2013
10:45
The only positive thing about Sata’s way of handling affairs is that he is too naive to realise that he is decampaigning himself and his party.As things stand the opposition need not campaign but sit back take their bowls of pop corn and watch the comedy that Sata considers leadership.
Mailon - February 19, 2013
15:18