by Madame Bwalya
It was utterly disturbing to read about Darius Mukuka from Ndola who has been sentenced to 18months imprisonment because he verbally insulted President Rupiah Banda. This shows just how intolerant of opposing views the Zambian government is.It also shows how that ordinary Zambian citizens are supposed to ‘bootlick’ if they expect to have a decent existence in the Zambian system. Most people are frustrated with the way things are running especially when we remember how things once were.One must not insult their elders but when one does imprisonment is not the solution.If that was the case half the Zambian population should be in jail.Should we all now start shouting ‘defamation’ every time we are insulted?
I believe the imprisonment of Mr.Darius Mukuka an infringement on his freedom of speech and is human rights abuse.Are we surely a democracy and somebody please tell me, where do these magistrate judges get such absurd judgments from?
The Law in Zambia is very inconsistent and prejudice.Not too long ago a man from some village in Luapula was jailed for 2 years for stealing a goat.That is the same sentence Samuel Musonda, former Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) managing director got for stealing or misappropriating K10 billion.
Just this week someone was arrested for dishing out blank pieces of paper. Meanwhile Edith Nawakwi was threatened with gang rape and the Police said there was nothing wrong with that! Hello!
[pullquote]Just this week someone was arrested for dishing out blank pieces of paper. Meanwhile Edith Nawakwi was threatened with gang rape and the Police said there was nothing wrong with that! Hello![/pullquote]
Zambia in my opinion is not moving forward. This intolerance by government and MMD must stop.After all 60% of Zambians did not vote for them.The majority of Zambians are sick and tired of MMD.We are sick and tired of the poor service delivery in the land.We are sick and tired of leaders who insult each other day in day out, then jail some guy for saying what 60% of us think anyway.We are sick and tired of corruption and neoptism. We are sick and tired of bootlickers.
We want leaders who shall welcome criticism and learn from it.We want an opposition that is strong united and seeks policies that would benefit the ordinary Zambia.A great man is known by the way the treats the small guy.
Its my hope that Mr Mukuka shall be released and allowed to contribute to the development of Zambia and raise his 4 children.
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Madame Bwalya is lost on this one.
Insults are not opposing views.
Insults are insults.
Do you hear Americans calling Obama the “N” word?
And if they do, they will be jailed.
Opposing is constructive and productive.
Insults are demeaning and provocative.
Lets go back to school and learn again!
Madam Bwalya
You see no freedom is limitless even in developed countries they have similar offences to guard law and order egin the UK using abusive language in public is an offence.You see wherever you go civilised mankind makes an effort to condemn those that fail to act in a civilised way.The reason is simple.There are vulnerable pipo out there eg imagine those innocent children that can now read and they find themselves with copy of the Post where the Editor goes to town insulting the President eg calling him a fool,an ***** etc.Very soon your children will start addressing you using similar language.The point is however strong ones position on an issue you can express it without insulting
if i say you are a fool doesn’t mean i have insulted you. a fool is someone who has failed something in a silly way. Get it clear that Bwalya was talking about silly mistakes on something that some who did it was addressed with.
True dat! Try calling Sata a prick and watch the cadres pounce on you before he reports you to the police and gets you jailed for defamation. Insults are not consructive and do not yield positive results. A good opposition does not insult people. Insults are unruly and uncivilized.
Please release this man from jail. Otherwise we should all go in because we insult RB everyday on this blog.
I am still in denial that Mr Darius Mukuka words spoken in a tavern, beerhall, bottle store or whatever drinking place, was imprisoned over RB. If this is is so, RB should be the one to command his police force to release this innocent man.
Bonaventure Mutale, you are this man’s hope. Kindly help to put Zambeziland where it belongs by giving this man legal help. This is not Zimbabwe where you are afraid of any person next to you.
Our leaders are forever insulting each other in the media is it any wonder some small gut in the beer hall insulted RB? the other day Chiluba was washing dirty linen in public.Mwanawasa used to be called a cabbage and he never arrested anyone he instead proved his critics wrong.I don’t think the man should be imprisoned.Maybe sentenced to community service.Perhaps he can help dig drains to help relieve some flood waters
So if you go to the USA and call Obama a fool, the authorities will just let you be and laugh with you, right? Or will they arrest you and get you deported after accusing you or being a terrorist and holding you in Guantanamo Bay for 6 months? Get real and stop fabricationg lies.
Insults are not constructive and they do not bring about positive development. Even in PF official language (Bemba), there is a difference between saying “efyo chikalaba” and “efyo chikala aba”.
The latter will surely get you beaten!
REPEAT:-
Insults are not constructive and they do not bring about positive development. Even in PF official language (Bemba), there is a difference between saying “efyo-shikalaba” and “efyo-shikala-aba”.
The latter will surely get you beaten!
Hatred bigets hatred.Democracy comes with responsibility and not irresponsibility.Every culutre has its own norms.You do not register your dissasstifaction by promoting lawlessness and abuse of institutions.Presidency is an national institutional that is also a symbol of our unity.Criticism does not mean start insulting the presidency.There is a point in life when sanity & the law take precedence.This is a good lesson for fantasy cadres who have signed up to. If such behavior is condoned, chaps will one day insult our visiting foreign heads of states, or ownn parents because in their heads, insults are a norm.Those who waste their time supportingg this chap’s hatred & impunity are same promoters of t-r-a-n-s-e-x-u-a-l g-a-y and l-e-s-b-i-an in Zambia, may they take the price of hatred.
Presidency is a national institution that is also a symbol of our unity.Don’t mess with the that office.Insulting the President is insulting the Zambian voters and the constitution that he holds.
Insulting RB is insulting the nation. There can never be an excuse for insulting a person later on a haed of state. Even the bible says dont insult the king, for even walls have ears.
On the majority of 60%, it show a lack of wisdom in that divided, you cant stand. i can never be proud of that statistic, bututulism is too high.
Wituka a bakulu. Ba Bishop mando naiwe, buushe you are supposed to tell us that example, spare our already dirty minds, we are being renewed.
Lets all insult madamme bwalya, we will see how
1. she will feel
2. How uncivilised we will look
3. How LT will ban us from bloging
since she has no problem with people insuklting eachother especially elders.
Christianity does not teach us to insult each other. It teaches us to live together in harmony.
Insults will land anybody in prision anywhere in this world.
This is insolence and it is not productive!
just as we all look different pamenso, think differently, have different impressions about issues and people, Judgements will always be like that. there is injustice and also fair but inbalnced judgements eg
if a man rapes a woman, and the clause says that a minimum of 5 years and maximum of 20 years, then one judge can offer a convict 6 years and another 18 years, they are all correct according to lthe Law. But God in heaven is the perfect and impartial judge who judges people with righteousness. Amen
fool
meaning:-
1. a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.
2. a professional jester, formerly kept by a person of royal or noble rank for amusement: the court fool.
3. a person who has been tricked or deceived into appearing or acting silly or stupid: to make a fool of someone.
4. an ardent enthusiast who cannot resist an opportunity to indulge an enthusiasm (usually prec. by a present participle): He’s just a dancing fool.
5. a weak-minded or *****ic person.
Are these normal descriptions to use on our leaders?
Do whites call their leaders fools?
Time to get real and live by principles we expect of others toward us.
LT is R. ape an obscene word? why is it sensored. It makes my contri empty
Many a time, we get away with many wrongs because nobody takes notice of our offence. Insulting the President is an offence, and this calls for no further debate. That we get away with it somany times doesnt make it ok. If you may recall, we called Levy a cabbage so many times prior to him getting into office. One Dipak Patel, repeated that on public media after Levy became President, despite all the strong legal team his money could master, Dipak had to do a simple thing-apologise to Mwanawasa and thats how he got away.
Mr Expatriate #1, I guess you realise that your services are too late. You should have asked this guy to apologise and probably that case could not have gone far.
One Senator was made to apologise for calling Obama a liar, how about calling the president Chi..la?
Defaming and insulting the President in public is a crime. you can criticise in Zambia as much as you like but calling the president derogatory names is not allowed. why cant people use normal language to make their point instead of resorting to insults????
I think as a first offender he should have been given a suspended sentence rather than custodial. but hope it is a lesson to all those who think insults are the order of the day
i hope the President will forgive this man please let us petition on this, the man has kids to look after so that means he has lost his job.
I would have like to know the exact words this poor soul used. Hope it is nothing to do with calling someone a ‘Fool’, ‘Stupid’ for example which are not insults. Can the learned lawyers advise please!!
As seen from above, the system (LT) has replace S T U P I D with stars (***) because someone not intelligent enough thinks its an insult. So it is possible for some judge to have errored on the interpretation of a phraise/word
I wonder if instead of English Law, Traditional Law was used it this case.
Am sure if i called Madame Bwalya silly,stupid and foolish she would smile at me and say enjoy your freedom of speech. What a shame. This is where Fr Bwalya has got it wrong. As a priest he should know that he speaks the word of God to many different poeple among them.Goverment officials,MMD sympathisers,PF sympathisers,UPND supporters etc. So it is wrong for a man of God to take a polical stance, such as we dont want this goverment. GOD HELP US. Let him come in the open join politics.
Caught in the Crossfire.The False Left-Right(MMD-Opposition) Paradigm.
:((:((
#13 I beg to differ with you; calling the president ( a person) a fool is not the same as calling the presidency ( a national office) foolish. You can demean the person but dont demean the office. Calling Banda a F.O.O.L is not the same as calling the office of the presidency foolish. What I am saying is simply that the office is bigger than the person occupying it. Avoid confusing the two.
The guy said, “uyu ch..k..la finshi alebepa abantu, nafilwa ukuteka ichalo”
I think RB should adopt the philosophy of football players who prove their critics wrong by performing on the field. You cant arrest someone for telling the truth. I am sure that the young man still believes in what he said. Nobody will change that. Arresting him or anyone else like Father Bwalya is not going to change people’s mind including myself about the failures of RB. What RB should do is use these criticism to make better decisions. He is the embodiment of the tale about “The Emperor With No Clothers On”. If you guys ask me, I will tell you th tale.
All of you who are arguing for the jailing of this man dont know what you ushered in in 1991. It was something called Democracy. In Democracy people are entitled to freedom of speech especially over their leadership.The law protects the President against violence but it cannot protect the President over things as harmless as a disparaging comment. When you say insults what do you mean? Insults are subjective and they dont interfere with the President’s duties. The magistrate who sentenced Mukuka is a bootlicking muzungu wanga because he could have opted for a lot of other softer sentences given the factors that 1 we are a Democracy 2 The man was in a bar 3 He was merely voicing an opinion 4 The opinion could be true
there was no insult in Mukuka’s utteraces. All he said was negative and that was true and right looking at how tyhe country has gone to dogs. Was Obama not called a liar? was that a lie or an insult especially when the entire nation was watching. Even here in America or any other learned land, Mukuka did not insult anyone. Pardon the guy. research on the meaning of the word F o o l. Senior Citizen shut up. Judge used double standard in upholding the law and meaning to the situation.
Mukuka will need compesantion from RB and company.
If the man had discribe the what, that was going to be something else because he could have had a problem to discribe. But honestly, If somebody says mutwe, ilinso, akanwa (parts of the body) Nothing wrong. What’s so special about intweno??
meant ‘described’
By the way, R A P E is criminal (re Chalwe – MMD) unlike intweno
number 31 please refresh our minds. Tell us the story!
#3, YOU are the lost one. Obama is called The N word every day by the KKK and some rascists in the US, but you don’t see the law going after those people unless Obama’s life is threatened then they will track you down . Now look at Zambia, how many people are not satisfied with current government? alot. So are you telling me they’re going to try and look up everyone?
This man was venting out his frustrations. He does not deserve this kind of punishment. he should have been given community service punishment. In my opinion it would have made sense and not many citizens would have objected to the sentense. As it is right now, the state is angering it’s citizens to a point whereby some people are bound to become confrontational with the police. Zambia is ours, those that judge others must do it wisely following the law as it is written without infringing on people’s rights of self expression.
Excellent ruling…we can’t have a situation where the citizenry insults the presidency, its very undemoracratic, with this one i totally disagree with you sir/madam author.
We are called to respect all those in authority, a country full of critics is a total shame and a failure….we must adore, encourage, love and respect our President, if ever we want to bring out the Zambian creativity and capacity to solve every and any challenge, including poverty, unemployment, among others.
The great industrious nations of our time and all time, the G7’s did not attain such priviledged positions through insulting their leaders when times were tough, they attained them through loyalty, resilience, among others.
The article in itself is unfortunate.
I do not understand this case of defamation of character. I thought defamation of character requires the person who claims to be defamed to take the alleged defamer to court and claim damages. And I thought defamation of character is a “libel” case which should never see the defamer in prison, but should be settled by having him or her pay damages if found guilty. Is it really a crime for any one to hold an opinion that President Banda has failed to meet the people’s needs and expectations? I believe well over half of Zambians are of the opinion that RB has failed to deliver so far; are all those who hold such an opinion going to be sent to prison? I don’t undeerstand what is happening in “modern” Zambia.
#39 is very correct u can Obama anything and no one will arrest u.But what contribution one expect from from so-called Senior Citizen,King Solomon and the like.
I think it is very sad that what this free citizen said in the confines of a drinking place would lead to an arrest. I think that part of being a very public figure, (President), is, is having the common sense, and moral grounds to understand that there will always be a number of people that disagree with some of your decisions and the manner that they express them in will vary too. The publiction in the post quotes the man as calling Rupiah Banda a liar, not a fool. We all know that only in a dictatorship will the law enforcers respond to harsh criticism in the manner these police officers and judge are reported to have responded. It is too petty to warrant the unfair attention that it has, especially in a climate where leaders themselves have set the precedence of hurling insults.
Well,the law is the law,the magistrate did what is expected of them but it is up to all Zambians to change such draconian & archaic laws because we don’t need them if we call ourselves democratic & let’s remember that Banda is not a King or God so we need to push for silly laws to be gotten rid of so that we can tell off our supposed employees(we put them into office) so they should be accountable to us and we should have the right to tell them off when they do not meet our expectations.
Does Banda have any character to defame anyway? If at all he defamed Banda, Banda must sue for the defamation of character. Now the question is, did this Mukuka call Banda a fool or he called the Presidency as a fool. What we have to understand is that this is a very dangerous route a nation can take. I have ready here form some people in the UK talking about people not calling Obama with the N word. Man, I would rather you find other references. You will never go to jail for that, but your bigotry might haunt you for some time. Probably you have not heard from Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’rielly and other FOX News guys. That said, probably we have to know the actual words this person used that could land one in jail with hard labor. That is excessive punishment. Pure Intimidation
Zambian laws are achaic and bastardised. Rb wabetole!!
IMFUMU SHONSE ALA SHILATUKWA! Tradinionally they say that, since the chief belongs to everyboday in the communinty or a vilage, which means people who are mentaly disturbed or not. He should expect anything. I don`t believe that jailing this man will help in stoping people from talking.
Very difficult to comment on some of the bloggers here. Do you mean to say it is difficult to understand simple law? Do you mean to say that you have never heard of the law of defamation of the president? You f.o.o.l.s. we have lived with this law from time immemorial, I mean as far as I can remember from the time KK got us our independence. Although Zambia is a free democracy you and I have not changed that law have we?
Insele malumbo that is what the elders say. So why send someone to prison for ama lumbu. By the way this word is just like a name in Zambia, most men are calling each other using the same word. Should they go to jail
Maybe marrying someone fit to be your child should be made an offence as well. Many will go to jail
:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??:-?? Long live Zambia the true democracy
Madame Bwalya , i agree with your sentiments. Bottom line is , does the punishment fit the crime ?
…..# 30 Kibakimani …I think i’ll go with that to be what this unfortunate soul , Mr Mukuka , actually said . It makes more sense if it had to provoke such a reaction from the forces of law and order . The alleged insults that LT reported were not very clear. The english translation had a different meaning from the original bemba . And LT being my only source , i was left unsure as to the exact nature of the insult.
……# 32 Kamba Timvere…..I like what you’re saying…Your sum up of the situation would not be out of place coming from an eminent high court judge . But , apparently , it is a criminal offence . This type of law is in conflict with democratic principles
#39 I find your reasoning very strange – you say “Obama is called all sorts of names by the KKK and racists but you do not see the law visiting these people”. Why don’t the “normal” people do the same? Are you also suggesting that Mr Mukuka is the Zambian version of the KKK or racist? Similarly, Kalos2020 #46 you cite Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’rielly – please. Justice #50-52, do not justify something wrong just because it is common. I do not accept it and I believe many Zambians do not. Also, note that Mr Mukuka must have been reported to the Police by a citizen who was not happy with his choice of words. Let’s be careful when we get excited.
Why is that only one man out of the many insulting the president has been arrested and jailed? This is the question that begs a good answer. Many bloggers are quoting the law and telling us that it’s a crime to insult a president. Madame Bwalya should therefore be imprisoned also, let’s not partition the law and apply it willy-nilly. This is the problem with how the law in Zambia in seems to be applied now, it’s too selective. So, ya, no wonder people are confused and don’t know what this present govt. stands for any more. Also you guys stop saying Obama never gets insulted, please… they have caricatures of him in the media all day long. None of those cartoonist has ended up in jail. Get a life and stop acting as if we are all ignorant like you!**==
Mukuka spoke nothing but the truth and the truth hurts, so goes the English saying.
Learned friends, which law did Mukuka break kanshi to lock him up?
“I am really a UNIPIST, what people call UNIPIST. So It’s very difficult for me perhaps at my age to join another political party. But let me say this that as of now, I am quite attracted to the leadership of President Mwanawasa for several reasons but most importantly his fight against corruption and his openness. his inclusiveness to other polilical parties and listening to other political parties. They may not feel that way but he does listen, we see it. Even people who are looking from a distance feel that he does listen much more than anybody else did hefore since the heginning of multipartism. And also, the rule of law in the country is taking route in the country. I am very attracted to that.” Rupiah Banda (Sunday Post, Dec 7, 2003)
……cont…..Insult is a very subjective term and , especially in Zambia , words like f..o..o.l and sto.o.pid , carry a much more grave connotation than the ‘silly’ that most in the west take them to mean. So, can you imagine C.h…k….la ? It’s like anathema in most circles . I have to admit that i use the word ch…k..la in my vocabulary quite a lot . Especially when i’m in traffic . But when there are youngsters or elders around it is not a user friendly term at all..! But when i’m with pals it freeflows quite easily. ..It is all subjective.
….# 1 The Expat….I laud you for the effort you are putting in this initiative of fundraising for an appeal. Don’t be detracted , as long as there are avenues of appeal , it is never too late and even if ….
“Yes. I would really like to add this that we have too beautiful country to allow it to slide into any kind of chaos. So whatever we are doing, whatever political party we belong to, the most important thing is to guard the egg in the middle which is Zambia and we must cherish it. We must not allow ourselves to slide into chaos like it has happened to our brothers and sisters in Congo DR, in Rwanda, Burundi and all these other countries. And we must also learn to wait until it’s our time. We can’t all be presidents of FAZ at the same time, president of a the Law Association of Zambia or President of Zambia at the same time.” Rupiah Banda (Sunday Post, Dec 7, 2003)
“We have wait until it is our time and during that time we must oppose If we must oppose, we must expose like your newspaper (The Post) does, whatever you think Is injurious to the people of Zambia and to Zambia. But we must also contribute to the building of this country in whatever way and especially , and my children have taught me this, to the education of the youth through their education, through their health, through their hobbies, through their talents. Because I believe that every youth has a talent, which must be nurtured and allowed to blossom. That’s all I can say” Rupiah Banda (Sunday Post, Dec 7, 2003)
….58.cont……..# 1 …..a reduction in jail sentence is achieved that would be a great victory. You have provided details here for anyone who feels strongly enough about this to make a start , so it is now up to those of us who are interested to prove our conviction in our belief of fairplay and justice.
has there been an account set up for donations?
Good Morning
I think labour punishment or a monetary charge would have been more appropriate than a jail sentence. But then, it all depends on what exactly he said and how the law of defamamtion in Zambia applies hereto. Insulting authority is definately not a pecadillo in most countries. Had it been in Saudi Arabia, he would probably be 6 feet under by now…
I guess this case intended to serve as a warning to future RB “insultants”:-t
Ku tukwana yayi [-x
I Think the guy needs to serve his term.It is ok have ones opinion and have constructive criticism NOT insults. Go to The POST ONLINE and see the actual words and you will understand why this guy has to adhere to the law and why he is imprisoned. Look at the actual insult he SAID. LT is not telling the Complete TRUTH.
or is it the Writer.
Hey guys watch Mr Sata on this u tyub. Type the utube web address and then forward slash watch?v=Vh603JGdHt4. I am trying to bypass the LT filters.
#64 and #63 Zambia is a democratic Christian nation. In your conscience would you jail your son for 18 months hard labor for a sentence. It was not a premeditated sentence with political motive, violence or hate. He has four children, a bread winner and has never broken the law before. Insults are wrong but the 18 mnths hard labor is unjustifiable. Additionally, the politicians insult each other daily in the newspaper. Don’t you know the story where the kids copy what their parent’s are doing. In this case leadership have to lead by example and stop insulting each other in newspapers. This is wrong and the sentence is mean and shows an ugly side of injustice in Zambia. #63 Zambians are not in Saudi Arabia they are in Zambia.
#54, the point I was trying to put across is that Politicians will be called names all the time but they have to be the bigger person and prove the people insulting them wrong. Instead of locking up that man RB should have proved him wrong by working hard but alas Mr Mukuka was right RB is a fool.
The punishment does not fit the crime. Eighteen months is way too long for someone who merely expressed his view of Banda. He just said what most people think of Banda. It is true that the language was inappropriate, but the case should also be put in context; the man was drinking alcohol and was likely drunk. Above all he is the sole bread winner in the family. does calling Banda names really deserve punishing young children? His children will probably not have a normal up bringing and a decent person has been criminalized for life. Come on Zambians, you know this is nonsense. A president is no king. This guy insulted Banda and not the presidency.
This is a big eye opener not only to tribalists, but all outlaws thinking the law has gone to bed because we are in a democracy. This sends fillers that their myth of engaging in treasonous acts would never find free space just because we are in a democracy.
Democracy always come with accountability. Failure to enforce the law to the letter is a recipe for anarchy which no regime would promote. If I were part of those on the judiciary bench, I would have slapped 3 years of hard labor on this chap in Kamfinsa prison. This has to send necessary fillers that those who are flattered that they could be redeemed for their impunity are actually being deceived Captain Solo is today rotting in Mukobeko for his 20 years plus years term.
This is amazing, what exactly did DM say that constituted an insult? :o~X(:-t
You need to take chiluba’s Ass to jail instead of innocent individuals. RB you don’t get it as for Kunda, I just wonder what is in your mouth.
Bloggers; Sad news Augustine Lungu died yesterday around 17 hrs; below is a short script Muvi Television Director of Programs, Augustine Paul Lungu has died. Mr. Lungu passed away around 17 hours this afternoon after an illness. He will be remembered for his rich background in the Zambian theatre arts and film industry. Mr. Lungu featured in numerous theatre productions and once represented the country at the prestigious Edinburgh Arts Festival together with Benne Banda in the two man act play Headers and Footers. Mr. Lungu was part of the team that spearheaded the rebirth of the Zambian film theatre
industries and once served as chairman of the Lusaka Theatre Club and the National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia (NATAAZ). In his latter…
Cont from No 73: years Lungu was well known for comedy with the Zambia One Comedy group and Television Productions like the popular reality show ready for Marriage and Breakfast with the Boys. His last role was in the yet to be released movie titled Van guard a MUVI TV production. Burial arrangements will be announced later.
I dont even see anything to discuss here, the punishment was too harsh and my Zambians lets not be short-sighted and encourage a spirit of tolarence and forgiveness, thats what this nation represents and if you imprison a famil man for that long you are not looking at his dependants. We are a christlike nation for God’s sake and lets act like one.
Insulting the Presidency is an offense. Nimulandu.!
#15(Persona)
You are fuuny!!
Is this madame Bwalya a relation to Fr Bwalya? Her rantings are emotional and lacks objectivity.There is no where in this world where a an individual insults the Head of state and goes scot free without facing the wrath of the law.Insulting does not amount to criticism but redicule.
She further goes and say”Just this week someone was arrested for dishing out blank pieces of paper”.Who is she kidding by not saying exactly what kind of those papers and on which day?Madame Bwalya is a promoter of anarchy and a danger to our Zambia.
Zambia the real Africa. Its obvious that Zambian leaders are very intolerant to criticism.No one likes to be criticized but a public figure should have stamina and then knowledge that not everybody will sing praises to them.Kaunda educated a lot of us and thats why most of us on this blog will not blindly bootlick the MMD govt.We know better.Zambian culture depicts you respect your elders.When KK was president he was greatly respected by both Zambians and foreigners.I still meet old white or indian folks who talk highly of KK.They ask if I’m from Kaundas country and I proudly say yes.But Chiluba ruined everything. Lots of Zambian lost respect for leaders after they saw how selfish thieving oportunists they were.It still pains me how Chiluba enriched himself at the expense of Zambians.
My twin sister died during Chilubas era when doctors salaries were diverted to host the ICASA conference and doctors went on strike and Chiluba fired them.Ever since I’ve seen how politicians are quick to fly to SA for treatment leaving the masses to fend for themselves.RB is forever globe trotting, appeasing the Chinese, getting more Loans and increasing our debt burden.With all this pent up frustration what do you think will come out of my mouth after a few beers and I see RB on TV in my neighborhood tavern? Obviously Davies Mukuka will seem to be an angel after I’m through! Those who have never gone without a meal,never lost a loved one because of a doctors strike,never been jobless because ZCCM was sold for a song-you have NO right to speak for the masses
it is sad to here how narrow minded some of the comments are. Surely when one is jailed by our courts, what has it to do with RB. Let us not be so stupid that we should always think that it is only through the president that poeple can aither be jailed or bailed. Even in a house you have sisters who are prostitutes do you blame your father for that. You are a stupid drunk and hopeless womaniser do you blame your parents for that. Let us be realistic with our comments. If Mr Sata says It is only the bishop who can stop him from having holy communion,Does Mr Satan know why he eats holy communion, It is Sad to hear a 73year oldman say such a thing, and it is sad that fellow Zambians cant read in between the lines. LET GOD DELIVER US.
I cant understand how some of the bloggers can defended Banda’s regime and even run to his defence when he is rightly called names. This man, is the worst leader that Zambia has ever seen. An out right baf~~n and totally reckless. The bloggers on Banda side are either sharing in the plunder or are completely stupid. The writing is on the wall and in bold, This man has reversed the little progress that the late Mwanawasa ( MHSRP) had brought to Zambia.
Everybody seems to forget that the President is merely an elected official. He is not king. There is no ‘laisse majeste’ involved. At least the opposition has parliamentary immunity. However, how about freedom of speech for the rest of the population?
You know if this man’s name wasn’t Darius Mukuka from Zambia, but Jestina Mukoko from Zimbabwe, there would be US government money flowing into an NGO to get him free as we speak.
And yet, we don’t hear a peep from donors, from the international community. The hypocrisy is relentless.
82,pandapa, please don’t teach us rabbish in the name of freedom of speech.
83, mrK, that should tell you something, that the donors are busy with more serious issues to help us develop, and that the international community sees no issue here because it is a norm everywhere in the world that you do not ridicule the head of state and get away with it. Actually in Zambia this law is rarely applied, showing you the amount of freedom the country enjoys. If you travel in this region, people there express their amazement at how much freedom Zambians enjoy especially their insulting comments on leaders. Go to the UK and say the same words about the Queen and British law will similarly teach you the limits of your freedom.
50, 51, 52 No comment on you, nga tamukwete ifyakulanda ikaleni tondolo bane.
Everything is permisible but not everything is benefitial. Madame Bwalya and DM you should learn from this lesson.
madam bwalya you are a fool, You are very foolish, how do come up with such an article, a very foolish article.
There is no problem here. This man can appeal the sentence. BUT, this is what is bugging me: Where are the so called lawyers who stand up for justice? Where are the Lucy Sichones of today? The Post editors are lawyers aren’t they? Why would no one come to this man’s help on pro-bono basis to help his defence. A lawyer steps in after the horse has bolted! It goes to show people, that you should not be cheated about ‘helping the poor’ talk. People only say what they say when there is money in it for them. Much noise from NGOs in Zambia is made for ‘donors’ and not for the people!
8-| Naumfwo mwenso ha !!!!! Kanshi efyo mwaikala mwe banandi abena Zambia ? Mulekata abantu abashikwete nomulandu abamilandu mulebasha pantu bamyanga kansapato shenu ? Nabwelelamo, naya mukusendama, kwena, cansoni sana. We buntungwa twalelwisha uli kwi, moneni abantu fintu balecula, intungulushi shilesampa fye icuma ca calo nokwisusha amatumba yabo. Ala bwafya ubwine bwine.
Please start a campaign and ask FRED the king to go all the way to the supreme court . . .time wasters
Lusaka times ….why allow such foolish and stupid bemba chaps to write cramp …..If its normal to insult in Bemba please we are all not fisimen! stupid fool this madame Bwalya
88 you could add a question why Sata and his PF lawyers did not offer legal assistance to this poor bemba fellow. After all he learnt bad language from the master of insults who wants to perfect his art in State House.
I fail to see the need to identify people by their tribe or race or both.
….#90 RB…… You must be of some superior tribe or race if i understand your posting correctly.
I have no proplem with anyone being a lozi…, or a bemba…or a coloured. They are all just fellow human beings to me
Let’s call a spade, a spade. When these leaders (including Prez Banda) insult each other publicly, aren’t they leading by example? In our homes if we choose to insult each other before our children, will we be right to spank them when out of their frustration they insult us? It’s quite comical to see how people on this blog are jumping down this mukuka’s throat. I am for defending the law, but when it’s being abused, no way!**==
Thats a lesson to others… Stop hauling insults. 😮
What lesson kanjimaano? Wonder who is sponsering you in UK. Waiting for you at Luasaka international airport……..
PRESIDENT BANDA THE FOOL HAS USED TAXPAYERS MONEY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD LOOKING FOR HANDOUTS AND LOANS.
THIS FOOL CANT SEE THAT 60% OF HIS OWN PEOPLE HATE HIM AND WANT HIM REMOVED FROM POWER.
THE FOOL IS SO SILLY TO SEE ZAMBIANS KNOW WHAT HE IS UP TO BUT HIS MINIONS KEEP TRYING TO PAINT ANOTHER PICTURE OF A GLORIOUS LEADER.
THESE MMD KAPONYAS ARE SO BRAINLESS THEY KEEP THEIR BRAINLESS LEADER IN CHARGE SO HE CAN FEED HIS BIG FAT STOMACH AND KEEP IT GROWING.
THIS IS WHAT THE FOOL BANDA THINKS IS DEVELOPMENT.
THE BIGGER THE STOMACH THE BETTER HE THINKS ZAMBIA’S ECONOMY BECOMES.
#67 RB is not the complainant – how do you bring him in? It is up to Mr Mukuka to apologize – something he should have done before this stage.
Many rich people insult the President but they have not been jailed. Think of the children of this poor man whom you have jailed for 18 months? How are they going to survive without a father, don’t you t’hink you are promoting poverty level? Ba Koti have you acted justly? We want justice where by the laws or rules of the country to be applied to all people, wheather rich or poor, educated or illiterate.Tulibantu bonse.
OK here I am in the UK saying the Queen is a b****, Gordon Brown is a faggot, the cabinet are *****s… is anybody going to arrest me? nikisi bane…
primitive laws for primitive people – should we stay in the jungle like this current crop of minsters and their useless children bane?
#100 I dare you. Send this message to the BBC with your full name and address and you will be singing in Kikuyu my friend, so do not be silly. I hate it when people through ignorance think of their country so lowly. Do you know that the powers that the US President has (Executive powers) are so arbitrary that he can over rule the constitution? Do you know that the Crown in the UK can dimiss parliament at any time? That is why there is no written constitution in UK because the powers of the State are vested in the Crown and parliament only acts on behalf of the Queen. Wake up you ignorant Zambians who think democracy is what you are told in the common western media!
To The Saint #102 no need to get worked up over such an innocuous contribution. The US President cannot over-rule the constitution. Cite one instance when he did in our era or a 100 years before. Britain does not have a constitution not because the monarch wants control over government but because of a strong tradition of case law, common law and historical archiving. A constitution merely codifies citizens’ rights so if you have stability and a strong legal system you may not want to have one.
Tell us one instance when the monarch dismissed parliament. She cant and she knows she doesn’t have the dictatorial powers of the past cos this is a republic and just a nominal kingdom.
The truth of the matter is we are pretending to be a democracy so that we can keep up with the Joneses but our mentalities are those of dictators, like kIngs and Military rulers. We must come out and tell the truth and just say we are dictatorships for such and such reasons that we deem fit for ourselves. Then the democracies that help us will tell us goodbye and leave us alone. Then we can start arresting anyone who says the President is a fool. Not now because we are playing the European ‘football’ and we must stick to their rules. Period.
Thank you Mr Timvere, my comments are not even an attempt at serious discourse. For someone to state their opinion (or even the truth) that RB is a fool is not a jailable offence in any serious society. By such actions all we are doing is demonstrating the world that we are a joke nation – a banana republic that cannot deal with mere criticism with out dictatorial knee-jerk reactions
RB is a fool, ok@
Aba kaamba ba Mukuka balilufyanya. You cannot insult the President in the name of divergent views. He needs to serve the sentence. It is a lesson nakuli ba LT. Some of these comments I see should be banned. People should be mature enough to separate politics from the presidency. In Iraq, ba Mukuka nga kale twashika, Libya worse.
The Independent
Kamba Timvere – great cotribution.
18 months with hard labour is such a JOKE.It takes me back to the Chansa Kabwela’s case.Regina was found guilty but released on bail and this is the end of the story.It worries me to think that we Zambians are going somewhere especially when you read some contributions above.
Just release the man you hypocrites. @ thou any better than him?
Insults are insults, thats not freedom of speech. Freedom of spech has a limit, u dont just open your mouth any how. You will be locked up. That man deserves to be where he is now. People should learn to respect leaders, wetha in opposition or position!
Every Leaders is more like your own parents.Nomatter how useless you may consider them to be they dont deserve any insult. It is good that the court of law had slapped a maximum sentence to the disobidient child not because he insulted the President but a “Person” who has a right to complain within the jurisdiction of Zambia. Such jail terms are not meant to intimidations the Opposition but a deterence to the Public in the Republic. The would be insulter learn something from the action of the court. You become a criminal when you insult democracy or no democracy……
Its funny the way the state of affais in a democratic state are been carried.
Fellow Zambians and Bloggers –
It seems that we all have missed the direct point here … Are we a true democracy or not? When the office of the President (the Government) is allowed to quash critizism of His office and/or himself by placing individuals in jail for their rights to make comment, with and without due process, it is then that we as a country will lose all of our hard fought human and constitutional rights.
Any person in office is a target for public opinion and redress in a public forum. When we as a country lose that right all of our other rights will follow.
From my standpoint, this and any other President can attempt to throw me in jail before these old arthritic hands will be peeled from this keyboard.
May God Bless Zambia from this President and Chiluba.
Katie Good,
” 83, mrK, that should tell you something, that the donors are busy with more serious issues to help us develop, and that the international community sees no issue here because it is a norm everywhere in the world that you do not ridicule the head of state and get away with it. ”
Since when have donors developed any country? Anyway, you either have freedom of speech or you don’t. Just because a president is head of state doesn’t mean he is free from criticism or even ridicule. It comes with being an elected official. Next you are going to say that it is illegal to vote him out of office. Or to critize him on policy. Not to put words in your mouth, but in a democracy you have the obligation to call an elected fool a fool, as Darius Mukuka did.
Back in the 1970s, the punk band The Sex Pistols had a song with the line ” God save the Queen, she aint no human bein’ “.
Which caused some uproar, but no one was put in prison.
Darius Mukuka has been added to my list of heroes including the fomer state house monkey that urinated on RB. I just hope an elephant insults and s.h.i.t.s on him next time.[-o<