THE Zambian mission to Japan has said all Zambians currently based there are safe following a devastating Tsunami caused by an earthquake which hit the eastern coast of the country on March 11, leaving hundreds of people dead and a trail of destruction.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Wamundila Mbikusita Lewanika said in a telephone interview from Tokyo on March 11 that all the students at various institutions and workers at the mission are safe.
“We have about eight Zambian students studying here under a joint programme between the two countries. All of them and the workers at our mission are safe,” Dr Lewanika said.
“So far, I have no report of any Zambian who has been affected. We are still feeling the aftershocks and the house I occupy is shaking right now but we are fine,” he said.
Dr Lewanika said he had received phone calls from Zambia asking about the safety of Zambians based in Japan in the wake of the disaster.
The earthquake slammed Japan’s eastern coast, killing hundreds of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires blazed out of control.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
you have traded your voice for the poor in ur province for a well furnished house in tokyo , despite u beeing a doctor . you must be ashamed. the japanese govt govt says it cannot announce the deaths but you rush to speak yourself . poverty ibisana
speak about what is happeneing in your province where people are getting killed .like kelly bwalubita , like akashabatwa in tanzania running tazara , like ur sista and many lozis , u only form political parties to serve ur interest and all the mmd do is give u simple jobs outside the country AND U KEEP QUIET.SHAME
Fumbi,Hold your fire.
This is an update about current events in Japan and Dr Lewanika is doing his official duty telling us about the Zed affairs there.
For your information,Dr Inonge Lewanika is behind many successful projects in the Barotseland including running the only modern Basic school in Limulunga.
Tazara is now being recapitalised due to the diligent Management of Aka and his team and to be honest this is the most honest bunch of siblings you can ever come across.
Give credit where its due.People prefer loaded thieves in Zambia.
Shut up you idi.ot its not safe. Responsible governments are warning their nationals not travel there unless its absolutely essential, what are you talking about. Probably he doesn’t even know how many Zambias are currently there apart from the 8 students
that’s true there should be more than 8 Zabians in Japan
Its either Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Wamundila Mbikusita Lewanika has been terribly misquoted, and thats very likely, or he is making very premature comments and announcements about the quake in Japan. Its way too early to tell whether or not very Zambian in Japan is safe at this moment.
And given the huge amount of aid we have had from Japan for decades, it is rather selfish for us to be seen to only focus on the well being of Zambians in that Country. A seasoned diplomat like an ambassador should know how to choose the right words. I long for a time when Zambia will reciprocate in a small way and offer aid to Japan in such moments of distress. No matter how small. Its humbling.
come on #7 the zambian diplomat is ok to worry about its people first and perhaps only. your attitude is what led KK to spend all our money for that people’s welbeing. he went further and spent our children’s money to figh wars for them. and we go what in return. so stop that
#2 you confused to say the least
Mr Ambassador, our undergraduate students believe that there are Zambians who’re permanent residents in Japan. What is their fate? Are you only concerned about the students and those who work at the embassy?
Dear #8, Global citizaen.
Please re-read my comment in #7 and then re-read your comment in #8, and ask yourself in all honest if there is any correlation with the issue at hand. KK? fighting wars? You went off tangent.
Stop what exactly? Stop mentioning the fact that my Country Zambia has benefited immensely from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for example? And that I long for a time when my Country will be able to RECIPROCATE IN A SMALL WAY and be able to help Japan in times of distress such as this? What are you saying?
Ba mambala are you so dull? The ambassador can only account for Zambians that are registered with the Zambian embassy in Japan be they students or any other Zambian. For those Zambians who you claim are resident in Japan my bet is they will account for themselves. It is a practice by most civilised nations to have all their citizens in foreign countries register with their embassies in a particular country. Because of your backwardness you fear registering with your embassies when you are in foreign lands! If there are Zambians who havent done so in Japan dont blame Dr Lewanika.
#7it is rather selfish for us to be seen to only focus on the well being of Zambians in that Country. that is what you said. i am telling you there is nothing selffish about that. that is the duty of the zambian ambassador to look out to zambian interests. the japanese will look out for their interest. Your attitude of wanting to look after others so ready than concentrate on zambian is what i relate to the old days when our leaders felt like you few now.
#12 Emma
Are you saying that Zambians that fail to register at embassies where they are based for various reasons seize to be zambians? Do you even know how lazy, incompetent, rude, inept and useless these diplomats and their staff are? Ikalafye mukashana
#12 Emma. If this is the first time to stay abroad, and I don’t say this to mean. But take # 14’s words seriously.These embassies are full of Zambian that are so corrupt and greedy. Tribalism is another matter.
I have 3 Zambian friends, working for the used car dealer, and they are not responding to phones or emails yet. And Lewanika, can’t know those illegal residents.
I am a Zambian resident in Japan, and I deeply regeat from my side what the Ambassador reported!
If he ignores us; then he should not be miscotted in future. I have a better job, I have a better life, I take care of my family home and hope?to return soon and fulfil my dream ! I dont need this selfish man at all ! Twalimishiba the way you guys are when people consult you too much. .
Otherwise ni zii…Kwisunga sana nga uli ku abroad bane. I always take it cool.
I am a Zambian resident in Japan, and I deeply regeat from my side what the Ambassador reported!
If he ignores us; then he should not be miscotted in future. I have a better job, I have a better life, I take care of my family home and hope?to return soon and fulfil my dream ! I dont need this selfish man at all ! Twalimishiba the way you guys are when people consult you too much. .
Otherwise ni zii…Kwisunga sana nga uli ku abroad bane. I always take it cool.
Any embassy can only comment and indeed act on their nationals that are registered at the embassy. As for those that do register they cannot expect the embassy to guess. This is normal practice(any embassy any nation). As for speaking I believe if sata is allowed to speak on matters concern Zambia then Dr Lewanika(with a much higher I.Q and level of integrity) can give a statement that concerns Zambians. Those that are not registrered it is not late for them to contact the embassy or their relatives who know there whereabouts should inform the embassy and they can be looked for. Simples!! This is a difficult time in Japan so to even have the sense to issue a statement is something. Some people here would be hiding in caves or trying to
@ fumbi lets be honest. Why did kaunda fight Mbikusita Lewanika’ ascension to Litunga? Why did chiluba fight Aka? Why are the current powers that be always quick to attack the Lewanikas? The truth is that they have a long track record of honest and diligent service to the nation as a whole and to their people in western zambia(Bulozi). They might not be perfect but they are honest and hard working. let us not just hate for the sake of hating. There are alot of zambians who have made us proud and the Mbikusita Lewanika’s are in that group. lets focus on how we can have honest leaders in all fields and on all fronts of national development instead of promoting thugs, thieves and rascals while throwing mud at honest people that is the reason why POVERTY IBISANA!
Emma & Zambia 4 All, some of our andjuct professors are known by the Embassy & have corresponded with the embassy for years. But the Embassy has never taken any interest to communicate with them directly. What more registering do our professors need to do? Zambian Ambassadors and High Commissioners by and large are just there to serve their families & enrich their pockets.
#19
Where does Sata, the Lewanikas and the Lozi tribe come in this terrible disaster? This is no time of such trivials for crying out loud. My thoughts are with the people of Japan, this is more like hell on earth.
Zambian better pray for all:
We share the pain with our Japanese friends and it is better for all God fearing Zambians to kneel down asking God to hold the tempest. Aftershocks continue worsening the situation as you can see online . Many lovely friends; babies, aged and so on are in the mountains full of ice, yet there is little hope that electricity which is dependent on nuclear power will be restored soon. God alone can save this situation.
Fellow Zambians:
I wish you could minimize blames on bo Lewanika for what he may not have done correctly before or after the main quake and tsunami. Mind you earthquakes and tsunamis know no ambassador or nationality. Better we accept the situation as it is now though sad, but experts are doing all possible to cool the reactors. God bless Japan and take control.
# 22, if you follow what I was saying it was in response to #1 and #2. Anyway bottom line is that this is a terrible disaster. The Ambassador has to respond to various querries. We have no idea how the conversation went or even whether he was even misquoted. i believe the japanese govt are also giving various statements and their figures are not accurate. This is a time to get together with the nuclear situation we have no idea whether evacuations will be necessary or not. Let us pray for the people of japan and for our people caught up in all this.
Mr matero university thanks for the info. are you currently in touch with any of the professors right now? i hope none of them are based near nuclear reactors. may God be with them all. Trust that the Lord will see our people through all this. It is important that our people really come together instead of seeing the worst in each other. That is my point. I thank God that in all the places I have stayed I have not been in a situation where I needed to rely on our under funded embassies but hey, this is a different kind of disaster hopefully it does not get worse. The lord is in control!
I am currently in Japan and registered with the embassy. I have not received any call from the embassy neither have my fellow Zambians that I know here. How does the embassy know that everybody is safe? Do they expect dead people to report that we have died so inform the nation? I think it would have only been morally right for the ambassador to, and or though his/her staff, verify that Zambians are safe before issuing a statement. In fact, there is absolutely no communication with the embassy. It’s a regrettable statement! Call the ambassador and ask them how many Zambians they are in touch with?
You PF guys why are you always after offending others, is it because Lewanika is Lozi for you to talk about his province when it is your recycled politicians who have reduced the province to that level. #2 Shame on you for not commenting on the subject, but attacking the whole province.
Ask Lewanika i at all he even managed to phone at least one zedian regisitered at the mission. All of you yapping must know that we have an embassy that does not even know who is going back to zed or who is coming unless they are MMD cadres. Students have no formal link to the embassy and its a shame to speak of many zedians who may be in Fukushima or Sendai that they are safe. Twanaka naimwe mwebakwata ishina lya Lewanika. The original Lewanika sold copperbelt and northwestern, now even such PhD holders doing the bootlicking, aaaaaaaaah chabipa sana