Some families of the Gabon air crash victims on Saturday rejected Kalusha Bwalya’s monetary gesture left during the 19th anniversary at the heroes’ acre at Independence Stadium in Lusaka.
Peggy Mwape wife of the late Faz president Michael Mwape who died in the air crash off the coast of Gabon in April 1993 said thanks but no thanks for the gesture from Kalusha.
Mwape including other families commemorating the 19th anniversary also held a separate remembrance service to the Faz delegation who had come earlier on Saturday morning.
“We are told that he came, whoever was present we do not know.We marched as families but when we came here we are told that the president had just left,” Mwape said.
“Then he left some money that should be used as talk time surely….pressmen and women K200, 000 ! We have survived for 19 years without any help from FAZ, not even a pennyor even a ngwee. Why should he today give us that money we do not need it.
“Kalusha Bwalya should not forget that he was part and parcel of that team but fortunately was saved by the grace of God.”
Mwape also demanded that the crash report be released by the PF Government as promised by sports minister Chishimba Kambwili.
“If the government does not do anything I myself I have the powers to exhume my late husband and bury him by my farm,” Mwape said.
“It is pointless coming here every year getting nothing.”
Do you wan’t FAZ to give you money today? when Govt already paid compensation to the bereaved families, mwaya sana Kalusha was his on gesture not even a FAZ derective or GOVT thing, why did you get that 200pin then? .ahahahaha..Poverty
Wow this is the b*tchiest and most insensitive comment I have ever seen. I hope Michael Mwape and the rest of the team come for you.
Mune, let not your troubles in life overflow to these poor families. Poverty we all are faced with — one way or the other. All these families are asking for is to be looked after. We have had five presidents in zambia, all of whom will be taken care of and compensated for life. The late national team died ON DUTY FOR MOTHER ZAMBIA!!! In fact, because of an insensitive government (at the time) they perished!!! Their families deserve all the support they can get. Fools like yourself should keep quiet and not use the internet as a forum for your insensitivity…Stay blessed and may you find forgiveness..
So, after 19 years these families have not moved on. The best way these families should be doing is sensitising others the consequences of poor sports management, poor foresight in case of such unforeseen circumstances and the best way to avoid such. Accept that FAZ and the three four past govts have failed them. The present govt has issues to look at and will not commit themselves to you fully, they have scapegoats. Most of these people seem to cry in front of cameras. We have all lost a beloved one at one point but we move on. Yes move such that later we visit their graves with such fond memories that we even smile sometimes when we remember them….but always crying crying crying theres serious posee. May the souls of those Guys continue resting in eternal peace.
Ba #1 it is better not to comment if you have nothing positive to contribute. Why do Zambians rejoice in other peoples’ misery? You are very small minded. Kalusha did what he thought was right. The families are also entitled to their own opinions. Full stop.
That’s right!
# 1 Its not funny at all, have some empathy, this was a national tragedy . They did not ask for money, only recognition of their loss – national loss. In my opinion the day should be declared a national holiday in memory of the galant men.
point to note the day should be taken as something to sensitise others about sport in memory of the dear departed. very impontant point. walasa
Inasmuch as I sympathise with their loss, I truly believe like #1 that this was a gesture by Kalusha as an individual. He is not representing FAZ or the government.
They didn’t ask for money. No. But it was a mere gesture. Could be used to cover transport costs, buy wreaths or whatever. I don’t think it was meant as compensation.
If a GENUINE GESTURE, you don’t leave something for someone else to hand over. If INDEED YOU MEAN THE GESTURE, you PERSONALLY HAND IT OVER, FACE TO FACE!!!! What was so important for FAZ ON THIS DAY NOT TO BE AVAILABLE TO SPEND SOME SOMBRE TIME WITH THE FAMILIES????????????????
#1 you have spoken sense in my opinion.
I thought that Govt had paid these families (if not pls forgive my ignorance), so what Great Kalu was doing was just out of his goodwill. How many of us have lost our family members while on the national duties? These pipo should know that they are not the only ones who have suffered and continue to suffer coz of that kind of disaster. We all acknowledge it was a national disaster. But now go on working and living instead of you every year crying over spilt milk. That’s why we don’t develop. Perhaps my suggestion to these families is to clearly outline what they want from Govt or whoever is in charge. Let them sit down, discuss and reason together over this issue once and for all. We are tired of this issue every year.
Why didn’t you donate millions of litres of petrol like our caring grand daddy Ukwa?
No#s 1 and 4, where are you from? Or were you raised in families that had only respect for money and a person’s title and not their wisdom? The families are correct they have been snubbed for 19 years. Kalu is Faz president, and since government funds faz he represents both parties. Infact they families should have sued government if indeed the report says the ZAF plane was faulty. Plus non release of the crash report. All Glory be to Jesus.
And please some one tell me What UKWA means.
@ Lyle I could not have answered no# 1’s comment any better. Lol, I am still in shock, but Zambia has such people and we are to love them and pray for them. Fasting would even help more, so as our father changes our mindsets as a people and nation. Enjoy the week my country folk and work harder :).
The nerve of these families! The plane crash was an accident. Don’t blame Kalusha. His giving money was just a courtesy mwilachenga!
19 years is a long time, you ought to have grieved by now and moved on. Holding on to this tragedy and wrapping your existence around it is very detrimental to physical and mental health!
The question the families are raising is vital. The families were given some money, but without a report that money does not make any sense. What was the money meant for? It was just like any other pension. what is at stake is that the report has a lot of bearing FAZ and government as well. Lets say the report comes out, as I suppose that, the plane had a fault? that will mean the country has more compensation to be given to these families. These people are well informed only they have been dealing with crocked people. I hope that pazzle will soon be solved many of us are in the dark we dont know what really caused the crash.
#5. Your not making sense. How can the families sit down with the governmentt when after 19 years they have not released the Gabon report ? What ever anyone says good or bad there will never be any closure to this tragedy with the bereaved families until the Gabon report is released to them and made public as they where onnational duty preriod !!!
As much as I sympathize with the families for this loss…I will not hasten to say that, this was indeed a NATIONAL tragedy. Most of us were old enough to remember and realise that this was one…if not the saddest days in Zambian history. This was an accident and why should the families (now) feel the need to blame Kalusha? Just because he was not on that fatal plane or he’s now FAZ president? Come on. It’s been 19 years since the tragedy and the Government hasn’t yet released the report…why not start there? Kalusha, just gave you the 200pin just as a good gesture not that it was your compensation. In any event, did the Government not compensate the families already? Either way you look at it, the families should perhaps engange an attorney and maybe sue GRZ. Just saying….
That girl #10 Numbian, katwishi mwandine ine….!?
Naine mwandini ndapapa mwe lol
One thing you people don’t understand is that there is nothing as INDIVIDUAL DONATION when you are the PRESIDENT of an organisation like FAZ especially at the memorial of fallen Zambian football heroes…best you don’t deep in your pockets if you don’t have money…not everything is about handouts…the problem in Zambia is we are too docile and too much hero worship this Kalu as if he can’t do no wrong. He should be addressing their main concerns like the Gabon Report Issue but then again we know Kalu is coward and wouldn’t dare face the gov’t over this issue as he has already sold out to them.
Kalu was a very good footballer BUT he is out of his depth in football administration, when are you docile people going to WAKE UP to this very simple FACT.
kalu is no coward. he stood up to the whole RB and his then powerful sons when they wanted to take over FAZ thru the back door. he didnt do nothing wrong here. The K200pin was just from his pocket to help may even buy Manzi in the hot sun. Viva Kalu.
So if he is NO COWARD why did he let Bonetti continue as National coach on BUFFOQN RB’s payroll then sack him after BUFFOQN RB left gov’t via text…do you think there is any sense in giving people HARD cash for beverages when FAZ can organise this beforehand; it just shows lack of organisation, ONLY CORRUPT individuals think hard cash is the solution to every issue Why didn’t he face the families… was he late for a flight to RSA.
WAKE UP!
My advice to the families of our heroes is to unite as a pressure group, appoint a representative and then forward your concerns via every media channels available at your disposal to the gov’t. No gov’t would dare ignore widows especially if they stand as one, its bad for their image.This gov’t has to learn to deliver on its promises or not make them all together.
You can not, again I state you can not rely on compromised corrupt individuals like Kalu who is blindly worshipped and shielded by his gullible sheep called Zambian football fans.
If a GENUINE GESTURE, you don’t leave something for someone else to hand over. If INDEED YOU MEAN THE GESTURE, you PERSONALLY HAND IT OVER, FACE TO FACE!!!! What was so important for FAZ ON THIS DAY NOT TO BE AVAILABLE TO SPEND SOME SOMBRE TIME WITH THE FAMILIES????????????????
Kukwendo.. Yes that’s RIGHT… Kalu did it in bad faith by leaving the place hence annoying the widows who felt marginalized by his gesture :
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Africans! TIA!
When Govt releases the report,then what and remember there’s no way Kalu can give each member of family K1m each so the little he did shows he cares but can’t dig deeper than what he doesn’t have may the souls of your loved ones and our once upon a time heroes…lets move on and hearts will be mend by Gods grace and love….
These families are not asking for money as they are going on with their lives. What they really want is closure — let us know how they died?!? Kambwili used the release of the GABON report as his campaign manifesto. Those of you who think govt has already done enough have to understand that the team died on NATIONAL DUTY! Govt/FAZ should have set up some revolving fund from which to ensure the families could live off and send the kids to school etc.. Kalusha (given was a part of the team) is in a position of influence to ensure things are set right. This is what the families want. Instead Kalu leaves 200pin! Please, is this the “best” this guy can do? Now I understand how Kalu could give 2 footballs to his former school and claim he has helped!!! The guys is SELFISH plain and simple!
Pa chililo tulaposa ulupiya pakabale nga walosha. Kalu mwana wamubemba alekonka ntambi, takwaba kucitile enga iyo mwaposa pakabale. Bana Mwape bushe mulibakwii? Kalu teti amicite compasate icintu govnment yacitile kale kabili te Kalu engasenda ndalama isho govnment ipela FAZ ukumupa icho cakana
Good comment by no1.what about soldiers who have died doing national duties.Do we mourn them every year?i think what they want is cash from the AFCON loot.
Kindly Zambian answer the question from Mwanawakwitu # 8.I would like to know also, Thank you
The families cannot keep on asking for money from FAZ. What they need to do is work hard and stop bothering the FAZ. Even if the they had to give each family 10 million kwacha, it wont solve anything,,,, they just gonna keep on coming back for more.
Ukwa is a Nigerian comedian !
while we do appreciate our heros who perished for national cause…family reps ,must not hijack and take the country to ransom… they mean they 10 million evey year every time they make a trip to lusaka… this is why they say ..dont give them fish…teach them how to fish… these guys were given some monies if i recall correctly… but pa zed monies means lets go buy saugage and shake shake…
Everyone of us mourned the passing of these galant men of Zambia, but I think to always expect special treatment from the powers that be is going overboard. It would be good to get the report out but it will not bring back the departed. Nothing takes God by surprise. Those men were meant to die like that. I always wonder at those mothers who for 19 years have been subjecting their children to the pain of loosing their fathers. Mothers as surviving parents please help your children to heal from the loss. Kalu was only trying to do good given the circumstances. We have all lost our loved ones but have moved on.
SO FOR HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO BE PAYING KANSHI, EVERY YEAR THE GOVT SHOULD PAY THESE PEOPLE,WERE THEY NOT PAYED WAY BACK.THE GOVT HAS ALOT TO DO,ROADS,MEDICINES,ETC TASHAFULA……NEXT YEAR BA KALUSHA DONT EVEN GO TO THE SIGHT.THE 200,000 FROM SOMEONE’S POCKET IS ENOUGH 200 PIN *30 = 6 MILLION.
With due respect to the fallen heroes and the remnant families, i wish to state that you are now asking for too much from the Zambians. We appreciate the sacrifice the perished team gave to the country and we syphathise with your predicament.However, your sorrow should not be used as a money making venture. Unless I am mistaken, the state has paid you quite a lot of money in the last 19 years (believe you me you can never be paid enough for your loss) and I think that it is unfair that year in year out, you want to hold the government to ransom with your perpetual demands. With due respect, there are alot more others(heroes) who have died on national duty and you are not the only ones to have lost beloved ones. You need to understand that your healing is not in the MONEY!!
Just google, the report is on the internet: Pilot was tired. One engine caught fire. He switched off the wrong engine and the plane crashed
Sure? Which site my brother?
The K200,000 is personal money from Mr. Kalusha Bwalya. Please accept the humble donation from a man who was a friend to most of the departed colleagues.The offficial commemoration shall be held next year as planned by FAZ. Kalusha Bwalya went there in his personal capacity.
I thought the families at one time were paid. I think money should not be an issue here as it will not bring back the dead. if Mrs Mwape wants to exhume her late husbands body and burial him at his farm so be it, if that will make her at peace. But she must remember that these people dead for mother Zambia, the reason they were buried at that site, it was in their honour. I pray for the families to hear. its annoying every year to hears people complaining, let the dead sleep in peace.
I thought the families at one time were paid. I think money should not be an issue here as it will not bring back the dead. if Mrs Mwape wants to exhume her late husbands body and burial him at his farm so be it, if that will make her at peace. But she must remember that these people dead for mother Zambia, the reason they were buried at that site, it was in their honour. I pray for the families to heal. its annoying every year to hear people complaining, let the dead sleep in peace.
#25 So what if this ukwa iz a Nigerian actor? How will the releaze of the 1993 Gabon Air Dizastor help the affected familez and or indeed anybody for that matter?
i think the best way of honoring our soccer heroes it to have something like a CUP the way it was when we had heroes and unity cup those days. let the government and faz do something.
If the compasation was not enough please sue Govt. i recall during settlement this group was represented by a lawyer. what we should know is that no amount of money can compasate lost life and as long as a person lives money is needed everyday. Even those who retire with handsome packages at one point will be broke if no investment is done. you cannot make livelihood out of your beloved departed one, even insurance claim is made only once going beyond this is somehow immoral.
I have vivid memories of the day I learnt of the national tragedy in which we lost an entire football team and officials in 1993. I remember the tears of a nation, my own tears in my sisters living room when the funeral service was beamed live from the independence stadium, I felt the same tag at my heart when I so clips of our current Afcon Champions visit the scene of the accident the point is this is painful and the government owes it to the families and nation to give them the report. What I find unbelievable (with all due respect to the families and the deceased) is that people still go and cry at burial ground. I think the family grief should never be mixed up with the governments responsibility – it diminishes the magnituded of the loss that the families and the nation suffered.
kalusha that was fine, how many people have died whilst on national duties? we have our soldiers that have been killed in sudan whilst on duties’ so how special is this gabon thing.
Time to move on
These families are now becoming childish…….Kalusha gave out that money in his individual capacity……they should know that they are not the only ones that have lost loved ones who were on duty…..FAZ does not owe them anything any more…. some of them have even gotten married to former FAZ administrators!!!!!!!!
It’s hard to please everybody..na 200 pin yakula, inganinebo I would have given them nothing but a prayer.
One might think the accident was recent yet what we had was the national team lifting the cup. That should be more on our minds now that the cries of those who perished. Accept it the govt will not release that report because it condems them left right and centre. Time to move on. Kalusha is equally a victim in that only that he is alive now. Move on bane move on rather stop mourning your relatives openly now just the way others do with their beloved ones,, infact, the way we mourn our beloved ones.
Ba FAZ i have one for you. introduce sports insurance at clud level. this might solve such problems in future.
Indeed, many people have died on national duty. These include countless soldiers (during the liberation war), civilians, intelligence officers, policemen, national service youth (like those who died outside Chongwe in 1979 when Rhodesians bombed the area), Alick Nkhata who was shot by rebels who had come for ZAPU…ad infinitum. Perhaps Govt should give the families the President’s medal during the Heroes and Unity week and close the chapter for good. No more official commemorations thereafter…
What about the family of that child who was killed when the Rhodesians came for ZANU leader Herbert Chitepo in Chilenje township next to the Chilenje police station? Did the KK government compesate the family? Where is the family incidentally? Are they still in Lusaka?
Kwena kuti waseka. Pa Zed, paliba ubwafya sana.
The findings of a report in such a disaster have implications on whether and how much compensation should be paid to the next of kin. It depends on whether the crash was as a result of pilot error, negligence, poor maintenance of the craft e.t.c. That is why airlines usually do all they can to avoid being found guilty of contributory negligence when one of their planes crash – because that will determine what form compensations will take. Air crash reports do take long, but not this long. I have always felt the govt. has something to hide. I have read captions of the findings on the disaster (I think from the Canadian manufacturers of the craft) which suggested poor maintenance of the plane. That plane had not even flown for five months, prior to that trip. It was a dilapidated plane.
@46 Harod Muna
If you have seen an episode of Air Crash Investigations on National Geographic, you will note that these guys are very meticulous in their investigations to the point that they will find out from the little of what’s left of the plane if it was missing a bolt or a washer in the wing.
This is a military aircraft we are talking about here not a commercial airliner…different rules apply here; one thing is for sure is there was negligence on the part of gov’t to release a ZAF military plane for International flight over a war zone, remember that a military plane sends out a unique signal on radar and also negligence on FAZ to want to cut costs.
@47 Jay Jay
I fully agree with you. However, 19 years after the incident, the report should be released so that there is closure on the part of the families. Both the Govt and FAZ, it seems were at fault. As a matter of interest, who conducted the investigation?
@48 Chali
According to Wikipedia
“A Gabonese official investigation into the accident of the ZAF Buffalo DHC-5D (reg: AF-319) concluded that the pilot had shut down the wrong engine after a fire. The investigation found that pilot fatigue and an instrument error had contributed to the accident.”
@48 Chali
According to Aviation Safety Network.
Ref: ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo AF-319 Atlantic Ocean, off Gabon.
Narrative:
The Zambian national football team had to play a World cup qualification match against the Senegal national team. In order to transport the team and officials to Dakar, a Zambian Air Force plane was prepared. The DHC-5 Buffalo, AF-319, had not been flying from December 21, 1992 to April 21, 1993 so test flights were carried out on April 22 and April 26. On April 26 both the A and B checks were carried out revealing certain defects such as carbon particles in the engine and in speed decreaser gearbox oil filters, disconnected or unbridled cables and trace of heating.
Cont’d
The Buffalo departed Lusaka, for Dakar with planned intermediate stops at Brazzaville, Libreville and Abidjan. After refuelling at Libreville, the aircraft took-off at 22:44 hours, one hour and 45 minutes late. Shortly afterwards the left engine failed. The plane headed out over sea and lost altitude until it struck the water 500m offshore. An investigation conducted by the Gabonese Ministry of Defence suggested that the pilot shut down the remaining right-hand engine causing the plane to lose all power. The report, released in November 2003, also said that the pilot was tired, having just flown back from Mauritius the previous day.
According to BBC News World Africa
‘Faulty plane’ killed Zambia team.
An official report into the 1993 plane crash which killed 18 members of Zambia’s football team has blamed a mechanical fault in the left engine.
Then the pilots switched off the still functioning right engine by mistake because of a “poor indicator light bulb” causing the plane to lose all power and crash, the report said.
The first report was released on Friday – 10 years after the national tragedy.
A lawyer for the victims’ families accused the government of “gross negligence” for using a faulty plane.
Sakwiva Sikota, who is also an opposition member of parliament, urged the government to issue a public apology and increase the compensation payment to the victims’ relatives.
@53 Jay Jay
Thanks for the information.
We used a “wrong tool” for the job and there was no fatigue management. I hope we have learnt and going forward we will apply the lessons learnt.
Thanks. Much appreciated
this report has been online for so many years, now these people do they want the govt to compose a song with report relics. You loved them but God loved them most. For them to live it was christ to dies his gain. Imagine that your beloved one was looking down from above do you think he will be pleased that you spend two decades blaming someone to pay for their death instead of strengthing and talking about them, wwhat they did for the nation without getting anything from the country they served.
@Kosiza: Please give us the online address where we can read the report for ourselves. Wikipedia (ref Jay Jay), for all its utility and relevancy has very low credility levels – more especially in academic circles. As for the BBC, may be a bit better credibility-wise; but still I would rather that it was available freelly for each and every one of us to read and judge for ourselves (including interrogating the basis of the findings by the authors). So where can i find the report?
“It is pointless coming here every year getting nothing” says Peggy Mwape, wife of the late FAC Vice President who died in the crash. So you come to the burial site expecting Govt to pay you? Surely ba Peggy, every year for two decades now you want to be paid in order to remember your own husband? Ati akalilo kamoneka…for 19 years? Please stop embarassing yourself and all of us women, get a life and move on. Zambia has millions of women, myself inclusive, widowed early in life but we quickly pick ourselves up and move on! Are you still waiting for government? You will wait for all eternity then…!
@Luangwa Bridge
If you are looking for a PDF format of the report, you will be wasting your time as it has not been released by the GRZ, The Gabonese Ministry of Defence only disclosed their findings; go to Wikipedia and scroll down and look at the references the all point to same thing. This is the what the families are requesting the Govt. to do simply to publicly release the report not cash handouts as most ignorant bloggers assume.
Ati umuntu ushitasha patunono, napafingi takatashe. Typical Africans.
Appreciate your priceless knowledge.