The order was specifically designed to stop the recent spate of ritual murders and the resultant rioting in some townships where irresponsible people spread inflammatory rumours against certain nationalities
The operational order will be reviewed tomorrow.Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.20-04-2016.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu,has said that no foreigner had been killed in the recent riots that followed a spate of ritual murders in Lusaka’s Matero and Zingalume townships.
In a statement released to the media by State House, the head of State said that two people that died in the consequent riots were Zambian, Mr. Julius Kazungo (47), a teacher from Zambezi High School and another male yet to be formally identified.
The President said that it was therefore grossly irresponsible for some media outlets to allege falsely that any foreigner had been killed in xenophobic violence in Zambia. The President warned all citizens including media practitioners of stern action if they continue to propagate falsehoods designed to inflame tensions in our communities.
The President further appealed to all journalists to desist from such unprofessional conduct that has the potential to build tensions between Zambians and their fellow brothers and sisters who have sought refuge in Zambia.
Below is the full statement
PRESIDENT ASSURES NATION, WARNS LAW BREAKERS OF STERN ACTION
LUSAKA, (FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016)–Following his visit to refugees sheltering at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka on April 21st 2016, His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces wishes to assure all foreigners in Zambia of full protection of their lives and property.
President Lungu further assures all foreigners and the nation in general that the isolated disturbances in some townships in Lusaka have ended. People can now go about their lives freely.
The President has warned of decisive action against anyone perpetrating any criminality in our communities. The President has directed security services to remain on full alert and take quick and stern action against anybody perpetrating acts of violence, incitement, and reckless rumour mongering which misled some of our people into venting their anger against foreigners.
The Head of State wishes to state clearly that no foreigner has been killed in the recent riots that followed a spate of ritual murders in Lusaka’s Matero and Zingalume townships. Two Zambians died in the consequent riots: Mr. Julius Kazungo (47), a teacher from Zambezi High School and another male yet to be formally identified.
It is therefore grossly irresponsible for some media outlets to allege falsely that any foreigner has been killed in xenophobic violence in Zambia. The President warns all citizens including media practitioners of stern action if they continue to propagate falsehoods designed to inflame tensions in our communities.
The Head of State therefore takes this opportunity to appeal to all journalists to desist from such unprofessional conduct that has the potential to build tensions between Zambians and their fellow brothers and sisters who have sought refuge in Zambia.
“The extraordinary human fellowship that characterises the Zambian psyche is envied globally and therefore no effort will be spared in preserving this impeccable reputation the country has built over the years.”
“Zambians are rightly known to be peace-loving, as brothers’ keepers, and generally sympathetic to those in need. We have a record of having looked after ordinary and celebrated personalities from all over the world when they sought refuge here. Xenophobia is alien to our land and that is why security services will not tolerate any criminality disguised as such.”
The President, who this morning constituted a special committee of permanent secretaries and other senior staff tasked to re- integrate the refugees, said Government will work with the Church and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Janet Rogan and UNHCR Resident Representative Ms. Laura Locaastro to speed up the process which has so far progressed very well.
‘’Zambia has an impeccable record as a peaceful, stable, tolerant, and multi-cultural society that has lived in peace and harmony with foreign nationals. I am ashamed on behalf of the entire republic that some of our people are committing criminal acts against foreigners.
_______________________________________________________________________
Issued by:
AMOS CHANDA
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
(PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS)
STATE HOUSE
May peace prevail and violence cease.
What a ST..U..PID statement – so it is ok for Zambians to be killed , all incited by CHAKOLWA, VISIONLESS Chagwa!! WHO WANT’s to RIG ELECTIONS SO THAT HE & HIS CABAL OF THIEVES CAN STEAL AD INFINITUM & AD NAUSEAM!!!
This is a head of state that has presided over the worst form of violence in Zambia – he worships EVIL & pretends to be Christian!! He HAS STOLEN FROM POOR CLIENTS, never returned the money, yet keeps laughing & is HAPPILY LAUGHING AT MAJORITY OF Zambians of how easy it was to ascend to presidency becoz we are so DOCILE & supposedly ST..U..PID!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia forward!! Vote UPND!!
PamaFI KUYA BEBELE!!! #CHAGWAMUSTFALL!!
I thank you!!!
Nomba teacher very sad. All the way from Zambezi school
Iwe Katondo you’re foreigner, imfwa yobe is more important than that of Canadian…
damn! so whats the purpose of this statement,,,to show that Zambians are `peaceful` and they don’t kill foreigners but they kill themselves
@1 BA KATONGO UKUTUMPA NO BUSHILU MULEKE. UKWIKALA KU CANADA IF YOUR SYMBOL TRULY SAY WHERE YOU LIVE TE FINTU IYO. INSULT THE CANADIAN HEAD OF STATE AND SEE IF YOU CAN STILL REMAIN IN CANADA. YOU JUST INSULT YOURSELVES UMOMWINE MWANGALILA.
TO ECHO OUR PRESIDENT, I AM EQUALLY DISAPPOINTED BY THESE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOURS WHICH HAS MAINLY BEEN INCITED BY THE OPPOSITION AND SOME IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA HOUSES. THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT MOST IF NOT ALL THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE FAR FROM BEING READY TO RULE ZAMBIA. ONE OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE CAN BUILD A GOOD NAME OVER DECADES AND JUST WASTE IT IN FEW SECONDS. CRIMINALS MUST HEAVILY BE PUNISHED REGARDLESS OF THEIR POSITIONS IN THE COUNTRY TO REDRESS OUR GOOD NAME.
this comment was previously blocked: It looks like ba LT you’ve been cowed by Lungu’s threats. Why have you dressed Lungu in so many titles in the caption above:HIS EXcellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu Speaking to Journalists at State house today… President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief the Armed Forces, has confirmed
Is this journalism or bootlicking?
What a sigh of relief no foreigner died. Luckly only 2 zambians died. Just a summary of what the president said.
All lives matter.
Now that he is a Kazungo from Zambezi his life doesn’t matter to him cos he may be for the opposition? The unknown deceased may also be from opposition strongholds like nega nega. The two may have been killed due to language barriers cos they may not have fluently expressed themselves in nyanja & were mistaken for foreigners. What chances GOVT has assisted the families of the deceased… most likely no help cos they may have voted against PF!
In the same breadth ECL is concerned with foreigners’ lives & assures them of full protection he must have assured all Zambians the same & extend condelences to the deceased family. But nothing of that thought cos all he fears are repurcussions from Kagame who financed him.
Anyway unfortunately too late of all countries Tanzanians have already…
Anyway unfortunately too late of all countries Tanzanians have already meted out reported retaliatory killings of a Zambian Simon Sinkamba in Tunduma due to careless statements from ECL from his Chipata stronghold.
What a ST..U..PID statement – so it is ok for Zambians to be killed , all incited by CHAKOLWA, VISIONLESS Chagwa!! WHO WANT’s to RIG ELECTIONS SO THAT HE & HIS CABAL OF THIEVES CAN STEAL AD INFINITUM & AD NAUSEAM!!!
This is a head of state that has presided over the worst form of violence in Zambia – he worships EVIL & pretends to be Christian!! He HAS STOLEN FROM POOR CLIENTS, never returned the money, yet keeps laughing & is HAPPILY LAUGHING AT MAJORITY OF Zambians of how easy it was to ascend to presidency becoz we are so DOCILE & supposedly ST..U..PID!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia forward!! Vote UPND!!
PamaFI KUYA BEBELE!!! #CHAGWAMUSTFALL!!
I thank you!!
The one who is STU.PID is you who can’t see that nowhere is it written in the press release that it is okay for Zambians to die. Because you have spread falsehoods that Zambians are killing foreigners that is why this statement is clarifying your lies. Trying to create anarchy in the country to ascend to power will not work. You tried and failed with students – they are going back with tails between their lies.
There is a different between a Commander-in-Chief and a Conman-in-Chief…
Why does this professional failure (Pf) leader not concerned about the the real cause of the riots which is poverty due to bad leadership and immense corruption. Instead of looking like a saint when he is at the center of this with his friends enjoying taxpayers money. The riots are a message that poverty with the ever growing cost of living have become unbearable. Everyday, he focuses on HH this, HH that instead of finding solutions. How many times did the late LPM respond to Sata or even his ministers. They all ignored him because they were working. EL must know that his employers (Zambians) have fired him.
The Commander in Chief has spoken. You have heard it for yourselves especially you political light weights, you who’ve been aspiring Republican President for 5 elections in a row and still failing. When the President speaks, the people are reassured. This is the man of steel, Edgar C. Lungu. Kudos!
There is a different between a Commander-in-Chief and a Conman-in-Chief…
The “man of steel” has assured us that “thankfully, only Zambians were killed”. How reassuring, how beautiful…. oh, ,by the way, no point in expressing concern over the death of the tu ma zambians…
viva Lungu. The ultimate President.
Kudos why do you attack the UPND amlways? Are they the only opposition party in this country? For sure you have sleepless nights over UPND; Not all the bloggers belong to UPND just goes to show how powerfull that party is.
Indeed, some headless leader! Does it matter if some morons went on rampage looting and taking life away, non-Zambian or Zambian? Point is life was taken in this senseless act, and whatever criteria those morons used, they could attack anyone perceived not belong with him. A clear indication that you don’t need to hear from tabloids but from the statements coming of plot 1 leave much to be desired. And many Zambians will not understand the implication of such a statement – folks read between lines and get it that plot 1 is occupied by imbecile and not God given leader!
Lungu you should be ashamed of your corruption and PF (pathetic F00ls) cadres for causing Zambians to react in such unZambian way. You and your dead Cobra (Sata) introduced the political culture of violence among Zambians. Your cadres have injured & killed Zambians & undressed an innocent Zambian UPND cadre & you were quiet. Now the whole world has seen peaceful Zambian to be xenophobic which has resulted in the loss of our own Zambian blood. Shame on you. the blood of the two Zambians is upon your hands.
Thank you Mr President Sir for the clarification. Very sad news for the loss of our 2 Zambians. Ba Lsk Times you also made an error as you earliier reported 1 Rwandan had been burnt to death but thanks for now correcting the error . These UPND thugs are sad because their evil wishes of death to foreigners have proven not to have materialised. Thank God. The danger here is the risk of revenge attacks as we have Zambians in Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Zimbabwe so its a relief we haven’t had any deaths from the attacks. Still let the police do their job to find the alleged perpetrators of the ritual killings.
2016 ECL nafuti
2020, In his own words, the Conman-in-Thief “Two Zambians died in the consequent riots: Mr. Julius Kazungo (47), a teacher from Zambezi High School and another male yet to be formally identified.”. Now How sure is he that the “unidentified” male is not a foreigner? Did he have prior knowledge as to the nationalities of the victims?
Once again the plans of the devil’s followers have failed! The point here being the media especially the online media should be careful with how they run stories. Don’t be like Zambian Watch Dog whose only purpose is to create panic by false reporting, incitement and insults. This is why these UPND blood thirsty s.a.t.a.n.i.s.t.s feel the need to vomit their evil here on Lusaka Times because they are trying their hardest to contaminate this site with false rumours and lies which is typical of the agents of lucifer. Ba UPND there is still time to repent.
2016 ECL nafuti
2020vision you PF cadres are the ones who are wicked and perpetrators of in in the country, if you are not urinating at innocent journalists, then you are stealing copper, smuggling maize, stripping innocent women. You are all children of your father the devil who is a thief.
How can you explain the lifting of the suspension of operater lisences for Wanda chovu and mazhandu by the so called minister? It is because you PF cadres want the carnage to continue happening on the roads. You are blood thirst vampires. How can you explain also that PF cadres are being found guilty by the courts of law almost every day?
It is better for you perpetrators of evil to die than innocent people.
You #2020 Vision, it is your pathetic f00ls cadres who are thugs. Who has been killing and injuring UPND cadres? Is it not your pathetic f00ls? Who caused these attacks? Is it not your clueless & visionless president Edgar who issued issued a statement from Chipata that 2 foreigners have been arrested in connection with the ritual murders without first putting in measures to protect the foreigners? Is it not your corrupt Changwa who is the cause for these riots because he has subjected many Zambians to poverty that some are now used by some foreigners to do the ritual murders to get wealth?
Even you mr president stop making careless, off the mark statements like you did in Chipata.
Forgive him he has no leadership qualities whatsoever..the man is only focused on campaigning like Sata and drinking.
I think Edgar Lungu did a great job by having the army to police those affected areas. It is also good that no foreigner was killed , therefore there was no xenophobic attacks in Zambia.
You simply have no idea what the consequences of deploying the army are…its admission of failure and poor policing like in some states on the US. You have no idea the image portrayed across the globe when the army is deployed…last time the army was deployed was in the 90s when we had widespread riots.
@Trigo. It is all well and good – only Zambians were killed and that is not important at all. I am off to have a Jemasoni……..
For upnd there is nothing which is not political.
Prepare your minds for 3 months of political lies from one and only Upnd
They are ready to set this country on fire and they don’t care.
Tourism is already affected because the Americans have told their citizens to avoid coming to Zambia between May and August
We need another weekend of prayer and fasting
JEHOVAH GOD HELP ZAMBIA
Tourisim has been in decline since PF took power, and has seen the steepest decline with jean kapata. Stop blaming every thing and everyone for PF failures.
PFools are always in denial, including the fact that they are running govt and are responsible for all the negatives that Zambia finds herself in. PF behaves like they are in the opposition and UPND are running govt. What total Pathetic Failures, Flip-floppers, Fascists, and PFools!
#ChagwaMustFall
Chagwa! Why blame other people when it is you through your careless statements who incited people to loot. You thought you were de campaigning HH. Grow up and talk like a reasonable mature person. To you a Zambian dying in a riot caused by you is ok but not a foreigner. What a president! You are MAD!
You are accusing the President to have incited people to riot and loot, but can any of you tell us exactly what the President said that amounted to incitement?
Because from what I have read so far, the President only said four (4) were in police custody and he hoped the riots and looting were not politically motivated. So where is incitement here and blame against anybody?
And please don’t try to quote the propaganda churned out by The POST Newspaper and their surrogate lunatics at ZWD to me. Some of us are way past the agenda of these two discredited and sadistic news outlets (if you can even call what they crank out NEWS). Govt newspapers might be a little biased towards the Govt, but they are NOT bone-faced liars or Sadistic!
Two Zambians died. Under what circumstances did they die? They were killed for what? Those who rioted did so for what? Why were shops for foreigners looted and foreigners were forced to flee their homes. Surely the causes of these riots need to be investigated and remedies found? The statement raises more questions than answers and contradicts what the President said at a rally in Chipata last week.
@Frank
good questions you have there
Edgar is too too lazy to answer such probing questions …the easiest way out for him is to blame the media and its case closed back to nursing his hangover and looking forward to church where he will seat on a large sofa and preach about unity and peace.
Life goes on!!
The truth is this president has absolutely no leadership attributes. He is a liability, a deadly one. It’s every Zambian’s duty to get rid of him and his evil PF in August. A sober, sane person with a clear alcohol free mind needs to occupy that high office, not a joke and nightmare we have in this beer guzzler.
Indeed the president’s office must be commended for the call to restore order. However, the foreign nationals are crammed in St Ignatius church grounds precisely because the attacks/riots were aimed directly at all foreign businesses, thus being xenophobic in nature. A life or two lost, Zambian or foreign, is despicable and cruel. Community forums need to be set up to diffuse any simmering suspicions of foreign businesses and convince locals to restore harmony in our beautiful country.
Surely the President should have apologised to the Nation for the loss of life during the disturbances. He should have extended his sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones and bread winners. The statement gives the impression that the President does not value Zambian lives. One of the persons killed was a teacher. Why was a teacher killed by whom and God what? The govt needs to investigate and find out the root causes of the rituals and riots leading to the loss of lives. To the families who have lost their loved ones we send our condolences. May their souls rest in peace!
Taking responsibility does not mean you caused something but you are ready to shoulder the blame and committed to rectify the problems.unlike HH who has not accepted responsibility for privatisation negatives ECL has been bold enough like a responsible father to take the blame on behalf of the country.
Looks like it’s a sigh of relief for him to hear that it’s Zambians who were killed and not foreigners, i just don’t understand the rationale behind this statement.
‘Kamoni’ man! You know very well how your rabid ZWD and POST Newspaper have tried so hard to inflame the passions of foreign Govts to think that foreign nationals in Zambia were killed in these attacks—that’s the point the President is refuting!
He is trying to correct the misinformation you BLOOD-THIRSTY D3VILS have been spreading. That’s so! I bet it is you d3vils in UPND who are happy that somebody at least got killed. Because UPND sadists seem to enjoy death everytime and anytime—to you every death is an opportunity to gain political mileage. So don’t pretend you are not loving these deaths—we know you, you UPND B00L S@CKERS. We all saw some PF cadres helping to stop the rioting and looting, where were the UPND cadres with their ridiculous looking RED berets/shirts?…
These ritual killings were predicted by ZWD before they happened. That could have not been a coincidence. Someone should know something somewhere. Why are they not being probed?
I fail to understand how did we end up with this visionless,brainless,dullness,hopeless,useless,ruthless,a drunkard and a hardcore swindler as our president is beyond me. Can someone explain to me.
ECL is now telling us that it is ok for Zambian to die than our foreigners. Problem with E Lungu thought by blaming innocent HH he would get a political mileage not knowing the God we serve pinpoint who a lucifer is. So the riots were caused by PF cadres who are also not spared by harsh cost of living created by PF.
The lazy bum can not even host a press conference at State House..he is busy preparing what to wear tomorrow at a church near you, were he will seat in the front row on a lounge sofa and pretend to pray.
This utterly Lazy Bum Edgar is in need of proper advisers you say no “foreigner” was killed yet you failed to identify the second victim. Who is a “foreigner”? Are these people whom were targeted not businessmen; how can you call them foreigners when the contribute to your salary hence taxpayers and citizens.
You have also ignore the victims of these ritual murderer that sparked these selfsame riots. You have no shame that in this day and age our police do not have the capacity to catch these culprits with modern policing and forensic methods…yet you are happy to deplete foreign reserves and borrow recklessly for overpriced roads, increase your salaries but can not invest in the police…imagine riot police being equipped with only a baton in this day and age.
Where is your…
Where is your statement on Moody’s rating …is that also not important? What useless bum we have in State house.
Mmmmm,kayakay mwe-will we reach August 13 safely with these crossroads all signalling to anarchy?Life has really become unbearable to majority Zambians except to a clique of some PF cronies-Katondo boys has now come to his senses,he has crossed over leaving diabolical: Kudos,Edgar, Luapula Premier& others in comatose!
HH has never condemned the ritual murders, infact him and GBM are happy these horrendous crimes are happening. I can’t wait for that glorious day on 11th August, 2016 when HH will be buried politically. Zambia has been a beacon of peace for long time and always offered refuge for oppressed citizens of other countries. For example Mr Herbert Chitepo who beat all the odds to become the first black citizen in Rhodesia to qualify as a barrister sought refuge in Zambia when he was required by white Native Commissioners to conduct his defence of African clients sitting cross-legged on the courtroom floor. Most of UPND top leadership including HH are historically illiterate; that is why HH can afford to sponsor a blog (Zambian WD) that seeks to destroy Zambia’s image through the endless stream…
Better get a huge black handerchief when H H wins the elections to mop up your tears and know that your salary as a cadre is over, hope you save mwana otherwise you will be a beggar or a thief on Panganani road.
Most of UPND top leadership including HH are historically illiterate; that is why HH can afford to sponsor a blog (Zambian WD) that does nothing but tries to destroy Zambia’s image through the endless stream of fatuous propaganda.
@26 Captain Sankara
“….historically illiterate…???
The level of dullness in Lungu is amazing. Bufontini.
This drunkard, life is precious, whether it is a Zambian or a foreigner life is not cheap. This should be condemned. Why should the fact that no foreigner was killed give a sigh of relief to this drunkard. Is his international image more important than the loss of life?
Edgar confessed to us that he had no vision whatsoever but we voted for him…why are we surprised the bum has no history of any work ethic..now he will retire a very weathy man from all those RDA overpriced contracts when he leaves office and leave us with an appaulling CCC rating with negative outlook.
*…appalling..
..reading the title between the lines its like someone is trying to say…’i’m GLAD that none of the two people killed in the recent riots were foreigners..’….meanwhile we are told that one of the deceased has not been identified yet….suppose he is a Malawian…
@ captain sankara. U r an *****! HH has always bin conderming these ritual killings from day 1, even ystrday he talkd about. Its your dental formula suarez chagwa who’s bin quite abt it, its even chagwa Halungu who ignited the riots in lusaka with his careless statements in chipata.
What a president?You have failed to give a message of condolences in which you express your sympathy for those who have lost their loved ones recently but you are busy protecting these foreigners who have really caused all these.Zambia has been a peaceful nation but this is happening during your time.This shows that you are not fit to be the president of this country.My advise to my fellow zambians lets vote wisely things have really gone bad this government has brought back MMD.I will not give you my vote.
Ati suarez rolnadinho Changwa Wrungu kaloba chakolwa hardcore swindler.
I think we need to prosecute in this case. Warnings do not work.
Especially for the types responsible for these types of propaganda. It’s intentional.
The statement lacks the expected messages as follows:-
1. Condolences messages for the lost lives in ritual killings and riots whether foreign or Zambian citizens doesn’t matter.
2. The Security Forces especially Police should be directed to be proactive but not to remain on full alert and take quick and stern action. They still continue being reactive and giving excuses of lack of transport to react.
3. Citizens should remain on full alert and report quickly suspected crime to Police.
3. Citizens should be encouraged to work hard like foreigners also.
4. What advice has been given to both foreigners and citizens to secure both public & their private property. What is the value of insured and insured losses? Tomorrow the same property will be destroyed and its taxpayers money to be…
4. What advice has been given to both foreigners and citizens to secure both public & their private property. What is the value of insured and insured losses? Tomorrow the same property will be destroyed and its taxpayers money to be used to make good for bad instead of insurance claims money.
5. For how long should media houses wait for information from govt before they can start speculating like anyone else also? 24, 48 hours, 1 or 2 weeks? Information should have been given to media houses by e-mail or face book as and when it was unfolding.
6. Re- integration of the refugees, where will they be re-integrated? The same shanty compounds or high profile areas like Kabulonga, Olympia, Roma, Rhodes Park refuge camps or back home in Rwanda, where such things can’t recur?
Comment:it’s sad that Zambia has joined other failed African countries in doing cheap politics , now each one is abusing social media by insulting the other instead of searching ways to develop Zambia