Emmanuel Mwamba suspends four Barotseland protesting civil servants

WESTERN Province permanent secretary Emmanuel Mwamba has suspended four civil servants who were involved in last week’s protests in Mongu.
Those suspended are Drug Enforcement Commission public prosecutor Muleta Kalaluka, community development officer Mutaba Mutaba and district works supervisor Lawrence Mukena.
Also suspended is Masialeti Masiye, a teacher at Sioma Secondary School, in whose house a video of a “swearing-in ceremony” of self-proclaimed “Barotseland dministrator- general” Afumba Mombotwa was shot.
Mr Mwamba announced the suspension of the four officers in a statement yesterday.
“The four suspended officials are among the 45 protestors, who were arrested on 15th August 2013, following the circulation of a video of the so-called swearing-in ceremony. The 45 are mostly members of the Linyungandambo association,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Mr Mombotwa, who is also chairperson of the Linyungandambo, allegedly circulated a video depicting him to be sworn in as administrator-general of Barotseland.
He is currently on the run alongside his co-conspirators.
The video of Mr Mombotwa was posted on the internet blog sites, the Barotse Post and Barotse Radio last Thursday.
Police arrested Linyungandambo secretary Etambuyu Akapelwa and confiscated banners, identity cards, fliers, CDs and other documents.
Mr Mwamba said the Linyungandambo association and its associated groupings are illegal and that any activity conducted by such groups cannot be entertained.
He warned local radio stations against publishing or helping with the production of illegal and subversive materials.
“It was clear that after Afumba Mombotwa shot his video at Sioma Secondary School, the seditious video was processed and uploaded in a [radio] studio in Mongu,” he said.
He said these activities undermine the security and peace of the province and that Government will not hesitate to shut down any entity promoting and circulating seditious materials.
Mr Mwamba said Government is aware that the financiers and architects of the protests were using innocent young people.
He said Government will track down and prosecute people who were involved in the inimical activities, adding that isolated seditious and subversive activities will not deter Government’s commitment to develop the province.
He said Government is enjoying cordial relations with the Barotse Royal Establishment and all other ethnic groupings in Western Province.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs says the Registrar of Societies will not tolerate any attempts by individuals to register the Linyungandambo association and any other affiliate groupings because their intentions are inimical to the security of the nation.
Ministry spokesperson Moses Suwali said the association and its affiliates are unlawful and cannot be registered, according to Section 23 of the Societies Chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
“In this regard, Chief Registrar of Societies Kakoma Kanganja has categorically stated that the said Linyungandambo association and any other affiliate association are not registered with the office of the Registrar of Societies,” Mr Suwali said.
He said the role of the Registrar of Societies in registration and regulation of societies is meant to ensure that criminal elements do not form societies for purposes of pursuing criminal agendas that threaten the internal security of the country.
Mr Suwali said the office of the Registrar of Societies is displeased with the unlawful activities taking place in Western Province.