The Kaumba Brothers
By Dickson Jere
I received a call from a longtime colleague working for the US-based Human Rights organization. He was profiling the case of the two brothers – Elijah and Ernest Kaumba – who had been detained by Zambia Police (ZP) for over 50 days without being taken to Court. The case of the two brothers, is likely to appear in organization’s Annual Report on the “deteriorating” human rights situation in Zambia. He was looking for government contact to hear their other side of story as to why these two boys were detained inordinately. To gravitate the matter, the two brothers were transported from their hometown of Kalulushi to Lusaka.
What did they do to deserve this harsh treatment? They allegedly produced a TikTok video “insulting” the President.
Here is my take on this matter and similar cases.
Who within the ZP is trying very hard to tarnish the name of Zambia in particular President Hakainde Hichilema? The President, from date of his inauguration, has made it clear and irrevocable that no one should be detained more than 48 hours when arrested. He has also made it clear that ZP should never arrest until when it has evidence and that culprits should be brought to Court within 48 hours or granted bond. This is a Presidential directive- which automatically becomes policy! So, who is tainting the President’s name within ZP? Why is action not being taken against erring officers?
You see, President Hakainde is one only President thus far who went ahead and repealed the law on defamation of the President. He did that knowingly that some rogues will defame while he carries out his duties of President. He scored international accolades for this but now all his good intentions being thrown away by overzealous ZP. But why?
Until this matter of the two brothers was brought to my attention, I didn’t know about the video. I am now looking for it and so are many other people. The ZP are now making that video has wide circulation and impact when it would have just died within few circles had they arrested and dealt with the boys right in Kalulushi. This is bringing negativity to yourselves when the President is supposed to be concentrating on dealing with pressing issues of the economy and not those who insults him. By why ZP?
Because of the mishandling of this matter, international Human Rights organizations, LAZ, Catholic Church and other civil society organizations have now joined in trying to help these two brothers. We are turning them into martyrs when in fact they were just rogues on TikTok.
I don’t know, maybe the President was not even aware of these kids being detained. I say so because it happened in my time in State House when a man was arrested, prosecuted and jailed in Ndola for “insulting” President Rupiah Banda. The President only came to know about this case when it was finally reported in newspapers. He was livid! He immediately ordered the unconditional release of the man and be given back his job at Zamtel – which he had lost by virtue of the conviction!
“If he cannot insult the President, who will he insult for his problems?” President Banda asked, adding that even in villages chiefs are insulted by subjects.
Sometimes we do things in the name of pleasing the President when in fact he has different position on the matter. ZP, please, do not taint the name of Zambia. Do not taint the name of the President who has given straightforward instructions on how to deal with suspects. I have never heard the President issue contrary position on this matter. He has been consistently consistent!
