Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUSAKA1109
2008-11-14 09:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:  

UNREST ON COPPERBELT FOLLOWING CATHOLIC PRIEST'S

Tags:  PHUM PGOV ZA 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 140945Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6472
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 001109 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: UNREST ON COPPERBELT FOLLOWING CATHOLIC PRIEST'S
ARREST FOR RADIO BROADCAST

Classified By: DCM Michael Koplovsky, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 001109


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: UNREST ON COPPERBELT FOLLOWING CATHOLIC PRIEST'S
ARREST FOR RADIO BROADCAST

Classified By: DCM Michael Koplovsky, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary. The arrest of a prominent radio
broadcaster following a call-in show featuring callers who
encouraged any citizens dissatisfied with the October 30
elections to participate in a Patriotic Front-sponsored rally
provided the spark that young PF cadres were previously
lacking. Riots broke out in the station's Copperbelt home
base of Kitwe. Some looting of stores in the town center has
been reported. Father Frank Bwalya, who is the station
manager of Radio Chengelo and the moderator of the call-in
show, was released by police during the afternoon of November
13 and has aired condemnations of any kind of violence.
According to sources, PF president Michael Sata feels the GRZ
has to deal with its own mess and has no plans for a public
statement to calm the situation. End summary.


2. (U) Police arrested Father Frank Bwalya, station manager
of independent Catholic radio outlet "Radio Chengelo" in the
Copperbelt, on November 12 following a live call-in show
during which, according to media and other reports, Bwalya
apparently expressed doubts about the freedom and fairness of
the October 30 presidential by-election. Bwalya also pointed
to sharply rising mealie meal (corn flour, a staple of the
Zambian diet) prices as a sign of the failure of the new
Banda government. Callers to the show picked up on Bwalya's
dissatisfaction and apparently urged other listeners to
participate in an already-planned PF rally on November 15 in
Kitwe. The PF was billing the rally as a "peaceful
demonstration" to register their displeasure with the conduct
of the recent presidential election.


3. (U) Police arrived to shut down the show while Bwalya was
still on air, but according to press reports, Bwalya locked
himself in the studio until the show was over. Police then
took Bwalya away.


4. (U) Bwalya remained in custody overnight. Police
apparently attempted to transfer Bwalya from one police
station to another during the morning of November 13, and
threatened reporters who were nearby no to follow the police
car. In the process, the police car encountered groups of PF
cadres who reportedly had been bused in to downtown Kitwe. A
riot began, and police reported some looting as well as the
blockage of the main road into Kitwe with burning tires. As
of 1700 local time on November 13, the Kitwe downtown was
deserted, and some rioters had been arrested.


5. (C) Bwalya was released during the afternoon of November
13 and subsequently spoke with Embassy PAO. He said that
after his release he went immediately to his radio station to
broadcast an appeal for calm and to reassure supporters that
he was in good condition. According to Bwalya, he has been
charged with "issuing statements that cause hostility between
groups, stating that the elections were fraudulent, and
saying that President Banda was not legitimately elected."
He is scheduled to appear in court on November 27 and says
that he will plead not guilty.


6. (C) Embassy staff picked up a rumor circulating that
Father Bwalya was intending to abandon the priesthood in
favor of joining the PF, but PF Secretary General Edward
Mumbi told pol/econ chief that Bwalya has no formal
connection to his party (Bwalya also confirmed this to PAO).
When asked whether PF president Michael Sata had plans to
intervene and calm the situation, Mumbi said "such a
statement would politicize the situation, and this is the
government's bed to sleep in." Mumbi also said the GRZ had
revoked the PF's permit for its November 15th rally and
refused to condemn the looting in Kitwe which he also
attributed to the rising price of mealie meal.


7. (C) Comment. Bwalya's arrest after callers encouraged
participation in what the PF said was to be a peaceful
demonstration provided just the spark that frustrated young
PF loyalists had been lacking. From the PF's perspective,
the GRZ's heavy-handedness presents a rare opportunity to be
the good guy, and from Mumbi's comments, it looks like the PF
will take full advantage. Bwalya is a charismatic and
well-spoken leader, and the GRZ will have its hands full
dealing with the fall out from this ill-advised arrest. The
GRZ announced that President Banda would give a press
conference on November 14, perhaps to address this issue but
the long-delayed announcement of a cabinet is also a
possibility (and a welcome distraction from the point of view
of the GRZ). End comment.


BOOTH