“I’m ready for anything. I’m ready for calvary. But don’t forget that where there is crucifixion, there is always resurrection” – Fred M’membe (15.11.2023)
Lusaka and Zambia is changing, but more of the same. Maybe the current President and his party is able to sell a story overseas about the changes, but what is happening on the ground is a brutal tale. The former Opposition Leader who won the Presidency and whose now using the same authorities to stifle, silence and arrest opposition. That’s what the current President said the predecessor was doing and now he does the same.
That’s why I had to look into the statement of President of the Socialist Party of Zambia, Fred M’membe who is charged with “espionage”. That’s being done because he gave an interview to a Zimbabwean journalist for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company (ZBC) after the Zimbabwean elections. That’s what they have charged him for, arrested him and detained him over.
This is why I had to look into his pre-statement ahead of the arrest. Because, there had to some wise words there about it all. Because, the authorities and the current regime is apparently of the rocks when they are doing this.
He starts with: “someone has lost his mind. Arrest and detain me for as long as you want, take me to Bweengwa or any other place you want. I’m ready for anything. I’m ready for calvary. But I can assure you I will be back!” (M’membe, 15.11.2023).
I can only say he has a fighting spirit and I don’t blame him for that. He surely knows that this is just another obstacle in life and he will survive this one too.
He continues: “And as a pan-Africanist, I’m yearning for the day when Zimbabwe and Zambia will be one country. With that belief and conviction, there is no way, I can allow anyone to harm Zimbabwe or to harm Zambia because these two territories are both my homeland. And the Zambia national anthem tells me that Africa, which includes Zambia and Zimbabwe, is my homeland. And I sincerely believe that the people of Zambia love the people of Zimbabwe as they love themselves. And I also believe that the people of Zimbabwe love the people of Zambia as they love themselves. They have got a common origin and are a product of a common struggle for national liberation” (M’membe, 15.11.2023).
It is true that there was a split of the nations back in 1911 that became the Northern and Southern Rhodesia. That was a colonial entities and should be proclaimed as such. For me its weird to see a Pan-Africanist wanting to revive this and in this calculation. Shouldn’t also Malawi enter? Or are they forgotten, as Nyasaland (Malawi) also became a part of it at some point. That’s why these sorts of mind-games doesn’t do you anything good. It is good to have good neighbours and bilateral ties that enrich both nations. However, strive for unification and a bigger state… that’s just reviving old beasts that could harm the population of both nations even more. They fought for liberation and got it. So, it is seems far fetched that anyone wants Harare and Lusaka under one flag in 2023.
More importantly he said this: “It is therefore nonsensical for anyone to accuse me of espionage in the interview I gave to a Zimbabwean journalist following that country’s elections. It doesn’t make sense at all. Such a charge can only be a product of class ignorance and a reactionary mind of a puppet of imperialism. And what was espionage about that interview? Someone somewhere has lost his mind and even the leadership of Zambia Police, if they have any sense of professionalism, fairness and justice in their hearts, they would not call me here and charge me with such a ridiculous and ludacris espionage charge. Espionage against who and for who? Zambia Police you are losing it. Be serious with your work. You are destroying a very important institution of our country and our people. A professional police service cannot engage in this type of cheap politics, full of vengeance and tyranny. Charge me and arrest me as you have been instructed but deep down in your hearts, you know very well that the man you are going to arrest today is an honest patriot who is being persecuted at the hands of a tin-pot dictator and a puppet of imperialism, holding power in this country today” (M’membe, 15.11.2023).
Here the truth of the matter comes out. The history lecture and the tales of Pan-Africanism is over sort of. M’membe is stating a clear distinction and a truth that the authorities cannot comprehend. They are clearly not found of someone speaking freely and to “foreign” press without the prior notification or acceptance by the state. Because, it is really unintelligent to charge and arrest someone for espionage over an interview. It just shows how the system is rigged and what sort of “free speech” there is in Zambia. A political leader isn’t allowed and endanger their lives over talking to foreign media. That’s the story here and the authorities should be ashamed by it.
Ending paragraphs: “Instead of fighting the hunger of our people and the poverty that is everyday degrading their lives and humiliating them, they want to turn on me to hide their failures in delivering to the masses of our people, the better life they had promised them. Arrest the high prices of mealie meal, not me. Arrest the high cost of living, not me. Arrest the high prices of fuel, not me. Arrest the depreciation of the kwacha, not me. Arrest the destruction of the Zambia Police, whose IG Musamba is today calling junkies. Arrest and detain me for as long as you want, take me to Bweengwa or any other place you want, for my detention but I can assure you, I will be back. You cannot intimidate me. I’m beyond intimidation. You can kill me if you want but that won’t help you much because a more revolutionary Fred M’membe will arise from the people and take my place and continue the struggle for a more just, more fair and more humane Zambia, Africa and the world” (M’membe, 15.11.2023).
Here he again went after the ruling regime and government. The President and the whole administration. As he should and as a proper opposition leader. He speaks the facts and arresting him doesn’t solve anything. Instead it only shows what the state is willing to do and avoid doing. They are not taking part or even trying. We know the President is a vagabond and prefers to look good for the international press. That is common knowledge. While the recent actions towards M’membe and other opposition leaders are worrying.
It is a sign of the times in Lusaka. HH and his party isn’t playing fair and using their power to undermine others. That’s what it does and it’s clear. This is the message his sending and the world should be watching.
Because, when is it ever espionage to partake in an interview with foreign press? If so… shouldn’t HH be in trouble too? He does it and everyone sees that. Peace.
MinBane 