Kenneth Kaunda did it

Kenneth Kaunda

By Brian Mulenga

Please Note these are my memories of events from 1990. If I have made any mistakes and omissions, my inbox is available.

THE TREASON TRIAL

It is July 1990 and in Lusaka, Zambia a sensational treason trial is underway. Lt. General Christon Tembo, former Army commander, Lt. Col Bizwayo Nkunika, Benjamin Yoram Mwila, prominent Copperbelt businessman, Elasto Chalwe, my family’s neighbour in Lilayi and whose wife always baked our family birthday cakes, were among nine people on trial for treason.

That something had been planned by these people was not in doubt but was it treason? The State produced numerous witnesses and submitted documentation to say it was.

A feature of the trial was the testimony of witnesses that discussed the internal workings of the Zambia Army. Also evident was the efficiency of the Military Intelligence headed by Brigadier General Chitomfwa. It seems the first officer approached had reported the whole issue to Military Intelligence and he had been turned into a double agent to report on the progress of the plot.

Witnesses testified that the suitability of various Generals and Colonels was discussed. The testimony revealed a lot which the Army would rather have kept under wraps. A certain General had his reputation tarnished by the trial. A close friend of the plotters, he was dismissed as a coward. He had been Brigade Commander when an ammunition dump on the outskirts of the city his Brigade HQ was located in exploded. He was reported to have run away on foot leaving behind his staff car and his radio-equipped Land Rover command car and had only been located 20 kilometres away and had been brought back trembling with fear and had to be restrained by some NCOs !!!!

Another feature of the trial was anonymous witnesses. After protracted wrangling with Levy Mwanwasa, the defence lawyer, the Judge had ruled anonymous witnesses admissible just as they had been in the Shamwana Coup trial. It meant certain witnesses appeared hooded in court. They were called by psuedonyms such as Crankshaft, Spanner, Axle, Carburettor and so on. This also had a precedent and in a previous trial a Mr Bread, Butter, Jam and Cheese had testified. All the lawyers knew who the witnesses were but their identities were hidden from the public.

THE RIOTING

In the middle of all this massive rioting and looting engulfed Lusaka and spread to Kafue and Kitwe. The rioting had begun at UNZA and had spread to townships with Kabulonga Shopping Center being trashed.

To calm down rioting ZAF ferried in 5ZRof the Zambia Army from Luena Barracks, Kaoma to put down the rioting as 2ZR of Arrakkan Bararcks were deployed elsewhere on operations.

THE LUCHEMBE COUP

On June 30,1990, A young subaltern of the Signals Troop of 5ZR HQ Company, Mwamba Luchembe after a drunken altercation at the Squash Club bar of Arakan Barracks had instead of retiring to bed taken over the radio station announcing a military coup. The coup was quickly quashed but ended up with several soldiers and civilians in detention for their actions during the four hours of confusion.

At the time a nascent pressure group called the MMD had begun campaigning for the return to multiparty democracy.

THE AMNESTY

After the rioting and palpable tension in the country, KK and UNIP decided to change tack. They announced a general amnesty.

The first beneficiaries were the coup plot accused. After conferring with the Attorney General the DPP entered a nolle prosequi.

SHAMWANA
Edward Jack Shamwana who was in the middle of suing the Government on another issue was pardoned and released.

THE UNZA STUDENTS
Several UNZA students who had been detained and told they would be charged with treason for inciting an insurrection were also released. Kelvin Haule, a friend from Kitwe Boys who I knew from my Mpelembe Days, James Chamunorwa, who I knew from my young brother, were among the UNZA detainees released.

THE LOOTERS
77 looters and rioters who included Munali Secondary School boys who had been charged and appeared in court for various charges were released.

LUCHEMBE
Lt. Mwamba Luchembe and several soldiers, including a cousin of mine another Lieutenant from 64 Armoured, who were detained pending investigations for their actions during the four-hour Luchembe coup were released.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

KK had decided in order to stabilise the country and remove the palpable tension a New Beginning was needed. He declared a general amnesty on people either in prison or on trial for politically inclined offences.

Christon Tembo and colleagues were to become the core of MMD and were to get a sweet victory over the man who released them in 1991 by being part of the group that masterminded the defeat of UNIP and KK at the polls.

Kelvin Haule, James Chamunrowa and friends were to go back to UNZA and later graduate.

Edward Jack Shamwana was to join the MMD and restart his illustrious legal career. He also did something. Several people had been detained and had somehow fallen into a legal limbo. They had fallen through the cracks of the legal system. They had all been detained under the Preservation of Public Security Act. Edward Jack Shamwana asked KK to release them as well. His request was granted.

Lt. Mwamba Luchembe, my cousin and the others may have gained their freedom but Army command refused to get them back. They were discharged from service. The MMD government was to make efforts to get them re-instated and their pensions and privileges restored but the Army stood fast. The Army in Zambia has always respected the civil authority. The Army command made the point that regardless of the merits and demerits of the legally appointed authority, the commands loyalty was to the Constitution and its legally appointed civilian masters. It simply could not be seen to reward or condone rebellion and treason against them.

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