Zambians petition Telegraph Newspaper and Amazon.com over book that ‘distorts’ facts

Zambians have created a petition against Amazon.com and Telegraph Newspaper.

This is after the Telegraph newspaper published an article about a new book written by a young Scottish woman in which she describes Zambia as a war-torn country with children orphaned by HIV.

Louise Linton, who is now pursuing a career as an actress in California, has written a book titled ‘In Congo’s Shadow’ about her brief stay in Zambia as a volunteer.

In a petition authored by Greenwell Nyirenda, the Zambian community has called for the immediate recall and ban on the book.

“Louise claimed that she rode in the back of a van going North from the airport when two hours outside of Lusaka they encounter a roadblock manned by gun-slinging militia men, including a 12 year old child soldier which a machete at his waist. Which Zambian has ever seen a child soldier or army carrying machetes or any offensive weapons mounting roadblocks? These fake stories must be challenged and rubbished” the petition read in part : hhttps://www.ipetitions.com/petition/liouse-lintons-book-in-congos-shadow-is .

In a Telegraph article, as an 18-year-old, Louise, a former pupil of the prestigious Fettes College came to Africa with hopes of helping some of the world’s poorest people but that her gap year became a living nightmare when she inadvertently found herself caught up in the fringes of the war in Congo during her stay in Zambia.

She went on to describe what the Tutu and Hutsu rebels would do to the ‘skinny white Muzungu with long angel hair’ if they found her.

A line in her book reads: “Life was idyllic at first, a gap year student’s dream. My new home was beautiful and I made close friendships with the local Bemba people. I learned some of their language, planted a vegetable garden and created a little school under a Mukusi tree, writing about my experiences in my diary. I was still struggling with the loss of my mother and found special comfort in my bond with Zimba, a six-year-old orphan girl with HIV who called me “Ru-eese”.

But some Zambians ripped into her book and trolled her on Twitter and asked her to apologise for painting the country black.
Her Twitter handle @LouiseLinton and a hashtag #LintonLies was full of Zambians expressing anger about her book with other asking her to recall any of the copies sold.

Muchemwa Sichone @WriteRevolt said in her entire story, Louise Linton only mentions one child, an orphan living with HIV. Trying to stereotype Africa Huh? #LintonLies.

Some said Louise has brought sadness among Zambians when she revealed the HIV positive status of an innocent young girl named Zimba.
Some said on Twitter, “I haven’t read the book but the excerpts that I’ve read are disturbing and wrong. #LintonLies Child soldiers at Road blocks??? While other commented, “Absolutely shameful & embarrassing book you wrote about Zambia”

Others have asked Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili to issue a statement and ask the Scottish Government to apologise for what they called a misrepresentation of facts about Zambia