The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian Triple P By Comrade (Cde.) Derrick Sinjela Prisoner of Conscience (PoC) Lus/4818/18 🇿🇲
Dante Saunders, Akashabatwa Mbikusita Lewanika (centre) and Derrick Sinjela (right) at Woodland Shopping Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian Triple P
By Comrade Derrick Sinjela Prisoner of Conscience (PoC) Lus/4818/18 🇿🇲
Time without number, Zambian award winning journalist and author, Bhalewa Zyuulu would refuse a greeting once we crushed in the field of story hunting, the last dare being a stone throw from Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary (PS) Thabo Kawana, protesting that until I had published, he would shy away.
Mudala, please publish and once you do so, I tell you, a feeling of statisfaction will envelop you, Zyuulu prodded within earshot of Kwacha Magazine CEO Saeed Simon Banda and Mwango, a Radio Phoenix Journalist.
This was on Friday, 3rd May, 2024 as Zambian journalists and media workers joined humanity commemorating the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on a theme: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”.
Comrade Bhalewa is not the only public sphere dude that accosted me over the delayed book as earlier, co-founder of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Chief Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika drove from Mongu to Lusaka, and during a coffee and tea dialogue urged that my true self would only manifest once I published a maiden book. Aka co-founded the MMD with Mbita ‘Derek’ Chitundya Chitala.
When do we see the book, Perdita Chenjela-Kaseba quizzed as I sought refuge in power outage, which
she argued could easily be overcome by adjusting time.
“You could sleep in the day and work at night, Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba proposed, pointing out the
importance of timeliness.
Later, after exchanging some pleasantries, and bidding farewell to Judith and Ireen, protesting she
would eat nshima the next time, DMKS and I saw Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba out of the yard toward the Fir
Road bus stop on Burma road.
As we reached Ipusukilo Road, she noticed that the other side had electricity while our area was a dark
City, a mystery we could not explain; same community –difference in access to electric power
availability. In the news, Energy Minister Matthew Nkuwa said following importation of power from
Eskom, the 15 hour load shedding period everyday had reduced by two hours, while ZESCO Public
Relations Manager Hazel Zulu was urging communities in Lusaka’s Chibolya, John Laing, Kanyama and
Misisi townships to cooperative with teams distributing energy saving bulbs, after a similar exercise in
Kabwe, Central Province.
I did not reach far as I let DMKS take the lead, with Ms. Kaseba protesting she could not receive
transport money from a ‘convict’.
—-
Chapter 1 Press
Rest in God’s eternal peace Bishop. Derrick M. Muwina wrote on April 28th 2022.
I have been fortunate encountering a lot of support from individuals I may call mentors. As a mentee, I got helped with platform to grow as a journalist when as a National Mirror Newspaper employee, then Dean at Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross , Reverend Father David Njovu and Adrian Chundama let me do stories on the website. I was included in ecumenical trips covering work within the diocese, which got consolidated during Right Reverend Bishop Njovu’s reign as spiritual head of the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka.
Fast forward, as soon as I was pardoned by Sixth (6th) Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I was indebted to receive an encouraging telephone conversation with Bishop Njovu.
I had planned to pay a courtesy call on Bishop Njovu through Anglican Diocese of Lusaka Administrator, Ms. Grace Luwewa but this was not to be as the Almighty Jesus Christ, had other plans.
Pics: courtesy of Am-Dumitsan The Mulunda
Ordinarily, life has other plans. Bishop Njovu occasionally dropped me at my residency, just as then Heritage Party (HP) leader, Brigadier General (Brig. Gen.) Godfrey Miyanda drove me to New Chilenje Township, after a service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
Chapter 2 Prison
Thursday 20th December 2018 The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian triple P
Woke up at 641 New Chilenje, said good bye ahead of the morning’s judgement – sentencing before the
Supreme Court presided by Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa. As a means of getting extra good fortune,
I had a olive oil blessing from Fanny Nyirenda before jumping on the bus on Burma Road and
disembarked at Sikanze Police Bus stop, just after United Church of Zambia (UCZ) St. Paul’s Congregation, crossed the road and headed for the sentencing at the
Supreme Court. There is Edwin Imboela on ones left , a place reserved for Zambia Police horses, with an officers mess (tarven) on the right. I had left my double sim handset with the Airtel and Zamtel numbers or sim cards home, so activist Lonely Tatila was able to reach me on the MTN line, giving a briefing that he had linked up with MISA Zambia
Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta . I knew my fate as my tart, astute and forthright legal counsel, Dr. Overs Masozi Mufwakawiri Banda of O. M. M. Banda had prepared me for this eventuality. My, friend, Derek (Derrick Sinjela) just prepare for a conviction and be ready to go to prison,” Dr. Banda confronted reality. This was a relief and my second step to liberty. The first was when Reverend Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale prodded becoming courageous lizards, and the third step to liberty was Deputy Chief Justice, Marvin Mwanamwambwa doing what the Supreme Court dies best. Least, I forget to this is fate I suppose, and this line is being written close to seven years later (Sunday, 31st August, 2025).
I had then reached the court grounds, then a Times of Zambia (ToZ) crew came and offered solidarity
as Perpetual Sichikwenkwe was delegated to cover the sentencing before a five panel of men and
women though in essence, representing the number 13, as in the full bench. I later strode into court, the
one far left and closer to Chikwa Road and after a somewhat delay I took a step toward the male toilet
on the ground floor to urinate, or putting it good to answer a light call of nature. Since, I had arrived
much earlier, I walked outside and as I reached the parking lot, met the kwacha celebrity crew driven by
Saeed Simon Banda, Tetiwe Mweemba, Fulman Mukobeko and CBC television journalist Pamela
Mulenga, and wanting to capture every moment rolled the hand held camera-took videos and selfiies-a
form of modern day greeting, people rarely hug but familiarize themselves with shots, which are then
Instantly shared online.
Fast forward, the long-anticipated session began and Marvin Mwanamwambwa did what he does best
sentence me to 18 months simple imprisonment with an awed courtroom pronouncing loudly as I can
recall noticing him jerk contentently .
“Take him, he is a prisoner forthwith. I did not falter, as a male policeperson approached me and the
orders I respecting the verdict walked out acknowledging Southern African Centre for the Constructive
Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director, BornifaceCheembe, Governance Elections
Advocacy Research Services (GEARS) Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi, New Age Newspaper
proprietor, Bernard Phiri, and countless concerning people showing solidarity with the truth as spelled
in John 8:32.
As cameras rolled, I was escorted to the holding cell as a policeperson taunted me: “Do you want to say
something or pose for some pictures with these journalists? I did not say a word just continued the
journey to the land of liberty and truth with a mere meticulous journalistic glance at the diligent pen-
pushing peers. Before being locked at the down cell, I was searched and handed K250, original court
summon authored by Chief Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, and Rainbow News Identity card.
Some days later, nephew Kelvin Daka and his mother Sister Jenny, also known as Jane Nanjela-Daka did
not find the said documents which policepersons at the Court Holding Cell vehemently refused to
acknowledge. It was not the amount but I felt really sad to have to experience such blatant dishonesty.
In local discourse caution is rendered that one rotten groundnut spoils a mouthful, forcing one to spit as
edible food becomes detestable.
Earlier, though two ‘cops’ female and male offered encouraging words with the lady policeperson
prodding media to highlight social ills, as such priority communication and coverage enlightened the
public. At the obviously globally dreaded Chimbokaila Prison, now Christened as Lusaka Central
Correctional Facility (LCCF) authorities calculated the End of Prison Date (EPD) to read Friday 20th
December 2019.
This is a story and it has a lot of front progress, plus back and forth strides not to spice but tell it as much
as I can truthfully recollect my mind on this ordeal, which in later paragraphs I title as an occupational
hazard. Many people, fear reality and might be seduced to deceive themselves that they are immune
to such situation, but truth be told, we are all potential prisoners, as in the Bemba parlance, ‘umulandu
mame’ literally translated to mean: ‘a case is like morning dew, that one cannot avoid; as such a
situation is circumstantial as is the case of children born in prison as a consequence of a mother being
incarcerated. Like former Zambia Prisons Service (ZPS) commissioner general Jeffrey Mumbuwa would caution realistically; we are all potential prisoners.
I was jittery on account of sordid, repugnant, disgusting stories of mental and physical torture narrated
countless times by those that had been incarcerated countywide. This dreadful possibility was however
discounted as time was favourable on my side. This was real and I even overhead a huge officer being
discouraged from some form of corporal punishment by as a colleague remarked in Nyanja, alocal
dialect “Musiyechabe, osamumenya , literally translated : ‘Just leave him, do not beat the hell out of
this gentleman.
As soon as I was ushered into the Court Holding Cell, I met or found four gentlemen, all remanded
persons. The quartet –foursome equally narrated life in prison. The foursome were Bright Mandanda,
Victor Moobo, Johnathan Kangwamina and Saliona Thomas Mtonga (STM), popularly known as
Jamfortey, a likeable personality. Saliona assured me of safety and protection, allaying fears of being
physically and emotionally tortured by inmates and prison warders.
Saliona Thomas Mtonga later wrote: “I remember it was on 20th December 2018, I was waiting for my
judgement in the cells at the high court. It was between 10:00 hours ad 11:0 hours in the morning. Its
when they brought Mr. Derrick Sinjela in the court cells, as he enters he was not himself, he was a little
nervous. It is the fear that is in every one of us but nevertheless, I told him that we don’t fight and even if
we go to prison, we don’t fight, that gave him courage.”
On Thursday 3rd January 2019, a word that I encountered like a larger than life phenomenon was
‘Kamilioni’ chameleon or in Tonga dialect, spoken in the Southern Province stated as ‘Naluntambwe’,
‘Chamutambwe’ – changing colour – merchants; a life of trading in people as was the case in the Gold
Coast (Ghana). Today, in modern day Zambia and elsewhere in the word, people are traded as
merchandise with little regard to their destiny as inmates. One has to go through such an ordeal to fully
appreciate a traumatizing feel; as pain cannot be shared despite people showing solidarity.
I was dumbfounded by Saliona’s compassion and concern for my plight. Instead of I feeling pity on him
after Justice Florence Lembalemba handed a 35-year sentence, it was him (STM) showing remorseful
concern following my 18 months sentence.
Still on Thursday 3rd January 2019, I received a notice to go to the Visitors Bay. Ashton Kelly Bunda,
Pamela Mulenga, Fulman Mukobeko and Saeed Simon Banda (SSB) came for a visit with SSB teasing that
must not shave . On his part, obviously not concurring with Banda’s position, Fulman Mukokeko –FM,
encouraged authorship. I was exceedingly pleased by their strengthening brotherhood and sisterhood.
Judith Banda, my daughter had come in the morning with food and this particular notebook. I saw her
as a great source of strength, on account of her coming alone. It is not an easy feat especially for a
young woman to come alone without tagging a friend or two, bearing in mind that one is often taunted
for having a father behind bars and bread winner. I felt pity but took it inside, not wanting to let her
know myconcern. Judith Banda, or bana Irene Banda Mulenga (IBN), born on 31st October 1994, explained that DMKS
my wife was busy with new admissions at school. She had just recruited a new teacher. Judith reported
of scheduled commencement oflessons at Mulele Mwana, a Regiment Catholic Church Skills
Development center – Saint Charles Lwanga parish on Monday 7thJanuary 2019. Irene Banda Mulenga
and Arnold ‘Rambo’ Nyirenda had wanted to pay me a visit but inhibited by a rainy morning and
transport money woes. Later, a tearful AnediNkhata had equally come and proved helpful just as was
worried Faides Nanjela-Mulenga and her spouse.
Come Friday, 4th January 2019; in a sermon, one inmate shared that just as Paul never lost hope, post
prison life can be reconstructed. And before this sermon concluded, Number One in Cell 4, Ngulube
asked me to follow him for some briefing on life in prison, a counsel offered by Sam Sakala, the inmates
Vice – Chairperson, addressed as ‘Mwemfumu’ ‘King!’. Ngulube and peers, who include Ground
Captain’s (GC’s), Number Two’s, Cell Disciplinary Officers’ (CDO’s), Inspector General of Police (IG’s), and
Police were or are respectfully addressed as ‘Bosele’ boss.
At 15:35 hours, brother Evans Sinjela, then working as News Editor at Mateo Phiri’s 5FM Radio came
and in our exchange briefed me that People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti had been admitted
a stone throw from Chimbokaia Prison, at the University Teaching Hospital.
For the uninitiated politically, Mulongoti and I were sureties’ to New Labour Party (NLP leader Fresher
Siwale, in the defamation of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in which the tart politicians tagged the
Zambian leader as a political fraudster. Siwale appearing before Magistrate Alice Nyirenda-Walusiku
claimed that President Lungu’s real names were Johnathan Mutawale Lungu, which remark on Stephen
Nyirenda’s Muvi Television programme anchored by Master Chimbala prompted the suit. Mulongoti
had ceaselessly branded Lungu as a Nationality fraud, and the do took the matter to the Public
Protectors Office, which by Press Time remained largely unanswered.
Unlike I, owing to my photo-journalist pedigree, the obviously better dressed Evans Sinjela delivered
fraternal greetings from Ms. Mizinga Nampito-Chibomba, a Public Relations Officer at the Common Market foe
East and Central Africa (COMESA). Mizinga cut her journalistic teeth at the now ancestral Post
Newspapers Limited, initially housed on Cha ChaCha road’s Kanjombe building.Nampito a putative
relation of ours, was with me in prison but could not because of a tight work schedule and had been in
Uganda for a COMESA crusade.
The story is a good piece. I recall my peer Francis Lungu, would boisterously state authoritatively during
our National Mirror stint,” rubbing his hands as though seeking some warmth in ‘Cold Russia, as in the
words of one Peward Mwansa (PM), who worked for the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) for 30 years. PM is a putative relative to of former Vice President, the late Simon Mwansa
Kapwepwe and knows Shikulu Kenneth David Kaunda’s family, Zambia’s former First Republican
President (1964-1991).
Sentence day had a mixed-grill weather pattern was cold and rainy, then sunny after 14:30 hours in the
afternoon.
In the last two days as per prison faithfully kept routine, involved screening remandees and convicts by
the newly deployed Officer-in-Charge Senior Superintendent William Kamanga, as his predecessor Sikota
Sikota had been transferred to Kalonga Milling, run by the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS), in Kabwe,
Central Province.
This particular day was a tough one and I only ate two slices of bread, whole day, for supper just had a
handful of potatoes prepared by Brian Mangwato, a cleaner for Number Two, James Bwembya, the
working in the Clinic Gang (Ganga). Life can be boring as all one does is idle away. It was lock-up time
16:30 hours, which officially is 30 minutes earlier but on this day had some allowance, and mechanical
as usual it was Sunday-complaints, prayers by Muslims at 18:00 hours, and Christians praying for the
evening meal (super). Later, a voice of came reading names scheduled for Magistrate and High Court
hearings for Monday, 7th January 2019.
On Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke up with a call to set goals in prayers led by a Catholic Priest. I later
sat with namesake Derrick Siame, Timothy Simpasa, Carols Muzovu, Able Siasalama and Bosco
Chafukwa. As we spoke, we shared a cup of tea with bread, which people say is breakfast in a Zambian
household.
WoW!! n the afternoon, I was visited by a horde of sympathizers and philanthropists of the Zambian
Media and family. DMKS, Alice Musongole, Azwell Zimba, Perdita Chenjera, Kasebamashila Kaseba,
Fulman Mukobeko, Saeed Simon Banda, Sam Zulu.
I woke at 05:00 hours on Monday 7th January 2019, joined in an early morning prayer session, seeking
God’s intervention in our individual and collective plight through the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is custom, in correctional facilities countrywide for inmates to pray ceaselessly on the eve and
morning of opening of High Court and Subordinate Court sessions. Unlock, the first counting of inmates
was at 07:00 hours and after the stepping outside an hour later, I cleaned my mouth and face combining
this routine with answering a call of nature. As soon as I had put the toothbrush in the cell, I proceeded
to the shelter and sat. When I reached Chimbokaila on Thursday 20th December 2018, I was resident in
Cell 11 till a week later when I moved to Cell 4, just on the right side once one enters the circular bowel
of the facility. Cell 11 is the seventh on ones left. They are 16 cells with Penal Block, a library, washing
and bathrooms. There also toilets, a place for cleaning plates, clothes, brushing teeth and a bay for
storage of goods. Then as you move west, after the Kitchen one finds cell 1, 2, 3 and four. It is a routine
existence as I elaborated earlier. Cell 1 though mixed is reserved for mentally challenged inmates, Cell 2
for elderly inmates, cell three for inmates diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB), and Cell four for physically
and medically challenged remandees and convicts. Cells 5, 6, 14 and 15 are reserved for convicts
assigned or branded as ‘Working Convicts – bakailibanchito’ those allotted to a particular gang. Cell 7,
8, 10, 11, and 12 are occupied by a mixed grill convicts and those still going to court, while Cell 9 is for
Juveniles and Cell 13 reserved for learners and teachers.
Cell 16 is occupied by inmates defined as Special Stage, as representatives of inmates or a bridge
relationship with prison authorities. Their work is that of acting as trustees, complimenting tasks done
by correctional officers. The Penal Block is occupied by long-term inmates; serving above 15 years, those
on death row and lifers. I had a chat with Chrispine Kabamba (0979428522), a journalist by profession
accused of committing an aggravated robbery. He explained that he had a two-year stint as a ZNBC
Radio 4 Fan Club member. Kabamba had been at Chimbokaila from February 5th 2017 to early 2019,
and was among 11 arrested on the said charge. The other eight were later rearrested after a High Court
discharge by Judge Mwamba Chanda, Kabamba had been to court six (6) times, and of this number of
appearances just two times in 2018.
As was noted time without number on the shrinking democratic space; characterized by other citizens
and nationalities being above the law, it is disheartening to note former Evangelical Fellowship of
Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director, Bishop Paul Mususu describes the State of the Nation – thus: ‘Zambia’s
‘Democratic Space’ has shrunk.
“Derrick, the democratic space has shrunk. We must ensure that we keep our space by standing firm
and resolute despite this shrinking tide,” a forthright Bishop Mususu, tartly prodded.
I at the cost of repeating myself similar to a ‘broken record’ always allude to Opinionated Justice, which
has flooded and overwhelmed the Zambian justice environment. Instead of receiving a fair trial, more
often than not Zambians continue falling prey to opinionated outcomes. Just have to remain walking
straight as Steve Biko enthuses.
“Walking jailed or Free but Walking to jail” as one legal counsel , Nicholas Chanda stated when he came
to see me on my first Sunday in jail, precisely Sunday 23rd December 2018. Since my sentence, Counsel
Chanda explained that he had been remorseful and indicated without mincing words that I had been
sentenced before being heard.
A named inmate Chishimba Mwila was discharged as his EPD had come on Monday 7th January 2019. On
this day, for breakfast tea and bread, while rice was served to all inmates at LCCF.
There is a pool table in the shelter, and usually in the morning just after unlock many will lay on the bare
floor or lie on a spread blanket as others compete by playing chess and a game of draughts (Nsolo).
As one struggles to listen to sound on a huge television screen, others are seen preparing meals or just
concentrate on eating rice, sample (ground maize grain), and a privileged few taking tea with bread. As
stated above, there is a television set but noise distracts (drowns)the sound(volume) and inmates concentrate on
looking at pictures.
A convict, Robinson Hakuyu spoke of ‘Traded Justice’ when describing the Zambian governance
environment. Hakuyu had been facing three counts accused by Stanbic Bank. He was acquitted on two
counts but jailed four (4) years on the third count.
However, he applied for bail pending appeal, and in early January went to fight for justice outside prison
or a correctional facility.
Justice sacrificed by a horde of people trading human beings as though these persons were
merchandize; it seems like a remake of the Gold Coast (Ghana) selling vulnerable communities for a
slice of bread and chocolates
Blankets spread on the ground within the facility are used for drying clothes once washed and left to be
rinced. The clothes are left to dry on the ground, but choice of where to spread them must be
cautiously taken to avoid inmates carefree steps.
Transformational from one lower point to a better being as a person, perhaps to paraphrase Henry
NgosaKapoko, coping with the situation and making or getting the best out of any eventuality and
circumstance.
Fanny Nyirenda equally came urging me to accept the situation pointing out motherly that all would fine
and easy, more like KalushaBwalya’s eyes on the all philosophy that made Zambia through
Herve Renard, diminutive skipper Christopher Katongo, KenndyMwene and StophilaSunzu lift a
maiden African Cup of Nations in 2012.
Ms. Nyirenda, delivered Esther Nyirenda’s prod to continue visitations and I queried her on Chivia
Nampemba’salso known as (aka) Chi Chi’s wellbeing.
Immediately, I walked inside Chimbokaila’s bowel – inside, it was lock-up time as the cock was now
16:00hours.
Ms. Nyirenda explained of a ceaselessly crying moment as the news was aired on TV, just as she worried
like countless of others as to what I would eat, as I did not eat nshima, Zambia’s staple meal and with
no feasible substitute, especially in a place such as prison, where an inmate could not choose a menu.
She pledged to cook some potatoes and visit regularly, pointing out that from 20th December 2018 to
date it had taken a total of sixteen (16) stressful days and in her view acceptance was a source of
strength.
Earlier, formerly a Zambia Daily Mail reporter, Charles Musonda, then a scribe at Richard Lazarous
Sakala’s Daily Nation Newspaper came to visit and promised to bring something for me.
In our talk, I said I was not biter as vengeance was for the Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently, I had put
everything on the cross. I said I stood for the truth and in response to a question said since inception on
Monday 25th June 2007, the Rainbow Newspaper had been ‘Promoting Diversity in News Coverage’
embracing everyone regardless of colour, creed, race or status in society.
On a message to Zambians, I said Zambia must remain a unitary state or an oasis of peace, beacon, a
sanctuary or refuge land for people seeking safer havens.
Asked why I had remained resolute to face the sanction of the courts, I said it was by the grace of God,
the Lord Jesus Christ that I stood firm, in similar to sharing 2016 United States (US) Presidential
aspirant, Democratic candidate, Hilary Rodham Clinton’s tagline: ‘Stronger Together.’ I also got mentorship from Tentani
‘Moto’ Mwanzah, Nelson Mandela and Shikulu Kaunda, Zambia’s former First Republican President, as
Professor Elijah Ngwale, a coordinator-Programs Manager atZambia Disability HIV/AIDS and Human
Rights (ZAMDHIP) would prefer such a description.
I equally alluded to a prod by former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Reverend
Dr. Suzzane M’membe-Matale urging Zambians to have or bear the ‘Courage of a Lizard’by confronting
adversity and not hiding or as Reverend Samuel Zulu of Lusaka, Mandevu area puts it shun facing
consequences preferring to have it easy.
I informed Musonda, the Daily Nation scribe that as a student of Peter Ng’andu Magande’seducative
literature “The Depth of My Footprints – From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage ,” I was paving a
path worth striding. I am different, and I think inversely, thus I need to soldier, creating new paths on
which to mentor posterity.
I had at all times sought to walk on a path that no one had strode to leave footprints worth emulating-
or rather creating a ‘Truthful News’ niche as Rainbow Newspaper Limited (RNL).
Perdita Chenjela bought a note pad and a red but blue ink pen with Kasebamashila Kaseba encouraging
‘us’ to put my thoughts on paper. Kasebamashila Kaseba asked what I was reading and encouraged me
to read Malcolm X or a couple of like-minded books, after I reported reading Ng’andu Peter Magande’s
book.
The Mast on Sunday 5th January 2019 read with a story entitled: “ and written by Masuzyo Chakwe, a
week after Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Spokesperson, Cephas Mukuka was quoted by
the same author in a story entitled: ‘Pardon Sinjela’, says Cephas Mukuka, urging President Edgar
Chagwa Lungu to use his discretion.
I had forgotten to note that Ted Jilapi, an advocate of Malcolm X, teachings had come to visit at the
same time as Cheelo HamukunukaKalengabanyama Katambo, a journalist working at the United Party
for National Development (UPND) Secretariat in Rhodespark.
On 21st January 2019, at 14:00hours, I was visited by a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Zambia Chapter led by National Director, Austin Kayanda, Margaret Kabuswe, Julia Malunga, Nichoolas
Bwalya, George Sinkala, Fumbe Chanda,, Joe Akatama, Maureen Bwalya, WeziMazunda, Evans Sinjela
and Ashton Kelly Bunda. On his part, Mwenda Mupashi remarked: “You are a great man.”
Fighting for citizens to e heard is our call to duty. There is no need to fear as some of us must place our
resolve to stand as freedom fighters. It is the only choice, as Zambia is the only land we own, we can
only do so if we emulate inspirational counsel of renowned football commentator, the late Canon
Dennis Philip Liwewe by dying a little for the motherland. As alluded to tie without number by 5fm radio
station manager Thomas Mkandawire; “It is not easy.”
Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke with this thoughtful counsel ringing in my head. A voice within my
Chemistry was telling me to be humble as life beyond 2019 would be a tough calling. There will be no
sacred cows. Pride will hurt people, thus it is good to be polite and heed instructions. Authorities will not
spare any and good behavior is a cornerstone to good treatment. This was instructive, as people –
inmates approached me offering free counsel that once a transfer occurs, no one would be spared. In
any case, this facility and Kamwala Remand prison will be transformed into a shopping mall once the
ongoing construction of two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi is completed. “This facility is likely to
go and everyone will be taken to the new facilities or those that are viewed as trouble makers; inciters
will be taken elsewhere.
Instructively, being held or confined in a prison like Chimbokaila is easier to cope than one being taken
to Kabwe’s Medium orMwembeshi in the central province where stories of inmates tilling the land for
longer hours traumatise inmates emotionally and physically.
On Monday 7th January 2019, a thought crossed my mind as I felt the national characterization of
Zambia as a Christian nation as being at variance with the environment I was confronted with in prison. I
think it is only in Zambia where people can be dehumanized in this emotionally challenging and callous,
cold-hearted, heartless, uncaring manner.
I was watching football within the facility when Elvis Nyanga beckoned and as I approached him, I found
a man reading a copy of a newspaper-The Mast , dated Saturday 5th January 2019. I was introduced by
Nyanga as Derrick Sinjela, the one in the newspaper, who journalists globally were campaigning to be
set free. After exchanging some pleasantries, he did not mince words on assessment of the court
system in pa-Zed – that is Zambia as Kaunda’s country is now branded. According to Mbewe, my 18
months, now restituted to a year incarceration, was just a storm in a tea-cup, as in no time, I would be
done with drinking the contents contained therein. It was instructive, despite it being a harsher
sentence, Mbewe said eventuality I would be done with it. Mbewe explained that for many in Zambian
prisons, an adjournment was longer than my sentence as inmates or remandees wait for far longer
periods as long as three years. On this day, lock up was delayed and only was done at 16:45 hours, thus
inmates got 45 minutes respite. I had tried to go to the clinic to sort out some ailment but the bell rang
and I could not be attended to and a cellmate Davies Kabila teased me that I was busy discovering life in
prison and I retorted defensively that I was ot Christopher Columbus or let alone David Livingstone, the
latter who according to Maiko Zulu, lied that he had discovered the Mosi o tunya, which the famous
explorer Christened as Victoria Falls, named after the British Queen Mother.
Kabila taunted me. “Sinjela, you are the voice of the voiceless; have you seen how the judiciary is very
poor and slow in dispensing justice in Zambia. Some people have spent 11 years, waiting to be heard by
the High Court.” Kabila, was referencing two cases; first one involving Martin ‘Seer Seer’ Siame, Yotam
Mbewe, Misheck Phiri and Jack Chanda, affectionately referred to as Makolozo . The other case involved
Brian Zulu and co-accused Martin Mbilisi, who waited for 11 years, only to be acquitted.
Diagram 1
By Friday, 7th January, 2019, I had spent 22 days at Chimbokaila and doing a count in my head remained
with 322 yet to be confronted, yet I was determined to cross the set Friday 20th December 2019 finish
line, to use a Zambia Amateur Athletics Associations (ZAAA) President Elias Mpondela’s language.
Wednesday 8th January 2019, I woke at now monotonous 05:00 hours, with the first counting of inmates
being done at 06:45 hours with a message that everyone had to be in the shelter as a visitor ot
mentioned but thought to be Home Affairs Minister, Stephen Kampyongo, a Patriotic Front (PF)
Shiwag’andu Member of Parliament (MP) was expected.
It was a chilly morning and I wondered why Zambian families, communities and prisons always want to
clean-up when a visitor is expected. This cleaning fascination to impress outsiders. In future, scheduled
visitations must be discouraged as such events are held to impress either a local or foreign entourage.
A packet of pacific cigarette was worth or valued at K5. One could purchase a loaf bread with two
packets, get a bucket of hot water and have clothes washed the same amount. A packet of Peter
branded cigarette, one needed just one to purchase the mentioned goods or get a service or two
A moment later, Ieft the shelter as Brian Mangwato came to call me to go and have breakfast,
comprising an egg and four slices of bread
As stated earlier, an officer came and informed us of a pending visit with emphasis on inmates showing
or displaying courteous behavior characteristic of Zambia’s respect for elders at all times irrespective of
the age of guests.
Later, we had to vacate the shelter and sat facing west on the tar- concrete space, which is used as a
makeshift football pitch on the eastern side of the facility. It was now hot but with no choice sat in the
sun. It was unbearable scorching hot. We sat waiting for the yet to be known visitors. It turned out to be
a delegation from Germany, headed by an international relations minister. As they strode within the
premise, the Germany entourage familiarized themselves with living conditions in cell 4 and the kitchen,
before coming to the shelter to greet us.
The delegation leader was assuring us that Germany was interested in improvement of the welfare of
Inmates; you too have inalienable rights as inmates, deserving to be treated accordingly as human
beings deserving respect as humans outside a correctional facility.
He had a print, radio, television crew of journalists as I noticed them taking audio and visual recordings
of the visit done cautiously but openly. At the close, the delegation leader spoke through an interpreter
stating that he would continue to meet the President and justice ministry officials.
I noticed a director in Minister Given Lubinda’s office and wondered why the then Acting Minister
Kampyongo had not accompanied his German peer.
A prison officer told inmates that an interaction would bee arranged in due course to discuss bread and
butter issues. This was apparently in view of the fact that the inmates had not been allowed to dialogue
with the German delegation.
However, it seems the Zambian justice system does not keep or give its partners a true impression of
the status of inmate as great effort is enforced in ensuring no clear image is broadcast abroad or locally.
The cleaning ahead of a visit is meant to paint a good image which is none existent and year-in-year-
out, the situation does not improve. The true picture or truth is more often than not hidden.
Solution is to be truthful and the environment will improve for the better. How can one get healed if one
continues being in denial. The plight of prisoners or a citizen outside such a facility can only become
better once philanthropists – public and private or bilateral partners are given an aculeate impression.
Tuesday 8th January 2019.
It is a sordid, disreputable, disgusting indictment characterization of a dehumanizing nation. A Christian
nation in name but callous in practice, as I witnessed a man faint at 18:45 hours and it later occurred to
me that a victim was often condemned instead of the environment or root case of one failing to
breathe. Perhaps, giving credence to my lamentation, some voices could be heard saying teasingly: let
him stand and walk on his own, a remark that led to a deafening rebuke. I saw or witnessed first hand
how inhuman our Zambian society had become. Though, it is always prayer after prayer, and church
after church from sunrise to sunset at Chimbokaila, it is worrying and traumatizing to see how our
society has ignored to heed Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda’s message of love thy neighbours as thyself. One
wonders what the Prisons Act, says with regard to the welfare of inmates;remandees and convicts in a
Zambian correctional facility? The facility is flooded with Christian message sand bibles including a
special prayer point-place known as ‘The Mountain’ reserved for worshippers and periodic Muslim
Prayers in the cells and shelter area are kept as routine. This determination by Muslims and Christians to
keep prayer routine without practical application is at variance with teachings on compassion and love
for each other.
On Wednesday 9th January 2019, I woke at 05:00 hours, chorused the monotonous prayers, lay for an
how and bed rise was at 06:00 hours with unlock coming at 06:35 hours. The previous night was a bit
cold as it had raised, and as I had slept on one bambo (one rib) meaning lying on one side. Accordingly,
as each of us were expected, I had three places I was expected to occupy once a lock-up had occurred.
The first position is just as one enters a cell, there is a makeshift bed on my right hand on which I
sat looking in the western direction facing the notice board an medicine box, under the custody of two
or three chairmen(chairpersons). My second position was the same bed during meals and the third
position is when it is sleeping time, either resting my head at the tail end of one of the captains
makeshift beds. Initially, I rested my head on the far right end, on a sleeping space reserved for the
ground captain. I slept net to the Cell Inspector, branded as ‘Kanganja’ or Inspector General (IG), with
responsibility to oversee adherence to an inmates allotted space and good conduct As one enters the
cell, there two beds on either side, a third is at the far right, and a fourth net to the meicione box but
facing south, toward were the television set is placed. The bed on ones left, was at the time reserved for
Number One Ngulube and team. In the morning 1st Kings 18:41-45 was used by Daka.
When one is in a crisis, what does that individual do? Before any responses to the sermon could be
adduced, Daka’s preaching was interrupted by an announcement that only prisoners in jumpers-
uniform would be allowed to venture outside. After some normalcy returned, a complaint Daka
explained that in prison one need not get surprised as it was normal for a sermon to be interrupted.
“Nimundendemuno, so osandambwa’ explained Daka literally interpreted to mean; this is prison and
one need not get surprised. ‘Izozapita’ –that is now past us, let us pray, stated a stern faced Daka, quite
amusing.
As was occasionally the case, a kitchen gang member came and made an impromptu announcement.
“Please, those with uga (mealie meal) bring it early as we will not tolerate once asking us to cook
nshima at one preferred time . “Pajelepalibeuga, so osameka, bameneablinauga, ambwelese
mwamusanganga, literally tarnsated as: ‘ there is no meal in the correctional facility, so those with
access must bring it early,” a voice disappeared as inmates reached out for plan B.
A thought crossed my mind. There was hunger in Israel for three years, just as was the case in Somalia
for a decade (10 years). It is a similar occurrence here in Zambia due to drought experienced in the last
five or less years. Instead of thanking God, he went to celebrate, but Elijah knelt and prayed. Even as we
look at the socio-economic burden faced by families and our individual court cases. We must direct
energy on prayer as we cope with prison life and look ahead our collective End of Prison Date (EPD) with
renewed enthusiasm. There is indeed need to emulate Elijah by kneeling in prayer; seeking comfort in
God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who as directed tie without number offers a passage to everlasting
salvation. We have a lot of issues to think off or ponder, and unless one’s mind is blank! It is not a time
to instill self-pity. Even though one is in prison or recuperating at the University Teaching Hospital, one
need not lose hope and it is instructive to heed teachings in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3 “
The day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (God, the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit) will coe like
a thief in the night. The Lord Jesus Christ will come unexpected. People, today are celebrating like peace
and stability can easily be overcome by tragedy. The prison wal cannot stop sickness, death or the Lord
Jesus Christ from entering bringing everlasting salvation or a deafening wrath to those found
contravening-disobeying His teachings.
What a life of a Zambian, Steven Jameson Mubita, a 20-year-old lad, unfortunately prosecuted for
manslaughter and sentenced to five (5) years on account of that he was the last person seen with a
person eventually found dead. In a talk, Mubita regretted to have come to Lusaka in January 2018 and
was eventually sentenced on 10th December 018. He had an ambition to study clinical medicine which
was shattered or circumstantially delayed by the alluded to incarceration.
Born on 25th December 1990, in Lusaka, 29 year-old Brian Musonda (0978335857) trained as a surgeon
in France from 2001-2010 at the Military Medical University in Paris, after completing Grade 12 at
Kawambwa Boys Secondary School in Luapula Province.
In 2000, when Father Francis Gooseman, a Catholic priest based in Zambia was impressed with his
Good distinction result performance in Mathematics, physics, chemistry , secured a place to study
medicine in France, Europe. “My father, Brian Musonda Senior, was a medical doctor, now retired, while
my mother is Emeldah Musonda. I have worked in France, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Swaziland,” recollected Musonda who bragged of having conducted 4, 877 surgical operations.
Off these, 15 patients in post op-complications and 10 peritonitis (abdormina).
“I a very young and I think before reaching the age of 40 years, I dream of being the next generation of
Dr. Ben Carson. I am very good,” bragged Musonda, married to Martha Musalale-Musonda, and at the
time the couple had a son, 2-year-old Brian Musonda.
“ I really want to work here in Zambia. The only sad part is that here people are too jealousy of each
Other, which is not a good thing at all. I will not work here as we are not considerate of each other. If
they really wanted me to work here, why did they proceed to have me convicted? They know how my
position in my head cannot be changed. I am who I am and I know I am a great surgeon. Only God, can
change my status,” said Musonda worried that while he was in jail, a lot of peope-patients in need of his
expertise lacked help.
He recalled that since 30th May 2018, when Lusaka magistrate Munyinya of Court 8, convicted for hi in a matter accused of obtaining money by false pretensestill March 2019, when he was expected to be released, a lot of time and expertise was lost.
“A lot of people are dying, who could have been helped had I been extending my surgincalexertise,”
noted Musonda born in a family reputed to have produced three (3) doctors; Dr. ALberbet Musonda,
serving in the DRC, Dr. Herve Musonda in the DRC and Dr Brian Musonda.
Then there is Alice Musonda, Paulete Musonda, Innocent Musonda and Kamwin Musonda, a nurse in Burundi.
The plight of prisoners an prison warders. I was in the know that Zambia’s 5th Republican President, the late Michael Chilufya Sata tried to improve.
=====
LAZ taking a shot at Rainbow Newspaper
I was told of this but I just ignored and opted for the golden rule.
As I prepared to pruduce edition 66 of the Rainbow Newspaper, on Friday 21st February 2020, I came across this article attributed to the law association of Zambia (LAZ) on its Facebook page. It was an article posted on Wednesday 13th June 2018: “LAZ PRESS STATEMENT DATED 13TH JUNE 2018 IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC ATTACKS ON JUDGES AND LAWYERS FOLLOWING THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SAVANDA MANAGEMENT SERVICES V STANBIC ZAMBIA LIMITED, SCZ JUDGEMENT NO. OF 2018.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has read with grave concern the various newspaper reports and comments carried by the vision and Rainbow Newspapers and the online publications, the Zambian Watchdog and the Zambian Observer on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Savenda Management Services v Stanbic Bank of Zambia Limited, Selected Judgement No.10 of 2018 (‘the Savenda Matter’). The reports and comments give opinions on the decision and also make very serious allegations as follows:
Click the link below to read the full statement:
http://www.laz.org.zm/…/laz-press-statement-13-6-2018-laz-…/
Let me tell the story
It was Friday 13th December 2019, and the previous night Fulman Mukobeko had intimated I needed to
be at a bus station opposite ZNBC by 09:00 hours. I obliged. I reached Fridays corner, and the gentle was
at Kulima Tower. Using my John Walker-killing ants preference, I calculated, I could take time taking a
stroll toward the Mass Media destination , which I did and arrived in good time. I took the left side of
Alick Nkhata road and I noticed that residential areas on the right side had been swallowed by offices
and shops, some structures being storied. As I strode, at the Kamloops and Alick Nkhata junction
complaining loudly, a young man walking toward the opposite direction taunted this inquisitive person.
“There is no problem, here, those Zambian landlords and landladies, benefitted as they were paid some
income after selling. I do not see it as a loss but gain”. Borrowing a cue from CCZ General Secretary,
Canon Emmanuel YonaChkoya, I have always backed a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) paradigm shift
as regards improvement of communities. The buy off process witnessed on Alick Nkhata Road confines
communities to perpetual misery as earnings out of the transaction wither like morning dew. The money
is lost due to depreciating value as a dysfunctional Zambian economy, favours those with the ‘Green
Buck’ US dollar account which does not lose its value.
Fulman and I walked back toward Radio Christian Voice, but turned right twice and eventually left,
reaching Four Pillars Lodge where Henry Kabwe and Media Network for Child Rights and Development
were hosting a media interaction on Gender Based Violence.
Kabwe and several colleagues were happy to see me and took selfies, while Namfukwe from Muvi
Television opted to conduct an interview in which I reiterated that the solution to crime in Zambia lay in
effective combating of heightened or skyrocketing poverty, unemployment and income inequality.
I took a position during the interview that custodial sentences was not a cure as no empirical evidence
exists that such penalty acts as a deterrence to would be offenders.
Building on a cue from President Lungu, I insisted that time was nigh for the Zambia Correctional
Services (ZCS) to repeal the archaic Prison Act, which remained in existence despite authorities’
rebranding to an environment that detested a punitive spirit.
“There is need to ensure that the Prison Act is repealed and replaced with a Correctional Act,” I noted
pointing out a need to reduce the inmate prison warder ratio, and decentralized management of the
Zambia Correctional Service. I noted that despite them raising sufficient resources, the centralized
nature of the Zambian governance structure made them (it) subsist as a lethargic institution.
The ZPS will raise K600 million as anticipated in the 2018-2019 farming and entrepreneurial season but
these resources were ploughed into account 99 at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ). The authority would still
not spend on policing and rehabilitating infrastructure nor individuals into good citizens.
Fulman Mukobeko was overwhelmed by the competence Namfukwe displayed and the duo exchanged numbers
with the gentleman expressing delight at her nose for news, while Kabwe acknowledged Zambian
Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD) for surrendering Maxwell Simbuwa, into
his MNCRD hand. Simbuwa, a Zambian lad and nephew to Kunda Mando was currently studying in South
Africa and had represented Zambia at the United Nations and International gatherings, worth
celebrating for a person below 20 years.
Later, in the evening I was at a media awards put together by Policy Monitoring and Research
Centre (PMRC) and Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), during which a third leg came on
board as ZAMCOM signed collaboration with PMRC.
As the ceremony concluded awarding deserving practitioners, I was taken by surprise when a sweet
voice of Chilufya Mwelwa came through announcing I had been requested to walk to the Makumbi
podium and pose with PMRC Executive Director, Ms. Bernadette Deka-Zulu.
Throughout the evening spiced by excellent Uncle Rex music band, I resisted the temptation to line for
food and only drunk a Fanta, and noticed several people walking toward me and requesting to take
selfies.
As the gathering withered, I was inspired as I walked toward George Chomba, from Diamond Television
who tartly insisted on finding out if at all I still believed on what I had published in the Rainbow
Newspaper Limited copy, stating that he had resisted the temptation to take a selfie with me on
account that patronage was not a preferred cup of tea.
“Aba bamukukulu, want to take pictures with you each time you are in this public space. But do they really
know your situation. They would want to take advantage and pose with you. I will not do that till I find
out if really you stand by your word,” stated Chomba, a veteran journalist who cut his journalistic teeth
at the Zambian Daily Mail.
According to Chomba, time had come for me to insist on querying those seeking my indulgence if at all
they believed in me by posing a question or two to them thus: “Do you believe or back my position that I
was merely transmitting the message as a messenger of truth?”
For me, I would like you to tell the story in your own words, as it is you that experienced prison life. You
must insist on sharing it on your own terms and not being compelled.
For instance, Chomba alerted me that I was the second Zambian journalist after Elias Kamanga, now
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary to be jailed on a contempt of court accusation, which situation
was worth fighting as it was erroneously undemocratic.
Your fight brother Sinjela from now on must be to go out there and state: “No journalist must be jailed
on account of contempt of court,” as communicators are merely messengers of an occurring story and
sentiment expressed by members of the public.
Chomba took a position that while CNN and other international channels had been allowed in Zambia
showing compromising footage the Zambian law prohibited such characterization, and it was not
acceptable for a Zambian child to kiss a parent, uncle and aunt on the cheek as a form of greeting.
After a while, I left and walking on United Nations Avenue, near ZICTA offices I called Simon Mwaba
Mulenga, who asked me to walk to UTH Club and the gentleman fetched the three of us-Joseph
Mulyasau Chanda and a colleague. Joseph disembarked at the SDA church and took a bus to Kamwala South, while a colleague did so at Chilenje Main market, bus stop known as pa Banda.
Petitions for this Liberty
Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo
May 3, 2019 · Lusaka ·
Of WPFD, Pardon Jailed Journalist Derrick Sinjela
On WPFD, Zambian Journalists Asks President Lungu To Pardon Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela
Not In A Jovial Mood, Zambian Journalists Commemorate World Press Freedom Day Focusing On Challenges That Have Befallen Their Industry As They Call For Pardoning Of Jailed Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela.
This Report Done By International And Multiple Award Winning Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo Aired On 3rd May 2019 On SABC’s Radio Service, Channel Africa On World Press Freedom Day
#JournalismIsNotACrime
#And_DAS1
— feeling sad with Derrick Sinjela and 6 others at Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM).
The Punch ; For Investigative News & Analysis added a new photo.
Letter to the EDITOR: PARDON JOURNALIST DERRICK SINJELA.
I am from the bottom of my heart appealing to the republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to use his constitutional powers and rights to pardon veteran journalist, Mr Derrick Sinjela.
A wrong was committed, and whose wrong was equally admitted without wasting the courts time.
This appeal collides with the festive season which is the season of love and forgiveness.
It’s a season of give and take.
My grounds of appeal are based on the fact that Sinjela chose to admit that he was wrong and remorseful to his actions.
As a law abiding citizen, he chose not to flee the nation giving enough room to authority to judge him positively as a responsible adult and citizen of this nation.
This country has witnessed in the past where three renowned musicians where given mercy by our courts on serious matters of ganja or dagga smoking.
Reasons of pardon where that they had large followings and if sent to jail, the public was meant to loose out.
Most recently a young student from the University of Zambia was caught with cannabis and sent to jail.
I compared between a young promising intellectual versus musicians.
Personally I expected the courts to have pardoned our young student so as to give him chance to repent and further graduate from University.
Upon graduation, he would have contributed to national development in his area of speciality without fail.
Sinjela, has been instrumental in his works. Having worked with him in the bank, ever jovial and helpful person.
This is the period he could have been with his family.
This is not to rubbish the court ruling and the judges who presided over the matter but merely making an appeal to my President.
Only President Lungu, can save and pardon Sinjela.
President Lungu personally pardoned a musician who was jailed for an offence of defilement.
Society still need the services of Sinjela.
I have no doubt that our President will deal with this matter amicably without fail.
Dr Cephas Mukuka
Political researcher.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela as New Vision News Editor
Matters of FAITH CBCTV added a new photo.
The Supreme has adjourned the contempt of court sentencing of Rainbow Newspaper owner Derrick Sinjela to 20th December, 2018.
The development come after the court was disrupted during another contempt case which involved a senior citizen who stood accused in the supreme court collapsed as the charge was being ready to him.
The court went for a short recess and when the judges came back they informed the court that Sinjela’s case could not be proceeded for judgement as the beach was incomplete having that the trial was head by the full beach so should the judgement.
The senior citizen who collapsed in court earlier was rushed to hospital for medical attention.
Derrick Sinjela stand accused of contempt of court in the Stanbic and Savenda case.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela with Bishop John Osmers at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Friends of Mother Earth National Coordinator, Isaac Mwale Attending to an interview on sustainable use of National natural Resources. Interview by Ashton Kelly Bunda; Photo by Derrick Sinjela.
With Clarence Moonde Muzyamba
Derrick Sinjela was with Isaac Mwale.
Branding Zambia 2014 added a new photo.
President Michael Chilufya Sata with Sam Zulu and Chiko Bwalya on Cairo Road, walking outside Farmers House – Picture by Derrick Sinjela Rainbow Zambia
Patriotic Front (PF) founder the late ‘King Cobra’ Michael Chilufya Sata with real
people on Cairo Road – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
In a by Staff Reporter story on May 24, 2019, NGOCC petitioned President Lungu for my release in a story carried by Mutinta M’membe’s The Mast Newspapers which was entitled: “NGOCC plead with Lungu to release Sinjela on May 25NON-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council executive director Engwase Mwale has appealed to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to consider pardoning journalist Derrick Sinjela on Africa Freedom Day, which falls on May 25.
The Supreme Court of Zambia in December last year jailed veteran journalist and blogger, Sinjela, 18 months for contempt.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Mwale said her organisation was looking forward to seeing Sinjela walk to freedom.
“NGOCC recognises that this is a week that is culminating into Africa Freedom Day. As a country, we need to guard the freedoms that we enjoy but most importantly, also looking at aspects of human rights and access to social justice. At this point, we also want to wish our friend and comrade Derrick Sinjela a happy 55th birthday. Even as he is incarcerated, to us, he is a hero. He is a prisoner of conscience and we are learning a lot from his experience. We have been paying him visits at the prison and we are encouraged that he is always in high spirit,” Mwale said.
“He is always positive and he is also learning a lot from his life in incarceration. We wish to call upon the Head of State to seriously consider presidential pardon on our colleague and comrade so that on the 25th as he is looking at the list of the people that he is going to pardon…we are looking forward to seeing Mr Derrick Sinjela’s name being amongst those patriots to be set free and be able to continue his work of promoting human rights.”
Mwale said President Lungu would be showing everyone that he recognises the role of the media if he
pardons Sinjela on May 25.
“It is very important that the President takes this as one of his important milestones. First and foremost he will be setting a tone that he is recognising the role of the media and he will also be setting a tone that the media space needs to be independent…journalist in our country should be able to exercise their right to share information. Once this gesture is done by our President, we will go a long way in showing us Zambians that he means well when he talks upholding human rights and that the freedoms as enshrined in our Constitution are recognised,” Mwale said.
“We understand that he (Sinjela) is even writing a book which he is going to title around his experiences in prison. As NGOCC, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the role that the media is playing in the promotion of human rights and social justice. It is our conviction also that as civil society organisations, we need to work hand-in-hand in promoting human rights and social justice. We also recognise the role that the media play in promoting women’s rights and women’s empowerment.
Derrick Sinjela added 7 new photos.
Christopher Lifasi with Rainbow Zambia Executive President Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela Wednesday 29th January 2020 www.rainbownewszambia.com
Top of Form
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Top of Form
Dante Saunders and AkashabatwaMbikusitaLewanika with Derrick Sinjela
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
John Chola commiserates with Derrick Sinjela on Cairo Road in Lusaka
Dickson Jere added a new photo.
Throw Back Thursday…Lusaka Lawyer then Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Subordinate Court with his client Stella Chibanda who is former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Time!
Picture courtesy of Derrick Sinjela
— with Stella Chibanda.
333Febian Miguel Manda, WinfordKashiya and 331 others
Comments
Evelyn Chilongozi Banda My sister with ba lawyer
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AchmaAsokan Stella Chibanda previously Mumba was our classmate at the Dominican Convent!
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JacklineKaputo My Grandma l remember this time when you are the PS
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Joe Mat He was a Lawyer…Why are people sounding like he was a charcoal burner? At that time he had already made it in life
Is it the filth in his dressing? We can all agree he wasn’t smart looking like his other lawyers
· Evans Sinjela updated his cover photo.
14Kombe Rich Chimpinde, Delphister Lungu and 12 others
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ChamboNg’uni PROVERBS CHAPTER 18 VERSE 22
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Mathews Mudenda PS how come I missed this event? Congratulations and all the best.
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Simon Mwamba wellcome bro
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Naomi Mweemba wow.nice.
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Derrick Sinjela added 5 new photos.
Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) Staffer Gerald Siingwa with Rainbow Zambia Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela at Mint Leaf Lodge in Lusaka, on Friday 20th December 2019, moments after Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter Chairperson Ms. Hellen Mwale opened a Stakeholders Meeting to share Independent Independent Broadcasting Authority – IBA and ZNBC Regulation Position Paper. Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma and EB Media Consultant Elias Banda witnessed the discussion hosted by Jane Chirwa Sally Chiwama and Margaret Kabuswe in Lusaka’s Chudhleigh area. Rainbownewszambia
9Zulu Robin, Alfred Banda and 7 others
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Zulu Robin Great
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· Derrick Sinjela added 5 new photos.
Rainbow Traveltourismzambia Rainboweducation Zambia Rainbow Zambia Rainbownewszambia Zcyp Development Zambian Media Taskforce on Ending Child Marriages Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page Zambian Cypwd Derrick Derrick Sinjela Derrick Derrick Sinjela “#FlashbackRainbowNewsZambiaEstablishedMonday25June2007 Stella Chibanda with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court – Pictures by Derrick Sinjela Branding Zambia 2014 www.derricksinjela.blogspot.com
3Stella Chibanda, Derrick Sinjela and 1 other
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Stella Chibanda Iyee kale!!
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Derrick Sinjela added a new photo.
What is the best way to get a hold of the guy who runs the Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA), the Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page (ZCYPWD), Rainbow Zambia Rainbow Newspaper Limited established Monday 25th June 2007 by Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela www.derricksinjela.com www.rainbownewszambia.com
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Derrick Sinjela added 3 new photos.
Former Zambia Association of Musicians President Maiko Zulu with Rainbow Newspaper Zambia 2007 Ltd Executive President (Editor-in-Chief) Derrick Sinjela maiden (first) Pan African Radio 96.1FM ‘Voice of Africa’ Emerging Star Awards at Chris Mall Lodges, Foxdale, Lusaka Saturday14Dec2019
28Zulu Robin, Alfred Banda and 26 others
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Derrick Sinjela #EllaWhelan @EllaWhelan I come from a ordinary Labour family. Brothers, sister &partner all do working class jobs. I was a teacher. We’re neither elite nor elitist. We were brought up in a family which encouraged reading, discussion, politics, history etc And we’re all #Remainers #Skypapers #StigAbell @StingAbell
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Derrick Sinjela with Barber (man) person John
======
Support received Free Press Initiative advocate Joan Chirwa
Friday 14 February 2020 08:31-“Freedom on paper, not in reality!”, Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia, Joan Chirwa
February 17
11:572020
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FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020 08:31
FREEDOM ON PAPER, NOT IN REALITY!
ZAMBIAN JOURNALIST AND AN IPI MEMBER, FOUNDER OF THE FREE PRESS INITIATIVE ZAMBIA, JOAN CHIRWA WROTE AS PART OF THE ARTICLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN IPI AND EVRENSEL DAILY
Joan Chirwa (Photograph: IPI)
Joan Chirwa*
Police callouts, closures of media institutions, threats, heavy political control of the news media and all other ills that make journalists resign themselves to unprofessional practices have become a common feature in the media industry in many African countries.
When and how did we get here? This is the question that many of us have been asking ourselves for a good number of our practicing years. The answers keep getting more complicated as the years go by. Like other countries in Africa, Zambia has a litany of laws, among them defamation, state security, contempt of court and sedition, that have been used to curtail or inhibit the freedom of journalists to practice without fear of prosecution or arrest.
Since gaining independence on October 24, 1964, Zambia has passed a number of laws affecting press freedom. The Defamation Act of 1964 restricts freedom of expression, among other things. And there is also the Penal Code, which criminalizes defamation of the President and of constitutional office holders.
Rainbow Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Thursday November 14 2019 Picture by Mercy Kampamba of Percy Photography New Kasama Road Chilenje Lusaka Zambia
Additionally, the State Security Act of 1969 limits free speech and media freedom, thereby restricting the possibility to criticize the government and its officials. Calls have been made to reform our laws, such as the ban on defaming the president, that have been used against journalists, including this author. Whenever concerns have been raised against these prohibitive laws and the negative effects they are having on freedom of the press, the authorities usually rebut these concerns by arguing that there are no journalists in jail on charges related to their work. But we believe that freedom of the press cannot, and should never, be measured simply by the number of journalists jailed.
In any case, some journalists have faced jail: Derrick Sinjela, a Zambian journalist, was recently released from prison after several months after the Supreme Court found him guilty of contempt of court for criticizing its judges and gave him a custodial sentence of 18 months. He was, until his release in early November 2019, the only journalist jailed in Zambia, serving a sentence slapped on him by the very judges he was criticizing.
Reklam
Cyberlink
But that there was only one journalist jailed in Zambia that time should not, however, be interpreted to mean 100 percent freedom of the press. Take the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which constantly monitors the work of radio and television journalists and never hesitates to close them down at the slightest of violations of the broadcast laws!
The use of criminal defamation laws against the press is still ongoing but the dangers from civil lawsuits with high costs and high risks are also rising, leading to a greater likelihood of bankruptcy of media outlets. Independence of the press is therefore weakened where the right of journalists to criticize public officials is threatened.
What is interesting to note is that freedoms of expression and of the press are constitutionally guaranteed in Zambia, but the continued existence of some of the laws highlighted above prohibit the enjoyment of these rights. Additionally, heavy political control of most media institutions has sent the majority of journalists into self-censorship. Sadly, this trend is widespread even among privately run, what one would previously call “independent media”, because even there, opposition political parties have totally taken control of the financial needs of some newspapers, radio and television stations. The end result: self-censorship takes over and press freedom completely ceases to exist!
Derrick Sinjela with Ruth Machuku and Ireen Banda Mulenga at 641 New Chilenje Lusaka reading The Depth of My Footprints From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage – Picture by Kasebamashila Kaseba
Freedom House, a rights group which publishes annual country reports on press freedom status, ranked Zambia’s press as “Not Free” already in 2016. Freedom House has noted that media independence is the absence of external control and influence on an institution or individual working in the media. It is a measure of one’s capacity to make decisions and act according to its own logic, Freedom House states, and distinguishes independent media from state media. Zambia’s “Not Free” rating is a sign of the great challenges we face here.
* Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia and student lawyer
Reklam
IPI – EVRENSEL ARTICLE COLLABORATION BEGINS
‘I SUBSCRIBE’ CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH EVRENSEL AND BIRGÜN
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Chapter 3 The Presidency
People are scared to face reality in Zambia. When I said the president or the presidency is the most
ignorant structure in the country, all wince, flinch, shudder, just as you reading this line as late Moses
Chitendwe of the National Mirror would remark: “ImwebaMugala, insenimumone, abaince aba, ba
Derek na Francis Lungu baletukabakateka” literally translated as: “Mr. Lloyd Mugala, come and see this
storyline, Derrick Sinjela and Francis Lungu are insulting the President. Chitendwe, was a putative
cousin to Zambia’s Third Republican President, the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (2002-2007).
Presidents in Zambia are always kept in the dark.
It is time to grab the bull by its horn. In a presidential democracy, only a head of State and Government has capacity to develop a ward, Constituency, district, province and country. A Councilor, Mayor, Town Council Chairperson, Parliamentarian or Minister is limited as to what contributions she or he may render. For instance, even the budget, is erroneously attributed to a Finance Minister, when this document is written as a letter tabled before the National Assembly on behalf of the Zambian President.
The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian triple P
By Comrade Derrick Sinjela Prisoner of Conscience (PoC) Lus/4818/18
Time without number, Zambian award winning journalist and author, Bhalewa Zyuulu would refuse a greeting once we crushed in the field of story hunting, the last dare being a stone throw from Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary (PS) Thabo Kawana, protesting that until I had published, he would shy away.
Mudala, please publish and once you do so, I tell you, a feeling of statisfaction will envelop you, Zyuulu prodded within earshot of Kwacha Magazine CEO Saeed Simon Banda and Mwango, a Radio Phoenix Journalist.
This was on Friday, 3rd May, 2024 as Zambian journalists and media workers joined humanity commemorating the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on a theme: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”.
Comrade Bhalewa is not the only public sphere dude that accosted me over the delayed book as earlier, co-founder of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Chief Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika drove from Mongu to Lusaka, and during a coffee and tea dialogue urged that my true self would only manifest once I published a maiden book. Aka co-founded the MMD with Mbita ‘Derek’ Chitala.
When do we see the book, Perdita Chenjela-Kaseba quizzed as I sought refuge in power outage, which
she argued could easily be overcome by adjusting time.
“You could sleep in the day and work at night, Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba proposed, pointing out the
importance of timeliness.
Later, after exchanging some pleasantries, and bidding farewell to Judith and Ireen, protesting she
would eat nshima the next time, DMKS and I saw Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba out of the yard toward the Fir
Road bus stop on Burma road.
As we reached Ipusukilo Road, she noticed that the other side had electricity while our area was a dark
City, a mystery we could not explain; same community –difference in access to electric power
availability. In the news, Energy Minister Matthew Nkuwa said following importation of power from
Eskom, the 15 hour load shedding period everyday had reduced by two hours, while ZESCO Public
Relations Manager Hazel Zulu was urging communities in Lusaka’s Chibolya, John Laing, Kanyama and
Misisi townships to cooperative with teams distributing energy saving bulbs, after a similar exercise in
Kabwe, Central Province.
I did not reach far as I let DMKS take the lead, with Ms. Kaseba protesting she could not receive
transport money from a ‘convict’.
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Chapter 1 Press
I have been fortunate encountering a lot of support from individuals I may call mentors. As a mentee, I got helped with platform to grow as a journalist when as a National Mirror Newspaper employee, then Dean at Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross , Reverend Father David Njovu and Adrian Chundama let me do stories on the website. I was included in ecumenical trips covering work within the diocese, which got consolidated during Right Reverend Bishop Njovu’s reign as spiritual head of the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka.
Fast forward, as soon as I was pardoned by Sixth (6th) Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I was indebted to receive an encouraging telephone conversation with Bishop Njovu.
I had planned to pay a courtesy call on Bishop Njovu through Anglican Diocese of Lusaka Administrator, Ms. Grace Luwewa but this was not to be as the Almighty Jesus Christ, had other plans.
Ordinarily, life has other plans. Bishop Njovu occasionally dropped me at my residency, just as then Heritage Party (HP) leader, Brigadier General (Brig. Gen.) Godfrey Miyanda drove me to New Chilenje Township, after a service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
Chapter 2 Prison
Thursday 20th December 2018 The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian triple P
Woke up at 641 New Chilenje, said good bye ahead of the morning’s judgement – sentencing before the
Supreme Court presided by Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa. As a means of getting extra good fortune,
I had a olive oil blessing from Fanny Nyirenda before jumping on the bus on Burma Road and
disembarked at Sikanze Police Bus stop, just after United Church of Zambia (UCZ) St. Paul’s Congregation, crossed the road and headed for the sentencing at the
Supreme Court. There is Edwin Imboela on ones left , a place reserved for Zambia Police horses, with an officers mess (tarven) on the right. I had left my double sim handset with the Airtel and Zamtel numbers or sim cards home, so activist Lonely Tatila was able to reach me on the MTN line, giving a briefing that he had linked up with MISA Zambia
Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta . I knew my fate as my tart, astute and forthright legal counsel, Dr. Overs Masozi Mufwakawiri Banda of O. M. M. Banda had prepared me for this eventuality. My, friend, Derek (Derrick Sinjela) just prepare for a conviction and be ready to go to prison,” Dr. Banda confronted reality. This was a relief and my second step to liberty. The first was when Reverend Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale prodded becoming courageous lizards, and the third step to liberty was Deputy Chief Justice, Marvin Mwanamwambwa doing what the Supreme Court dies best. Least, I forget to this is fate I suppose, and this line is being written close to seven years later (Sunday, 31st August, 2025).
I had then reached the court grounds, then a Times of Zambia (ToZ) crew came and offered solidarity
as Perpetual Sichikwenkwe was delegated to cover the sentencing before a five panel of men and
women though in essence, representing the number 13, as in the full bench. I later strode into court, the
one far left and closer to Chikwa Road and after a somewhat delay I took a step toward the male toilet
on the ground floor to urinate, or putting it good to answer a light call of nature. Since, I had arrived
much earlier, I walked outside and as I reached the parking lot, met the kwacha celebrity crew driven by
Saeed Simon Banda, Tetiwe Mweemba, Fulman Mukobeko and CBC television journalist Pamela
Mulenga, and wanting to capture every moment rolled the hand held camera-took videos and selfiies-a
form of modern day greeting, people rarely hug but familiarize themselves with shots, which are then
Instantly shared online.
Fast forward, the long-anticipated session began and Marvin Mwanamwambwa did what he does best
sentence me to 18 months simple imprisonment with an awed courtroom pronouncing loudly as I can
recall noticing him jerk contentently .
“Take him, he is a prisoner forthwith. I did not falter, as a male policeperson approached me and the
orders I respecting the verdict walked out acknowledging Southern African Centre for the Constructive
Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director, BornifaceCheembe, Governance Elections
Advocacy Research Services (GEARS) Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi, New Age Newspaper
proprietor, Bernard Phiri, and countless concerning people showing solidarity with the truth as spelled
in John 8:32.
As cameras rolled, I was escorted to the holding cell as a policeperson taunted me: “Do you want to say
something or pose for some pictures with these journalists? I did not say a word just continued the
journey to the land of liberty and truth with a mere meticulous journalistic glance at the diligent pen-
pushing peers. Before being locked at the down cell, I was searched and handed K250, original court
summon authored by Chief Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, and Rainbow News Identity card.
Some days later, nephew Kelvin Daka and his mother Sister Jenny, also known as Jane Nanjela-Daka did
not find the said documents which policepersons at the Court Holding Cell vehemently refused to
acknowledge. It was not the amount but I felt really sad to have to experience such blatant dishonesty.
In local discourse caution is rendered that one rotten groundnut spoils a mouthful, forcing one to spit as
edible food becomes detestable.
Earlier, though two ‘cops’ female and male offered encouraging words with the lady policeperson
prodding media to highlight social ills, as such priority communication and coverage enlightened the
public. At the obviously globally dreaded Chimbokaila Prison, now Christened as Lusaka Central
Correctional Facility (LCCF) authorities calculated the End of Prison Date (EPD) to read Friday 20th
December 2019.
This is a story and it has a lot of front progress, plus back and forth strides not to spice but tell it as much
as I can truthfully recollect my mind on this ordeal, which in later paragraphs I title as an occupational
hazard. Many people, fear reality and might be seduced to deceive themselves that they are immune
to such situation, but truth be told, we are all potential prisoners, as in the Bemba parlance, ‘umulandu
mame’ literally translated to mean: ‘a case is like morning dew, that one cannot avoid; as such a
situation is circumstantial as is the case of children born in prison as a consequence of a mother being
incarcerated. Like former Zambia Prisons Service (ZPS) commissioner general Jeffrey Mumbuwa would caution realistically; we are all potential prisoners.
I was jittery on account of sordid, repugnant, disgusting stories of mental and physical torture narrated
countless times by those that had been incarcerated countywide. This dreadful possibility was however
discounted as time was favourable on my side. This was real and I even overhead a huge officer being
discouraged from some form of corporal punishment by as a colleague remarked in Nyanja, alocal
dialect “Musiyechabe, osamumenya , literally translated : ‘Just leave him, do not beat the hell out of
this gentleman.
As soon as I was ushered into the Court Holding Cell, I met or found four gentlemen, all remanded
persons. The quartet –foursome equally narrated life in prison. The foursome were Bright Mandanda,
Victor Moobo, Johnathan Kangwamina and Saliona Thomas Mtonga (STM), popularly known as
Jamfortey, a likeable personality. Saliona assured me of safety and protection, allaying fears of being
physically and emotionally tortured by inmates and prison warders.
Saliona Thomas Mtonga later wrote: “I remember it was on 20th December 2018, I was waiting for my
judgement in the cells at the high court. It was between 10:00 hours ad 11:0 hours in the morning. Its
when they brought Mr. Derrick Sinjela in the court cells, as he enters he was not himself, he was a little
nervous. It is the fear that is in every one of us but nevertheless, I told him that we don’t fight and even if
we go to prison, we don’t fight, that gave him courage.”
On Thursday 3rd January 2019, a word that I encountered like a larger than life phenomenon was
‘Kamilioni’ chameleon or in Tonga dialect, spoken in the Southern Province stated as ‘Naluntambwe’,
‘Chamutambwe’ – changing colour – merchants; a life of trading in people as was the case in the Gold
Coast (Ghana). Today, in modern day Zambia and elsewhere in the word, people are traded as
merchandise with little regard to their destiny as inmates. One has to go through such an ordeal to fully
appreciate a traumatizing feel; as pain cannot be shared despite people showing solidarity.
I was dumbfounded by Saliona’s compassion and concern for my plight. Instead of I feeling pity on him
after Justice Florence Lembalemba handed a 35-year sentence, it was him (STM) showing remorseful
concern following my 18 months sentence.
Still on Thursday 3rd January 2019, I received a notice to go to the Visitors Bay. Ashton Kelly Bunda,
Pamela Mulenga, Fulman Mukobeko and Saeed Simon Banda (SSB) came for a visit with SSB teasing that
must not shave . On his part, obviously not concurring with Banda’s position, Fulman Mukokeko –FM,
encouraged authorship. I was exceedingly pleased by their strengthening brotherhood and sisterhood.
Judith Banda, my daughter had come in the morning with food and this particular notebook. I saw her
as a great source of strength, on account of her coming alone. It is not an easy feat especially for a
young woman to come alone without tagging a friend or two, bearing in mind that one is often taunted
for having a father behind bars and bread winner. I felt pity but took it inside, not wanting to let her
know myconcern. Judith Banda, or bana Irene Banda Mulenga (IBN), born on 31st October 1994, explained that DMKS
my wife was busy with new admissions at school. She had just recruited a new teacher. Judith reported
of scheduled commencement oflessons at Mulele Mwana, a Regiment Catholic Church Skills
Development center – Saint Charles Lwanga parish on Monday 7thJanuary 2019. Irene Banda Mulenga
and Arnold ‘Rambo’ Nyirenda had wanted to pay me a visit but inhibited by a rainy morning and
transport money woes. Later, a tearful AnediNkhata had equally come and proved helpful just as was
worried Faides Nanjela-Mulenga and her spouse.
Come Friday, 4th January 2019; in a sermon, one inmate shared that just as Paul never lost hope, post
prison life can be reconstructed. And before this sermon concluded, Number One in Cell 4, Ngulube
asked me to follow him for some briefing on life in prison, a counsel offered by Sam Sakala, the inmates
Vice – Chairperson, addressed as ‘Mwemfumu’ ‘King!’. Ngulube and peers, who include Ground
Captain’s (GC’s), Number Two’s, Cell Disciplinary Officers’ (CDO’s), Inspector General of Police (IG’s), and
Police were or are respectfully addressed as ‘Bosele’ boss.
At 15:35 hours, brother Evans Sinjela, then working as News Editor at Mateo Phiri’s 5FM Radio came
and in our exchange briefed me that People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti had been admitted
a stone throw from Chimbokaia Prison, at the University Teaching Hospital.
For the uninitiated politically, Mulongoti and I were sureties’ to New Labour Party (NLP leader Fresher
Siwale, in the defamation of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in which the tart politicians tagged the
Zambian leader as a political fraudster. Siwale appearing before Magistrate Alice Nyirenda-Walusiku
claimed that President Lungu’s real names were Johnathan Mutawale Lungu, which remark on Stephen
Nyirenda’s Muvi Television programme anchored by Master Chimbala prompted the suit. Mulongoti
had ceaselessly branded Lungu as a Nationality fraud, and the do took the matter to the Public
Protectors Office, which by Press Time remained largely unanswered.
Unlike I, owing to my photo-journalist pedigree, the obviously better dressed Evans Sinjela delivered
fraternal greetings from Ms. Mizinga Nampito-Chibomba, a Public Relations Officer at the Common Market foe
East and Central Africa (COMESA). Mizinga cut her journalistic teeth at the now ancestral Post
Newspapers Limited, initially housed on Cha ChaCha road’s Kanjombe building.Nampito a putative
relation of ours, was with me in prison but could not because of a tight work schedule and had been in
Uganda for a COMESA crusade.
The story is a good piece. I recall my peer Francis Lungu, would boisterously state authoritatively during
our National Mirror stint,” rubbing his hands as though seeking some warmth in ‘Cold Russia, as in the
words of one Peward Mwansa (PM), who worked for the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) for 30 years. PM is a putative relative to of former Vice President, the late Simon Mwansa
Kapwepwe and knows Shikulu Kenneth David Kaunda’s family, Zambia’s former First Republican
President (1964-1991).
Sentence day had a mixed-grill weather pattern was cold and rainy, then sunny after 14:30 hours in the
afternoon.
In the last two days as per prison faithfully kept routine, involved screening remandees and convicts by
the newly deployed Officer-in-Charge Senior Superintendent William Kamanga, as his predecessor Sikota
Sikota had been transferred to Kalonga Milling, run by the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS), in Kabwe,
Central Province.
This particular day was a tough one and I only ate two slices of bread, whole day, for supper just had a
handful of potatoes prepared by Brian Mangwato, a cleaner for Number Two, James Bwembya, the
working in the Clinic Gang (Ganga). Life can be boring as all one does is idle away. It was lock-up time
16:30 hours, which officially is 30 minutes earlier but on this day had some allowance, and mechanical
as usual it was Sunday-complaints, prayers by Muslims at 18:00 hours, and Christians praying for the
evening meal (super). Later, a voice of came reading names scheduled for Magistrate and High Court
hearings for Monday, 7th January 2019.
On Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke up with a call to set goals in prayers led by a Catholic Priest. I later
sat with namesake Derrick Siame, Timothy Simpasa, Carols Muzovu, Able Siasalama and Bosco
Chafukwa. As we spoke, we shared a cup of tea with bread, which people say is breakfast in a Zambian
household.
WoW!! n the afternoon, I was visited by a horde of sympathizers and philanthropists of the Zambian
Media and family. DMKS, Alice Musongole, Azwell Zimba, Perdita Chenjera, Kasebamashila Kaseba,
Fulman Mukobeko, Saeed Simon Banda, Sam Zulu.
I woke at 05:00 hours on Monday 7th January 2019, joined in an early morning prayer session, seeking
God’s intervention in our individual and collective plight through the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is custom, in correctional facilities countrywide for inmates to pray ceaselessly on the eve and
morning of opening of High Court and Subordinate Court sessions. Unlock, the first counting of inmates
was at 07:00 hours and after the stepping outside an hour later, I cleaned my mouth and face combining
this routine with answering a call of nature. As soon as I had put the toothbrush in the cell, I proceeded
to the shelter and sat. When I reached Chimbokaila on Thursday 20th December 2018, I was resident in
Cell 11 till a week later when I moved to Cell 4, just on the right side once one enters the circular bowel
of the facility. Cell 11 is the seventh on ones left. They are 16 cells with Penal Block, a library, washing
and bathrooms. There also toilets, a place for cleaning plates, clothes, brushing teeth and a bay for
storage of goods. Then as you move west, after the Kitchen one finds cell 1, 2, 3 and four. It is a routine
existence as I elaborated earlier. Cell 1 though mixed is reserved for mentally challenged inmates, Cell 2
for elderly inmates, cell three for inmates diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB), and Cell four for physically
and medically challenged remandees and convicts. Cells 5, 6, 14 and 15 are reserved for convicts
assigned or branded as ‘Working Convicts – bakailibanchito’ those allotted to a particular gang. Cell 7,
8, 10, 11, and 12 are occupied by a mixed grill convicts and those still going to court, while Cell 9 is for
Juveniles and Cell 13 reserved for learners and teachers.
Cell 16 is occupied by inmates defined as Special Stage, as representatives of inmates or a bridge
relationship with prison authorities. Their work is that of acting as trustees, complimenting tasks done
by correctional officers. The Penal Block is occupied by long-term inmates; serving above 15 years, those
on death row and lifers. I had a chat with Chrispine Kabamba (0979428522), a journalist by profession
accused of committing an aggravated robbery. He explained that he had a two-year stint as a ZNBC
Radio 4 Fan Club member. Kabamba had been at Chimbokaila from February 5th 2017 to early 2019,
and was among 11 arrested on the said charge. The other eight were later rearrested after a High Court
discharge by Judge Mwamba Chanda, Kabamba had been to court six (6) times, and of this number of
appearances just two times in 2018.
As was noted time without number on the shrinking democratic space; characterized by other citizens
and nationalities being above the law, it is disheartening to note former Evangelical Fellowship of
Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director, Bishop Paul Mususu describes the State of the Nation – thus: ‘Zambia’s
‘Democratic Space’ has shrunk.
“Derrick, the democratic space has shrunk. We must ensure that we keep our space by standing firm
and resolute despite this shrinking tide,” a forthright Bishop Mususu, tartly prodded.
I at the cost of repeating myself similar to a ‘broken record’ always allude to Opinionated Justice, which
has flooded and overwhelmed the Zambian justice environment. Instead of receiving a fair trial, more
often than not Zambians continue falling prey to opinionated outcomes. Just have to remain walking
straight as Steve Biko enthuses.
“Walking jailed or Free but Walking to jail” as one legal counsel , Nicholas Chanda stated when he came
to see me on my first Sunday in jail, precisely Sunday 23rd December 2018. Since my sentence, Counsel
Chanda explained that he had been remorseful and indicated without mincing words that I had been
sentenced before being heard.
A named inmate Chishimba Mwila was discharged as his EPD had come on Monday 7th January 2019. On
this day, for breakfast tea and bread, while rice was served to all inmates at LCCF.
There is a pool table in the shelter, and usually in the morning just after unlock many will lay on the bare
floor or lie on a spread blanket as others compete by playing chess and a game of draughts (Nsolo).
As one struggles to listen to sound on a huge television screen, others are seen preparing meals or just
concentrate on eating rice, sample (ground maize grain), and a privileged few taking tea with bread. As
stated above, there is a television set but noise distracts (drowns)the sound(volume) and inmates concentrate on
looking at pictures.
A convict, Robinson Hakuyu spoke of ‘Traded Justice’ when describing the Zambian governance
environment. Hakuyu had been facing three counts accused by Stanbic Bank. He was acquitted on two
counts but jailed four (4) years on the third count.
However, he applied for bail pending appeal, and in early January went to fight for justice outside prison
or a correctional facility.
Justice sacrificed by a horde of people trading human beings as though these persons were
merchandize; it seems like a remake of the Gold Coast (Ghana) selling vulnerable communities for a
slice of bread and chocolates
Blankets spread on the ground within the facility are used for drying clothes once washed and left to be
rinced. The clothes are left to dry on the ground, but choice of where to spread them must be
cautiously taken to avoid inmates carefree steps.
Transformational from one lower point to a better being as a person, perhaps to paraphrase Henry
NgosaKapoko, coping with the situation and making or getting the best out of any eventuality and
circumstance.
Fanny Nyirenda equally came urging me to accept the situation pointing out motherly that all would fine
and easy, more like KalushaBwalya’s eyes on the all philosophy that made Zambia through
Herve Renard, diminutive skipper Christopher Katongo, KenndyMwene and StophilaSunzu lift a
maiden African Cup of Nations in 2012.
Ms. Nyirenda, delivered Esther Nyirenda’s prod to continue visitations and I queried her on Chivia
Nampemba’salso known as (aka) Chi Chi’s wellbeing.
Immediately, I walked inside Chimbokaila’s bowel – inside, it was lock-up time as the cock was now
16:00hours.
Ms. Nyirenda explained of a ceaselessly crying moment as the news was aired on TV, just as she worried
like countless of others as to what I would eat, as I did not eat nshima, Zambia’s staple meal and with
no feasible substitute, especially in a place such as prison, where an inmate could not choose a menu.
She pledged to cook some potatoes and visit regularly, pointing out that from 20th December 2018 to
date it had taken a total of sixteen (16) stressful days and in her view acceptance was a source of
strength.
Earlier, formerly a Zambia Daily Mail reporter, Charles Musonda, then a scribe at Richard Lazarous
Sakala’s Daily Nation Newspaper came to visit and promised to bring something for me.
In our talk, I said I was not biter as vengeance was for the Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently, I had put
everything on the cross. I said I stood for the truth and in response to a question said since inception on
Monday 25th June 2007, the Rainbow Newspaper had been ‘Promoting Diversity in News Coverage’
embracing everyone regardless of colour, creed, race or status in society.
On a message to Zambians, I said Zambia must remain a unitary state or an oasis of peace, beacon, a
sanctuary or refuge land for people seeking safer havens.
Asked why I had remained resolute to face the sanction of the courts, I said it was by the grace of God,
the Lord Jesus Christ that I stood firm, in similar to sharing 2016 United States (US) Presidential
aspirant, Democratic candidate, Hilary Rodham Clinton’s tagline: ‘Stronger Together.’ I also got mentorship from Tentani
‘Moto’ Mwanzah, Nelson Mandela and Shikulu Kaunda, Zambia’s former First Republican President, as
Professor Elijah Ngwale, a coordinator-Programs Manager atZambia Disability HIV/AIDS and Human
Rights (ZAMDHIP) would prefer such a description.
I equally alluded to a prod by former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Reverend
Dr. Suzzane M’membe-Matale urging Zambians to have or bear the ‘Courage of a Lizard’by confronting
adversity and not hiding or as Reverend Samuel Zulu of Lusaka, Mandevu area puts it shun facing
consequences preferring to have it easy.
I informed Musonda, the Daily Nation scribe that as a student of Peter Ng’andu Magande’seducative
literature “The Depth of My Footprints – From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage ,” I was paving a
path worth striding. I am different, and I think inversely, thus I need to soldier, creating new paths on
which to mentor posterity.
I had at all times sought to walk on a path that no one had strode to leave footprints worth emulating-
or rather creating a ‘Truthful News’ niche as Rainbow Newspaper Limited (RNL).
Perdita Chenjela bought a note pad and a red but blue ink pen with Kasebamashila Kaseba encouraging
‘us’ to put my thoughts on paper. Kasebamashila Kaseba asked what I was reading and encouraged me
to read Malcolm X or a couple of like-minded books, after I reported reading Ng’andu Peter Magande’s
book.
The Mast on Sunday 5th January 2019 read with a story entitled: “ and written by Masuzyo Chakwe, a
week after Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Spokesperson, Cephas Mukuka was quoted by
the same author in a story entitled: ‘Pardon Sinjela’, says Cephas Mukuka, urging President Edgar
Chagwa Lungu to use his discretion.
I had forgotten to note that Ted Jilapi, an advocate of Malcolm X, teachings had come to visit at the
same time as Cheelo HamukunukaKalengabanyama Katambo, a journalist working at the United Party
for National Development (UPND) Secretariat in Rhodespark.
On 21st January 2019, at 14:00hours, I was visited by a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Zambia Chapter led by National Director, Austin Kayanda, Margaret Kabuswe, Julia Malunga, Nichoolas
Bwalya, George Sinkala, Fumbe Chanda,, Joe Akatama, Maureen Bwalya, WeziMazunda, Evans Sinjela
and Ashton Kelly Bunda. On his part, Mwenda Mupashi remarked: “You are a great man.”
Fighting for citizens to e heard is our call to duty. There is no need to fear as some of us must place our
resolve to stand as freedom fighters. It is the only choice, as Zambia is the only land we own, we can
only do so if we emulate inspirational counsel of renowned football commentator, the late Canon
Dennis Philip Liwewe by dying a little for the motherland. As alluded to tie without number by 5fm radio
station manager Thomas Mkandawire; “It is not easy.”
Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke with this thoughtful counsel ringing in my head. A voice within my
Chemistry was telling me to be humble as life beyond 2019 would be a tough calling. There will be no
sacred cows. Pride will hurt people, thus it is good to be polite and heed instructions. Authorities will not
spare any and good behavior is a cornerstone to good treatment. This was instructive, as people –
inmates approached me offering free counsel that once a transfer occurs, no one would be spared. In
any case, this facility and Kamwala Remand prison will be transformed into a shopping mall once the
ongoing construction of two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi is completed. “This facility is likely to
go and everyone will be taken to the new facilities or those that are viewed as trouble makers; inciters
will be taken elsewhere.
Instructively, being held or confined in a prison like Chimbokaila is easier to cope than one being taken
to Kabwe’s Medium orMwembeshi in the central province where stories of inmates tilling the land for
longer hours traumatise inmates emotionally and physically.
On Monday 7th January 2019, a thought crossed my mind as I felt the national characterization of
Zambia as a Christian nation as being at variance with the environment I was confronted with in prison. I
think it is only in Zambia where people can be dehumanized in this emotionally challenging and callous,
cold-hearted, heartless, uncaring manner.
I was watching football within the facility when Elvis Nyanga beckoned and as I approached him, I found
a man reading a copy of a newspaper-The Mast , dated Saturday 5th January 2019. I was introduced by
Nyanga as Derrick Sinjela, the one in the newspaper, who journalists globally were campaigning to be
set free. After exchanging some pleasantries, he did not mince words on assessment of the court
system in pa-Zed – that is Zambia as Kaunda’s country is now branded. According to Mbewe, my 18
months, now restituted to a year incarceration, was just a storm in a tea-cup, as in no time, I would be
done with drinking the contents contained therein. It was instructive, despite it being a harsher
sentence, Mbewe said eventuality I would be done with it. Mbewe explained that for many in Zambian
prisons, an adjournment was longer than my sentence as inmates or remandees wait for far longer
periods as long as three years. On this day, lock up was delayed and only was done at 16:45 hours, thus
inmates got 45 minutes respite. I had tried to go to the clinic to sort out some ailment but the bell rang
and I could not be attended to and a cellmate Davies Kabila teased me that I was busy discovering life in
prison and I retorted defensively that I was ot Christopher Columbus or let alone David Livingstone, the
latter who according to Maiko Zulu, lied that he had discovered the Mosi o tunya, which the famous
explorer Christened as Victoria Falls, named after the British Queen Mother.
Kabila taunted me. “Sinjela, you are the voice of the voiceless; have you seen how the judiciary is very
poor and slow in dispensing justice in Zambia. Some people have spent 11 years, waiting to be heard by
the High Court.” Kabila, was referencing two cases; first one involving Martin ‘Seer Seer’ Siame, Yotam
Mbewe, Misheck Phiri and Jack Chanda, affectionately referred to as Makolozo . The other case involved
Brian Zulu and co-accused Martin Mbilisi, who waited for 11 years, only to be acquitted.
Diagram 1
By Friday, 7th January, 2019, I had spent 22 days at Chimbokaila and doing a count in my head remained
with 322 yet to be confronted, yet I was determined to cross the set Friday 20th December 2019 finish
line, to use a Zambia Amateur Athletics Associations (ZAAA) President Elias Mpondela’s language.
Wednesday 8th January 2019, I woke at now monotonous 05:00 hours, with the first counting of inmates
being done at 06:45 hours with a message that everyone had to be in the shelter as a visitor ot
mentioned but thought to be Home Affairs Minister, Stephen Kampyongo, a Patriotic Front (PF)
Shiwag’andu Member of Parliament (MP) was expected.
It was a chilly morning and I wondered why Zambian families, communities and prisons always want to
clean-up when a visitor is expected. This cleaning fascination to impress outsiders. In future, scheduled
visitations must be discouraged as such events are held to impress either a local or foreign entourage.
A packet of pacific cigarette was worth or valued at K5. One could purchase a loaf bread with two
packets, get a bucket of hot water and have clothes washed the same amount. A packet of Peter
branded cigarette, one needed just one to purchase the mentioned goods or get a service or two
A moment later, Ieft the shelter as Brian Mangwato came to call me to go and have breakfast,
comprising an egg and four slices of bread
As stated earlier, an officer came and informed us of a pending visit with emphasis on inmates showing
or displaying courteous behavior characteristic of Zambia’s respect for elders at all times irrespective of
the age of guests.
Later, we had to vacate the shelter and sat facing west on the tar- concrete space, which is used as a
makeshift football pitch on the eastern side of the facility. It was now hot but with no choice sat in the
sun. It was unbearable scorching hot. We sat waiting for the yet to be known visitors. It turned out to be
a delegation from Germany, headed by an international relations minister. As they strode within the
premise, the Germany entourage familiarized themselves with living conditions in cell 4 and the kitchen,
before coming to the shelter to greet us.
The delegation leader was assuring us that Germany was interested in improvement of the welfare of
Inmates; you too have inalienable rights as inmates, deserving to be treated accordingly as human
beings deserving respect as humans outside a correctional facility.
He had a print, radio, television crew of journalists as I noticed them taking audio and visual recordings
of the visit done cautiously but openly. At the close, the delegation leader spoke through an interpreter
stating that he would continue to meet the President and justice ministry officials.
I noticed a director in Minister Given Lubinda’s office and wondered why the then Acting Minister
Kampyongo had not accompanied his German peer.
A prison officer told inmates that an interaction would bee arranged in due course to discuss bread and
butter issues. This was apparently in view of the fact that the inmates had not been allowed to dialogue
with the German delegation.
However, it seems the Zambian justice system does not keep or give its partners a true impression of
the status of inmate as great effort is enforced in ensuring no clear image is broadcast abroad or locally.
The cleaning ahead of a visit is meant to paint a good image which is none existent and year-in-year-
out, the situation does not improve. The true picture or truth is more often than not hidden.
Solution is to be truthful and the environment will improve for the better. How can one get healed if one
continues being in denial. The plight of prisoners or a citizen outside such a facility can only become
better once philanthropists – public and private or bilateral partners are given an aculeate impression.
Tuesday 8th January 2019.
It is a sordid, disreputable, disgusting indictment characterization of a dehumanizing nation. A Christian
nation in name but callous in practice, as I witnessed a man faint at 18:45 hours and it later occurred to
me that a victim was often condemned instead of the environment or root case of one failing to
breathe. Perhaps, giving credence to my lamentation, some voices could be heard saying teasingly: let
him stand and walk on his own, a remark that led to a deafening rebuke. I saw or witnessed first hand
how inhuman our Zambian society had become. Though, it is always prayer after prayer, and church
after church from sunrise to sunset at Chimbokaila, it is worrying and traumatizing to see how our
society has ignored to heed Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda’s message of love thy neighbours as thyself. One
wonders what the Prisons Act, says with regard to the welfare of inmates;remandees and convicts in a
Zambian correctional facility? The facility is flooded with Christian message sand bibles including a
special prayer point-place known as ‘The Mountain’ reserved for worshippers and periodic Muslim
Prayers in the cells and shelter area are kept as routine. This determination by Muslims and Christians to
keep prayer routine without practical application is at variance with teachings on compassion and love
for each other.
On Wednesday 9th January 2019, I woke at 05:00 hours, chorused the monotonous prayers, lay for an
how and bed rise was at 06:00 hours with unlock coming at 06:35 hours. The previous night was a bit
cold as it had raised, and as I had slept on one bambo (one rib) meaning lying on one side. Accordingly,
as each of us were expected, I had three places I was expected to occupy once a lock-up had occurred.
The first position is just as one enters a cell, there is a makeshift bed on my right hand on which I
sat looking in the western direction facing the notice board an medicine box, under the custody of two
or three chairmen(chairpersons). My second position was the same bed during meals and the third
position is when it is sleeping time, either resting my head at the tail end of one of the captains
makeshift beds. Initially, I rested my head on the far right end, on a sleeping space reserved for the
ground captain. I slept net to the Cell Inspector, branded as ‘Kanganja’ or Inspector General (IG), with
responsibility to oversee adherence to an inmates allotted space and good conduct As one enters the
cell, there two beds on either side, a third is at the far right, and a fourth net to the meicione box but
facing south, toward were the television set is placed. The bed on ones left, was at the time reserved for
Number One Ngulube and team. In the morning 1st Kings 18:41-45 was used by Daka.
When one is in a crisis, what does that individual do? Before any responses to the sermon could be
adduced, Daka’s preaching was interrupted by an announcement that only prisoners in jumpers-
uniform would be allowed to venture outside. After some normalcy returned, a complaint Daka
explained that in prison one need not get surprised as it was normal for a sermon to be interrupted.
“Nimundendemuno, so osandambwa’ explained Daka literally interpreted to mean; this is prison and
one need not get surprised. ‘Izozapita’ –that is now past us, let us pray, stated a stern faced Daka, quite
amusing.
As was occasionally the case, a kitchen gang member came and made an impromptu announcement.
“Please, those with uga (mealie meal) bring it early as we will not tolerate once asking us to cook
nshima at one preferred time . “Pajelepalibeuga, so osameka, bameneablinauga, ambwelese
mwamusanganga, literally tarnsated as: ‘ there is no meal in the correctional facility, so those with
access must bring it early,” a voice disappeared as inmates reached out for plan B.
A thought crossed my mind. There was hunger in Israel for three years, just as was the case in Somalia
for a decade (10 years). It is a similar occurrence here in Zambia due to drought experienced in the last
five or less years. Instead of thanking God, he went to celebrate, but Elijah knelt and prayed. Even as we
look at the socio-economic burden faced by families and our individual court cases. We must direct
energy on prayer as we cope with prison life and look ahead our collective End of Prison Date (EPD) with
renewed enthusiasm. There is indeed need to emulate Elijah by kneeling in prayer; seeking comfort in
God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who as directed tie without number offers a passage to everlasting
salvation. We have a lot of issues to think off or ponder, and unless one’s mind is blank! It is not a time
to instill self-pity. Even though one is in prison or recuperating at the University Teaching Hospital, one
need not lose hope and it is instructive to heed teachings in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3 “
The day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (God, the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit) will coe like
a thief in the night. The Lord Jesus Christ will come unexpected. People, today are celebrating like peace
and stability can easily be overcome by tragedy. The prison wal cannot stop sickness, death or the Lord
Jesus Christ from entering bringing everlasting salvation or a deafening wrath to those found
contravening-disobeying His teachings.
What a life of a Zambian, Steven Jameson Mubita, a 20-year-old lad, unfortunately prosecuted for
manslaughter and sentenced to five (5) years on account of that he was the last person seen with a
person eventually found dead. In a talk, Mubita regretted to have come to Lusaka in January 2018 and
was eventually sentenced on 10th December 018. He had an ambition to study clinical medicine which
was shattered or circumstantially delayed by the alluded to incarceration.
Born on 25th December 1990, in Lusaka, 29 year-old Brian Musonda (0978335857) trained as a surgeon
in France from 2001-2010 at the Military Medical University in Paris, after completing Grade 12 at
Kawambwa Boys Secondary School in Luapula Province.
In 2000, when Father Francis Gooseman, a Catholic priest based in Zambia was impressed with his
Good distinction result performance in Mathematics, physics, chemistry , secured a place to study
medicine in France, Europe. “My father, Brian Musonda Senior, was a medical doctor, now retired, while
my mother is Emeldah Musonda. I have worked in France, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Swaziland,” recollected Musonda who bragged of having conducted 4, 877 surgical operations.
Off these, 15 patients in post op-complications and 10 peritonitis (abdormina).
“I a very young and I think before reaching the age of 40 years, I dream of being the next generation of
Dr. Ben Carson. I am very good,” bragged Musonda, married to Martha Musalale-Musonda, and at the
time the couple had a son, 2-year-old Brian Musonda.
“ I really want to work here in Zambia. The only sad part is that here people are too jealousy of each
Other, which is not a good thing at all. I will not work here as we are not considerate of each other. If
they really wanted me to work here, why did they proceed to have me convicted? They know how my
position in my head cannot be changed. I am who I am and I know I am a great surgeon. Only God, can
change my status,” said Musonda worried that while he was in jail, a lot of peope-patients in need of his
expertise lacked help.
He recalled that since 30th May 2018, when Lusaka magistrate Munyinya of Court 8, convicted for hi in a matter accused of obtaining money by false pretensestill March 2019, when he was expected to be released, a lot of time and expertise was lost.
“A lot of people are dying, who could have been helped had I been extending my surgincalexertise,”
noted Musonda born in a family reputed to have produced three (3) doctors; Dr. ALberbet Musonda,
serving in the DRC, Dr. Herve Musonda in the DRC and Dr Brian Musonda.
Then there is Alice Musonda, Paulete Musonda, Innocent Musonda and Kamwin Musonda, a nurse in Burundi.
The plight of prisoners an prison warders. I was in the know that Zambia’s 5th Republican President, the late Michael Chilufya Sata tried to improve.
=====
LAZ taking a shot at Rainbow Newspaper
I was told of this but I just ignored and opted for the golden rule.
As I prepared to pruduce edition 66 of the Rainbow Newspaper, on Friday 21st February 2020, I came across this article attributed to the law association of Zambia (LAZ) on its Facebook page. It was an article posted on Wednesday 13th June 2018: “LAZ PRESS STATEMENT DATED 13TH JUNE 2018 IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC ATTACKS ON JUDGES AND LAWYERS FOLLOWING THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SAVANDA MANAGEMENT SERVICES V STANBIC ZAMBIA LIMITED, SCZ JUDGEMENT NO. OF 2018.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has read with grave concern the various newspaper reports and comments carried by the vision and Rainbow Newspapers and the online publications, the Zambian Watchdog and the Zambian Observer on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Savenda Management Services v Stanbic Bank of Zambia Limited, Selected Judgement No.10 of 2018 (‘the Savenda Matter’). The reports and comments give opinions on the decision and also make very serious allegations as follows:
Click the link below to read the full statement:
http://www.laz.org.zm/…/laz-press-statement-13-6-2018-laz-…/
Let me tell the story
It was Friday 13th December 2019, and the previous night Fulman Mukobeko had intimated I needed to
be at a bus station opposite ZNBC by 09:00 hours. I obliged. I reached Fridays corner, and the gentle was
at Kulima Tower. Using my John Walker-killing ants preference, I calculated, I could take time taking a
stroll toward the Mass Media destination , which I did and arrived in good time. I took the left side of
Alick Nkhata road and I noticed that residential areas on the right side had been swallowed by offices
and shops, some structures being storied. As I strode, at the Kamloops and Alick Nkhata junction
complaining loudly, a young man walking toward the opposite direction taunted this inquisitive person.
“There is no problem, here, those Zambian landlords and landladies, benefitted as they were paid some
income after selling. I do not see it as a loss but gain”. Borrowing a cue from CCZ General Secretary,
Canon Emmanuel YonaChkoya, I have always backed a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) paradigm shift
as regards improvement of communities. The buy off process witnessed on Alick Nkhata Road confines
communities to perpetual misery as earnings out of the transaction wither like morning dew. The money
is lost due to depreciating value as a dysfunctional Zambian economy, favours those with the ‘Green
Buck’ US dollar account which does not lose its value.
Fulman and I walked back toward Radio Christian Voice, but turned right twice and eventually left,
reaching Four Pillars Lodge where Henry Kabwe and Media Network for Child Rights and Development
were hosting a media interaction on Gender Based Violence.
Kabwe and several colleagues were happy to see me and took selfies, while Namfukwe from Muvi
Television opted to conduct an interview in which I reiterated that the solution to crime in Zambia lay in
effective combating of heightened or skyrocketing poverty, unemployment and income inequality.
I took a position during the interview that custodial sentences was not a cure as no empirical evidence
exists that such penalty acts as a deterrence to would be offenders.
Building on a cue from President Lungu, I insisted that time was nigh for the Zambia Correctional
Services (ZCS) to repeal the archaic Prison Act, which remained in existence despite authorities’
rebranding to an environment that detested a punitive spirit.
“There is need to ensure that the Prison Act is repealed and replaced with a Correctional Act,” I noted
pointing out a need to reduce the inmate prison warder ratio, and decentralized management of the
Zambia Correctional Service. I noted that despite them raising sufficient resources, the centralized
nature of the Zambian governance structure made them (it) subsist as a lethargic institution.
The ZPS will raise K600 million as anticipated in the 2018-2019 farming and entrepreneurial season but
these resources were ploughed into account 99 at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ). The authority would still
not spend on policing and rehabilitating infrastructure nor individuals into good citizens.
Fulman Mukobeko was overwhelmed by the competence Namfukwe displayed and the duo exchanged numbers
with the gentleman expressing delight at her nose for news, while Kabwe acknowledged Zambian
Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD) for surrendering Maxwell Simbuwa, into
his MNCRD hand. Simbuwa, a Zambian lad and nephew to Kunda Mando was currently studying in South
Africa and had represented Zambia at the United Nations and International gatherings, worth
celebrating for a person below 20 years.
Later, in the evening I was at a media awards put together by Policy Monitoring and Research
Centre (PMRC) and Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), during which a third leg came on
board as ZAMCOM signed collaboration with PMRC.
As the ceremony concluded awarding deserving practitioners, I was taken by surprise when a sweet
voice of Chilufya Mwelwa came through announcing I had been requested to walk to the Makumbi
podium and pose with PMRC Executive Director, Ms. Bernadette Deka-Zulu.
Throughout the evening spiced by excellent Uncle Rex music band, I resisted the temptation to line for
food and only drunk a Fanta, and noticed several people walking toward me and requesting to take
selfies.
As the gathering withered, I was inspired as I walked toward George Chomba, from Diamond Television
who tartly insisted on finding out if at all I still believed on what I had published in the Rainbow
Newspaper Limited copy, stating that he had resisted the temptation to take a selfie with me on
account that patronage was not a preferred cup of tea.
“Aba bamukukulu, want to take pictures with you each time you are in this public space. But do they really
know your situation. They would want to take advantage and pose with you. I will not do that till I find
out if really you stand by your word,” stated Chomba, a veteran journalist who cut his journalistic teeth
at the Zambian Daily Mail.
According to Chomba, time had come for me to insist on querying those seeking my indulgence if at all
they believed in me by posing a question or two to them thus: “Do you believe or back my position that I
was merely transmitting the message as a messenger of truth?”
For me, I would like you to tell the story in your own words, as it is you that experienced prison life. You
must insist on sharing it on your own terms and not being compelled.
For instance, Chomba alerted me that I was the second Zambian journalist after Elias Kamanga, now
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary to be jailed on a contempt of court accusation, which situation
was worth fighting as it was erroneously undemocratic.
Your fight brother Sinjela from now on must be to go out there and state: “No journalist must be jailed
on account of contempt of court,” as communicators are merely messengers of an occurring story and
sentiment expressed by members of the public.
Chomba took a position that while CNN and other international channels had been allowed in Zambia
showing compromising footage the Zambian law prohibited such characterization, and it was not
acceptable for a Zambian child to kiss a parent, uncle and aunt on the cheek as a form of greeting.
After a while, I left and walking on United Nations Avenue, near ZICTA offices I called Simon Mwaba
Mulenga, who asked me to walk to UTH Club and the gentleman fetched the three of us-Joseph
Mulyasau Chanda and a colleague. Joseph disembarked at the SDA church and took a bus to Kamwala South, while a colleague did so at Chilenje Main market, bus stop known as pa Banda.
Petitions for this Liberty
Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo
May 3, 2019 · Lusaka ·
Of WPFD, Pardon Jailed Journalist Derrick Sinjela
On WPFD, Zambian Journalists Asks President Lungu To Pardon Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela
Not In A Jovial Mood, Zambian Journalists Commemorate World Press Freedom Day Focusing On Challenges That Have Befallen Their Industry As They Call For Pardoning Of Jailed Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela.
This Report Done By International And Multiple Award Winning Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo Aired On 3rd May 2019 On SABC’s Radio Service, Channel Africa On World Press Freedom Day
#JournalismIsNotACrime
#And_DAS1
— feeling sad with Derrick Sinjela and 6 others at Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM).
The Punch ; For Investigative News & Analysis added a new photo.
Letter to the EDITOR: PARDON JOURNALIST DERRICK SINJELA.
I am from the bottom of my heart appealing to the republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to use his constitutional powers and rights to pardon veteran journalist, Mr Derrick Sinjela.
A wrong was committed, and whose wrong was equally admitted without wasting the courts time.
This appeal collides with the festive season which is the season of love and forgiveness.
It’s a season of give and take.
My grounds of appeal are based on the fact that Sinjela chose to admit that he was wrong and remorseful to his actions.
As a law abiding citizen, he chose not to flee the nation giving enough room to authority to judge him positively as a responsible adult and citizen of this nation.
This country has witnessed in the past where three renowned musicians where given mercy by our courts on serious matters of ganja or dagga smoking.
Reasons of pardon where that they had large followings and if sent to jail, the public was meant to loose out.
Most recently a young student from the University of Zambia was caught with cannabis and sent to jail.
I compared between a young promising intellectual versus musicians.
Personally I expected the courts to have pardoned our young student so as to give him chance to repent and further graduate from University.
Upon graduation, he would have contributed to national development in his area of speciality without fail.
Sinjela, has been instrumental in his works. Having worked with him in the bank, ever jovial and helpful person.
This is the period he could have been with his family.
This is not to rubbish the court ruling and the judges who presided over the matter but merely making an appeal to my President.
Only President Lungu, can save and pardon Sinjela.
President Lungu personally pardoned a musician who was jailed for an offence of defilement.
Society still need the services of Sinjela.
I have no doubt that our President will deal with this matter amicably without fail.
Dr Cephas Mukuka
Political researcher.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela as New Vision News Editor
Matters of FAITH CBCTV added a new photo.
The Supreme has adjourned the contempt of court sentencing of Rainbow Newspaper owner Derrick Sinjela to 20th December, 2018.
The development come after the court was disrupted during another contempt case which involved a senior citizen who stood accused in the supreme court collapsed as the charge was being ready to him.
The court went for a short recess and when the judges came back they informed the court that Sinjela’s case could not be proceeded for judgement as the beach was incomplete having that the trial was head by the full beach so should the judgement.
The senior citizen who collapsed in court earlier was rushed to hospital for medical attention.
Derrick Sinjela stand accused of contempt of court in the Stanbic and Savenda case.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela with Bishop John Osmers at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Friends of Mother Earth National Coordinator, Isaac Mwale Attending to an interview on sustainable use of National natural Resources. Interview by Ashton Kelly Bunda; Photo by Derrick Sinjela.
With Clarence Moonde Muzyamba
Derrick Sinjela was with Isaac Mwale.
Branding Zambia 2014 added a new photo.
President Michael Chilufya Sata with Sam Zulu and Chiko Bwalya on Cairo Road, walking outside Farmers House – Picture by Derrick Sinjela Rainbow Zambia
Patriotic Front (PF) founder the late ‘King Cobra’ Michael Chilufya Sata with real
people on Cairo Road – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
In a by Staff Reporter story on May 24, 2019, NGOCC petitioned President Lungu for my release in a story carried by Mutinta M’membe’s The Mast Newspapers which was entitled: “NGOCC plead with Lungu to release Sinjela on May 25NON-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council executive director Engwase Mwale has appealed to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to consider pardoning journalist Derrick Sinjela on Africa Freedom Day, which falls on May 25.
The Supreme Court of Zambia in December last year jailed veteran journalist and blogger, Sinjela, 18 months for contempt.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Mwale said her organisation was looking forward to seeing Sinjela walk to freedom.
“NGOCC recognises that this is a week that is culminating into Africa Freedom Day. As a country, we need to guard the freedoms that we enjoy but most importantly, also looking at aspects of human rights and access to social justice. At this point, we also want to wish our friend and comrade Derrick Sinjela a happy 55th birthday. Even as he is incarcerated, to us, he is a hero. He is a prisoner of conscience and we are learning a lot from his experience. We have been paying him visits at the prison and we are encouraged that he is always in high spirit,” Mwale said.
“He is always positive and he is also learning a lot from his life in incarceration. We wish to call upon the Head of State to seriously consider presidential pardon on our colleague and comrade so that on the 25th as he is looking at the list of the people that he is going to pardon…we are looking forward to seeing Mr Derrick Sinjela’s name being amongst those patriots to be set free and be able to continue his work of promoting human rights.”
Mwale said President Lungu would be showing everyone that he recognises the role of the media if he
pardons Sinjela on May 25.
“It is very important that the President takes this as one of his important milestones. First and foremost he will be setting a tone that he is recognising the role of the media and he will also be setting a tone that the media space needs to be independent…journalist in our country should be able to exercise their right to share information. Once this gesture is done by our President, we will go a long way in showing us Zambians that he means well when he talks upholding human rights and that the freedoms as enshrined in our Constitution are recognised,” Mwale said.
“We understand that he (Sinjela) is even writing a book which he is going to title around his experiences in prison. As NGOCC, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the role that the media is playing in the promotion of human rights and social justice. It is our conviction also that as civil society organisations, we need to work hand-in-hand in promoting human rights and social justice. We also recognise the role that the media play in promoting women’s rights and women’s empowerment.
Derrick Sinjela added 7 new photos.
Christopher Lifasi with Rainbow Zambia Executive President Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela Wednesday 29th January 2020 www.rainbownewszambia.com
Top of Form
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Top of Form
Dante Saunders and AkashabatwaMbikusitaLewanika with Derrick Sinjela
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
John Chola commiserates with Derrick Sinjela on Cairo Road in Lusaka
Dickson Jere added a new photo.
Throw Back Thursday…Lusaka Lawyer then Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Subordinate Court with his client Stella Chibanda who is former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Time!
Picture courtesy of Derrick Sinjela
— with Stella Chibanda.
333Febian Miguel Manda, WinfordKashiya and 331 others
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Evelyn Chilongozi Banda My sister with ba lawyer
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AchmaAsokan Stella Chibanda previously Mumba was our classmate at the Dominican Convent!
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JacklineKaputo My Grandma l remember this time when you are the PS
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Joe Mat He was a Lawyer…Why are people sounding like he was a charcoal burner? At that time he had already made it in life
Is it the filth in his dressing? We can all agree he wasn’t smart looking like his other lawyers
· Evans Sinjela updated his cover photo.
14Kombe Rich Chimpinde, Delphister Lungu and 12 others
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ChamboNg’uni PROVERBS CHAPTER 18 VERSE 22
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Mathews Mudenda PS how come I missed this event? Congratulations and all the best.
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Simon Mwamba wellcome bro
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Naomi Mweemba wow.nice.
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Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) Staffer Gerald Siingwa with Rainbow Zambia Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela at Mint Leaf Lodge in Lusaka, on Friday 20th December 2019, moments after Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter Chairperson Ms. Hellen Mwale opened a Stakeholders Meeting to share Independent Independent Broadcasting Authority – IBA and ZNBC Regulation Position Paper. Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma and EB Media Consultant Elias Banda witnessed the discussion hosted by Jane Chirwa Sally Chiwama and Margaret Kabuswe in Lusaka’s Chudhleigh area. Rainbownewszambia
9Zulu Robin, Alfred Banda and 7 others
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Zulu Robin Great
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· Derrick Sinjela added 5 new photos.
Rainbow Traveltourismzambia Rainboweducation Zambia Rainbow Zambia Rainbownewszambia Zcyp Development Zambian Media Taskforce on Ending Child Marriages Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page Zambian Cypwd Derrick Derrick Sinjela Derrick Derrick Sinjela “#FlashbackRainbowNewsZambiaEstablishedMonday25June2007 Stella Chibanda with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court – Pictures by Derrick Sinjela Branding Zambia 2014 www.derricksinjela.blogspot.com
3Stella Chibanda, Derrick Sinjela and 1 other
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Stella Chibanda Iyee kale!!
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What is the best way to get a hold of the guy who runs the Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA), the Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page (ZCYPWD), Rainbow Zambia Rainbow Newspaper Limited established Monday 25th June 2007 by Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela www.derricksinjela.com www.rainbownewszambia.com
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Former Zambia Association of Musicians President Maiko Zulu with Rainbow Newspaper Zambia 2007 Ltd Executive President (Editor-in-Chief) Derrick Sinjela maiden (first) Pan African Radio 96.1FM ‘Voice of Africa’ Emerging Star Awards at Chris Mall Lodges, Foxdale, Lusaka Saturday14Dec2019
28Zulu Robin, Alfred Banda and 26 others
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Derrick Sinjela #EllaWhelan @EllaWhelan I come from a ordinary Labour family. Brothers, sister &partner all do working class jobs. I was a teacher. We’re neither elite nor elitist. We were brought up in a family which encouraged reading, discussion, politics, history etc And we’re all #Remainers #Skypapers #StigAbell @StingAbell
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
Derrick Sinjela with Barber (man) person John
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Support received Free Press Initiative advocate Joan Chirwa
Friday 14 February 2020 08:31-“Freedom on paper, not in reality!”, Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia, Joan Chirwa
February 17
11:572020
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FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020 08:31
FREEDOM ON PAPER, NOT IN REALITY!
ZAMBIAN JOURNALIST AND AN IPI MEMBER, FOUNDER OF THE FREE PRESS INITIATIVE ZAMBIA, JOAN CHIRWA WROTE AS PART OF THE ARTICLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN IPI AND EVRENSEL DAILY
Joan Chirwa (Photograph: IPI)
Joan Chirwa*
Police callouts, closures of media institutions, threats, heavy political control of the news media and all other ills that make journalists resign themselves to unprofessional practices have become a common feature in the media industry in many African countries.
When and how did we get here? This is the question that many of us have been asking ourselves for a good number of our practicing years. The answers keep getting more complicated as the years go by. Like other countries in Africa, Zambia has a litany of laws, among them defamation, state security, contempt of court and sedition, that have been used to curtail or inhibit the freedom of journalists to practice without fear of prosecution or arrest.
Since gaining independence on October 24, 1964, Zambia has passed a number of laws affecting press freedom. The Defamation Act of 1964 restricts freedom of expression, among other things. And there is also the Penal Code, which criminalizes defamation of the President and of constitutional office holders.
Rainbow Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Thursday November 14 2019 Picture by Mercy Kampamba of Percy Photography New Kasama Road Chilenje Lusaka Zambia
Additionally, the State Security Act of 1969 limits free speech and media freedom, thereby restricting the possibility to criticize the government and its officials. Calls have been made to reform our laws, such as the ban on defaming the president, that have been used against journalists, including this author. Whenever concerns have been raised against these prohibitive laws and the negative effects they are having on freedom of the press, the authorities usually rebut these concerns by arguing that there are no journalists in jail on charges related to their work. But we believe that freedom of the press cannot, and should never, be measured simply by the number of journalists jailed.
In any case, some journalists have faced jail: Derrick Sinjela, a Zambian journalist, was recently released from prison after several months after the Supreme Court found him guilty of contempt of court for criticizing its judges and gave him a custodial sentence of 18 months. He was, until his release in early November 2019, the only journalist jailed in Zambia, serving a sentence slapped on him by the very judges he was criticizing.
Reklam
Cyberlink
But that there was only one journalist jailed in Zambia that time should not, however, be interpreted to mean 100 percent freedom of the press. Take the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which constantly monitors the work of radio and television journalists and never hesitates to close them down at the slightest of violations of the broadcast laws!
The use of criminal defamation laws against the press is still ongoing but the dangers from civil lawsuits with high costs and high risks are also rising, leading to a greater likelihood of bankruptcy of media outlets. Independence of the press is therefore weakened where the right of journalists to criticize public officials is threatened.
What is interesting to note is that freedoms of expression and of the press are constitutionally guaranteed in Zambia, but the continued existence of some of the laws highlighted above prohibit the enjoyment of these rights. Additionally, heavy political control of most media institutions has sent the majority of journalists into self-censorship. Sadly, this trend is widespread even among privately run, what one would previously call “independent media”, because even there, opposition political parties have totally taken control of the financial needs of some newspapers, radio and television stations. The end result: self-censorship takes over and press freedom completely ceases to exist!
Derrick Sinjela with Ruth Machuku and Ireen Banda Mulenga at 641 New Chilenje Lusaka reading The Depth of My Footprints From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage – Picture by Kasebamashila Kaseba
Freedom House, a rights group which publishes annual country reports on press freedom status, ranked Zambia’s press as “Not Free” already in 2016. Freedom House has noted that media independence is the absence of external control and influence on an institution or individual working in the media. It is a measure of one’s capacity to make decisions and act according to its own logic, Freedom House states, and distinguishes independent media from state media. Zambia’s “Not Free” rating is a sign of the great challenges we face here.
* Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia and student lawyer
Reklam
IPI – EVRENSEL ARTICLE COLLABORATION BEGINS
‘I SUBSCRIBE’ CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH EVRENSEL AND BIRGÜN
========
Chapter 3 The Presidency
People are scared to face reality in Zambia. When I said the president or the presidency is the most
ignorant structure in the country, all wince, flinch, shudder, just as you reading this line as late Moses
Chitendwe of the National Mirror would remark: “ImwebaMugala, insenimumone, abaince aba, ba
Derek na Francis Lungu baletukabakateka” literally translated as: “Mr. Lloyd Mugala, come and see this
storyline, Derrick Sinjela and Francis Lungu are insulting the President. Chitendwe, was a putative
cousin to Zambia’s Third Republican President, the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (2002-2007).
Presidents in Zambia are always kept in the dark.
It is time to grab the bull by its horn. In a presidential democracy, only a head of State and Government has capacity to develop a ward, Constituency, district, province and country. A Councilor, Mayor, Town Council Chairperson, Parliamentarian or Minister is limited as to what contributions she or he may render. For instance, even the budget, is erroneously attributed to a Finance Minister, when this document is written as a letter tabled before the National Assembly on behalf of the Zambian President.
The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian triple P
By Comrade Derrick Sinjela Prisoner of Conscience (PoC) Lus/4818/18
Time without number, Zambian award winning journalist and author, Bhalewa Zyuulu would refuse a greeting once we crushed in the field of story hunting, the last dare being a stone throw from Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) Permanent Secretary (PS) Thabo Kawana, protesting that until I had published, he would shy away.
Mudala, please publish and once you do so, I tell you, a feeling of statisfaction will envelop you, Zyuulu prodded within earshot of Kwacha Magazine CEO Saeed Simon Banda and Mwango, a Radio Phoenix Journalist.
This was on Friday, 3rd May, 2024 as Zambian journalists and media workers joined humanity commemorating the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on a theme: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”.
Comrade Bhalewa is not the only public sphere dude that accosted me over the delayed book as earlier, co-founder of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Chief Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika drove from Mongu to Lusaka, and during a coffee and tea dialogue urged that my true self would only manifest once I published a maiden book. Aka co-founded the MMD with Mbita ‘Derek’ Chitala.
When do we see the book, Perdita Chenjela-Kaseba quizzed as I sought refuge in power outage, which
she argued could easily be overcome by adjusting time.
“You could sleep in the day and work at night, Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba proposed, pointing out the
importance of timeliness.
Later, after exchanging some pleasantries, and bidding farewell to Judith and Ireen, protesting she
would eat nshima the next time, DMKS and I saw Ms. Chenjela-Kaseba out of the yard toward the Fir
Road bus stop on Burma road.
As we reached Ipusukilo Road, she noticed that the other side had electricity while our area was a dark
City, a mystery we could not explain; same community –difference in access to electric power
availability. In the news, Energy Minister Matthew Nkuwa said following importation of power from
Eskom, the 15 hour load shedding period everyday had reduced by two hours, while ZESCO Public
Relations Manager Hazel Zulu was urging communities in Lusaka’s Chibolya, John Laing, Kanyama and
Misisi townships to cooperative with teams distributing energy saving bulbs, after a similar exercise in
Kabwe, Central Province.
I did not reach far as I let DMKS take the lead, with Ms. Kaseba protesting she could not receive
transport money from a ‘convict’.
—-
Chapter 1 Press
I have been fortunate encountering a lot of support from individuals I may call mentors. As a mentee, I got helped with platform to grow as a journalist when as a National Mirror Newspaper employee, then Dean at Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross , Reverend Father David Njovu and Adrian Chundama let me do stories on the website. I was included in ecumenical trips covering work within the diocese, which got consolidated during Right Reverend Bishop Njovu’s reign as spiritual head of the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka.
Fast forward, as soon as I was pardoned by Sixth (6th) Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I was indebted to receive an encouraging telephone conversation with Bishop Njovu.
I had planned to pay a courtesy call on Bishop Njovu through Anglican Diocese of Lusaka Administrator, Ms. Grace Luwewa but this was not to be as the Almighty Jesus Christ, had other plans.
Ordinarily, life has other plans. Bishop Njovu occasionally dropped me at my residency, just as then Heritage Party (HP) leader, Brigadier General (Brig. Gen.) Godfrey Miyanda drove me to New Chilenje Township, after a service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
Chapter 2 Prison
Thursday 20th December 2018 The Press, Prison and The Presidency – a Zambian triple P
Woke up at 641 New Chilenje, said good bye ahead of the morning’s judgement – sentencing before the
Supreme Court presided by Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa. As a means of getting extra good fortune,
I had a olive oil blessing from Fanny Nyirenda before jumping on the bus on Burma Road and
disembarked at Sikanze Police Bus stop, just after United Church of Zambia (UCZ) St. Paul’s Congregation, crossed the road and headed for the sentencing at the
Supreme Court. There is Edwin Imboela on ones left , a place reserved for Zambia Police horses, with an officers mess (tarven) on the right. I had left my double sim handset with the Airtel and Zamtel numbers or sim cards home, so activist Lonely Tatila was able to reach me on the MTN line, giving a briefing that he had linked up with MISA Zambia
Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta . I knew my fate as my tart, astute and forthright legal counsel, Dr. Overs Masozi Mufwakawiri Banda of O. M. M. Banda had prepared me for this eventuality. My, friend, Derek (Derrick Sinjela) just prepare for a conviction and be ready to go to prison,” Dr. Banda confronted reality. This was a relief and my second step to liberty. The first was when Reverend Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale prodded becoming courageous lizards, and the third step to liberty was Deputy Chief Justice, Marvin Mwanamwambwa doing what the Supreme Court dies best. Least, I forget to this is fate I suppose, and this line is being written close to seven years later (Sunday, 31st August, 2025).
I had then reached the court grounds, then a Times of Zambia (ToZ) crew came and offered solidarity
as Perpetual Sichikwenkwe was delegated to cover the sentencing before a five panel of men and
women though in essence, representing the number 13, as in the full bench. I later strode into court, the
one far left and closer to Chikwa Road and after a somewhat delay I took a step toward the male toilet
on the ground floor to urinate, or putting it good to answer a light call of nature. Since, I had arrived
much earlier, I walked outside and as I reached the parking lot, met the kwacha celebrity crew driven by
Saeed Simon Banda, Tetiwe Mweemba, Fulman Mukobeko and CBC television journalist Pamela
Mulenga, and wanting to capture every moment rolled the hand held camera-took videos and selfiies-a
form of modern day greeting, people rarely hug but familiarize themselves with shots, which are then
Instantly shared online.
Fast forward, the long-anticipated session began and Marvin Mwanamwambwa did what he does best
sentence me to 18 months simple imprisonment with an awed courtroom pronouncing loudly as I can
recall noticing him jerk contentently .
“Take him, he is a prisoner forthwith. I did not falter, as a male policeperson approached me and the
orders I respecting the verdict walked out acknowledging Southern African Centre for the Constructive
Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director, BornifaceCheembe, Governance Elections
Advocacy Research Services (GEARS) Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi, New Age Newspaper
proprietor, Bernard Phiri, and countless concerning people showing solidarity with the truth as spelled
in John 8:32.
As cameras rolled, I was escorted to the holding cell as a policeperson taunted me: “Do you want to say
something or pose for some pictures with these journalists? I did not say a word just continued the
journey to the land of liberty and truth with a mere meticulous journalistic glance at the diligent pen-
pushing peers. Before being locked at the down cell, I was searched and handed K250, original court
summon authored by Chief Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, and Rainbow News Identity card.
Some days later, nephew Kelvin Daka and his mother Sister Jenny, also known as Jane Nanjela-Daka did
not find the said documents which policepersons at the Court Holding Cell vehemently refused to
acknowledge. It was not the amount but I felt really sad to have to experience such blatant dishonesty.
In local discourse caution is rendered that one rotten groundnut spoils a mouthful, forcing one to spit as
edible food becomes detestable.
Earlier, though two ‘cops’ female and male offered encouraging words with the lady policeperson
prodding media to highlight social ills, as such priority communication and coverage enlightened the
public. At the obviously globally dreaded Chimbokaila Prison, now Christened as Lusaka Central
Correctional Facility (LCCF) authorities calculated the End of Prison Date (EPD) to read Friday 20th
December 2019.
This is a story and it has a lot of front progress, plus back and forth strides not to spice but tell it as much
as I can truthfully recollect my mind on this ordeal, which in later paragraphs I title as an occupational
hazard. Many people, fear reality and might be seduced to deceive themselves that they are immune
to such situation, but truth be told, we are all potential prisoners, as in the Bemba parlance, ‘umulandu
mame’ literally translated to mean: ‘a case is like morning dew, that one cannot avoid; as such a
situation is circumstantial as is the case of children born in prison as a consequence of a mother being
incarcerated. Like former Zambia Prisons Service (ZPS) commissioner general Jeffrey Mumbuwa would caution realistically; we are all potential prisoners.
I was jittery on account of sordid, repugnant, disgusting stories of mental and physical torture narrated
countless times by those that had been incarcerated countywide. This dreadful possibility was however
discounted as time was favourable on my side. This was real and I even overhead a huge officer being
discouraged from some form of corporal punishment by as a colleague remarked in Nyanja, alocal
dialect “Musiyechabe, osamumenya , literally translated : ‘Just leave him, do not beat the hell out of
this gentleman.
As soon as I was ushered into the Court Holding Cell, I met or found four gentlemen, all remanded
persons. The quartet –foursome equally narrated life in prison. The foursome were Bright Mandanda,
Victor Moobo, Johnathan Kangwamina and Saliona Thomas Mtonga (STM), popularly known as
Jamfortey, a likeable personality. Saliona assured me of safety and protection, allaying fears of being
physically and emotionally tortured by inmates and prison warders.
Saliona Thomas Mtonga later wrote: “I remember it was on 20th December 2018, I was waiting for my
judgement in the cells at the high court. It was between 10:00 hours ad 11:0 hours in the morning. Its
when they brought Mr. Derrick Sinjela in the court cells, as he enters he was not himself, he was a little
nervous. It is the fear that is in every one of us but nevertheless, I told him that we don’t fight and even if
we go to prison, we don’t fight, that gave him courage.”
On Thursday 3rd January 2019, a word that I encountered like a larger than life phenomenon was
‘Kamilioni’ chameleon or in Tonga dialect, spoken in the Southern Province stated as ‘Naluntambwe’,
‘Chamutambwe’ – changing colour – merchants; a life of trading in people as was the case in the Gold
Coast (Ghana). Today, in modern day Zambia and elsewhere in the word, people are traded as
merchandise with little regard to their destiny as inmates. One has to go through such an ordeal to fully
appreciate a traumatizing feel; as pain cannot be shared despite people showing solidarity.
I was dumbfounded by Saliona’s compassion and concern for my plight. Instead of I feeling pity on him
after Justice Florence Lembalemba handed a 35-year sentence, it was him (STM) showing remorseful
concern following my 18 months sentence.
Still on Thursday 3rd January 2019, I received a notice to go to the Visitors Bay. Ashton Kelly Bunda,
Pamela Mulenga, Fulman Mukobeko and Saeed Simon Banda (SSB) came for a visit with SSB teasing that
must not shave . On his part, obviously not concurring with Banda’s position, Fulman Mukokeko –FM,
encouraged authorship. I was exceedingly pleased by their strengthening brotherhood and sisterhood.
Judith Banda, my daughter had come in the morning with food and this particular notebook. I saw her
as a great source of strength, on account of her coming alone. It is not an easy feat especially for a
young woman to come alone without tagging a friend or two, bearing in mind that one is often taunted
for having a father behind bars and bread winner. I felt pity but took it inside, not wanting to let her
know myconcern. Judith Banda, or bana Irene Banda Mulenga (IBN), born on 31st October 1994, explained that DMKS
my wife was busy with new admissions at school. She had just recruited a new teacher. Judith reported
of scheduled commencement oflessons at Mulele Mwana, a Regiment Catholic Church Skills
Development center – Saint Charles Lwanga parish on Monday 7thJanuary 2019. Irene Banda Mulenga
and Arnold ‘Rambo’ Nyirenda had wanted to pay me a visit but inhibited by a rainy morning and
transport money woes. Later, a tearful AnediNkhata had equally come and proved helpful just as was
worried Faides Nanjela-Mulenga and her spouse.
Come Friday, 4th January 2019; in a sermon, one inmate shared that just as Paul never lost hope, post
prison life can be reconstructed. And before this sermon concluded, Number One in Cell 4, Ngulube
asked me to follow him for some briefing on life in prison, a counsel offered by Sam Sakala, the inmates
Vice – Chairperson, addressed as ‘Mwemfumu’ ‘King!’. Ngulube and peers, who include Ground
Captain’s (GC’s), Number Two’s, Cell Disciplinary Officers’ (CDO’s), Inspector General of Police (IG’s), and
Police were or are respectfully addressed as ‘Bosele’ boss.
At 15:35 hours, brother Evans Sinjela, then working as News Editor at Mateo Phiri’s 5FM Radio came
and in our exchange briefed me that People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti had been admitted
a stone throw from Chimbokaia Prison, at the University Teaching Hospital.
For the uninitiated politically, Mulongoti and I were sureties’ to New Labour Party (NLP leader Fresher
Siwale, in the defamation of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in which the tart politicians tagged the
Zambian leader as a political fraudster. Siwale appearing before Magistrate Alice Nyirenda-Walusiku
claimed that President Lungu’s real names were Johnathan Mutawale Lungu, which remark on Stephen
Nyirenda’s Muvi Television programme anchored by Master Chimbala prompted the suit. Mulongoti
had ceaselessly branded Lungu as a Nationality fraud, and the do took the matter to the Public
Protectors Office, which by Press Time remained largely unanswered.
Unlike I, owing to my photo-journalist pedigree, the obviously better dressed Evans Sinjela delivered
fraternal greetings from Ms. Mizinga Nampito-Chibomba, a Public Relations Officer at the Common Market foe
East and Central Africa (COMESA). Mizinga cut her journalistic teeth at the now ancestral Post
Newspapers Limited, initially housed on Cha ChaCha road’s Kanjombe building.Nampito a putative
relation of ours, was with me in prison but could not because of a tight work schedule and had been in
Uganda for a COMESA crusade.
The story is a good piece. I recall my peer Francis Lungu, would boisterously state authoritatively during
our National Mirror stint,” rubbing his hands as though seeking some warmth in ‘Cold Russia, as in the
words of one Peward Mwansa (PM), who worked for the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) for 30 years. PM is a putative relative to of former Vice President, the late Simon Mwansa
Kapwepwe and knows Shikulu Kenneth David Kaunda’s family, Zambia’s former First Republican
President (1964-1991).
Sentence day had a mixed-grill weather pattern was cold and rainy, then sunny after 14:30 hours in the
afternoon.
In the last two days as per prison faithfully kept routine, involved screening remandees and convicts by
the newly deployed Officer-in-Charge Senior Superintendent William Kamanga, as his predecessor Sikota
Sikota had been transferred to Kalonga Milling, run by the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS), in Kabwe,
Central Province.
This particular day was a tough one and I only ate two slices of bread, whole day, for supper just had a
handful of potatoes prepared by Brian Mangwato, a cleaner for Number Two, James Bwembya, the
working in the Clinic Gang (Ganga). Life can be boring as all one does is idle away. It was lock-up time
16:30 hours, which officially is 30 minutes earlier but on this day had some allowance, and mechanical
as usual it was Sunday-complaints, prayers by Muslims at 18:00 hours, and Christians praying for the
evening meal (super). Later, a voice of came reading names scheduled for Magistrate and High Court
hearings for Monday, 7th January 2019.
On Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke up with a call to set goals in prayers led by a Catholic Priest. I later
sat with namesake Derrick Siame, Timothy Simpasa, Carols Muzovu, Able Siasalama and Bosco
Chafukwa. As we spoke, we shared a cup of tea with bread, which people say is breakfast in a Zambian
household.
WoW!! n the afternoon, I was visited by a horde of sympathizers and philanthropists of the Zambian
Media and family. DMKS, Alice Musongole, Azwell Zimba, Perdita Chenjera, Kasebamashila Kaseba,
Fulman Mukobeko, Saeed Simon Banda, Sam Zulu.
I woke at 05:00 hours on Monday 7th January 2019, joined in an early morning prayer session, seeking
God’s intervention in our individual and collective plight through the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is custom, in correctional facilities countrywide for inmates to pray ceaselessly on the eve and
morning of opening of High Court and Subordinate Court sessions. Unlock, the first counting of inmates
was at 07:00 hours and after the stepping outside an hour later, I cleaned my mouth and face combining
this routine with answering a call of nature. As soon as I had put the toothbrush in the cell, I proceeded
to the shelter and sat. When I reached Chimbokaila on Thursday 20th December 2018, I was resident in
Cell 11 till a week later when I moved to Cell 4, just on the right side once one enters the circular bowel
of the facility. Cell 11 is the seventh on ones left. They are 16 cells with Penal Block, a library, washing
and bathrooms. There also toilets, a place for cleaning plates, clothes, brushing teeth and a bay for
storage of goods. Then as you move west, after the Kitchen one finds cell 1, 2, 3 and four. It is a routine
existence as I elaborated earlier. Cell 1 though mixed is reserved for mentally challenged inmates, Cell 2
for elderly inmates, cell three for inmates diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB), and Cell four for physically
and medically challenged remandees and convicts. Cells 5, 6, 14 and 15 are reserved for convicts
assigned or branded as ‘Working Convicts – bakailibanchito’ those allotted to a particular gang. Cell 7,
8, 10, 11, and 12 are occupied by a mixed grill convicts and those still going to court, while Cell 9 is for
Juveniles and Cell 13 reserved for learners and teachers.
Cell 16 is occupied by inmates defined as Special Stage, as representatives of inmates or a bridge
relationship with prison authorities. Their work is that of acting as trustees, complimenting tasks done
by correctional officers. The Penal Block is occupied by long-term inmates; serving above 15 years, those
on death row and lifers. I had a chat with Chrispine Kabamba (0979428522), a journalist by profession
accused of committing an aggravated robbery. He explained that he had a two-year stint as a ZNBC
Radio 4 Fan Club member. Kabamba had been at Chimbokaila from February 5th 2017 to early 2019,
and was among 11 arrested on the said charge. The other eight were later rearrested after a High Court
discharge by Judge Mwamba Chanda, Kabamba had been to court six (6) times, and of this number of
appearances just two times in 2018.
As was noted time without number on the shrinking democratic space; characterized by other citizens
and nationalities being above the law, it is disheartening to note former Evangelical Fellowship of
Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director, Bishop Paul Mususu describes the State of the Nation – thus: ‘Zambia’s
‘Democratic Space’ has shrunk.
“Derrick, the democratic space has shrunk. We must ensure that we keep our space by standing firm
and resolute despite this shrinking tide,” a forthright Bishop Mususu, tartly prodded.
I at the cost of repeating myself similar to a ‘broken record’ always allude to Opinionated Justice, which
has flooded and overwhelmed the Zambian justice environment. Instead of receiving a fair trial, more
often than not Zambians continue falling prey to opinionated outcomes. Just have to remain walking
straight as Steve Biko enthuses.
“Walking jailed or Free but Walking to jail” as one legal counsel , Nicholas Chanda stated when he came
to see me on my first Sunday in jail, precisely Sunday 23rd December 2018. Since my sentence, Counsel
Chanda explained that he had been remorseful and indicated without mincing words that I had been
sentenced before being heard.
A named inmate Chishimba Mwila was discharged as his EPD had come on Monday 7th January 2019. On
this day, for breakfast tea and bread, while rice was served to all inmates at LCCF.
There is a pool table in the shelter, and usually in the morning just after unlock many will lay on the bare
floor or lie on a spread blanket as others compete by playing chess and a game of draughts (Nsolo).
As one struggles to listen to sound on a huge television screen, others are seen preparing meals or just
concentrate on eating rice, sample (ground maize grain), and a privileged few taking tea with bread. As
stated above, there is a television set but noise distracts (drowns)the sound(volume) and inmates concentrate on
looking at pictures.
A convict, Robinson Hakuyu spoke of ‘Traded Justice’ when describing the Zambian governance
environment. Hakuyu had been facing three counts accused by Stanbic Bank. He was acquitted on two
counts but jailed four (4) years on the third count.
However, he applied for bail pending appeal, and in early January went to fight for justice outside prison
or a correctional facility.
Justice sacrificed by a horde of people trading human beings as though these persons were
merchandize; it seems like a remake of the Gold Coast (Ghana) selling vulnerable communities for a
slice of bread and chocolates
Blankets spread on the ground within the facility are used for drying clothes once washed and left to be
rinced. The clothes are left to dry on the ground, but choice of where to spread them must be
cautiously taken to avoid inmates carefree steps.
Transformational from one lower point to a better being as a person, perhaps to paraphrase Henry
NgosaKapoko, coping with the situation and making or getting the best out of any eventuality and
circumstance.
Fanny Nyirenda equally came urging me to accept the situation pointing out motherly that all would fine
and easy, more like KalushaBwalya’s eyes on the all philosophy that made Zambia through
Herve Renard, diminutive skipper Christopher Katongo, KenndyMwene and StophilaSunzu lift a
maiden African Cup of Nations in 2012.
Ms. Nyirenda, delivered Esther Nyirenda’s prod to continue visitations and I queried her on Chivia
Nampemba’salso known as (aka) Chi Chi’s wellbeing.
Immediately, I walked inside Chimbokaila’s bowel – inside, it was lock-up time as the cock was now
16:00hours.
Ms. Nyirenda explained of a ceaselessly crying moment as the news was aired on TV, just as she worried
like countless of others as to what I would eat, as I did not eat nshima, Zambia’s staple meal and with
no feasible substitute, especially in a place such as prison, where an inmate could not choose a menu.
She pledged to cook some potatoes and visit regularly, pointing out that from 20th December 2018 to
date it had taken a total of sixteen (16) stressful days and in her view acceptance was a source of
strength.
Earlier, formerly a Zambia Daily Mail reporter, Charles Musonda, then a scribe at Richard Lazarous
Sakala’s Daily Nation Newspaper came to visit and promised to bring something for me.
In our talk, I said I was not biter as vengeance was for the Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently, I had put
everything on the cross. I said I stood for the truth and in response to a question said since inception on
Monday 25th June 2007, the Rainbow Newspaper had been ‘Promoting Diversity in News Coverage’
embracing everyone regardless of colour, creed, race or status in society.
On a message to Zambians, I said Zambia must remain a unitary state or an oasis of peace, beacon, a
sanctuary or refuge land for people seeking safer havens.
Asked why I had remained resolute to face the sanction of the courts, I said it was by the grace of God,
the Lord Jesus Christ that I stood firm, in similar to sharing 2016 United States (US) Presidential
aspirant, Democratic candidate, Hilary Rodham Clinton’s tagline: ‘Stronger Together.’ I also got mentorship from Tentani
‘Moto’ Mwanzah, Nelson Mandela and Shikulu Kaunda, Zambia’s former First Republican President, as
Professor Elijah Ngwale, a coordinator-Programs Manager atZambia Disability HIV/AIDS and Human
Rights (ZAMDHIP) would prefer such a description.
I equally alluded to a prod by former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Reverend
Dr. Suzzane M’membe-Matale urging Zambians to have or bear the ‘Courage of a Lizard’by confronting
adversity and not hiding or as Reverend Samuel Zulu of Lusaka, Mandevu area puts it shun facing
consequences preferring to have it easy.
I informed Musonda, the Daily Nation scribe that as a student of Peter Ng’andu Magande’seducative
literature “The Depth of My Footprints – From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage ,” I was paving a
path worth striding. I am different, and I think inversely, thus I need to soldier, creating new paths on
which to mentor posterity.
I had at all times sought to walk on a path that no one had strode to leave footprints worth emulating-
or rather creating a ‘Truthful News’ niche as Rainbow Newspaper Limited (RNL).
Perdita Chenjela bought a note pad and a red but blue ink pen with Kasebamashila Kaseba encouraging
‘us’ to put my thoughts on paper. Kasebamashila Kaseba asked what I was reading and encouraged me
to read Malcolm X or a couple of like-minded books, after I reported reading Ng’andu Peter Magande’s
book.
The Mast on Sunday 5th January 2019 read with a story entitled: “ and written by Masuzyo Chakwe, a
week after Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Spokesperson, Cephas Mukuka was quoted by
the same author in a story entitled: ‘Pardon Sinjela’, says Cephas Mukuka, urging President Edgar
Chagwa Lungu to use his discretion.
I had forgotten to note that Ted Jilapi, an advocate of Malcolm X, teachings had come to visit at the
same time as Cheelo HamukunukaKalengabanyama Katambo, a journalist working at the United Party
for National Development (UPND) Secretariat in Rhodespark.
On 21st January 2019, at 14:00hours, I was visited by a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Zambia Chapter led by National Director, Austin Kayanda, Margaret Kabuswe, Julia Malunga, Nichoolas
Bwalya, George Sinkala, Fumbe Chanda,, Joe Akatama, Maureen Bwalya, WeziMazunda, Evans Sinjela
and Ashton Kelly Bunda. On his part, Mwenda Mupashi remarked: “You are a great man.”
Fighting for citizens to e heard is our call to duty. There is no need to fear as some of us must place our
resolve to stand as freedom fighters. It is the only choice, as Zambia is the only land we own, we can
only do so if we emulate inspirational counsel of renowned football commentator, the late Canon
Dennis Philip Liwewe by dying a little for the motherland. As alluded to tie without number by 5fm radio
station manager Thomas Mkandawire; “It is not easy.”
Sunday 6th January 2019, I woke with this thoughtful counsel ringing in my head. A voice within my
Chemistry was telling me to be humble as life beyond 2019 would be a tough calling. There will be no
sacred cows. Pride will hurt people, thus it is good to be polite and heed instructions. Authorities will not
spare any and good behavior is a cornerstone to good treatment. This was instructive, as people –
inmates approached me offering free counsel that once a transfer occurs, no one would be spared. In
any case, this facility and Kamwala Remand prison will be transformed into a shopping mall once the
ongoing construction of two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi is completed. “This facility is likely to
go and everyone will be taken to the new facilities or those that are viewed as trouble makers; inciters
will be taken elsewhere.
Instructively, being held or confined in a prison like Chimbokaila is easier to cope than one being taken
to Kabwe’s Medium orMwembeshi in the central province where stories of inmates tilling the land for
longer hours traumatise inmates emotionally and physically.
On Monday 7th January 2019, a thought crossed my mind as I felt the national characterization of
Zambia as a Christian nation as being at variance with the environment I was confronted with in prison. I
think it is only in Zambia where people can be dehumanized in this emotionally challenging and callous,
cold-hearted, heartless, uncaring manner.
I was watching football within the facility when Elvis Nyanga beckoned and as I approached him, I found
a man reading a copy of a newspaper-The Mast , dated Saturday 5th January 2019. I was introduced by
Nyanga as Derrick Sinjela, the one in the newspaper, who journalists globally were campaigning to be
set free. After exchanging some pleasantries, he did not mince words on assessment of the court
system in pa-Zed – that is Zambia as Kaunda’s country is now branded. According to Mbewe, my 18
months, now restituted to a year incarceration, was just a storm in a tea-cup, as in no time, I would be
done with drinking the contents contained therein. It was instructive, despite it being a harsher
sentence, Mbewe said eventuality I would be done with it. Mbewe explained that for many in Zambian
prisons, an adjournment was longer than my sentence as inmates or remandees wait for far longer
periods as long as three years. On this day, lock up was delayed and only was done at 16:45 hours, thus
inmates got 45 minutes respite. I had tried to go to the clinic to sort out some ailment but the bell rang
and I could not be attended to and a cellmate Davies Kabila teased me that I was busy discovering life in
prison and I retorted defensively that I was ot Christopher Columbus or let alone David Livingstone, the
latter who according to Maiko Zulu, lied that he had discovered the Mosi o tunya, which the famous
explorer Christened as Victoria Falls, named after the British Queen Mother.
Kabila taunted me. “Sinjela, you are the voice of the voiceless; have you seen how the judiciary is very
poor and slow in dispensing justice in Zambia. Some people have spent 11 years, waiting to be heard by
the High Court.” Kabila, was referencing two cases; first one involving Martin ‘Seer Seer’ Siame, Yotam
Mbewe, Misheck Phiri and Jack Chanda, affectionately referred to as Makolozo . The other case involved
Brian Zulu and co-accused Martin Mbilisi, who waited for 11 years, only to be acquitted.
Diagram 1
By Friday, 7th January, 2019, I had spent 22 days at Chimbokaila and doing a count in my head remained
with 322 yet to be confronted, yet I was determined to cross the set Friday 20th December 2019 finish
line, to use a Zambia Amateur Athletics Associations (ZAAA) President Elias Mpondela’s language.
Wednesday 8th January 2019, I woke at now monotonous 05:00 hours, with the first counting of inmates
being done at 06:45 hours with a message that everyone had to be in the shelter as a visitor ot
mentioned but thought to be Home Affairs Minister, Stephen Kampyongo, a Patriotic Front (PF)
Shiwag’andu Member of Parliament (MP) was expected.
It was a chilly morning and I wondered why Zambian families, communities and prisons always want to
clean-up when a visitor is expected. This cleaning fascination to impress outsiders. In future, scheduled
visitations must be discouraged as such events are held to impress either a local or foreign entourage.
A packet of pacific cigarette was worth or valued at K5. One could purchase a loaf bread with two
packets, get a bucket of hot water and have clothes washed the same amount. A packet of Peter
branded cigarette, one needed just one to purchase the mentioned goods or get a service or two
A moment later, Ieft the shelter as Brian Mangwato came to call me to go and have breakfast,
comprising an egg and four slices of bread
As stated earlier, an officer came and informed us of a pending visit with emphasis on inmates showing
or displaying courteous behavior characteristic of Zambia’s respect for elders at all times irrespective of
the age of guests.
Later, we had to vacate the shelter and sat facing west on the tar- concrete space, which is used as a
makeshift football pitch on the eastern side of the facility. It was now hot but with no choice sat in the
sun. It was unbearable scorching hot. We sat waiting for the yet to be known visitors. It turned out to be
a delegation from Germany, headed by an international relations minister. As they strode within the
premise, the Germany entourage familiarized themselves with living conditions in cell 4 and the kitchen,
before coming to the shelter to greet us.
The delegation leader was assuring us that Germany was interested in improvement of the welfare of
Inmates; you too have inalienable rights as inmates, deserving to be treated accordingly as human
beings deserving respect as humans outside a correctional facility.
He had a print, radio, television crew of journalists as I noticed them taking audio and visual recordings
of the visit done cautiously but openly. At the close, the delegation leader spoke through an interpreter
stating that he would continue to meet the President and justice ministry officials.
I noticed a director in Minister Given Lubinda’s office and wondered why the then Acting Minister
Kampyongo had not accompanied his German peer.
A prison officer told inmates that an interaction would bee arranged in due course to discuss bread and
butter issues. This was apparently in view of the fact that the inmates had not been allowed to dialogue
with the German delegation.
However, it seems the Zambian justice system does not keep or give its partners a true impression of
the status of inmate as great effort is enforced in ensuring no clear image is broadcast abroad or locally.
The cleaning ahead of a visit is meant to paint a good image which is none existent and year-in-year-
out, the situation does not improve. The true picture or truth is more often than not hidden.
Solution is to be truthful and the environment will improve for the better. How can one get healed if one
continues being in denial. The plight of prisoners or a citizen outside such a facility can only become
better once philanthropists – public and private or bilateral partners are given an aculeate impression.
Tuesday 8th January 2019.
It is a sordid, disreputable, disgusting indictment characterization of a dehumanizing nation. A Christian
nation in name but callous in practice, as I witnessed a man faint at 18:45 hours and it later occurred to
me that a victim was often condemned instead of the environment or root case of one failing to
breathe. Perhaps, giving credence to my lamentation, some voices could be heard saying teasingly: let
him stand and walk on his own, a remark that led to a deafening rebuke. I saw or witnessed first hand
how inhuman our Zambian society had become. Though, it is always prayer after prayer, and church
after church from sunrise to sunset at Chimbokaila, it is worrying and traumatizing to see how our
society has ignored to heed Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda’s message of love thy neighbours as thyself. One
wonders what the Prisons Act, says with regard to the welfare of inmates;remandees and convicts in a
Zambian correctional facility? The facility is flooded with Christian message sand bibles including a
special prayer point-place known as ‘The Mountain’ reserved for worshippers and periodic Muslim
Prayers in the cells and shelter area are kept as routine. This determination by Muslims and Christians to
keep prayer routine without practical application is at variance with teachings on compassion and love
for each other.
On Wednesday 9th January 2019, I woke at 05:00 hours, chorused the monotonous prayers, lay for an
how and bed rise was at 06:00 hours with unlock coming at 06:35 hours. The previous night was a bit
cold as it had raised, and as I had slept on one bambo (one rib) meaning lying on one side. Accordingly,
as each of us were expected, I had three places I was expected to occupy once a lock-up had occurred.
The first position is just as one enters a cell, there is a makeshift bed on my right hand on which I
sat looking in the western direction facing the notice board an medicine box, under the custody of two
or three chairmen(chairpersons). My second position was the same bed during meals and the third
position is when it is sleeping time, either resting my head at the tail end of one of the captains
makeshift beds. Initially, I rested my head on the far right end, on a sleeping space reserved for the
ground captain. I slept net to the Cell Inspector, branded as ‘Kanganja’ or Inspector General (IG), with
responsibility to oversee adherence to an inmates allotted space and good conduct As one enters the
cell, there two beds on either side, a third is at the far right, and a fourth net to the meicione box but
facing south, toward were the television set is placed. The bed on ones left, was at the time reserved for
Number One Ngulube and team. In the morning 1st Kings 18:41-45 was used by Daka.
When one is in a crisis, what does that individual do? Before any responses to the sermon could be
adduced, Daka’s preaching was interrupted by an announcement that only prisoners in jumpers-
uniform would be allowed to venture outside. After some normalcy returned, a complaint Daka
explained that in prison one need not get surprised as it was normal for a sermon to be interrupted.
“Nimundendemuno, so osandambwa’ explained Daka literally interpreted to mean; this is prison and
one need not get surprised. ‘Izozapita’ –that is now past us, let us pray, stated a stern faced Daka, quite
amusing.
As was occasionally the case, a kitchen gang member came and made an impromptu announcement.
“Please, those with uga (mealie meal) bring it early as we will not tolerate once asking us to cook
nshima at one preferred time . “Pajelepalibeuga, so osameka, bameneablinauga, ambwelese
mwamusanganga, literally tarnsated as: ‘ there is no meal in the correctional facility, so those with
access must bring it early,” a voice disappeared as inmates reached out for plan B.
A thought crossed my mind. There was hunger in Israel for three years, just as was the case in Somalia
for a decade (10 years). It is a similar occurrence here in Zambia due to drought experienced in the last
five or less years. Instead of thanking God, he went to celebrate, but Elijah knelt and prayed. Even as we
look at the socio-economic burden faced by families and our individual court cases. We must direct
energy on prayer as we cope with prison life and look ahead our collective End of Prison Date (EPD) with
renewed enthusiasm. There is indeed need to emulate Elijah by kneeling in prayer; seeking comfort in
God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who as directed tie without number offers a passage to everlasting
salvation. We have a lot of issues to think off or ponder, and unless one’s mind is blank! It is not a time
to instill self-pity. Even though one is in prison or recuperating at the University Teaching Hospital, one
need not lose hope and it is instructive to heed teachings in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3 “
The day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (God, the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit) will coe like
a thief in the night. The Lord Jesus Christ will come unexpected. People, today are celebrating like peace
and stability can easily be overcome by tragedy. The prison wal cannot stop sickness, death or the Lord
Jesus Christ from entering bringing everlasting salvation or a deafening wrath to those found
contravening-disobeying His teachings.
What a life of a Zambian, Steven Jameson Mubita, a 20-year-old lad, unfortunately prosecuted for
manslaughter and sentenced to five (5) years on account of that he was the last person seen with a
person eventually found dead. In a talk, Mubita regretted to have come to Lusaka in January 2018 and
was eventually sentenced on 10th December 018. He had an ambition to study clinical medicine which
was shattered or circumstantially delayed by the alluded to incarceration.
Born on 25th December 1990, in Lusaka, 29 year-old Brian Musonda (0978335857) trained as a surgeon
in France from 2001-2010 at the Military Medical University in Paris, after completing Grade 12 at
Kawambwa Boys Secondary School in Luapula Province.
In 2000, when Father Francis Gooseman, a Catholic priest based in Zambia was impressed with his
Good distinction result performance in Mathematics, physics, chemistry , secured a place to study
medicine in France, Europe. “My father, Brian Musonda Senior, was a medical doctor, now retired, while
my mother is Emeldah Musonda. I have worked in France, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Swaziland,” recollected Musonda who bragged of having conducted 4, 877 surgical operations.
Off these, 15 patients in post op-complications and 10 peritonitis (abdormina).
“I a very young and I think before reaching the age of 40 years, I dream of being the next generation of
Dr. Ben Carson. I am very good,” bragged Musonda, married to Martha Musalale-Musonda, and at the
time the couple had a son, 2-year-old Brian Musonda.
“ I really want to work here in Zambia. The only sad part is that here people are too jealousy of each
Other, which is not a good thing at all. I will not work here as we are not considerate of each other. If
they really wanted me to work here, why did they proceed to have me convicted? They know how my
position in my head cannot be changed. I am who I am and I know I am a great surgeon. Only God, can
change my status,” said Musonda worried that while he was in jail, a lot of peope-patients in need of his
expertise lacked help.
He recalled that since 30th May 2018, when Lusaka magistrate Munyinya of Court 8, convicted for hi in a matter accused of obtaining money by false pretensestill March 2019, when he was expected to be released, a lot of time and expertise was lost.
“A lot of people are dying, who could have been helped had I been extending my surgincalexertise,”
noted Musonda born in a family reputed to have produced three (3) doctors; Dr. ALberbet Musonda,
serving in the DRC, Dr. Herve Musonda in the DRC and Dr Brian Musonda.
Then there is Alice Musonda, Paulete Musonda, Innocent Musonda and Kamwin Musonda, a nurse in Burundi.
The plight of prisoners an prison warders. I was in the know that Zambia’s 5th Republican President, the late Michael Chilufya Sata tried to improve.
=====
LAZ taking a shot at Rainbow Newspaper
I was told of this but I just ignored and opted for the golden rule.
As I prepared to pruduce edition 66 of the Rainbow Newspaper, on Friday 21st February 2020, I came across this article attributed to the law association of Zambia (LAZ) on its Facebook page. It was an article posted on Wednesday 13th June 2018: “LAZ PRESS STATEMENT DATED 13TH JUNE 2018 IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC ATTACKS ON JUDGES AND LAWYERS FOLLOWING THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SAVANDA MANAGEMENT SERVICES V STANBIC ZAMBIA LIMITED, SCZ JUDGEMENT NO. OF 2018.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has read with grave concern the various newspaper reports and comments carried by the vision and Rainbow Newspapers and the online publications, the Zambian Watchdog and the Zambian Observer on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Savenda Management Services v Stanbic Bank of Zambia Limited, Selected Judgement No.10 of 2018 (‘the Savenda Matter’). The reports and comments give opinions on the decision and also make very serious allegations as follows:
Click the link below to read the full statement:
http://www.laz.org.zm/…/laz-press-statement-13-6-2018-laz-…/
Let me tell the story
It was Friday 13th December 2019, and the previous night Fulman Mukobeko had intimated I needed to
be at a bus station opposite ZNBC by 09:00 hours. I obliged. I reached Fridays corner, and the gentle was
at Kulima Tower. Using my John Walker-killing ants preference, I calculated, I could take time taking a
stroll toward the Mass Media destination , which I did and arrived in good time. I took the left side of
Alick Nkhata road and I noticed that residential areas on the right side had been swallowed by offices
and shops, some structures being storied. As I strode, at the Kamloops and Alick Nkhata junction
complaining loudly, a young man walking toward the opposite direction taunted this inquisitive person.
“There is no problem, here, those Zambian landlords and landladies, benefitted as they were paid some
income after selling. I do not see it as a loss but gain”. Borrowing a cue from CCZ General Secretary,
Canon Emmanuel YonaChkoya, I have always backed a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) paradigm shift
as regards improvement of communities. The buy off process witnessed on Alick Nkhata Road confines
communities to perpetual misery as earnings out of the transaction wither like morning dew. The money
is lost due to depreciating value as a dysfunctional Zambian economy, favours those with the ‘Green
Buck’ US dollar account which does not lose its value.
Fulman and I walked back toward Radio Christian Voice, but turned right twice and eventually left,
reaching Four Pillars Lodge where Henry Kabwe and Media Network for Child Rights and Development
were hosting a media interaction on Gender Based Violence.
Kabwe and several colleagues were happy to see me and took selfies, while Namfukwe from Muvi
Television opted to conduct an interview in which I reiterated that the solution to crime in Zambia lay in
effective combating of heightened or skyrocketing poverty, unemployment and income inequality.
I took a position during the interview that custodial sentences was not a cure as no empirical evidence
exists that such penalty acts as a deterrence to would be offenders.
Building on a cue from President Lungu, I insisted that time was nigh for the Zambia Correctional
Services (ZCS) to repeal the archaic Prison Act, which remained in existence despite authorities’
rebranding to an environment that detested a punitive spirit.
“There is need to ensure that the Prison Act is repealed and replaced with a Correctional Act,” I noted
pointing out a need to reduce the inmate prison warder ratio, and decentralized management of the
Zambia Correctional Service. I noted that despite them raising sufficient resources, the centralized
nature of the Zambian governance structure made them (it) subsist as a lethargic institution.
The ZPS will raise K600 million as anticipated in the 2018-2019 farming and entrepreneurial season but
these resources were ploughed into account 99 at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ). The authority would still
not spend on policing and rehabilitating infrastructure nor individuals into good citizens.
Fulman Mukobeko was overwhelmed by the competence Namfukwe displayed and the duo exchanged numbers
with the gentleman expressing delight at her nose for news, while Kabwe acknowledged Zambian
Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD) for surrendering Maxwell Simbuwa, into
his MNCRD hand. Simbuwa, a Zambian lad and nephew to Kunda Mando was currently studying in South
Africa and had represented Zambia at the United Nations and International gatherings, worth
celebrating for a person below 20 years.
Later, in the evening I was at a media awards put together by Policy Monitoring and Research
Centre (PMRC) and Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), during which a third leg came on
board as ZAMCOM signed collaboration with PMRC.
As the ceremony concluded awarding deserving practitioners, I was taken by surprise when a sweet
voice of Chilufya Mwelwa came through announcing I had been requested to walk to the Makumbi
podium and pose with PMRC Executive Director, Ms. Bernadette Deka-Zulu.
Throughout the evening spiced by excellent Uncle Rex music band, I resisted the temptation to line for
food and only drunk a Fanta, and noticed several people walking toward me and requesting to take
selfies.
As the gathering withered, I was inspired as I walked toward George Chomba, from Diamond Television
who tartly insisted on finding out if at all I still believed on what I had published in the Rainbow
Newspaper Limited copy, stating that he had resisted the temptation to take a selfie with me on
account that patronage was not a preferred cup of tea.
“Aba bamukukulu, want to take pictures with you each time you are in this public space. But do they really
know your situation. They would want to take advantage and pose with you. I will not do that till I find
out if really you stand by your word,” stated Chomba, a veteran journalist who cut his journalistic teeth
at the Zambian Daily Mail.
According to Chomba, time had come for me to insist on querying those seeking my indulgence if at all
they believed in me by posing a question or two to them thus: “Do you believe or back my position that I
was merely transmitting the message as a messenger of truth?”
For me, I would like you to tell the story in your own words, as it is you that experienced prison life. You
must insist on sharing it on your own terms and not being compelled.
For instance, Chomba alerted me that I was the second Zambian journalist after Elias Kamanga, now
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary to be jailed on a contempt of court accusation, which situation
was worth fighting as it was erroneously undemocratic.
Your fight brother Sinjela from now on must be to go out there and state: “No journalist must be jailed
on account of contempt of court,” as communicators are merely messengers of an occurring story and
sentiment expressed by members of the public.
Chomba took a position that while CNN and other international channels had been allowed in Zambia
showing compromising footage the Zambian law prohibited such characterization, and it was not
acceptable for a Zambian child to kiss a parent, uncle and aunt on the cheek as a form of greeting.
After a while, I left and walking on United Nations Avenue, near ZICTA offices I called Simon Mwaba
Mulenga, who asked me to walk to UTH Club and the gentleman fetched the three of us-Joseph
Mulyasau Chanda and a colleague. Joseph disembarked at the SDA church and took a bus to Kamwala South, while a colleague did so at Chilenje Main market, bus stop known as pa Banda.
Petitions for this Liberty
Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo
May 3, 2019 · Lusaka ·
Of WPFD, Pardon Jailed Journalist Derrick Sinjela
On WPFD, Zambian Journalists Asks President Lungu To Pardon Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela
Not In A Jovial Mood, Zambian Journalists Commemorate World Press Freedom Day Focusing On Challenges That Have Befallen Their Industry As They Call For Pardoning Of Jailed Veteran Journalist Derrick Sinjela.
This Report Done By International And Multiple Award Winning Journalist Arthur Davies Sikopo Aired On 3rd May 2019 On SABC’s Radio Service, Channel Africa On World Press Freedom Day
#JournalismIsNotACrime
#And_DAS1
— feeling sad with Derrick Sinjela and 6 others at Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM).
The Punch ; For Investigative News & Analysis added a new photo.
December 28, 2018 ·
Letter to the EDITOR: PARDON JOURNALIST DERRICK SINJELA.
I am from the bottom of my heart appealing to the republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to use his constitutional powers and rights to pardon veteran journalist, Mr Derrick Sinjela.
A wrong was committed, and whose wrong was equally admitted without wasting the courts time.
This appeal collides with the festive season which is the season of love and forgiveness.
It’s a season of give and take.
My grounds of appeal are based on the fact that Sinjela chose to admit that he was wrong and remorseful to his actions.
As a law abiding citizen, he chose not to flee the nation giving enough room to authority to judge him positively as a responsible adult and citizen of this nation.
This country has witnessed in the past where three renowned musicians where given mercy by our courts on serious matters of ganja or dagga smoking.
Reasons of pardon where that they had large followings and if sent to jail, the public was meant to loose out.
Most recently a young student from the University of Zambia was caught with cannabis and sent to jail.
I compared between a young promising intellectual versus musicians.
Personally I expected the courts to have pardoned our young student so as to give him chance to repent and further graduate from University.
Upon graduation, he would have contributed to national development in his area of speciality without fail.
Sinjela, has been instrumental in his works. Having worked with him in the bank, ever jovial and helpful person.
This is the period he could have been with his family.
This is not to rubbish the court ruling and the judges who presided over the matter but merely making an appeal to my President.
Only President Lungu, can save and pardon Sinjela.
President Lungu personally pardoned a musician who was jailed for an offence of defilement.
Society still need the services of Sinjela.
I have no doubt that our President will deal with this matter amicably without fail.
Dr Cephas Mukuka
Political researcher.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela as New Vision News Editor
Matters of FAITH CBCTV added a new photo.
November 28, 2018 ·
The Supreme has adjourned the contempt of court sentencing of Rainbow Newspaper owner Derrick Sinjela to 20th December, 2018.
The development come after the court was disrupted during another contempt case which involved a senior citizen who stood accused in the supreme court collapsed as the charge was being ready to him.
The court went for a short recess and when the judges came back they informed the court that Sinjela’s case could not be proceeded for judgement as the beach was incomplete having that the trial was head by the full beach so should the judgement.
The senior citizen who collapsed in court earlier was rushed to hospital for medical attention.
Derrick Sinjela stand accused of contempt of court in the Stanbic and Savenda case.
— with Derrick Sinjela.
Derrick Sinjela with Bishop John Osmers at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Friends of Mother Earth
November 19, 2018 ·
Friends of Mother Earth National Coordinator, Isaac Mwale Attending to an interview on sustainable use of National natural Resources. Interview by Ashton Kelly Bunda; Photo by Derrick Sinjela.
With Clarence Moonde Muzyamba
Derrick Sinjela was with Isaac Mwale.
November 9, 2018
Branding Zambia 2014 added a new photo.
December 14, 2019 ·
President Michael Chilufya Sata with Sam Zulu and Chiko Bwalya on Cairo Road, walking outside Farmers House – Picture by Derrick Sinjela Rainbow Zambia
Patriotic Front (PF) founder the late ‘King Cobra’ Michael Chilufya Sata with real
people on Cairo Road – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
In a by Staff Reporter story on May 24, 2019, NGOCC petitioned President Lungu for my release in a story carried by Mutinta M’membe’s The Mast Newspapers which was entitled: “NGOCC plead with Lungu to release Sinjela on May 25NON-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council executive director Engwase Mwale has appealed to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to consider pardoning journalist Derrick Sinjela on Africa Freedom Day, which falls on May 25.
The Supreme Court of Zambia in December last year jailed veteran journalist and blogger, Sinjela, 18 months for contempt.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Mwale said her organisation was looking forward to seeing Sinjela walk to freedom.
“NGOCC recognises that this is a week that is culminating into Africa Freedom Day. As a country, we need to guard the freedoms that we enjoy but most importantly, also looking at aspects of human rights and access to social justice. At this point, we also want to wish our friend and comrade Derrick Sinjela a happy 55th birthday. Even as he is incarcerated, to us, he is a hero. He is a prisoner of conscience and we are learning a lot from his experience. We have been paying him visits at the prison and we are encouraged that he is always in high spirit,” Mwale said.
“He is always positive and he is also learning a lot from his life in incarceration. We wish to call upon the Head of State to seriously consider presidential pardon on our colleague and comrade so that on the 25th as he is looking at the list of the people that he is going to pardon…we are looking forward to seeing Mr Derrick Sinjela’s name being amongst those patriots to be set free and be able to continue his work of promoting human rights.”
Mwale said President Lungu would be showing everyone that he recognises the role of the media if he
pardons Sinjela on May 25.
“It is very important that the President takes this as one of his important milestones. First and foremost he will be setting a tone that he is recognising the role of the media and he will also be setting a tone that the media space needs to be independent…journalist in our country should be able to exercise their right to share information. Once this gesture is done by our President, we will go a long way in showing us Zambians that he means well when he talks upholding human rights and that the freedoms as enshrined in our Constitution are recognised,” Mwale said.
“We understand that he (Sinjela) is even writing a book which he is going to title around his experiences in prison. As NGOCC, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the role that the media is playing in the promotion of human rights and social justice. It is our conviction also that as civil society organisations, we need to work hand-in-hand in promoting human rights and social justice. We also recognise the role that the media play in promoting women’s rights and women’s empowerment.
Derrick Sinjela added 7 new photos.
January 29 at 7:09 AM ·
Christopher Lifasi with Rainbow Zambia Executive President Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela Wednesday 29th January 2020 www.rainbownewszambia.com
+3
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
February 6 at 5:20 PM ·
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Dante Saunders and AkashabatwaMbikusitaLewanika with Derrick Sinjela
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
February 3 at 5:56 PM ·
John Chola commiserates with Derrick Sinjela on Cairo Road in Lusaka
Dickson Jere added a new photo.
December 26, 2019 ·
Throw Back Thursday…Lusaka Lawyer then Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Subordinate Court with his client Stella Chibanda who is former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Time!
Picture courtesy of Derrick Sinjela
— with Stella Chibanda.
333Febian Miguel Manda, WinfordKashiya and 331 others
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Evelyn Chilongozi Banda My sister with ba lawyer
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AchmaAsokan Stella Chibanda previously Mumba was our classmate at the Dominican Convent!
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JacklineKaputo My Grandma l remember this time when you are the PS
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Joe Mat He was a Lawyer…Why are people sounding like he was a charcoal burner? At that time he had already made it in life
Is it the filth in his dressing? We can all agree he wasn’t smart looking like his other lawyers
• Evans Sinjela updated his cover photo.
October 12, 2013 ·
14Kombe Rich Chimpinde, Delphister Lungu and 12 others
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ChamboNg’uni PROVERBS CHAPTER 18 VERSE 22
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Mathews Mudenda PS how come I missed this event? Congratulations and all the best.
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Simon Mwamba wellcome bro
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Naomi Mweemba wow.nice.
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Derrick Sinjela added 5 new photos.
December 20, 2019 ·
Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) Staffer Gerald Siingwa with Rainbow Zambia Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela at Mint Leaf Lodge in Lusaka, on Friday 20th December 2019, moments after Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter Chairperson Ms. Hellen Mwale opened a Stakeholders Meeting to share Independent Independent Broadcasting Authority – IBA and ZNBC Regulation Position Paper. Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma and EB Media Consultant Elias Banda witnessed the discussion hosted by Jane Chirwa Sally Chiwama and Margaret Kabuswe in Lusaka’s Chudhleigh area. Rainbownewszambia
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Zulu Robin Great
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• Derrick Sinjela added 5 new photos.
December 19, 2019 ·
Rainbow Traveltourismzambia Rainboweducation Zambia Rainbow Zambia Rainbownewszambia Zcyp Development Zambian Media Taskforce on Ending Child Marriages Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page Zambian Cypwd Derrick Derrick Sinjela Derrick Derrick Sinjela “#FlashbackRainbowNewsZambiaEstablishedMonday25June2007 Stella Chibanda with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court – Pictures by Derrick Sinjela Branding Zambia 2014 www.derricksinjela.blogspot.com
3Stella Chibanda, Derrick Sinjela and 1 other
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Stella Chibanda Iyee kale!!
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December 18, 2019 ·
What is the best way to get a hold of the guy who runs the Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA), the Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development Ambassadors Page (ZCYPWD), Rainbow Zambia Rainbow Newspaper Limited established Monday 25th June 2007 by Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Derrick Sinjela www.derricksinjela.com www.rainbownewszambia.com
1Derrick Sinjela
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December 16, 2019 ·
Former Zambia Association of Musicians President Maiko Zulu with Rainbow Newspaper Zambia 2007 Ltd Executive President (Editor-in-Chief) Derrick Sinjela maiden (first) Pan African Radio 96.1FM ‘Voice of Africa’ Emerging Star Awards at Chris Mall Lodges, Foxdale, Lusaka Saturday14Dec2019
28Zulu Robin, Alfred Banda and 26 others
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Derrick Sinjela #EllaWhelan @EllaWhelan I come from a ordinary Labour family. Brothers, sister &partner all do working class jobs. I was a teacher. We’re neither elite nor elitist. We were brought up in a family which encouraged reading, discussion, politics, history etc And we’re all #Remainers #Skypapers #StigAbell @StingAbell
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
February 2 at 7:35 PM ·
Derrick Sinjela added a photo you might be in.
February 2 at 7:35 PM ·
Derrick Sinjela with Barber (man) person John
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Support received Free Press Initiative advocate Joan Chirwa
Friday 14 February 2020 08:31-“Freedom on paper, not in reality!”, Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia, Joan Chirwa
February 17
11:572020
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FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020 08:31
FREEDOM ON PAPER, NOT IN REALITY!
ZAMBIAN JOURNALIST AND AN IPI MEMBER, FOUNDER OF THE FREE PRESS INITIATIVE ZAMBIA, JOAN CHIRWA WROTE AS PART OF THE ARTICLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN IPI AND EVRENSEL DAILY
Joan Chirwa (Photograph: IPI)
DAILY NEWS
Joan Chirwa*
Police callouts, closures of media institutions, threats, heavy political control of the news media and all other ills that make journalists resign themselves to unprofessional practices have become a common feature in the media industry in many African countries.
When and how did we get here? This is the question that many of us have been asking ourselves for a good number of our practicing years. The answers keep getting more complicated as the years go by. Like other countries in Africa, Zambia has a litany of laws, among them defamation, state security, contempt of court and sedition, that have been used to curtail or inhibit the freedom of journalists to practice without fear of prosecution or arrest.
Since gaining independence on October 24, 1964, Zambia has passed a number of laws affecting press freedom. The Defamation Act of 1964 restricts freedom of expression, among other things. And there is also the Penal Code, which criminalizes defamation of the President and of constitutional office holders.
Rainbow Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Derrick Sinjela Thursday November 14 2019 Picture by Mercy Kampamba of Percy Photography New Kasama Road Chilenje Lusaka Zambia
Additionally, the State Security Act of 1969 limits free speech and media freedom, thereby restricting the possibility to criticize the government and its officials. Calls have been made to reform our laws, such as the ban on defaming the president, that have been used against journalists, including this author. Whenever concerns have been raised against these prohibitive laws and the negative effects they are having on freedom of the press, the authorities usually rebut these concerns by arguing that there are no journalists in jail on charges related to their work. But we believe that freedom of the press cannot, and should never, be measured simply by the number of journalists jailed.
In any case, some journalists have faced jail: Derrick Sinjela, a Zambian journalist, was recently released from prison after several months after the Supreme Court found him guilty of contempt of court for criticizing its judges and gave him a custodial sentence of 18 months. He was, until his release in early November 2019, the only journalist jailed in Zambia, serving a sentence slapped on him by the very judges he was criticizing.
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But that there was only one journalist jailed in Zambia that time should not, however, be interpreted to mean 100 percent freedom of the press. Take the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which constantly monitors the work of radio and television journalists and never hesitates to close them down at the slightest of violations of the broadcast laws!
The use of criminal defamation laws against the press is still ongoing but the dangers from civil lawsuits with high costs and high risks are also rising, leading to a greater likelihood of bankruptcy of media outlets. Independence of the press is therefore weakened where the right of journalists to criticize public officials is threatened.
What is interesting to note is that freedoms of expression and of the press are constitutionally guaranteed in Zambia, but the continued existence of some of the laws highlighted above prohibit the enjoyment of these rights. Additionally, heavy political control of most media institutions has sent the majority of journalists into self-censorship. Sadly, this trend is widespread even among privately run, what one would previously call “independent media”, because even there, opposition political parties have totally taken control of the financial needs of some newspapers, radio and television stations. The end result: self-censorship takes over and press freedom completely ceases to exist!
Derrick Sinjela with Ruth Machuku and Ireen Banda Mulenga at 641 New Chilenje Lusaka reading The Depth of My Footprints From the Hills of Namaila to the Global Stage – Picture by Kasebamashila Kaseba
Freedom House, a rights group which publishes annual country reports on press freedom status, ranked Zambia’s press as “Not Free” already in 2016. Freedom House has noted that media independence is the absence of external control and influence on an institution or individual working in the media. It is a measure of one’s capacity to make decisions and act according to its own logic, Freedom House states, and distinguishes independent media from state media. Zambia’s “Not Free” rating is a sign of the great challenges we face here.
* Zambian journalist and an IPI member, founder of the Free Press Initiative Zambia and student lawyer
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Chapter 3 The Presidency
People are scared to face reality in Zambia. When I said the president or the presidency is the most
ignorant structure in the country, all wince, flinch, shudder, just as you reading this line as late Moses
Chitendwe of the National Mirror would remark: “ImwebaMugala, insenimumone, abaince aba, ba
Derek na Francis Lungu baletukabakateka” literally translated as: “Mr. Lloyd Mugala, come and see this
storyline, Derrick Sinjela and Francis Lungu are insulting the President. Chitendwe, was a putative
cousin to Zambia’s Third Republican President, the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (2002-2007).
Presidents in Zambia are always kept in the dark.
It is time to grab the bull by its horn. In a presidential democracy, only a head of State and Government has capacity to develop a ward, Constituency, district, province and country. A Councilor, Mayor, Town Council Chairperson, Parliamentarian or Minister is limited as to what contributions she or he may render. For instance, even the budget, is erroneously attributed to a Finance Minister, when this document is written as a letter tabled before the National Assembly on behalf of the Zambian President.