FRIDAY, 8.30AM
ZAMBIAN president Frederick Chiluba returned from a visit to South-East Asia, to show little regret at the shooting of his chief rival, Kenneth Kaunda, by a police sniper.
“If some people want to provoke a government elected by the people, it is our duty to show them we are in charge. That incident in Kabwe, we don’t regret … If a man breaks the law, the law must deal with that culprit … in the past few days, police have operated under exreme provocation.”
Chiluba denied ordering an assassination attempt on Kaunda: “Surely the dear old man is not a poltical factor today? Who would wish to kill him?”
THURSDAY, 2.30PM
ZAMBIA has suspended two provincial police chiefs — the commanding officer for police in the central province and his deputy — following the assassination attempt on former president Kenneth Kaunda at the weekend.
Police Inspector General Francis Ndhlovu said investigations revealed that live ammunition had been used to break up an opposition rally at the weekend, which is against regulations. Opposition politicians, who have called for Ndhlovu’s own resignation, dismissed the suspensions as “face-saving ploys”.
Kaunda’s press aide Muhabi Lungu said suspending the two men was not enough as the Inspector General was himself involved. It was Ndhlovu who ordered in the paramilitary police responsible for the shooting, said Lungu.
Zambia Civic Education Association chair Lucy Sichone called for the prosecution of Ndhlovu and his deputy, Edward Chisha. “I will make sure that they are exposed. They should pay for what they have done,” Sichone said.
Meanwhile, Kaunda has filed court papers against Vice-President Godfrey Miyanda and several senior police officials, accusing them of conspiring to murder him.
THURSDAY 9.00AM:
ZAMBIAN opposition parties led by Roger Chongwe, also injured in the Kaunda attack, have called for an international inquiry into the incident, led by the Organisaton of African Unity and the Southern African Development Community.