/ 19 December 2006

Zambia’s ‘King Cobra’ stirs up political snake pit

Zambia, normally one of Africa's most stable countries, is facing unprecedented turbulence as opposition leader Michael Sata turns up the heat on the government only weeks after losing a general election. With tens of thousands of followers attending rallies of Sata, also known as "King Cobra", observers fear it is only a matter of time before simmering tensions boil over.

Zambia, normally one of Africa’s most stable countries, is facing unprecedented turbulence as opposition leader Michael Sata turns up the heat on the government only weeks after losing a general election.

With tens of thousands of followers attending rallies of Sata, also known as “King Cobra”, in slum areas of Lusaka, despite government efforts to ban them, observers fear it is only a matter of time before simmering tensions boil over.

“The political situation is becoming very tense. We are very much concerned with the current volatile situation,” a Western diplomat told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.

Since independence from Britain in 1964, Zambia has largely managed to avoid the kind of upheaval that has rocked neighbours Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

But despite winning international praise for his handling of the economy, President Levy Mwanawasa’s record came under severe attack from the populist, Sata, ahead of presidential and parliamentary polls on September 28.

And although Mwanawasa was comfortably returned, Sata has continued to punch holes in the government’s performance, promising more jobs and lower taxes to supporters.

While none of the more recent rallies have so far turned violent, protests by Sata supporters in the immediate aftermath of his defeat ended in clashes with riot police and looting.

Simon Zukas, a retired politician who served as minister with Sata in the previous government of Frederick Chiluba, said “King Cobra” is playing with fire.

“I am very much concerned with the tension which is building up in the country,” said Zukas.

“My view is that if he wants to be republican president, he has to be more responsible and not just play to the crowd.”

The government banned the rallies last week but reversed the decision within hours after widespread condemnation from a cross-section of Zambians.

“I think Mwanawasa is over-reacting to Sata. Sata has to be allowed to continue campaigning because he has freedom of speech and assembly as guaranteed by the constitution,” said Sakwiba Sikota, a lawmaker with the opposition United Liberal Party.

The government, however, holds Sata responsible for the build-up in tension.

“If Sata could hold his fire, everyone, including ourselves, will do so. Let’s make peace as a nation,” said Defence Minister George Mpombo.

Mwanawasa has warned Sata he will be jailed for treason if he continues to incite “Zambians to rise against a democratically elected government”.

Sata has shown no sign of backing down, arguing that he is preparing in case the presidency becomes vacant before the next elections scheduled for 2011.

That represents a less than subtle allusion to the state of health of Mwanawasa, who suffered a stroke earlier this year.

“They must know that holding elections in 2011 is not a guarantee because the incumbent can abdicate or resign,” Sata recently told reporters when asked why he had started campaigning so early.

“So any political party worth its name must continue to tell the people its message in readiness for early elections.”

Some Zambians blame Mwanawasa and his government for creating tension by panicking over Sata’s rallies.

“The truth is, it is this government’s incompetence, their lack of political capacity that has driven all these people to politicians like Sata,” read an editorial in the Post, Zambia’s only private daily.

In the September polls, Sata’s Patriotic Front won major parliamentary seats and took total control of the municipalities in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces, which are Zambia’s mainstay.

“It’s most unfortunate that our country is shifting into anarchy and the anarchy is engineered by the government,” Sata said. — AFP