By Anthony Mukwita
UNIP president and Tonse Alliance member retired Anglican Bishop Trevor Mwamba’s wife has allegedly ssued a desperate appeal for his safe return, warning that the country’s reputation as the “last bastion of democracy and peace” is now in peril.
She is the former Ambassador of Botswana to the Federal Republic of Germany and Brussels.
The crisis unfolded on 14 August, just a day after Zambia’s acrimonious presidential and parliamentary elections, marred by sporadic violence.
Bishop Mwamba had accompanied opposition leader
Brian Mundubile to a high level meeting with international election observers from SADC, EU, AU, COMESA, the Great Lakes Region, and the United Nations.
Shortly after, Bishop Mwamba, along with Patrick Mwansa, lawyer George Chisanga, Mutotwe Kafwaya, a former lawmaker, and Mundubile’s bodyguard identified only as Banda, ‘vanished’ following a reported attack on Mundubile by unknown assailants.
”We want to know where my colleagues and friends after the attack on us and gun shots,” said Mundubile separately in a recorded video aired on the eve 15th August.
In a letter addressed to former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who heads the Great Lakes Region Observer Mission, Ambassador Mwamba wrote: “As a family we are profoundly troubled by this development without any news from Zambia.
Bishop Mwamba is a man of peace and gentleness who has devoted his entire life to preaching love and reconciliation.”
Mrs Mwamba added: “We appeal to the authorities for his immediate and unconditional return along with the return of all others that could be wrongfully detained.”
The August 13 polls have been described as a two horse race between Mundubile, buoyed by youthful energy and fresh hope, and incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, weighed down by rising poverty and the high cost of living.
Bookmakers say the contest remains razor tight.
Observers are expected to comment on the disappearance, while Mundubile is scheduled to address the nation on election progress and the fate of his missing allies.
The disappearance of Bishop Mwamba, a respected cleric turned politician, has cast a dark shadow over Zambia’s democratic credentials and raised urgent questions about the safety of opposition figures in the tense post election climate.
Zambia authorities are yet to tell the families what they know or do not know about the worrying incident of reports of shooting.
