By Merlyn Mwanza
Former Ministry of Information permanent secretary Amos Malupenga says former Post Newspapers editor-in-chief Dr Fred M’membe concealed his real feelings from him after he decided to quit the newspaper to serve in the Michael Sata led PF government in 2011.
Excepts from his soon to be launched book, “Quitting the Bwinjimfumu Government” seen by Daily Revelation, Malupenga charged that Dr M’membe, who is now Socialist Party (SP) leader uttered a lot of “uncharitable” things about him following his departure at a newspaper he said he had served loyally for 15 years.
He stated that the two parted cordially and even received some words of encouragement from Dr M’membe following a meeting between the two, after Malupenga made the decision to join the government.
“Apparently, he concealed his real feelings from my face but behind my back said a lot of uncharitable things about me and my departure from the newspaper. Incidentally, all the ‘unpalatable’ words he said in this regard got to my ears. However, I did not bother at all because I understood that he was hurting. I still held him in high esteem as my elder brother and former boss because we worked closely as a Post family,” Malupenga stated. “We developed such ties. But more importantly, I remembered the words recorded in the Bible book of James 3:2: ‘For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body.’ And to demonstrate that I held no grudge against him or indeed the institution, during my early days in government when time allowed, I would go back to The Post for lunch in the staff canteen. Todate, I hold Fred in the same high esteem, especially that his positives in my life outweigh the negatives.”
Malupenga said, unknown to Dr M’membe, those uncharitable words he used against him unsettled some colleagues in the newspaper, particularly in the newsroom where a number of individuals had a measure of respect and appreciation for him, first as a person and second for the contribution he made to the newspaper.
“They concluded that they were not safe if a person like me who had greatly contributed to the growth of the newspaper could be treated like that. In my humble opinion, that was what triggered the exodus of the editorial staff from the newspaper,” Malupenga stated. “Some of those who left after me had to find their way out through their own connections with president Sata while others were just offered positions by the president. As a result almost the entire top editors and journalists left the newsroom in a short space of time. I led the way as managing editor. Joe Kaunda, who was my deputy and actually succeeded me, quit only after two weeks or so to take up an appointment as Zambia’s deputy ambassador to South Africa. Sam Mujuda, who also served as legal counsel, quit the newspaper to become Zambia’s deputy High Commissioner to Namibia. Chansa Kabwela, as news editor, also quit to join the government as press attaché at Zambia’s High Commission in Malawi. Fred’s personal assistant, Yvonne Shibemba, was appointed press attaché to Germany.
“Other key journalists who were appointed as press officers in missions abroad were Chibaula Silwamba in New York and Patson Chilemba in South Africa.”
Malupenga stated that all these appointments happened within two months or so.
“Fred was so annoyed that he could neither hide nor hold back his bitterness and anger. He phoned president Sata and exchanged a few unpleasantries with him, so I was told,” Malupenga charged.
He stated that one day, he happened to be at State House for an official engagement with the president when he informed him about his phone conversation with Dr M’membe.
“Your brother is upset. He phoned me the other day shouting that I am fishing from his pond and challenged me to fish out everyone if I wanted because he has the capacity to replace them” president Sata said, according to Malupenga. “As usual he was in confrontational mood accusing me and you of trying to weaken the newspaper by poaching key journalists from there. He threatened that he would hit back. But he is forgetting that I am now president. He can’t fight and expect to win a fight with the president. Anyway, let’s just ignore him. In Bemba we say uulelila tabamucheba kukanwa (you don’t pay particular attention to pronouncements coming from a mourning or grieving mouth).”
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