Sishuwa Demands Apology From Ambassador Over Claims He Was Paid To Write Op-Ed

Respected historian and political commentator Sishuwa Sishuwa has demanded an apology from Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, over claims that he was paid to write an article in South Africa’s Mail and Guardian newspaper.  

In a letter to Mr Mwamba, The University of Zambia lecturer accuses the ambassador of lying when he claims that Sishuwa was paid to write the provocative op-ep, entitled ‘Zambia may burn after the August elections. Here’s how to prevent this’.

Sishuwa claims that in fact the opinion piece was published for free, something he is “sure the editors of the newspaper would be happy to confirm”. 

He adds: “While I welcome public debate and content-based discussion founded on facts, I detest the invention and circulation of lies which are simply meant to cast aspersions on one’s character and professional standing”. 

On Monday, Mr Mwamba posted a statement on Facebook claiming that Mr Sishuwa’s article was a ‘paid for Op-Ed’. The post was shared by the Ask Muvi TV social media page and republished on Smart Eagles. 

Mr Sishuwa claims that these “false and malicious allegations” have hurt his professional reputation. He has demanded a formal retraction and an apology from the ambassador. 

Sishuwa’s article gripped attentions last week when it claimed that Zambia was on the brink of civil unrest if steps were not taken to ensure free and fair elections in August. 

He laid the blame for this precarious situation squarely at the feet of President Lungu’s regime, which he said had “made a mockery of Zambia’s democratic tradition and effectively eliminated constitutional and lawful means of political competition for the occupation of government”.

He further accused the Patriotic Front government of having precipitated mass unemployment, loaded the courts with regime-friendly judges, and turned the police into a weapon of political intimidation. 

Sishuwa warned that if the situation was allowed to deteriorate further, Zambia risked becoming “a bomb - primed to explode”.

The article therefore called on Zambians to prevent President Lungu from seeking an unconstitutional third term in office before thinking very carefully about how best to overturn the status quo at the ballot box this August.