ZAMBIA NEWS SPECIAL ADDITION Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: AfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk Tue Oct 28 03:42:07 1997 ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE SPECIAL EDITION 28 OCTOBER Subscribe to Zambia News Online A fortnightly update of news from Zambia! ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is written by Zambian journalists in Zambia and brings you the news from their point of view. It is assembled and edited by Africa News Network, part of South Africa Contact, the former anti-apartheid movement in Denmark, publishers of i'Afrika, a quarterly magazine concentrating on Southern Africa. ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE joins our other individual newsletters from MOZAMBIQUE, ZIMBABWE, MALAWI, TANZANIA, ANGOLA and SOUTH AFRICA, providing up to date news through our established network of journalists in southern Africa. These newsletters will be followed, in the very near future, by news updates from other countries in the region. ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is brought to you through a co-operation between Africa News Network, South Africa Contact and Inform, Denmark's leading alternative information network. ***************************** COUP ATTEMPT FLOPS Zambians woke up on Tuesday morning to a radio announcement that the military had taken over the running of the country. An army officer identifying himself only as Captain Solo announed on three channels of the state run radio station that a National Redemption Council was now in charge. But hardly four hours later another military officer came on air announcing that "everything was back to normal" and that all the coup plotters would soon dealt with. The coup attempt comes six years after the last failed military takeover in which again the radio station was taken over and an announcement was broadcast that the then UNIP government had been overthrown. The June 1990 coup attempt triggered spontenious jubilation in the capital Lusaka and other major towns in the country before troops loyal to then President Kennth Kaunda recaptured the station and arrested the army officer led by a Lieutenant Mwamba Luchembe. This time, however, Captain Solo's announcement was received with surprise, anger and irritation but no evident sign of jubilation. There was concern, however, among several government leaders who seemed at a loss of what to do especially that Capt. Solo repeatedly announced that corrupt leaders would not stand trial and would be shot by firing squad. He claimed that the National Redemption Council was led by highly trained army officers trained froma recently established Military Academy in Lusaka. He said these were to announce further action and advise the nation on the next course to take. Capt. Solo also said the the police service would be replaced by highly intelligent personnel who were also part of the coup. He, however, stated that the MMD government had been overthrown, the Republican Constitution suspended and politics banned. He added that all the airports in the country were closed and that air force personnel backing the coup had been given instructions to "bring down" any planes violating planes violating Zambia's airspace. Local travelers were also warned not to leave towns as all major roads were being closely watched by the 'new' government. Gun shots were reportedly heard near State House, the official residence of the president, as Capt. Solo announced that the military would move into the residence to enforce the surrender of government from Mr Chiluba. The president, however, was at the time in Ndola on the Copperbelt Province. The vice-president Godfrey Miyanda was in Scotland attending the Commonwealth summit. Capt Solo who said he had repelled an attempt at forcing him out of the station, also warned residents against venturing into the city centre, advising non-military personnel to stay indoors. Other parts of the country were largly oblivious of the happenings in Lusaka as virtually everyone went about their business. Then at about 09.00 hours, another voice came on air, announcing that all was back to normal. A colonel Simbeye said there was nothing to worry as the democratically elected government of President Chiluba was still in power. An hour later President Chiluba came on radio to announce that "the work of the enemy had failed". He thanked the loyal soldiers for bringing the situation under control of his legitimate government. He urged Zambians not to be intimated and to go about their daily business. This was the fourth coup attempt in Zambia, but the first against the MMD government since it came into power in 1991. Previous attempts were made in 1980, 1982 and 1990 against the UNIP government. ********************************** ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE A fortnightly update of news from Zambia! If wish to receive more information about Zambia News Online or about our other newsletters or upcoming newsletters, please send an E-mail to: AfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk If you know of anyone else who might be interested in Zambia News Online, please let us know and tell them about us! Letters to the editor can be sent to: editor@inform-bbs.dk (Mary Tingay) Fax: + 45 31 35 43 32 Phone:+ 45 31 35 96 32 For a one year subscription: Students US$17 Pounds Sterling 11 DKK99 Individuals US$22 Pounds Sterling 14 DKK128 Institutions US$42 Pounds Sterling 26 DKK244 Fax and mail costs available on request. Subscriptions can be paid by credit card (VISA, American Express, MasterCard, JCB, Eurocard, Dankort), bank transfer or international cheque. 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