The highly publicized public discussion on President Michael Sata’s health organized by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-ZAMBIA) was called off tonight after government threatened the venue owners Alliance Francaise.
With people trooping to the meeting, the owners of the venue announced that the meeting had been cancelled as they had not anticipated earlier that it was of a political nature.
The meeting was set to discuss the health of the President given the cloud of secrecy surrounding the health of President Michael Sata with the urge to Cabinet to set up a medical body to determine his mental and physical capacity to continue discharging his duties.
Zambia already lost a sitting President in 2008 after President Levy Mwanawasa suffered a stroke whilst away on national duty in Egypt.
State agents are said to have intimidated the Alliance Francaise and threatened them with unspecified action.
The agents allegedly claimed that the topic was a highly sensitive one that could endanger the security of the nation.
Among the discussants were supposed to be FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi, rights activist Brebner Changala and Dr Canisius Banda.
There had been different feelers during the day as the organizers had insisted the meeting will go on and eventually announced a change of topic but it all amounted to a cancellation as the pressure from the state proved too much.
Changala confirmed the cancellation with Zambia Reports saying; “Yes we have been dispersed. The French have told been told not to get involved in the internal affairs of Zambia. I was supposed to be one of the panelist.”
MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale has also confirmed the development stating; “I’m told so. I’m rushing there just now I’m caught up in traffic. I’m told they have even put a notice outside but why should they cancel it at last minute when they had time the whole day.”
This was the initial announcement:
Dear Colleagues,
Notice of a public meeting on The Fitness of the President
MISA is organizing a public meeting to discuss the following question:
Should the cabinet ask the Chief Justice to appoint a Medical Board to examine the physical and medical capacity of the sitting president to fulfill his duties?
VENUE: Alliance Francaise, Alick Nkhata Road, Lusaka.
DATE: Wednesday 23rd July 2014
TIME: 18.30h – 20.30h
(Cash bar and snacks will be available)
MISA Zambia: Promoting Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom.
YOU ARE INVITED
The post State Forces Alliance Francaise to Cancel Sata Health Discussion appeared first on Zambia Reports.