Mon, 03 Jul 2017 09:38:38 +0000
Sabotage is described as the intentional damage or destruction of equipment, weapons, or building in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor.
In our case it is a ploy by an opposing group to undermine the economic and social wellbeing of the Zambian people in order to discredit the Government in office, regardless and perhaps more because of the psychological and physical effect on the populace.
So who is sponsoring the current sabotage campaign? It is important we think out of the box. The destruction is not gratuitous it is sponsored and directed for a purpose.
It is ironic once again that the target of the sabotage appears to be the mining industry.
In 1966, the FBI helped Zambia foil a plot to destroy a railroad bridge by an American citizen, Franklin Boyd Thurman, who was offered $50,000 as payment for the job.
The aim of the sabotage was to destroy a bridge located eight miles southwest of Mazabuka to interrupt the flow of copper. The consequent disruption of the world’s copper market was expected to increase the price of copper on the London market and therefore enhance the financial position of the trading company that hired him. Fortunately the plot was frustrated.
On January 22, 1969, Wilkerson was fined $3,500, and Thurman was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail and placed on probation for three years for the offence.
Terrorism is not about constructive and positive politics, it is about destruction. Sabotage in any form is a dangerous undertaking that has serious consequences for the perpetrators and endanger the lives of the hapless victims who may be caught in the fray.
Terrorism is often employed where political engagement is either impossible, completely suppressed or indeed beyond reach by virtue of the prevailing circumstances. This is obviously not the case in Zambia where political pluralism is the norm and freedom of speech is observed by the leadership.
As rightly observed by President Lungu, terrorism will not bring about regime change in Zambia. It will simply imperil or indeed wreak damage to infrastructure.
It is however common knowledge that the specter of violence and sabotage has always loomed large as part of the opposition strategy.
As far back as October last year Police on the Copperbelt were already aware of a scheme in which a group of 16 people were identified as plotting a campaign of sabotage involving vital installations such as Zesco pylons.
Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga disclosed that police discovered some explosives close to the Zesco pylons near Fisenge in Kitwe.
Following a tip-off from members of the public the Police and other security wings moved in decisively to neutralize the situation. Without swift action the explosives would have detonated plunging the area into crisis.
She said that police were aware of the 16-man team, which was planning to destroy vital installations.
She was quite graphic at the time “If the explosives had detonated, it would have been a national disaster and I am warning that police will not rest until those involved are arrested.
Time has indeed come when further investigations must be undertaken into the known culprits who hope to use violence to influence Zambians.
We must establish the enemy we are fighting. Whose interests are being promoted by these wanton act of destruction? What global economic interest will be served by instability?
More importantly perhaps; whose interests is the local political party serving? It cannot be Zambian interests.
