Kabimba
Hamasaka who has threatened legal action against justice minister Wynter Kabimba over the latter’s response to the 2012 Zambia Human Rights Report, said Kabimba’s statement about his dismissal was malicious, scandalous and damaging to his image and reputation.
The report, released by the US government, highlights various human rights abuses by the Zambian government, among them the dismissal of Hamasaka from the college on allegations of featuring opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on the college radio station, Hone FM.
And in response to the report, Kabimba said Hamasaka was allegedly victimising his workmates that did not support the UPND.
Hamasaka, who was dismissed as head of the media studies department and Hone FM manager in June last year, wrote to Kabimba, arguing that he had never victimised anyone on the basis of their political views.
“I give you five working days to apologise failure to which I reserve the right to seek legal redress against you personally for maligning my name to the whole world, especially that your response has been widely publicised in one of the leading newspapers in the country (Post Newspaper Saturday May 18, 2013 and Monday, May 20, 2013),” Hamasaka stated in his May 20 letter to Kabimba and copied to the US Embassy.
“As you have so far noticed, despite several provocations and attempts to drag our names into partisan politics, we have deliberately decided to remain and suffer in silence almost one year since my wife and I were dismissed from employment by your government. It is now my prayer and humble appeal that you search your heart and correct the misleading impression created through an appropriate apology to all the parties involved for the sake of integrity and credibility on the part of government, especially that your response was addressed to the international community.”
He stated that Kabimba’s statement about his dismissal was malicious, scandalous and damaging to his image and reputation.
Hamasaka stated that Kabimba should have gotten correct information about reasons behind his dismissal.
He stated that had he victimised any of his colleagues, he would have been disciplined by management.
Hamasaka alleged that his wife was also dismissed from Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company on account of his ‘sins’.
“Hon. minister sir, as a family, we have so far suffered great humiliation and gone through a traumatising experience at the hands of our own elected government and any acts that perpetuate our psychological and emotional suffering further inflicts more pain to the already troubled family with young kids to look after,” stated Hamasaka.
“By your portrayal and allegations against our family, as people who are highly intolerant, you are further alienating us from society, international community and subsequently to would-be employers.”
But in his response to the report last week, Kabimba said it was fraught with factual errors and inaccuracies.
“It is not true that Mr Clayson Hamasaka was dismissed from employment on account of featuring an opposition party leader on a Hone Fm radio programme. He was dismissed after complaints of victimisation from members of staff who did not belong to his political party UPND,” said Kabimba.