Elijah and Ernest Kaumba’s 58-day detention for TikTok “sedition” reveals a government that jails satire while fearing dissent. Archbishop Alick Banda’s compassionate visit shines a light on a justice system that mistakes humour for heresy and compassion for complicity.
Lusaka, Dec. 1 – In a nation where satire teeters on the edge of sedition, two young brothers, Elijah (26) and Ernest Kaumba (22), found themselves caught in the crosshairs of power’s thin skin. Their crime? Allegedly mocking the President on TikTok. Their sentence? An indefinite stay in the cramped quarters of Ridgeway Police Station, now stretching into its 58th day.
Also Read: Rev. Dr. Alick Banda Administers Holy Communion to Detainees at Twin Palm Police Station. “May I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lusaka for administering Holy Communion to us here at Twin Palm Police Station,” writes Dr. M’membe.
But amidst the political storm and societal whispers, a beacon of hope walked through the police station’s iron gates. The Archbishop of Lusaka, Most Rev. Dr. Alick Banda, flanked by Vicar General Fr. Andrew Simpasa SJ, stepped into the fray – not with accusations, but with compassion. With quiet dignity, the cleric brought not just refreshments for the body but prayers for the soul, reminding the Kaumba brothers that they were not forgotten.
The young men, hailing from Kalulushi in the Copperbelt Province, have no family in Lusaka to offer support. Yet, in this season of Advent, the Church filled that void. Dr. Banda’s visit was not merely an act of charity; it was a profound statement of solidarity, a subtle critique wrapped in pastoral care. For in a country wrestling with the boundaries of free expression, his actions echoed louder than any sermon.
Their arrest, stemming from a TikTok video, has sparked heated debates about freedom of speech versus respect for authority. Are Zambians free to laugh at power, or must humor bow before the throne? As the brothers languish behind bars without resolution, their plight has become a mirror reflecting society’s uneasy relationship with dissent.
Also Read: From Democratic Dreamer to Despotic Dictator: Hichilema’s Fragile Throne! Under a scared presidency of Hichilema, Zambia might as well replace the Zambian eagle with a chicken. True leadership isn’t about silencing youthful voices; it’s about delivering on promises and serving the people with humility, not fear.
Dr. Banda’s intervention comes at a time when Zambia, a self-proclaimed Christian nation, prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ – a saviour who himself was no stranger to wrongful persecution. His visit reminds the nation that Advent is not just a time for twinkling lights and carols but a call to justice, mercy, and reflection on human dignity.
As the festive season dawns, the Kaumba brothers’ ordeal is a stark reminder that compassion and fairness are not seasonal luxuries – they are the bedrock of any just society. Will Zambia rise to the challenge, or will it continue to imprison its humor along with its people? Time, like the Archbishop’s prayers, waits for no man.
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