Now Photo Journalist Mandela writes to IG demanding for Koffi’s arrest Time Posted: July 30, 2014 1:02 pm 537 views | 2 Comments | Email This Post | Print This Post | Koffi Olomide and dancing queens during the wedding ceremony of Bona Mugabe, Daughter to Robert Mugabe , President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Simba at President Mugabe’s private residence in Harare, Zimbabwe on March 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA Jean Ndayisenga Mandela, the photo journalist who was allegedly assaulted by Congolese Rhumba king Koffi Olomide has written to inspector General of Police Stella Libongani requesting that his case be reopened and Koffi be arrested. In the letter made available to the media, Mandela appealed to Mrs Libongani to intervene in the complaint of assault and battery against Koffi in order to allow justice to prevail. The alleged incident happened in early hours of Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka during an end of year concert. Mandela contends that the case was mishandled by the Lusaka Central Police Station and closed which has disappointed him hence his decision to bring the matter to the attention of the Inspector General. “So you can order this case to be reopened hence the justice could prevail on this matter ; this incident happened in early hours of Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka . This is case was mishandled by the Lusaka Central Police Station and closed which has disappointed me hence I bring this matter to your attention. The facts of the matter, at the end of the Olomide’s tour in Zambia that began at Taj Pamodzi Hotel on Friday, December 28th, 2012, Koffi Olomide kicked my face using his left leg when I was trying to get him a picture as he was exiting the stage. Olomide also slapped and battered one of his dancers, a lady, whowas the last to leave the stage; this incident happened in full of view of the member of the public and police officers that were deployed to maintain law and order. The assault on me resulted in mental distress, injury to my face, a broken left middle finger, a damaged camera flash and malfunctioning of my photo camera until it went off permanently.” “I reported this matter to the nearest Police Station and a docket was successfully opened by CIO Augustine Hamoonga at Kabwata Police Station (since it was at the same Kabwata Police Station where I managed to get a “Medical Report Form) and the docked was later transferred to Lusaka Central Police Station in the afternoon of Saturday, December 30th, 2012. Arrived at the Lusaka Central Police Station, I was informed that there was no officer available to act immediately on that matter since it was in the aftermath of the “Police Annual Ball”. He wrote, “I have to notify you that Olomide performed on the same Saturday evening at the Lusaka Government Complex, as nothing had happened despite the incident being reported on electronic, online and social media. On Sunday, December 30th, I tried to make a follow up with Lusaka Central Police station which was in vain. It was on Monday, December 31st 2012. New Year Eve, that I found my docket with officer Sibutoya. Officer Sibutoya asked me to provide a transport in order to apprehend the suspect who happened to be staying at Taj Pamodzi Hotel prior to the incicent, we found that he had already left since he was due to perform in Kitwe the same night. Officer Sibutoya promised that he was going to alert his colleagues in the Copperbelt in order to apprehend Olomide.” He added, “The Zambia Police Headquarters had already started to confirm this “assault and battery incident “ and a “dully opened docket” against Olomide in separate interviews that were reported in local and international print, electronic and social media as early as December 29th , 2012 and thereafter ; alongside the Zambia Police quotes were the testimonies of eyewitnesses that came out publicly to confirm that “assault and battery incident “as Nawa Muyatwa , a Security Manager at of Kaya Gold Music , Ciko Eric Mukoka a ZNBC employee on duty , Henry Phiri aka BJ who was the Director of the Ceremonies just to mention but a few.” Mandela wrote, “On Tuesday, January 1st 2013, I was shocked to learn through the same media reports that Olomide has left the country without being apprehended by the Zambia Police. On Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, I reported to officer Sibutoya, he promised me that the case is active and Olomide was due to put on “Interpol alert”. Unluckily, at the evening of the same day (Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013), around 2000 hours, on my way home aIong the Chilumbulu Kafue roads link, I was attacked by at least 5 people armed with AK 47 and opened fire on me, I felt down immobile (feigning dead) until they left after getting my back and camera bags that contained my laptop, external harder driver disks, a photo camera and other camera accessories. This incident was reported to Kamwala Police post the same evening and it was handled by CIO Shadreck Jere. My camera was later on identified in mid 2012 in the Lusaka streets. Unfortunately, the Police officers could neither use the camera recovery to track the culprits nor the Police could help me to establish if there was a link between the “assault and battery incident” and the failed assassination attempt.” He wrote, “On Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, (it was after 563 day by day after the day of the incident) I received a call by Commissioner Charles Lungu, Investigations Director and Interpol Head through the Police spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda; during out meeting I retaliate my wish to “let the Law takes its course” and I was referred back to Lusaka Central DCIO F. Mumbuna. This came when, ZNBC and bill board advertising forthcoming performances of Olomide as the first one being scheduled at Mulungushi International Conference Center on July 31st, 2014; prior to this Commissioner Lungu call, I had tried to contact officer Sibutoya and failed both at his office or by his phone.” “Lusaka Central DCIO F. Mumbuna confirmed to me in possession of my docket containing: My Statement, Medical Report, and Ciko Eric Mukoka testimony and asked me to produce more eyewitnesses; this DCIO F. Mumbuna insisted on the same, in the presence of Media Institute Southern Africa – Zambia Chapter Program Officer Kasonde Nkole who accompanied me on a “Finding Facts Mission” over the progress of a “photojournalist assaulted” case on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014. While I was trying to bring in more eyewitnesses, I learned through the “Media Reports” that the Zambia Police has “dropped the charges against Olomide.” Koffi is expected to arrive in Zambia today for a series of performances. Related News: Zambia Police probe Koffi Olomide for allegedly assaulting a journalist Koffi faces fresh arrest fears in Zambia Koffi Olomide is a free man, his case is closed-Zambia Police The Committee to Protect Journalists wants action against Koffi Koffi Olomide jets in today MISA asks government to seriously address violence as PF cadres attack another journalist IG orders arrest of Police Officer over pregnant detainee
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 12:32:24 +0000
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