15th April 1998
The SACP has learnt, with some concern, of the arrival yesterday of Zambian Minister without portfolio, Michael Sata in our country. Sata is apparently here on a "private visit", and he is declining to receive any phone calls.
The SACP's concern is two-fold. Sata has a criminal record in Zambia, and there are persistent rumours that he is still involved in drugs-trafficking.
Our second, and more central concern arises from statement made earlier this week by Sata while he was in Namibia. Sata threatened Zambian human-rights refugees and political exiles based in Namibia. "You may think you are far, but this government knows everyone in Namibia and what they are getting involved in. If we discover that you are organising politics we will intervene and deal with you", he is quoted as saying in the Zambian press yesterday. "We will take you on", he threatened, "we know how to deal with you."
The SACP calls on the South African government to ascertain the purpose of Sata's South African visit. We also call on the government to make it very clear to Sata that South Africans will not permit threats to be levelled against bona fide human rights refugees and political exiles staying in our country. Sata should expend his energies on fostering the democratisation process within Zambia, in the broader context of developing an African renaissance.