By FRED PHIRI –

THE liberation struggle for Zambia’s independence is what one can term a paradox for most freedom fighters.
Walk along the streets of Zambia or enter a shop in your location, you will either be earnestly greeted by the ambience of freedom accompanied by an elegant smile from real Zambians.
This automatically translates into the feeling that as Zambians, we are truly liberated and are enjoying the actual fruits of our freedom, which was absent before the country political independence from the white colonial masters.
‘‘All this gets down to the question of who fought for our freedom and where these people are today?’’
And with a lot of ease, some answers began trickling in and directing me to some gallant men and women who struggled for our independence from colonial rule before October 24, 1964.
The blood that was shed, trauma and persecution that our unknown heroes and heroines sacrificed to attain the independence that we are enjoying today, is well chronicled in a lot of literature about Zambia’s independence history.
Undoubtedly, patriotic Zambians, both living and dead suffered for this freedom that we are enjoying today in this vast country covering a total land mass of 750,000 square kilometres, which they passionately fought for from colonial Britain.
Zambia your country, Zambia your identity, our identity and my identity is all that I can talk and write about for you and I to understand this freedom better.
So then, it would be helpful to go a little bit into the liberators ring to learn how this freedom came about to Zambians.
The mainline of the independence struggle is squarely pegged on the freedom fighters of wars and conquest of the white rule and survivors of events of reign, famine, pestilence, earthquakes of that period. I can simply say those were the freedom fighters and to those still alive they are freedom fighters whose immeasurable sacrifice for the peace we are enjoying today cannot be ignored.
The gallant men and women who contributed to the freedom struggle for Zambia came from every corner of this country, which was then Northern Rhodesia, and collectively, they won the freedom and peace that has prevailed in the nation for 50 years now.
The independence story of Zambia cannot be told without mentioning the contribution that Isoka District made to the fight for freedom and peace as it also has a catalogue of heroes and heroines that played their role in ensuring that the country was free from colonial rule.
Isoka District, located in the country’s latest and 10th province, Muchinga, is situated about 800 kilometres from the capital city, Lusaka.
This remote part of Zambia is home to ‘little’ known freedom fighters such as Brian Sichinga, Blackson Sikanyika and Donald Siwale who are still alive and proudly share the independence story.
Brian Sichinga whose political career started as early as April 1960, while at secondary school at Empandeni Plums Tree in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, tells it all in this story .
Sichinga says although he was away from home at a Catholic secondary school at Empandeni in standard nine (9), his heart was devoted to political issues and that he paid particular attention to the political addresses of freedom fighter Joshua NKomo of the Southern Rhodesia , now Zimbabwe .
Being a pupil from a foreign country (Northern Rhodesia now Zambia) Sichinga was spotted among many as a trouble maker and it was not long before he had his freedom curtailed and was thrown into jail by the colonial government in Southern Rhodesia .
‘‘I could not believe that I was in a jail cell for the offence was not clear at all because I was listening to Joshua NKomo’s political talks and attending his meetings,’’ Mr Sichinga recalls that day vividly.
He was arrested in Plum Tree Bulawayo for two days and then deported to Zambia where the authorities dumped him in Livingstone, Southern province to fend for himself.
Soon after arriving in Zambia, Sichinga arrived in Luanshya on May 5, 1960 where he was immediately given the position of youth constituency chairperson.
Taking a long pose as if to recall some critical events of his political life, Sichinga narrated the brutal killing of one of the freedom fighters, Lillian Burton, who was burnt to death by political activisits on the Copperbelt which was then called Western Province.
‘‘The burning to death of Miss Button ignited the fire to fight so we became violent and by that time the First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda was in Egypt,’’ said Mr Sichinga.
This quickly reminds him of his friends that he fought independence along side with such as Christo Ngebe, Pakanji Phiri and Edward Kamina who unfortunately were executed by the federal authorities for their active political involvement.
‘‘Being so active in the youth movement placed me in an awkward position with the colonial white masters who were after my life on the Copperbelt so I travelled by rail to Livingstone were I met Mainza Chona who immediately advised me to go back home to Isoka.’’
He adds, ‘‘ Sadly, when I arrived in Isoka, my cousin chief Mwenewisi arrested me and took me to the colonial District Commissioner where I was questioned on whether I was the one who had caused a spate of violence in the Western province which I categorically refused and I was instantly released.’’
‘‘While in Isoka , I was selected to serve as provincial youth leader in Mpika were I later met Andrew Bwalya Mutemba who was the provincial division president of UNIP and I served as a personal Secretary.”
At this juncture, another critical person in the independence struggle was Kasonde Kusutu who was appointed Consular General in Lubumbashi, Congo DR. As a colleague in the struggle for Zambia’s freedom, Kusutu gave Sichinga the opportunity to work with him in Lubumbashi, then Zaire.
‘‘I did not stay long in Zaire as my superior (Kusutu) died and after acting for nine months I returned home to Isoka.’’
Back home in Zambia, Mr Sichinga served in many portfolios such as Councillor for Isoka in 1973 and regional youth chairperson in 1978. Later, the Government sent him to Germany where he studied international politics and international relations to sharpen his skills.
However, Brian Sichinga resigned from UNIP in 1990 and now leaves at a farm in Isoka District with less or no recognition for his role in the liberation struggle.
But what is his last word on the life of freedom fighters…
Mr Sichinga says Zambian freedom fighters have been left in abject poverty as Government has no budget for them. He cited Zimbabwe ’s freedom fighters who are cared for and have a Heroes acres (square) as their burial site , so that even in death they are given the respect due to them for the role they played in the independence struggle of the country.
Mr Sichinga however emphasised that government must consider putting up a fund for the surviving freedom fighters.
‘‘We fought tirelessly for this independence, we could not sleep in our homes. So you should ask yourself about this freedom you are enjoying today and we need to be remembered as well,’’ appealed Mr Sichinga.
What really triggered these freedom fighters?
Blackson Sikanyika also of Isoka district unfolds the story of the struggle for independence.
‘‘You cannot believe the bad treatment we received from white rulers who considered us as monkeys or dogs..’’, reveals Mr Sikanyika.
Mr Sikanyika said there was so much segregation in the country that a Zambian could not buy groceries or food stuff from the same shop as whites which were known as ‘‘SHOPS OF WEALTHY PEOPLE’’.
‘‘This was so irritating that even in schools there was a split – those for whites and those for blacks – a situation that infuriated the Africans,” said Mr Sikanyika.
‘‘In Isoka and Kasama in the Northern province we had Mandala shops for whites and Mandala shops for blacks ,you see ! white rule did not regard us as human beings but dogs. If you got to some places you would find a dog inside the shop but ironically there would be a notice hanging on the wall saying .. .. “No dogs allowed ”.
Blackson Sinkanyika says in one accord Zambians got independence from the colonial rule not with ease but with various sacrifices ranging from loss of lives to being abused by whites who used strong racial remarks against the black people.
Mr Sikanyika attended standard four at Busakile school in Kitwe and was inspired by renowned freedom fighters such as Fines Bulawayo in 1954.
‘‘Thank God I continued with school and happy that we got independence. I was a trained teacher from Kitwe Teachers’ training college and posted to Chinsali,’’ boasted Mr Sikanyika.
How united were freedom fighters?
Mr Sikanyika said from his salary he used to help the leaders like Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe.
‘‘As a gesture of goodwill , I used to give money to our leaders such as Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe with passion and love to help them finance the various activities centered around the independence struggle,” disclosed Mr Sikanyika.
Mr Sikanyika recalled that fortunately, he at least held higher portfolios such as Member of Parliament for Isoka in 1983 and during the Second Republican era of President Frederick Chiluba from 1991- 1995 then ended up as deputy minister for the Northern province in 1996.
He says it was evident that from the stories about Zambia’s independence struggle told by many men and women who participated in the fight, whether dead or still alive, there is need to re-echo their plea that Government should consider honouring them for their individual and collective works that were aimed at gaining the much needed freedom and peace from the colonial masters.
“My plea is that the people who fought for this independence my son, are wallowing in abject poverty, this time I am speaking… please remember us!” Mr Sikanyika sounded in his last words. –ZANIS