Capt. Solo is well and in high spirits
The Post Newspapers Zambia
‘Capt Solo is well and in high spirits'
By Chibaula Silwamba on Sunday 02 January 2011, 04:00:00 CAT
CAPTAIN Solo' is well and in high spirits, his caregivers have said.
In an interview yesterday, pastors Kwacha Mvula and Paul Swala, who are hosting the mastermind of the 1997 failed coup after his release from prison, said ‘Captain' Steven Lungu, allias ‘Capt Solo', was concentrating on praying and thanking God for his freedom.
"‘Captain Solo' is just okay. He is in high spirits. The good part is that he has really transformed and is thanking God," said pastor Swala, chairman of the Hope in Christ Prison Community Services and Prisons Fellowship Zambia Lusaka care group.
Asked what ‘Capt Solo' liked eating after his release last Wednesday, Pastor Swala responded: "He liked fruits, nsima with meat, vegetables and other ordinary foods."
Pastors Swala and Mvula said during a church service today ‘Capt Solo' would be giving a testimony of how the Lord changed his life in prison.
"The church service will start at 10:00hours to 12:00hours on Sunday 2, 2011 plot no.33/34a Great East, Waterfalls - Lusaka East and they will be hosted by pastor Kwacha Mvula and team. Everyone who wants to meet ‘Capt' Lungu is welcome," said Pastor Swala. "As an organisation working with the government through partnership with Prison Service, we have welcomed the move taken by the government to pardon ‘Capt' Steven Lungu. Anyone who wishes to give them former prisoners a gift to start a new life can do so through pastor Kwacha Mvula."
Home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu on Wednesday announced the release of ‘Capt Solo' whose death sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment by president Levy Mwanawasa.
‘Capt Solo', late Capt Jack Chiti and several other soldiers staged a coup to topple then president Frederick Chiluba from power in 1997 but it was thwarted in less than three hours.
‘Capt Solo is well and in high spirits'
By Chibaula Silwamba on Sunday 02 January 2011, 04:00:00 CAT
CAPTAIN Solo' is well and in high spirits, his caregivers have said.
In an interview yesterday, pastors Kwacha Mvula and Paul Swala, who are hosting the mastermind of the 1997 failed coup after his release from prison, said ‘Captain' Steven Lungu, allias ‘Capt Solo', was concentrating on praying and thanking God for his freedom.
"‘Captain Solo' is just okay. He is in high spirits. The good part is that he has really transformed and is thanking God," said pastor Swala, chairman of the Hope in Christ Prison Community Services and Prisons Fellowship Zambia Lusaka care group.
Asked what ‘Capt Solo' liked eating after his release last Wednesday, Pastor Swala responded: "He liked fruits, nsima with meat, vegetables and other ordinary foods."
Pastors Swala and Mvula said during a church service today ‘Capt Solo' would be giving a testimony of how the Lord changed his life in prison.
"The church service will start at 10:00hours to 12:00hours on Sunday 2, 2011 plot no.33/34a Great East, Waterfalls - Lusaka East and they will be hosted by pastor Kwacha Mvula and team. Everyone who wants to meet ‘Capt' Lungu is welcome," said Pastor Swala. "As an organisation working with the government through partnership with Prison Service, we have welcomed the move taken by the government to pardon ‘Capt' Steven Lungu. Anyone who wishes to give them former prisoners a gift to start a new life can do so through pastor Kwacha Mvula."
Home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu on Wednesday announced the release of ‘Capt Solo' whose death sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment by president Levy Mwanawasa.
‘Capt Solo', late Capt Jack Chiti and several other soldiers staged a coup to topple then president Frederick Chiluba from power in 1997 but it was thwarted in less than three hours.
I’m Sorry, Says ‘Capt Solo’
IT is wonderful to be free and this is because of God’s will, says Captain Steven Lungu aka Capt Solo.
And Capt Solo says he was absolutely a pawn in the 1997 coup.
Giving a testimony during a church service at Hope in Christ Prison Community Service Centre in Lusaka yesterday, Capt Solo, the mastermind of the 1997 failed coup after his release from prison on Wednesday, said it was God’s will to have him freed from jail.
He said he did not expect to be released, adding that he appreciated the efforts of Cabinet ministers that counselled President Rupiah Banda.
Capt Solo, who quoted several biblical scriptures, said God was in control of his life and he would preach His word.
He said it was when one was going through trial that God showed His power.
“God holds our destiny. The road may be rough but we are more than conquerors in the name of Jesus Christ,” Capt Solo said. “I thank the President and his Cabinet for the work they are doing. Let us pray day and night so that the President and Cabinet could do something very good.”
He said it would be good to remove the death penalty from the Constitution.
He said it was not good for people to be hanged.
Capt Solo recalled the execution of former Iraq president Saddam
Hussein that was televised worldwide as a sad incident that made even the people that hated him cry.
Capt Solo urged soldiers to be loyal.
He said the time he commandeered the soldiers to topple former president Frederick Chiluba, he was behaving like a robot without revealing who used him.
“I could not resist the forces of evil because I did not know that there was such a force…I was absolutely blind. Now that my eyes are open, I believe nothing of such nature can come from me,” Capt Solo said. “My being here, the Lord is aware of my destiny.”
He said he regretted that he did not listen to his mother, who emphasised that he follows Christian values.
He said he wants to reconcile with Chiluba but it had always been hard for him to meet him.
“I believe my brother late Capt Jack Chiti did it even on my behalf,” said Capt Solo.
Capt Solo asked for forgiveness from people he might have offended and that he had forgiven those who offended him.
“The children I left, babies, are now my friends,” said Capt Solo, who was accompanied by his sons Chibale 20, Charles 17 and Palaya 15.
Home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu last Wednesday announced the release of Capt Solo, whose death sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Capt Solo, late Capt Chiti and several other soldiers staged a coup to topple then president Chiluba from power in 1997 but it was thwarted in less than three hours.
Capt Solo, who quoted several biblical scriptures, said God was in control of his life and he would preach His word.
He said it was when one was going through trial that God showed His power.
“God holds our destiny. The road may be rough but we are more than conquerors in the name of Jesus Christ,” Capt Solo said. “I thank the President and his Cabinet for the work they are doing. Let us pray day and night so that the President and Cabinet could do something very good.”
He said it would be good to remove the death penalty from the Constitution.
He said it was not good for people to be hanged.
Capt Solo recalled the execution of former Iraq president Saddam
Hussein that was televised worldwide as a sad incident that made even the people that hated him cry.
Capt Solo urged soldiers to be loyal.
He said the time he commandeered the soldiers to topple former president Frederick Chiluba, he was behaving like a robot without revealing who used him.
“I could not resist the forces of evil because I did not know that there was such a force…I was absolutely blind. Now that my eyes are open, I believe nothing of such nature can come from me,” Capt Solo said. “My being here, the Lord is aware of my destiny.”
He said he regretted that he did not listen to his mother, who emphasised that he follows Christian values.
He said he wants to reconcile with Chiluba but it had always been hard for him to meet him.
“I believe my brother late Capt Jack Chiti did it even on my behalf,” said Capt Solo.
Capt Solo asked for forgiveness from people he might have offended and that he had forgiven those who offended him.
“The children I left, babies, are now my friends,” said Capt Solo, who was accompanied by his sons Chibale 20, Charles 17 and Palaya 15.
Home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu last Wednesday announced the release of Capt Solo, whose death sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Capt Solo, late Capt Chiti and several other soldiers staged a coup to topple then president Chiluba from power in 1997 but it was thwarted in less than three hours.
I'm sorry, says ‘Capt Solo'
I'm sorry, says ‘Capt Solo'
By Zambia Daily Mail on Sunday 02 January 2011
I'm sorry, says ‘Capt Solo'
By REBECCA CHILESHE
MASTERMIND of the 1997 attempted coup Stephen Lungu, alias Captain Solo, has apologised to the nation for attempting to overthrow the government and has asked for forgiveness from all Zambians.
Mr Lungu said the events of October 27 and 28, 1997, were driven by an evil force which he could not resist. He said the attempted coup was not even adequately planned before it was executed.
He said during a church service at Pentecostal Holiness Church at Christ Prison Community Service Centre in Lusaka East on January, that he is grateful to President Banda and his government for releasing him from prison.
Mr Lungu, who quoted several verses from the Bible, said now that he is out of prison , he would like to meet former President Frederick Chiluba , who was ruling at the time, to tender his apology.
He said even while he was still serving his sentence, he had attempted to reconcile with Dr Chiluba whom he described as a father, but failed to get through to him.
Mr Lungu said his accomplice, Jack Chiti, managed to send word to Dr Chiluba, who accepted his apology.
"Let us pray for President Banda and his Cabinet as they lead this country. I am grateful to him for releasing me from prison, especially that I was not expecting it," he said.
Mr Lungu told a packed church how he went to the armoury department and ordered recruits to get armoured vehicles and proceed to the Mass Media Complex to take control of the radio and television studios at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
"I was behaving like a robot. I was even surprised how I took control so fast. Later, when I went to hide in a container after loyal soldiers invaded the ZNBC studios, I had a gun with me but I did not fire at the first soldier who approached me because he was one of the men I had trained," he said.
He said when he was condemned to death, he remained strong and continued to lift the spirits of fellow prisoners who were also on death row. He said what he did is something he can never repeat. He described the attempted coup as an act of the devil.
The former death row inmate says officers who are currently serving in the military should be diligent and pay allegiance to their Commander-in-Chief.
Mr Lungu, who was accompanied by his three sons Chibale, 20, Charles, 19, and Palaya 15, thanked those who looked after his family while he was incarcerated.
And Chibale, who was writing letters to President Mwanawasa to plead for his father's release, also thanked President Banda for reuniting the family.
"I would like to thank President Banda for setting my father free. I know he is a good man," he said.
Chibale said he would have been happier if his mother, who passed away in 2001, was alive to witness the occasion of her husband's release from prison.
He told congregants about how he and his siblings, the youngest being only four at the time of their mother's death, were forced to live with their grandmother and changed homes often.
Chairman of the Lusaka Prison Fellowship Paul Swala said the church believes in reforming offenders, which is the reason why it accepts released prisoners.
He appealed to President Banda to release the last of the coup plotters, former Staff Sergeant Alfred Kamanga, who is still in prison.
Mr Lungu was given the presidential pardon last Wednesday after serving 13 years in jail.
His death sentence had been commuted to a 20-year prison term by President Mwanawasa, which he was serving at the time of his release and was due to walk to freedom at the end of this February.
Mr Lungu is being looked after by a Pastor Kwacha Mvula until he finds his own home.
By Zambia Daily Mail on Sunday 02 January 2011
I'm sorry, says ‘Capt Solo'
By REBECCA CHILESHE
MASTERMIND of the 1997 attempted coup Stephen Lungu, alias Captain Solo, has apologised to the nation for attempting to overthrow the government and has asked for forgiveness from all Zambians.
Mr Lungu said the events of October 27 and 28, 1997, were driven by an evil force which he could not resist. He said the attempted coup was not even adequately planned before it was executed.
He said during a church service at Pentecostal Holiness Church at Christ Prison Community Service Centre in Lusaka East on January, that he is grateful to President Banda and his government for releasing him from prison.
Mr Lungu, who quoted several verses from the Bible, said now that he is out of prison , he would like to meet former President Frederick Chiluba , who was ruling at the time, to tender his apology.
He said even while he was still serving his sentence, he had attempted to reconcile with Dr Chiluba whom he described as a father, but failed to get through to him.
Mr Lungu said his accomplice, Jack Chiti, managed to send word to Dr Chiluba, who accepted his apology.
"Let us pray for President Banda and his Cabinet as they lead this country. I am grateful to him for releasing me from prison, especially that I was not expecting it," he said.
Mr Lungu told a packed church how he went to the armoury department and ordered recruits to get armoured vehicles and proceed to the Mass Media Complex to take control of the radio and television studios at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
"I was behaving like a robot. I was even surprised how I took control so fast. Later, when I went to hide in a container after loyal soldiers invaded the ZNBC studios, I had a gun with me but I did not fire at the first soldier who approached me because he was one of the men I had trained," he said.
He said when he was condemned to death, he remained strong and continued to lift the spirits of fellow prisoners who were also on death row. He said what he did is something he can never repeat. He described the attempted coup as an act of the devil.
The former death row inmate says officers who are currently serving in the military should be diligent and pay allegiance to their Commander-in-Chief.
Mr Lungu, who was accompanied by his three sons Chibale, 20, Charles, 19, and Palaya 15, thanked those who looked after his family while he was incarcerated.
And Chibale, who was writing letters to President Mwanawasa to plead for his father's release, also thanked President Banda for reuniting the family.
"I would like to thank President Banda for setting my father free. I know he is a good man," he said.
Chibale said he would have been happier if his mother, who passed away in 2001, was alive to witness the occasion of her husband's release from prison.
He told congregants about how he and his siblings, the youngest being only four at the time of their mother's death, were forced to live with their grandmother and changed homes often.
Chairman of the Lusaka Prison Fellowship Paul Swala said the church believes in reforming offenders, which is the reason why it accepts released prisoners.
He appealed to President Banda to release the last of the coup plotters, former Staff Sergeant Alfred Kamanga, who is still in prison.
Mr Lungu was given the presidential pardon last Wednesday after serving 13 years in jail.
His death sentence had been commuted to a 20-year prison term by President Mwanawasa, which he was serving at the time of his release and was due to walk to freedom at the end of this February.
Mr Lungu is being looked after by a Pastor Kwacha Mvula until he finds his own home.
