Newspaper reacts to bombings

The Zambian daily, ‘The Post’ on Tuesday criticised the government for dismissing the weekend bomb blasts in the capital Lusaka by using what it called “catch words” like terrorism, terrorists and exporting terrorism.

In a carefully-worded editorial, the newspaper said the problem may not go away by simply giving it internationally used labels. “The bombings have to be considered tentative, perhaps some kind of warning,” the paper said. “But it is by no means clear whether they constitute a phase of the problem or the sum total of it.”

So far, no-one has claimed responsibility for six explosions, and the government has declined comment pending the outcome of investigations. One bomb hit the Angolan embassy, and another the main water pipeline. Other explosions were reported outside the US International School and the headquarters of Zambia’s electricity utility. A guard was reportedly killed in the Angolan embassy bomb.

The editorial cited a serious need for soul-searching among Zambians, in apparent reference to the Angolan government’s allegations of gun-running by Zambia to UNITA rebels.

“Zambia has to come to terms with the situation,” it said. “The allegations are from a neighbouring country - a reality that cannot be changed.” The also said the matter is delicate and calls for careful handling, “otherwise Zambia can be sucked into the perennial Angolan conflict.”