Kanene To Campaign Against Defilement Once Released

Musician Clifford Dimba says he wants to be an ambassador that will sensitise people against defilement and other sexual offences through singing once he is released from prison.

And Dimba, also known as General Kanene says he is not expecting to be pardoned and released during the country’s jubilee celebrations on October 24, because he has not served a substantial part of his 18-year defilement sentence.

Dimba who was visited on Sunday by family members and fellow musicians, Michelo Siavwapa, also known as Shyman and Jack Sen at Chimbokaila [Lusaka Central Prison], said in an interview that when he comes out of jail, he would aggressively campaign against defilement.

He said defilement had badly affected society and that all citizens, especially musicians, should stand up and sing against the vice.

“Ine ngabanichosa nili willing, olo kusebenza na ma NGOs bamene benze kupisha nkhani yanga kucita sensitise banthu. Kaili ine banganinvelele bantu cifukwa cakuti napitamo ine, namvela kubaba kwa jele. Kaili kuyende kwa ma years na munthu akula, naukali uyenda uchepa. Monga mwenilili, nankala size ya Pontiano Kaiche, nizaimba vicani? Pamene apa nili na power ndiye pafunika kuni using’a kuchita sensitise. Nifunika ku uza bantu kunja, ati vaso vimaletelela (I am willing to work with NGOs who were following my case once I am released. People can listen to me because I have been jailed over defilement. I know how painful prison is. Because the passage of time makes one grow older, and their activities become less. Like the way I am, if I become like Pontiano Kaiche, what will I sing? It is now when I still have energy that I should be used to sensitise people against defilement,” Dimba said. “I want to be an ambassador against defilement when I come out of prison. I want to speak and sing against this problem.”

Dimba was on February 4, found guilty of defilement by the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

When the matter came up in the Lusaka High Court on April 25, for sentencing, judge Chalwe Mchenga jailed Dimba to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour saying, the jail term was meant to deter would-be offenders because such sexual offences were on the increase.
It was alleged that Dimba on unknown dates but between January 31 and February 1, 2012 in Lusaka had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16, an offence which he had denied committing.

And Dimba, who was happily chatting with visiting family members and fellow artists, said he was not thinking of coming out during jubilee commemorations.

“I am looking at three years, at least after that I can come out… I am hopeful I am going to come out, but not during this jubilee celebration as some of my fans are hoping,” he told his colleagues Siavwapa and Jack Sen.

Dimba who is married to two wives, however, said he was missing his family, especially his children.

His wives had come to visit him in the company of his father and mother.

One of the wives had come with their two-year-old son Clifford named after his father.

“Clifford Junior, munani ibalako ka? [You forgot about me right?] Niza choka, osadandaula [I will be released, do not worry],” Dimba encouraged his son.

Asked how he was managing in prison, Dimba said he was enjoying good company from fellow inmates and that he was in good spirits.

“Suona nayina naku yina [can’t you see I have even gained some weight],” he said as he jokingly flexed his muscles, clad in a tight red T-shirt. “At least when you guys [artists] come to see me, I feel good. People inside ask me that I have two sons, Shyman and Petersen Zagaze…. I just tell them that they will come one day. For Petersen, I know he just got married, I understand,” said Dimba.

Siavwapa said it was good to see Dimba in a good mood and courageous as though he was not incarcerated.

“I have felt so good to see him like that… he is happy and even encouraging us who are outside. He will certainly come out,” said Siavwapa.

Posted by Kunda on October 22, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry