ZAMBIA: JEHOVA'S WITNESSES STAGE ANNUAL CONGREGATION AMID ATTACKS FROM GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION LEADERS.

Record ID: 355283

  • Title: ZAMBIA: JEHOVA'S WITNESSES STAGE ANNUAL CONGREGATION AMID ATTACKS FROM GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION LEADERS.
  • Date: 26th September 1966
  • Summary: BANNERS; CONGREGATION; MORALITY PLAY; FLAGPOLE WITHOUT FLAG. Initials GEM/VS/JH/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th October 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KITWE -- ZAMBIA
  • Country: Zambia
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZP9SS0M5KCEXCK9NGDBQA22X
  • Story Text: A GROUP OF HEADMASTERS AND A LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADER HAVE ATTACKED THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN ZAMBIA, WHERE THEY ARE STAGING AN ANNUAL CONGREGATION.

    THERE ARE UP TO 20,000 MEMBERS OF THE WITNESSES... KNOWN AS THE WATCHTOWER SECT IN ZAMBIA... AT THE CONGREGATION IN THE COPPERBELT TOWN OF KITWE.

    THE MOST SERIOUS ATTACK ON THEM HAS COME FROM MR HENRY SHAMABANSE, THE RESIDENT MINISTER FOR THE CENTRAL PROVINCE. HE'S SAID THEIR PRACTICE OF IGNORING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE FLAG AT PUBLIC GATHERINGS SEEMED TO BE AIMED AT ANTAGONISING ZAMBIANS, AND HE WARNED THAT IT MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY TO IMPOSE THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS.

    HIS SPEECH FOLLOWED A PROTEST BY 120 CHILDREN, MEMBERS OF THE SECT, AGAINST PARADING ROUND THE FLAG AT SCHOOL. THEY STAYED AWAY FROM LESSONS, AND NOW A GROUP OF HEADMASTERS HAVE JOINED IN THE CRITICISM BECAUSE, THEY SAY, PARENTS HAVE TAKEN THEIR CHILDREN TO THE MEETING IN KITWE, INTERRUPTING THEIR EDUCATION. ONE HEADMASTER SAID HE THOUGHT THE LAW SHOULD BE "TIGHTENED UP TO STOP THIS PRACTICE".

    AT THE KITWE SHOWGROUNDS, THE WITNESSES SAT ON THE GROUND WATCHING A MORALITY PLAY AND LISTENING TO BIBLE DISCUSSIONS, SONG AND PRAYER. NEARBY STOOD A FLAGPOLE...WITHOUT A FLAG.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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