Africa-Press – Zambia. We, the undersigned, as prominent academics across Zambia, Africa and the wider world, are deeply alarmed at credible reports that the University of Zambia (UNZA) historian, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, is to be charged with sedition, as the result of an opinion piece he published in the Mail and Guardian (South Africa), on 22 March 2021.
As historians and social scientists who have studied and published in and about Zambia for many decades, we are extremely concerned that the threat of sedition charges is being used to silence the legitimate expression of belief by one of the country’s most prominent early-career scholars. Dr Sishuwa, who has published outstanding and prize-winning research articles in the world’s most prominent African studies journals, is drawing on his research expertise to bring to public attention his concerns about the current direction of Zambian political life. Far from inciting popular rebellion (as the term ‘sedition’ implies), he seeks to address the underlying causes of societal tension as a way to reduce it. We believe it is both his right and his patriotic duty to bring such concerns into the public eye. Article 20 of the Constitution of Zambia guarantees Dr Sishuwa and all other Zambians freedom of expression, that is to say freedom to hold opinions, receive ideas and impart or communicate ideas and information without interference.
As citizens and longstanding friends of Zambia, who have documented the country’s prominent historical role in the political liberation of southern Africa, and its pioneering role in constitutional democratisation, we are worried about the proposed use of an authoritarian tool such as the charge of sedition, and call for any consideration of such charges to be immediately and permanently dropped.
We are further alarmed at the issuance by the University of Zambia of a statement dated 27 April 2021, disassociating the university from its employee Dr Sishuwa. This misleading statement suggests Dr Sishuwa is not currently employed by the university, when in fact he is, as is normal for academic researchers, simply on temporary research leave from it. Indeed, as recently as December last year, UNZA publicly celebrated the achievements of Dr Sishuwa.
All of us have worked at or with colleagues from UNZA, long a prominent university that has, since independence, been a centre of intellectual freedom, often in difficult circumstances. We wholly reject the allegation that Dr Sishuwa is pursuing a ‘personal agenda’ and call on the university to guarantee Dr Sishuwa’s continued employment and his right to academic freedom.
Signatories
Professor Rita Abrahamsen, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
Dr Michael Aeby, Research Associate, IDCCPA University of Cape Town & University of Edinburgh
The African Studies Association of Africa
Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, University of Ghana, and President of the African Studies Association of Africa
Professor David M. Anderson, Professor of African History, University of Warwick
Professor Kate Baldwin, Associate Professor of Political Science, Yale University
Professor Robert Bates, Eaton Professor Emeritus of the Science of Government, Harvard University
Dr Nicole Beardsworth, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pretoria
Sarah Bellows-Blakely, Research Fellow in Global Intellectual History, Freie Universität Berlin
Dr Eloïse Bertrand, Research Fellow, University of Portsmouth
Dr Chaloka Beyani, Professor of International Law, Law Department, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Professor Catherine Boone, Department of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science
Professor Michael Bratton, Emeritus Professor of Government, Michigan State University
Caesar Cheelo, Research Economist – Trade and Customs Division, COMESA Secretariat
Professor Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham
Dr Grieve Chelwa, Postdoctoral Fellow, The New School
Geoffrey Chibuye, Independent
Professor Simukai Chigudu, Associate Professor of African Politics, University of Oxford
Dr Isaac Chinyoka, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town
Roy Clarke, former lecturer in Education at the University of Zambia, 1979-89, political satirist at the Post Newspaper 1996-2009
Dr Michaela Collord, Junior Research Fellow, New College, University of Oxford
Leila Demarest, Assistant Professor of African Politics, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University
Dr Kim Yi Dionne, Associate Professor of Political Science, UC Riverside
Professor Gregor Dobler, Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Professor Lindiwe Dovey, Professor of Film and Screen Studies, School of Arts, SOAS University of London
Dr Boniface Dulani, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, University of Malawi
Dr Jonathan Fisher, Reader in African Politics, University of Birmingham
Dr Alastair Fraser, Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London
Dr Elena Gadjanova, Lecturer in Politics, University of Exeter
Courtney Hallink, PhD student, University of Cambridge
Professor Antoinette Handley, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto
Dr Anne Heffernan, Assistant Professor in Southern African History, Durham University
Sacha Hepburn, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Birkbeck, University of London
Professor Samuel Hickey, Professor of Politics and Development, University of Manchester
Marja Hinfelaar, Director of Research and Programmes, Southern African Institute for Policy and Research
Professor Alan Hirsch, Emeritus Professor of Public Governance, University of Cape Town
Dr Dan Hodgkinson, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Oxford
Professor Kristine Höglund, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University.
Dr Chris Huggins, Assistant Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa
Professor Faizel Ismail, Professor of Public Governance, University of Cape Town
Zenobia Ismail, Research Fellow, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham
Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa
Professor Hambaba Jimaima, Department of Literature and Languages, University of Zambia
Diana Jeater, Associate Dean, Department of History, University of Liverpool
Dr Will Jones, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Walima Kalusa, Senior Lecturer in African History, University of eSwatini, and former Head of the Department of History, University of Zambia
Lillian Kamusiime, Independent
Victor Kanyense, Indeepndent Social Scientist & Development Specialist
Professor Chammah J. Kaunda, Assistant Professor of World Christianity and Mission Studies, Yonsei University
Kalaluka Kapungu, Citizen of Zambia
Stephen Kamugasa, Independent Researcher
Rita Kesselring, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Social Anthropology, University of Basel
Aikande C. Kwayu, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Stephanie Lämmert, Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Human Development
Professor Miles Larmer, Professor of African History, University of Oxford
Professor Baz Lecocq, Chair African History, Institute for Asian and African Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin
Professor Staffan I. Lindberg, Director, V-Dem Institute, of Political Science, University of Gothenburg
Sworo Nelson Henry Lo’boka, Africa Call, South Sudan
Dr Terrence Lyons, Associate Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
Professor Adrienne LeBas, Associate Professor of Government, American University
Dr Reuben A. Loffman, Lecturer in African History, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Gabrielle Lynch, Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick.
Dr Ainara Mancebo, Research Scholar, Ronin Institute
Hugh Macmillan, Research Fellow, University of Oxford
Kuukuwa Manful, PhD Researcher, SOAS, University of London
Professor Robert Mattes, Professor of Political Science, University of Strathclyde
Monte McMurchy, Rector American Christian Liberal Arts University Congo—UCI
Professor Henning Melber, Nordic Africa Institute; University of Pretoria; University of the Free State
Kelvin Mambwe, University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers’ Union
Robert Molteno, formerly Lecturer in Political Science and Public Administration, University of Zambia, 1968-1976
Dr Duncan Money, Researcher, African Studies Centre, University of Leiden
Jason Mosley, Research Associate, African Studies Centre, Oxford University
Steriah Mudenda, School of Education, The University of Zambia
Hassan Mudane, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, City University of Mogadishu.
John Munkombwe, Lecturer, Institute of Distance Education, The University of Zambia
Dr Patience Mususa, Senior Researcher, Nordic Africa Institute
Victor Mutelelekesha, Contemporary Artist, Founder of The Lusaka Contemporary Art Centre
Jean Mwape, Citizen of Zambia
Dr Mack Ndawana, IFP Subject Lead, Centre for Academic Language and Development, University of Bristol
Youngson Ndawana, Lecturer in Media Studies, University of Zambia
Professor Manenga Ndulo, Professor of Economics, University of Zambia
Professor Muna Ndulo, Professor of Law, Cornell University
Daniel Munday, PhD Candidate, University of Birmingham
Dr Bruce Mutsvairo, Professor of Journalism, Auburn University
Chantry Mweemba, International Relations and Human Rights expert
Olívio Nkilumbu – Professor, Politólogo e Consultor Político, Magistério Mutu Ya Kevela e Universidade Óscar Ribas
Nanjala Nyabola, Independent Researcher
Dr Robert Nyenhuis, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Cal Poly Pomona
Dr Ken O. Opalo, Assistant Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Dr Dan Paget, Lecturer in Politics, University of Aberdeen
Dr Michael Panzer, Adjunct Professor in History, Marist College
Dr Lazlo Passemiers, Senior Lecturer, University of the Free State, South Africa
Dr Justin Pearce, Research Fellow Global Soldiers, University of Sussex
Professor Didier Péclard, Associate Professor of Politics and African Studies, University of Geneva
Dr Iva Pesa, Assistant Professor Contemporary History, University of Groningen
Professor Anne Pitcher, Department of Political Science, University of Michigan
Professor Daniel Posner, Department of Political Science, UCLA
Dr Deborah Potts, Emeritus Reader in Human Geography, King’s College London
Professor Lise Rakner, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Bergen
Professor Brian Raftopoulos, Research Fellow, University of the Free State
Elelwani Ramugondo, Chairperson of the Academic Freedom Committee, University of Cape Town
Cleopas Sambo, Lecturer, Department of Social Work & Sociology, University of Zambi
Dr Sara Rich Dorman, Senior Lecturer in African Politics, University of Edinburgh
Professor Oliver Saasa, Professor of International Economic Relations & Chancellor, Mulungushi University
Pamela Towela Sambo, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Zambia
Dr Edalina Rodrigues Sanches, Assistant Professor, ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal)
Dr Jenna Sapiano, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre (GPS), Monash University
Professor Chris Saunders, Emeritus Professor of Historical Studies, University of Cape Town
Nicolai Schulz, Postdoctoral Researcher, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Dr Laura E. Seay, Assistant Professor, Department of Government, Colby College
Dr Marcia C. Schenck , Professor of Global History, University of Potsdam
Professor Jeremy Seekings, Professor of Political Studies and Sociology, University of Cape Town
Professor David Simon, Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Eunifridah Simuyaba, Lecturer, University of Zambia
Dr Neo Simutanyi, retired Senior Lecturer in Political Science, University of Zambia and Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue
Doreen Sitali, School of Public Health, University of Zambia
Dr Lahra Smith, Associate Professor, African Studies Program & Department of Government, Georgetown University
Christian von Soest, Lead Research Fellow, Head of Peace and Security Research Program, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
Dr Morris Szeftel, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Political & International Studies, University of Leeds
Professor Blessing-Miles Tendi, Associate Professor in African Politics, University of Oxford
Dr Robin L. Turner, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, Butler University
Bridget Bwalya Umar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Zambia
Professor Peter VonDoepp, Dept. of Political Science, University of Vermont
Professor Nicolas van de Walle, Professor of Government, Cornell University
Dr Michael Wahman, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Martin Waithaka, Independent
Source: Democracy in Africa
