LUSAKA, Zambia — The Bible Society of Zambia General Secretary, Mpundu Mutala, rang the World Service Center to inform the UBS fellowship of an attempted coup d’état which happened here in the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 28, 1997. Around 6.00am an army captain representing the ‘Redemption Council’, a newly-formed group opposing the government, announced on national radio that the military were taking over the country and warned people not to go to work.

“I could not believe it when I heard it,” said Mr Mutala. “So, at about 6.30am, still in my T-shirt and shorts – I had been jogging – I drove to the national broadcasting complex in town to find out what was going on. I soon realised that the place was surrounded by soldiers, and as I drove closer one of them moved into the road to stop my progress.

“I could see that they were heavily armed. I was obviously one of the first vehicles on the scene and I had had a story ready: I was out to buy some bread. Then the soldier waved me away and I was able to turn the car round and go home. When I arrived home I was shaking, realising that I had just escaped from the rebel soldiers. Some 45 minutes after my encounter the shooting started when troops loyal to the government were deployed against the rebels.”

By 10.00am, the attempted coup had been quashed and the perpetrators rounded up. Many people did not venture from their homes until President Chiluba appeared on television personally to reassure the population that order had been restored and urge them to return to their normal business. “For me, what he said was significant,” said Mr Mutala. “The President thanked God for saving the nation: he believed that God had protected Zambia, preventing it from being plunged into the chaos and destruction of civil war. ‘Without God’s help the government cannot lead the nation,’ the President said, and he reconfirmed his commitment to trusting God for wise and just government of the Zambian nation.”

Mr Mutala was later able to ascertain that Bible Society staff were safe and well, and that the Bible House was secure. His secretary, Miss Kambole Chella, described the events of yesterday: “I did not hear about the coup on the radio,” she said. “We had heard shooting nearby, but I live in a residential area of Lusaka, not far from the army barracks, so this did not worry me unduly and I started my journey to work as usual. On the way I was told about the coup by a stranger, a woman I met. She suggested I should go back home. I was on foot and a little worried, but I felt reassured because the Bible tells us to put everything in God’s hands: I trusted him with my safety. 

“When I reached my home I tuned in to the BBC World Service and heard about the attempted coup. People were really upset that the military wanted to take over. We heard that there had been a battle at the national broadcasting station. We are all relieved that order has been restored. I don’t think anyone was expecting this; the military do not have any support to interfere with the government.” Miss Chella, who was interviewed at Bible House the day after the coup, said that everything now appeared to be returning to normal.