PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident" The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted. |
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A Senior government official has banned United States Peace Corps activities in Kasama district for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behaviour
Peace Corp director Devy Morris confirmed from Pretoria in South Africa that the erring volunteers had already been sent back home but said he would be travelling to Kasama to meet Col Chanda so that the issue could be resolved amicably.
A Senior government official has banned United States Peace Corps activities in Kasama district for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behaviour
Kasama DC bans unruly American peace corps
A SENIOR government official has banned United States Peace Corps activities in Kasama district for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behaviour.
District Commissioner Stephen Chanda issued the ban during a District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting held in the council chamber yesterday.
He disclosed that police picked up some American Peace Corp Volunteers in Kasama when they climbed up a 100-metre water tank and allegedly started shouting abuse words against local residents in Mulenga Hills township following a drinking spree.
The volunteers allegedly urinated in the tank prompting the water utility firm, Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company to suspend water supply to the community for about two days to clean the tank.
Lieutenant Colonel Chanda said he would not allow the volunteers to carry out any more of the activities because of their misconduct.
Authorities at the provincial administration told ZANIS that they were still waiting for a comprehensive report from the District Commissioner.
Col Chanda during yesterday’s DDCC meeting reiterated his resolve to have the Peace Corps out of the district for their unruly conduct.
He said he felt it was unfair for the Embassy to refuse to get to him so that the matter could be resolved.
Other than the obscene graffiti they put up on the water tank, the Peace Corps also allegedly used racial remarks on Zambians. “Forty years of independence, I do not expect Zambians to be insulted,” he said.
He did not even know how the culprits could be punished because they had already been flown back home.
Peace Corp director Devy Morris confirmed from Pretoria in South Africa that the erring volunteers had already been sent back home but said he would be travelling to Kasama to meet Col Chanda so that the issue could be resolved amicably.
Mr Morris said he wanted to revisit the issue and was hopeful it would be resolved once and for all. He is expected in Kasama on Monday to hold talks with the District Commissioner.—ZANIS
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