Writer takes another swipe

2004-01-08 14:35

Lusaka - A fugitive British writer being sought by police for deportation for allegedly insulting Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Thursday published another article similar to the one which got him into trouble.

Zambia had ordered the deportation of Roy Clarke for an article in the privately-owned Post newspaper, modelled along the lines of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," in which he referred to the person in charge of a game park as "Mawelewele" - or "fool" in the local Nyanja dialect.

In his latest article, entitled "Baboon," Clarke referred to himself as a baboon who was ordered to be deported to Mfuwe, a famed luxury game resort where Mwanawasa had spent his Christmas vacation.

In an apparent broadside at the home affairs minister, who issued the deportation order, Clarke in his latest article spoke of a "minister for law and disorder."

Clarke's popular Spectator column on Thursday came out a day after Lusaka issued a warrant of arrest, ordering all security agents to look for Clarke and immediately detain him pending deportation.

His last article, published on January 1, referred to ministers as "long-legged giraffes, red-lipped, long-figured baboons."

Meanwhile, the Lusaka high court was due to hear the case later on Thursday in which Clarke challenged the deportation order, his lawyer Patrick Matibini said.

Clarke has lived in Zambia for many years and is married to a prominent Zambian women's rights activist.

- AFP