Steven Lungu (Captain Steven Lungu aka Captain Solo) (6 January 1962, at Mansa General Hospital in Mansa,

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are ...

– 11 August 2012) was a former Zambia Army Captain who in 1997 together with the late captain Jack Chiti attempted a coup d’état during the rule of the then-President, Dr

Frederick Chiluba Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba (30 April 1943 – 18 June 2011) was a Zambian politician who was the second president of Zambia from 1991 to 2002. Chiluba, a trade union leader, won the country's multi-party presidential election in 1991 as ...

. In the early hours of October 1997, the soldiers led by Captain Solo broke into an arms depot, assaulted army officers and then proceeded to seized state-owned

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a Zambian television and radio station, formerly state owned, now technically a statutory body but still essentially under government control. It is the oldest, widest, and largest radio and ...

(

ZNBC The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a Zambian television and radio station, formerly state owned, now technically a statutory body but still essentially under government control. It is the oldest, widest, and largest radio and ...

) studios. Solo claimed to be representing the ''National Redemption Council'', and announced over state radio that he had taken over the country. He further informed his countrymen that he was dismissing the chiefs of the army and the police, and would give President Frederick Chiluba until 9 A.M. to surrender or be killed.By Alice

Arrest, trial, and imprisonment

Captain Solo together with 54 others were arrested by the special government forces barely after three hours of taking over and an official announcement was broadcast to announce that the coup has been quelled. In 2003 under the leadership of the late President

Levy Mwanawasa Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (3 September 1948 – 19 August 2008) was the third president of Zambia. He served as president from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. Mwanawasa is credited with having initiated a campaign to rid the corrupt ...

, the long-awaited trial was over and 44 out of 54 soldiers were found guilty of treason by the High Court. They were sentenced to death by hanging, but they immediately appealed to the Supreme Court. In their appeal against the ruling, the soldiers argued that they were caught up in the coup unintentionally. During the trial Captain Solo, confessed to being the mastermind of the coup plot and begged for forgiveness. He was however adamant that he was right to try to overthrow Chiluba and his government because it was riddled with corruption. Other people were also arrested and trialed in connection with the failed coup which included high-profile figures such as the first Republican President Dr

Kenneth Kaunda Kenneth David Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021), also known as KK, was a Zambian politician who served as the first President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Diss ...

, Princess

Nakatindi Wina Princess Naganda Nakatindi Wina (15 February 1945 – 5 April 2012) was a Zambian politician and a member of the royal family of Barotseland. Early life Princess Naganda Nakatindi Wina was born Mukwae Nakatindi into the royal family of Barotse ...

and opposition leader

Dean Namulya Mung’omba Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles ...

Release

Captain Solo received a presidential pardon after serving 13 years imprisonment by the third Republican president,

Rupiah Banda Rupiah Bwezani Banda (19 February 1937 – 11 March 2022) was a Zambian politician who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, taking over from Levy Mwanawasa, who died as the sitting president. Banda was an active participant ...

, on 28 December 2010. Then-president Levy Mwanawasa had also exercised mercy on him by commuting his death sentence to a 20-year jail term. Solo said although he has walked back to freedom, he is economically bound and depends on a certain pastor for shelter, food and clothing.

Death

Steven Lungu died on 11 August 2012, aged 50, at the

Kanyama Clinic Kanyama is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province. References Populated places in Central Province (Kenya) {{CentralKE-geo-stub ...

, in

Lusaka Lusaka (; ) is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about . , the city's population was about 3.3 milli ...

after a long battle with TB which had deteriorated his health since his release from prison. He was survived by three children.

References

1962 births 2012 deaths People from Mansa District, Zambia Zambian military personnel {{Zambia-politician-stub