§ Mr. Andrew Mutemba and Mr. Emmanuel Chalabesah
§ 67. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that no specific charges have been preferred against Andrew Mutemba, Western 407 Provincial President of the Northern Rhodesia African National Congress, and Emmanuel Chalabesah, Provincial Deputy General Secretary of Congress, who were banished to Kasama, Northern Province, and that to date no compensation has been paid; and whether he will reconsider their cases.
§ Mr. ProfumoThese men were originally detained under Emergency Powers Regulations, and before restricting them the Governor had received and considered the recommendations of the Advisory Committee set up under those Regulations. They are at present restricted to the Kasama district under the Emergency (Transitional Provisions) Ordinance. They have had the opportunity to state their case before the Commission, consisting of a High Court judge, established under that Ordinance. The Governor will further consider their case, together with that of other restricted persons, when he has received and studied the Commissioner's report.
§ Mr. JohnsonWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to confirm that of the 70 African leaders banished last September only one so far has had a charge made against him in open court— Matthew Nkolomo, Secretary to the Mine Workers' Union? Does not that offend against all the canons of English justice? Why are not charges preferred against these men, and why are they not brought to open court, and sentenced if guilty? Their dependants are still living in the Copper Belt without means of subsistence, and these men have no means of subsistence, and are banished to the hinterland and the bush.
§ Mr. ProfumoThis was done under the Emergency Regulations, as the hon. Gentleman knows. I think that we had perhaps better await the Commissioner's report.