The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
Nebert Mulenga
26 October 2009
interview
VETERAN politician, Aaron Milner, has ably etched his name among the country's eminent leaders, having been there before Zambia was born, witnessed its birth, and later became the only 'dark man in a light skin' in Cabinet before his infamous dismissal after a game of golf.
The life of the man, who served in founding president Kenneth Kaunda's government as minister of Power, Transport and Works, minister of Defence, and minister of Home Affairs, among several other top government positions, has had its own ups and downs.
In this elaborative interview, the Zimbabwean-based former freedom fighter now looks back at the highs and lows of his political career, including his infamous dismissal, alleged role in the 1980 foiled coup, his relationship with Kaunda, and the circumstances surrounding his current citizenship. Below are the excerpts of the interview:
Mr Milner, let's start it this way: almost 30 years after the Edward Shamwana failed coup, are you honest enough now to tell us your exact role in the coup and how you plotted it?
Truth is, it was all lies. I had nothing to do with that coup. Of course it brings me sad memories; it changed my life, but I had absolutely no role in that coup and I didn't even know some people were plotting a coup. I was in government, I was Home Affairs minister and Kaunda and I were like brothers. How could I do that?
But you were fired over the same coup, would you mind shedding some light on the circumstances surrounding your dismissal?
Well, that's probably the saddest day of my life. I recall one day Kaunda summoned me "come to State House we play golf". We played golf. We were with [UNIP secretary general] Grey Zulu and Chief Justice Annel Silungwe. Normally after the game we would line-up to say bye to Kaunda but Kaunda said, "don't go I want to see you".
I remained at State House. After one hour Kaunda came down and said to me: "This is the saddest part of my life". I said 'why?' He gave me an envelope. 'Thank you sir'. He said "No! Sit down and open it."
I sat there and opened the envelope. I am being dismissed as minister of Home Affairs because I have abridged the leadership code. I have a plot; I have a flat in London, bla-bla-bla, and also I am against him.
I was annoyed, upset because Kaunda and I were literally like twins. So, I said 'Mr President this is all absolute nonsense'. I pushed him off (out of) the way and went out with the letter.
So, in this case, which code of conduct was being referred to?
You know, all the circumstances surrounding my dismissal were very suspicious. In fact, I only came to learn of the Shamwana coup allegations as the reason much, much later.
We had a leadership code, brought into place by us in the Central Committee, that no minister or wife could own a business. Even a farm because when it became self-sufficient, you the owner lost your government salary. It happened to me. For years I was not paid by government; I bought a farm in Shamabala but Makeni was my homestead.
I used to keep a lot of freedom fighters at home. In fact, when[Ian] Smith bombed a ZAPU camp in Mkushi, Kaunda asked me whether the people could be moved to my farm in Shamabala. So we moved hundreds and hundreds of them by army tracks.
So, when I was told I had abridged the leadership code, I thought it was because of the farm. I had no property in London whatsoever. At that time, even in my letter, there was no mention of plotting the coup.
You were later deported back to Zimbabwe. Was it because of your alleged role in the coup or what was the exact reason?
My dear young man, the whole thing was done in a very systematic way. I was not deported. After a month (since the dismissal) preparations for the elections were taking place in Zimbabwe, and I am summoned: "Aaron Milner, go with the first plane load of freedom fighters back to Southern Rhodesia and help them set up their election machinery. When you are back we would have gotten over this problem of yours."
I flew back with all the top ZAPU leadership and of course helped them set up the election machinery.
After [Robert] Mugabe is made prime minister, President Kaunda makes an announcement here: "Shamwana, Musakanya, Annfield, and others are involved in a coup. And even my former minister of Home Affairs is involved. He's run away. Where's he?"
Yet he had sent me!
I couldn't believe that was happening. I went to Mugabe and explained everything to him. Then he said, "Okay go back to Zambia but with a Zimbabwean passport so that we can look after you."
I left my Zambian passport in Harare and flew back with a Zimbabwe passport. Got to the airport at 10 am, they told State House "Milner has arrived". I was at the airport from 10 until midnight.
In the end, President Kaunda allowed me to go to Makeni where my family was. They searched me and my luggage.
Eventually, Kaunda withdrew my Zambian citizenship, gazetted in the papers and for 10 years I could not come back to my country. During that time, I lost my properties here.
So, you are now a Zimbabwean citizen visiting Zambia, the country where you once served as a Cabinet minister?
Fortunately, my citizenship was given back to me by late president, Levy Mwanawasa. I have to take the step now of ensuring that I fulfill the law within the Citizenship Act, which means that I can't hold two citizenships.
At a given time, when I am ready, I will have to take steps to ensure that I only have the Zambian citizenship, because I am indeed a Zambian.
At the moment, I live in Zimbabwe; we have a house there. Our lives are there and coming here I have to start life afresh. Although I have sons and daughters here, they have their own families.
I want to get back certain things that were taken away from me, like my farm, Shamabala Farm, or whatever can be given to me. I will be able to start life afresh.
Looking at how former President Kaunda apparently systematically handled your issues, how do you feel when you meet him today?
I hold nothing against him. We have reconciled. In fact, I am the director of his foundation. The day [Frederick] Chiluba won the election [in 1991] he sent for me. Instead of going to State House, I first went to Grey Zulu in Makeni to tell me where Kaunda had moved to.
I drove there. My friend, the president took two hours to come to the gate. When he came, Kaunda was crying. I said 'President Kaunda, I have come to forgive you. Pray God, I haven't come to fight. Forget the past. We are one. Let's continue.
That brings us to the question of KK's memoirs. At some point you were working on the project. How far is it from completion now?
Unfortunately, I have not done much on that score because I am also seeing that there is need for me to write my memoirs. I believe that there are very few Zambians in the leadership field who have as much material as I have on all fields of Zambia's development.
From day one; the day we started politics up to when I finished as cabinet minister, I toured this country through and through and I know many, many parts of Zambia and the people too.
My memoirs will not be Aaron Milner, Aaron Milner; it's what those that were with me did for this country. Too many times, too many people write books and just come up with 'what I did'. [But] I am where I am because of the support of the men, women, who put me in their frontline.
As a Cabinet minister or a top government official, what are some of your most memorable moments or projects?
I think it's the time I was minister of Power Transport and Works. I had to oversee the construction of the TAZARA [Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority]. I was also at the centre of constructing the Mulungushi International Conference centre. I finished that conference centre in three months.
But I think my most challenging task was when I was in charge of the civil service. I was secretary general to the government heading the civil service. I had to Zambianise the civil service because at that time, the civil service was basically white and the Zambians were very low in the echelons of the civil service.
Where was Aaron Milner during the liberation struggle?
Well, I was born of a Zimbabwean mother in Zimbabwe. My father was Jewish. In 1953, I came from Zimbabwe to visit my sister in Ndola. One day I went to attend a rally in Wusakile, Kitwe, by Kaunda and other freedom fighters.
When UNIP was formed I was invited to Mulungushi Rock of Authority. I was the only light-skinned fellow there.
The last night before they elected the Central Committee, Sikota Wina came to my little hut and tipped me that my name was on the list. I ran away and went back to my mother's village.
The next day it was in the papers: Young boy, coloured born Bulawayo elected deputy secretary general UNIP. That's how I got into politics.
And finally, having been part of Zambian politics for so many years, what would be your word of advice to the current crop of leaders, both in government and in the opposition?
In UNIP, I was deputy secretary general. We won people. We were united. We worked extremely well with all the leaders of the other parties. It was hard; it wasn't easy. It was self-sacrifice for the sake of the people.
It hurts so much to see the leaders of our nation spending so much time at each other's throats.
Day in, day out they are quarrelling and they are fighting instead of concentrating on development for our people. For goodness' sake, leaders of these parties should be going out to see the plight of our people, instead of just quarrelling.
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