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I Was Given 17 Months and 24 Lashes

Kosamu Mwanza

Born: 1886

Baptized: 1918

Profile: Endured persecution and false brothers. Faithfully served as a pioneer and an elder until he finished his earthly course in 1989.

I enlisted in the army and served as a medical orderly in the Northern Rhodesia Regiment during the early part of the first world war. In December 1917 while on leave, I met two men from Southern Rhodesia who were associated with the Bible Students. They gave me six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures. For three days I devoured the information in these books. I did not return to the war.

Correspondence with the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses was difficult, and I and the brothers with me worked without direction. We went from village to village, gathering people around us, giving a sermon, and entertaining questions from listeners. In time, we chose a central point of meeting called Galilee in the north of the country. From there we invited interested ones to come and listen to explanations of the Bible. I was appointed to oversee matters. Sadly, many false brothers arose and spread confusion.

We were eager to preach, but our efforts disrupted the pastures of Catholic and Protestant missionaries in the area. We continued to hold large meetings, and I recall how in January 1919, about 600 gathered in the hills near Isoka. Unsure of our intentions, police and soldiers arrived, destroyed our Bibles and books, and arrested many of us. Some were imprisoned near Kasama, others in Mbala, and others as far south as Livingstone. Some received sentences of three years. I was given 17 months in prison and 24 lashes on the buttocks.

Upon release, I went back to my home village and resumed the preaching work. Later I was again arrested and imprisoned after receiving more lashes. Opposition continued. The local chief decided to expel the brothers from the village. All of us moved to another village, where the chief welcomed us. We settled there, and with his permission, we built our own village, which we called Nazareth. We were allowed to stay there on the condition that our activity did not disrupt the peace. The chief was pleased with our conduct.

Toward the end of 1924, I returned north to Isoka where a sympathetic district commissioner helped me to understand English better. During that time some self-styled leaders arose, teaching twisted things and misleading many. However, we continued to meet discreetly in private homes. Several years later, I received an invitation to meet in Lusaka with Llewelyn Phillips, who assigned me to visit congregations along the border between Zambia and Tanzania. I went as far as Mbeya in Tanzania, strengthening the brothers. After each round, I would return to my local congregation. I did this until the 1940’s when circuit overseers were assigned.

1919: Kosamu Mwanza and about 150 others are flogged and imprisoned.