Maravi

Halt Chiluba's house construction - NGOCC

Halt Chiluba's house construction - NGOCC
By George Chellah and Brighton Phiri
Thursday May 10, 2007 [04:05]

THE Non-governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has demanded that the construction of former president Frederick Chiluba's retirement house be halted until he pays the London judgment sum of about US41 million. And Attorney General Mumba Malila has said the Zambian government would soon give a full reaction and the way forward on the London judgment on Chiluba.

NGOCC chairperson Marian Munyinda yesterday wondered why Chiluba's house should be built when he owes Zambians billions of Kwacha. "What exactly are we doing as Zambians? Are we serious? If Chiluba is in the courts today because he stole our money why should we build him a house? Are we really building him a house or a jail where he will stay? It doesn't make sense to prosecute him on one hand and ask him to approve plans for his house of the other hand," Munyinda said.

"Are we really serious as a country? The construction of Chiluba's house should be stopped immediately. That money which is supposed to be used in the construction of the house should be diverted and utilised for other social services, which he deprived Zambians when he was stealing. Why should he have a house when a lot of our children are sleeping on the streets?"

She said NGOCC was gratified with the London judgment on Chiluba and his accomplices.
"We saw that there was a lot of hide and seek. Nothing concrete seemed to be coming out of our own courts for Mr. Chiluba's cases. The cases are taking forever. At least this judgment has come out and it has provided a lot of details," Munyinda said.

"The calls of the people of Zambia have been justified. Chiluba should therefore start paying back the money. Judge Smith, the Attorney General and the prosecution team did a lot of work. The whole judgment is detailed and it's difficult for anyone to try and run away."

Munyinda said the London Court should have asked Chiluba to pay back 100 per cent of the money he stole. "It's unfortunate that they have been asked to pay 85 per cent. They should have paid 100 per cent. Women and children in Zambia are suffering and leaving in poverty because of the money, which was stolen," Munyinda said.
"In fact, even that same 85 per cent should be paid back expeditiously because there could even be other monies that were stolen."

And Attorney General Mumba Malila has said the Zambian government would soon give a full reaction and the way forward on the London judgment. "Mr. Mulongoti, the chief government spokesperson will give a full reaction to the judgment. He will give a full government reaction to the judgment and the way forward," Malila said.
"I hope it will be during the course of this week."

On the constitution, Munyinda said the delay by the government was very regrettable. "We wanted a new constitution after the September elections. But going by the government roadmap it’s clear that we will not have a constitution in place. The government is not going to implement the constitution even in this term of the President," Munyinda said. "They are sidetracking people's energies to constructive issues."

She accused the government of extremely misrepresenting the people's mandate.
"It doesn't mean that when they are voted in power they have the monopoly of wisdom. The politicians should listen to what Zambians are saying. Let them consult the electorate and not deciding according to what they themselves as individuals want," Munyinda said.

Munyinda said there was need to maintain calls for public pressure on the government.
"It's a loss to President Mwanawasa because we expected him as a distinguished lawyer to give the people of Zambia a new constitution. Unfortunately, he is hindering the process," Munyinda said.
"And his final term is running out very fast. And yet when he leaves office you will find that he will be the first one to cry out loud on the need for a new constitution."

Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said Chiluba's retirement package should be reviewed following the London Court judgment.

She said it was sad that Chiluba visited the site where his planned house would be build on the same day the London court found him liable.

Sikazwe said it would be profitable for the Zambian people if the money meant for Chiluba's house were spent on constructing a modern hospital to save life.
"We shall not allow government to spend any money on Chiluba's house until he pays back all the monies he robbed off Zambians. We shall use the site for his house to build a hospital for the women and children, who are dying due to the plunder of our resources under his regime," Sikazwe said.

Labels: CHILUBA, CONSTITUTION, MARIAN MUNYINDA, MUMBA MALILA

posted by MrK @ 3:44 AM