Maravi

London judgment against Chiluba is good - Levy

London judgment against Chiluba is good - Levy
By Brighton Phiri
Tuesday May 22, 2007 [04:00]

President Mwanawasa yesterday described the London High Court judgment against Chiluba as “good”. Asked to comment on the London High Court judgment that established that former president Frederick Chiluba defrauded the Republic of Zambia of millions of dollars, President Levy Mwanawasa said the London High Court judgment shows how serious he was in his crusade against corruption.

"My comment on the London judgment is reserved, except to say that it was a good judgment. It shows that when we talk about our crusade against corruption, we are serious," President Mwanawasa said. "There was and there is still corruption. I and my colleagues are determined to weed it out."

And President Mwanawasa, who left for Kenya for the COMESA summit, has declared that he would not vote against the constituent assembly.

President Mwanawasa said his government would facilitate the adoption of the new constitution through a constituent assembly.

"We have put into motion the machinery for adopting the new constitution through a constituent assembly. That machinery will be facilitated. But if you ask me whether I will be voting in support of the constituent assembly, I can tell you publicly that I would not. Other people will be entitled to exercise their democratic right to vote in favour of the constituent assembly and I will exercise my democratic right by voting against it. You can't force me to support an idea."

President Mwanawasa said he had no special interest to serve in the constitution-making process because it was his last tenure of office.

"Whatever I am doing, it is for the interest of Zambia," he said.

He wondered why the opposition parties were in the forefront demanding a new constitution when they refused to submit before the Constitution Review Commission (CRC).

"They are in the forefront because they want to use the constitution as a political tool to make MMD unpopular. This is not the first time they have promised things which they have not honoured. They promised to protect Chiluba and his colleagues, but following the London judgment, they are condemning him, and they are even saying I was not there," President Mwanawasa said.

"If they have cheated on that score, what makes you believe that they are going to be truthful. UPND did not give any information to the CRC. Even when the period was extended, they did not make any submission. So why do they want to eat nshima which they did not cook?

They did not help to buy mealie-meal, they want to make MMD unpopular. I can assure you that I am doing this in national interest."

President Mwanawasa further wondered why the civil society described his government with 21 Cabinet ministers and over 30 deputy ministers as heavy when in their own language, they wanted to retain the same Cabinet and establish 18 service commissions or authorities.

"Each one of these commissions will have 10 members who will be paid sitting allowances, as in case of the chairman he is provided with a fully furnished house. Now, are they not contradicting themselves?" he asked.

President Mwanawasa is accompanied by his wife Maureen and other senior government officials.

Labels: CHILUBA, CONSTITUTION, COURTS, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 10:43 PM