Maravi

My advice to levy on KK was timely - Chiluba

My advice to levy on KK was timely - Chiluba
By Bivan Saluseki
Thursday August 09, 2007 [04:00]

FORMER president Frederick Chiluba has said his advice to President Mwanawasa over Dr Kenneth Kaunda was timely and born out of genuine concern. And Chiluba has asked the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to deal with Task Force prosecutor Christopher Mundia whom he has accused of showing hatred and prejudice against him.

Speaking through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Chiluba yesterday said his advice to President Mwanawasa on Dr Kaunda did not deserve unwarranted attacks.

Last week Mundia charged that Chiluba's hands were tainted with irregularities against Kaunda and advised him not to dare to advise President Mwanawasa on how he should deal with Dr Kaunda.

Mundia said Chiluba had no moral right to deceive Zambians when under his regime, Dr Kaunda was detained with many others, including army officers on allegations that they took part in the 'Solo' treason case when he was innocent. He said it was Chiluba's government that declared Dr Kaunda a stateless man apart from denying him his pension and other benefits as provided for the Constitution.

But Chiluba said his advice was born out of genuine concern. Chiluba advised President Mwanawasa to tone down on Dr Kaunda. This was after President Mwanawasa was reported to have referred to Dr Kaunda as a "chap" who was decampaigning MMD in foreign countries.

However, Chiluba yesterday said such kind of animosity from Mundia defeated the purpose of genuine advice. Chiluba, who is scheduled to return home this Saturday from South Africa where he is attending a medical review, said there was no shed of sense of humanity in Mundia's remarks.

"Many countries have found their former leaders useful," he said.
Chiluba said former leaders could be useful in terms of business roles or in charitable organisations. He said in discussing past presidents, people should know that former presidents were human too and prone to err.

"The nation will be promoting vindictiveness; just because Dr Kaunda treated Dr Chiluba this way, or Dr Chiluba treated Dr Kaunda this way therefore President Mwanawasa should treat Dr Chiluba or Dr Kaunda this way," he said.

Chiluba said that cycle needed to be broken.
"There should be mutual respect," he said. "Dr Chiluba should not be mistreated because he mistreated Dr Kaunda or Dr Kaunda should be mistreated because he mistreated Chiluba."
He said former presidents could still render advice.

"There is a view in certain circles that Dr Kaunda or Dr Chiluba should not or cannot advise President Mwanawasa on account of how they treated other people of the mistakes they made when they were Presidents; that they are ill qualified because of mistakes they made when in office," he said. "There are lessons learnt in life. There is valuable experience and insight that you learn from holding such a position."

Chiluba said he was concerned that Mundia who was a Task Force prosecutor was making such comments.
"He has shown open hatred and biasness yet he is carrying out portfolio of Task Force prosecutor," he said.

Chiluba said he found it difficult to understand why his genuine advice to President Mwanawasa could warrant such attacks from Mundia.

"His conduct betrays his position in the legal society," he said. "He is prosecutor for the Task Force. Christopher Mundia cannot be allowed to make the comments he made. LAZ should advise Christopher Mundia to stand down on ethical concerns because of his open hatred and wild remarks against the Chilubas."

Chiluba said Mundia should take a leaf from lawyer Mutembo Nchito.
"Despite the manner in which he carried his work, he never issued public statements. His battle ground was in court," he said.

Chiluba said Mundia should stand down because he had shown hatred against the same people he was prosecuting.
"He can't work professionally. He will work prejudiced," he said.

Labels: CHILUBA, KENNETH KAUNDA, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 6:24 AM