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M’membe, Nchito are not above the law – Kunda

M’membe, Nchito are not above the law – Kunda
Written by Lambwe Kachali
Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:46:33 PM

Fred M'membe and Mutembo Nchito are not above the law, declared Vice-President George Kunda yesterday.

Receiving a petition from Copperbelt Province minister Mwansa Mbulakulima on behalf of the five civil society organisations that have asked government to drop Task Force on Corruption prosecutor Nchito from his position following the commencement of investigations on Zambian Airways, Vice-President Kunda declared that M'membe and Nchito will be investigated thoroughly to ensure that people behind what he termed as abuse of public funds through Zambian Airways are brought to book.

He said the government would intensify the fight against what he termed as "sophisticated" crime.

Vice-President Kunda said investigations in the affairs of Zambian Airways had already been instituted and would be done independently.

"Those who prosecute offences, those who prosecute corruption cases, those who write about crime, such as The Post Newspaper, [Post editor] Mr Fred M'membe, those who prosecute people like Mr Mutembo Nchito are not above the law. They are subject to the same rules which apply to all the citizens of this country," Vice-President Kunda said.

"They will probe whoever is involved in the affairs of Zambian Airways, borrowing of public funds without exception. They will do so fairly and determine who the mastermind in the abuse of public funds is. And whoever they are they will be pursued according to the law. Those who feast on public funds will not be spared, whatever their status in society."

Vice-President Kunda said he believed that state prosecutors should be above board and boasted that Zambia had many qualified prosecutors.

"If there are doubts about their [Nchito's] integrity, then of course government has to reconsider," he said.

He assured Mbulakulima that the petition would be looked into and determine whether Nchito would continue as state prosecutor or not.

Vice-President Kunda said it was the responsibility of the government to protect public funds.

"We owe it to the people of Zambia to ensure that we recover their money. And civil society should be interested and should in fact demand that those who abuse public funds are pursued and that such public funds are recovered," Vice-President Kunda said.

Presenting the petition, Mbulakulima said the five civil society organisations felt that the continuation of Nchito as private prosecutor would jeopardise the investigations.

"Their demand is the rule of law; that no one is above the law, be it in the Judiciary, political and in other fields. They believe that Mr Mutembo Nchito should step down as government private prosecutor because of his role as chief executive officer of Zambian Airways and at the same time as a chief private prosecutor. And they believe that the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the police will not be able to work in harmony and discharge their responsibilities for these investigation against Mr Mutembo Nchito if he still remains as private prosecutor," Mbulakulima said.

"You are also mindful that Zambian Airways is a private organisation but they are concerned with the money alleged to have been exchanged or defrauded from the public institutions, whose money belongs to the people of Zambia. They want thorough investigations."

The five organisations that petitioned the removal of Nchito as state private prosecutor on corruption cases and plunder of national resources include International Fellowship of Christian Ministries, Christian Constellation Forum, World Outreach Ministries and the Bishops Council, Citizens Constituency Forum and Copperbelt NGO Constitution Coalition.

However, New Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba, who was at Cabinet Office to seek audience with Vice-President Kunda, described the petitions as "stomach and pocket petitions."

Mumba, who wanted to air his grievances against the petition to remove Nchito as state prosecutor, urged Vice-President Kunda to be extremely careful when receiving such petitions from smaller parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

He also wondered whether New Generation Party president Humphrey Siulapwa and Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo consulted their membership before coming up with such a petition.

"Stomach petitions should not be tolerated in this country. Relieving Mr Nchito of his duties will actually be unfair and will be regarded as selective justice. Mr William Harrington and the civil society demanded that since [communication and transport minister] Dora Siliya is being investigated, she should step aside to pave way for proper investigations but that has not happened. So, if they say Mr Nchito should be relieved, then Siliya should also be relieved of her duties," Mumba said.

Siulapwa and Lifwekelo also presented a petition on behalf of 'their members' to have Nchito dropped as private prosecutor on the Task Force and Vice-President Kunda promised to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, speaking when Lichtenstein Prime Minister Otmar Hasler paid a courtesy call on him, Vice-President Kunda said government would continue to appreciate the assistance from that country especially in the health and education sectors.

And Prime Minister Hasler said his country would continue to uphold the mutual relationship it shared with Zambia.

Labels: FRED M'MEMBE, GEORGE KUNDA, MUTEMBO NCHITO

posted by MrK @ 9:47 PM