It’s a pity Banda has allowed kangaroo courts to probe The Post - Bishop Mambo

It’s a pity Banda has allowed kangaroo courts to probe The Post - Bishop Mambo
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:12:33 PM

IT is a pity that President Rupiah Banda has allowed jungle kangaroo courts to probe The Post and its involvement in Zambian Airways, former Church of God overseer Bishop John Mambo has said.

In an interview yesterday, Bishop Mambo said the dealings of The Post and Zambian Airways had already been judged looking at several pronouncements that had been made by the government so far.

However, he said a constitutional court was better placed to look at The Post and Zambian Airways' affairs.

"The Zambian Airways issue and The Post have been judged already. So whatever comes [out] has been compromised," Bishop Mambo said. "How come the interest, other people trying to set up an airline? It shows there are some people who worked against this."

He said government's pronouncements over Zambian Airways had already influenced the minds of many people.

"Pronouncements influence people's minds. So until you are proven that you are wrong or right, that's when people should talk," he said.

He said it was not right for people to judge The Post and its involvement in Zambian Airways before investigations could be concluded.

Bishop Mambo said it was unfortunate that some people had even reached an extent of calling for the removal of Task Force on Corruption prosecutor Mutembo Nchito.

"That is why under the CRC [Constitution Review Commission] where I was a member, the average people cried for the establishment of a constitutional court. The calling of the removal of Nchito by people who can't even be a pressure group is unfortunate."

He said there were proper procedures that could be followed in an event that The Post was found wanting.

"If The Post is found wanting, there are laws in this country and they are registered under the laws of this country, you [The Post] submit your annual returns and so forth but, they don't want to follow the law," Bishop Mambo said. "Now, how do you punish them using a kangaroo court? How many people has The Post written about? Haven't they written about Mambo, [Patriotic Front president Michael] Sata and many others?"

He noted that all the statements that were issued by President Banda on The Post were emotional.

Bishop Mambo said President Banda should not use his political power to fix some sections of the press like The Post.

"The Post has always been there and he [President Banda] should just understand [Post editor Fred] M'membe," he said.

Bishop Mambo said State House was now invaded by call-boys who were advising President Banda with lies.

"We are headed for a disaster as a country because people are not advising the President correctly and it's people surrounding the President who are to blame," he said.

Bishop Mambo said the harassment of The Post by the government would scare away investors because they would not want to be treated in the manner they were treating the newspaper.