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Chiluba’s press aide accuses The Post of inciting Zambians against Chiluba

Chiluba’s press aide accuses The Post of inciting Zambians against Chiluba
Written by Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Monday, September 07, 2009 3:13:46 PM

FORMER president Frederick Chiluba's press aide Emmanuel Mwamba has accused The Post of publishing stories that incite Zambians to rise against Chiluba. Featuring on Mazabuka Radio's Live Wire programme on yesterday, Mwamba accused the media of having contributed largely to the negative public perception of Chiluba.

Mwamba singled out The Post as one media institution that published stories that promoted hatred, division and bitterness. He claimed that The Post published lies and half-truths about Chiluba.

However, Mwamba said he was happy that the truth about Chiluba had come out and that Zambians were aware of who was telling lies and the truth.

Mwamba said the media in the country did not play its role of informing and educating the public because of the manner in which stories on allegations of thefts of public funds were published.

He claimed that the diet of information given to the public was not balanced, saying the biased media coverage resulted in stories being contaminated with wrong facts.

Mwamba urged the media to be responsible and objective in their reporting to avoid distorting facts.

He said Chiluba would not engage in legal battles with The Post because he regarded the attacks on him as trivial.

He said Chiluba would direct his energies towards fighting big battles in the courts of law.

Mwamba said he did not feel sorry for former Task Force on Corruption executive chairman Max Nkole following his dismissal because he fraudulently appealed against Chiluba's judgment contrary to the Director of Public Prosecutions' advice.

He alleged that Nkole used lawlessness to prosecute Chiluba.

Mwamba said Nkole would have used proper channels to appeal against Chiluba's acquittal if he meant well.

"Zambians are asking: why was Nkole so desperate to appeal when he had no powers to do so? Director of Public Prosecutions with whom the Constitution vests powers on advised him to wait, but what did we see? Nkole appealing the following day. This was illegal because he wanted to fraudulently break the law in an attempt to convict Dr Chiluba," Mwamba said.

He dismissed claims by some callers to the programme that the government had a hand in the outcome of Chiluba's corruption case.

He said such claims were being perpetuated by Chiluba's enemies.

And Mwamba said the demand for the immediate restoration of Chiluba's immunity should not be taken as an act of desperation but a constitutional entitlement.

He said the Constitution allowed Chiluba to enjoy his immunity especially that he no longer faced a criminal charge following his acquittal by Ndola High Court registrar Jones Chinyama.

Some callers to the programme asserted that Chiluba was panicking and that his immunity should not be restored because the London High Court found him guilty.

In response, Mwamba said Chiluba did not recognise the legality of the London High Court judgment, saying that particular judgment was a civil matter which could not affect the application for the restoration of his immunity even if it were registered.

Mwamba urged Zambians to forget the past, forge ahead, accept and respect the verdict of the court and support Chiluba's bid to have his immunity restored.

"This country ought to use this opportunity of the verdict that acquitted Dr Chiluba to close the matter and work towards nation healing, discussing the past will not help the country," he said.

Mwamba said many Zambians did not want to pursue the Chiluba case further because they wanted to see the development of the country.

He said only a few political enemies wanted to see Chiluba prosecuted to the grave.

He said the country could not afford to lag behind in terms of development simply because Chiluba's political enemies wanted him convicted at all cost.

Mwamba said the eight-year trial had not only been difficult for Chiluba, but had serious effects on the country's key economic sectors such as agriculture, road infrastructure and the rise in poverty levels.

He said Zambians needed to close the matter and concentrate on developing the nation and reduce the high poverty levels instead of the witch-hunting being perpetrated by Chiluba's enemies.

Mwamba said the pressure being mounted on the government to appeal against the court judgement would only slow the development process of the country.

"This country is beset with huge problems in the agriculture sector, roads are dilapidated, poverty levels are high, so why should we spend a lot of time discussing Dr Chiluba instead tackling these problems?'' Mwamba asked.

He further disclosed that Chiluba was ready to contribute an air ticket to former foreign affairs minister Mundia Sikatana to travel to the Bahamas to retrieve the US $90 million he accused Chiluba of having stashed.

According to Mwamba, Sikatana informed the nation that he knew where the money was kept and would bring it back to Zambia if given an opportunity during the time he served as minister under late president Levy Mwanawasa.

"We are wondering why the government at that time did not facilitate the travel arrangement for Mr Sikatana to go and bring the money back for the poor Zambians. However, we are ready to contribute an air ticket for him to bring back the money that belongs to the people of Zambia," Mwamba said.

He alleged that Sikatana rudely ruined Chiluba's life after retiring by issuing alarming statements on allegations of theft of public funds.

However, Mwamba said Chiluba planned to engage in resolving conflicts in the region and other duties but could not do so because of the vicious allegations aimed at bringing him down by his political enemies.

However, several callers to the programme said they were not happy with the acquittal of Chiluba.

Labels: CHILUBA, EMMANUEL MWAMBA, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 2:16 PM