Sata calls for removal of Kunda, Mchenga

Sata calls for removal of Kunda, Mchenga
Written by Patson Chilemba
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:31:25 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday called for the removal of Vice-President George Kunda and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga from their respective positions for frustrating justice in the nation.

In an interview, Sata said Mchenga was appointed to serve the interests of the public, and that since he had failed to do so as evidenced by his misconduct over Chiluba's acquittal, he should vacate office.

He said Mchenga could not continue getting paid from tax-payers’ money when he had failed to give them justice.

Sata also said Vice-President Kunda was a very big liability to his government and the nation because he had always sided with injustice by consistently misadvising presidents on important national issues.

He said it was clear that Vice-President Kunda was behind Mchenga's misconduct going by his statement that government had a team of competent lawyers to handle the judicial review over the DPP's withdrawal of the appeal against Chiluba's acquittal by the magistrate's Court.

“George Kunda and Mchenga, they are suffering from the aftermath of Nkole's firing. They won't be able to make any decision on behalf of the people. So the whole point of them remaining there is obtaining money by false pretences. Mchenga should remember that Caroline Sokoni was used as a sacrificial lamb to bring him [in]. He is certainly letting Levy Mwanawasa down,” Sata said.

“When George Kunda was minister of legal under Levy, he said government did not have competent lawyers to handle Chiluba's cases, and recommended to the president that he appoints private prosecutors. When Levy agreed, Kunda went to foreign donors to get money to pay private prosecutors. So it is Kunda who has been shifting goal posts by saying today that we have competent lawyers. He thought Mutembo Nchito would be behaving like a civil servant, but he is a professional lawyer.”

Sata wondered what President Banda, Vice-President Kunda and Mchenga were scared of following people's demand to have Chiluba's acquittal appealed in the High Court.

“The government of Rupiah Banda don't trust judges, if they trust judges why are they scared of appealing? I don't know where we are going as a country if those in government don't trust judges. What about us who are outside?” Sata said.

And on President Banda's confession that he fired Tax Force on Corruption chairperson Maxwell Nkole for indiscipline, saying he defied the DPP's advice not to appeal against Chiluba's acquittal before studying the judgment, Sata said President Banda had revealed how he abused civil servants like Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Joshua Kanganja.

Sata said Kanganja hid under the pretext that Nkole was fired because his contract had expired when, in actual fact, President Banda was not happy that Nkole had appealed against Chiluba's acquittal.

And Sata said President Banda does not want to appeal against Chiluba's acquittal because he wants to share his loot. He said the US $20million Katebe Katoto's arms deal and Chiluba's unexplained US $8 million in the Zamtrop account was too much a temptation for President Banda and his friends in government to deny.

“US $28 million dollars is equivalent to K140 billion, so you find that everybody would like to show that 'I did this and that'. They know Chiluba is going to show his appreciation. So he's got a lot of friends now. So it is the money, which is talking; Zambians don't matter. What matters is the money, and Frederick Chiluba has the money, US $28 million,” Sata said.

“So if they can manage to convince us that it is his money, the loot is there to share, and the President says the court will give Chiluba his money. Rodger Chongwe also went to court and he should now go and ask his father-Christmas to get his money.”

Sata said there were similarities in President Banda's conduct over the Dora Siliya case and that of Chiluba.

“Dora Siliya was very smart and beautiful. Frederick Chiluba is smart and rich, because now he can wear his shoes and suits freely without being scared,” said Sata.