Maravi

Brief case political parties petition British High Commissioner

Brief case political parties petition British High Commissioner
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, October 05, 2009 8:50:44 PM

FIVE briefcase political parties today petitioned British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter over his remarks on former president Frederick Chiluba's acquittal. The petition in support of Chiluba's acquittal was received by British High Commission security manager Tim Parkinson at the checkpoint of the commission and the petitioners were not even allowed to enter the premises.

The eight representatives of the Forum for Political Parties (FPP), which claims to be a grouping of political parties that do not have parliamentary representation in the National Assembly, arrived at the British High Commission around 10:25 hours while carrying banners urging Britain to respect Zambia's sovereignty over the acquittal of Chiluba on allegations of embezzling US $500,000 public funds.

When the petitioners arrived, about 10 police officers who were outside the British High Commission, advanced and asked their [petitioners'] leaders Edwin Sakala and Charles Kafumbo to explain why they were there.

After the duo explained their mission and that the police had allowed the eight to protest to the British Commission, one police officer went inside the commission and called Parkinson. When Parkinson came out, Sakala and his delegation advanced towards him and started explaining why they were there. In response, Parkinson said: "Go right ahead and present your petition."

When Sakala and his delegation reached the checkpoint at the gate and were preparing to be cleared to enter the premises to meet High Commissioner Carter, Parkinson told them to leave their petition. In disbelief, Sakala asked: "So we will not meet him [High Commissioner Carter]?"

But Parkinson ignored the question. After that, Sakala told Parkinson that he and his colleagues had written to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown over the matter but wondered why the British leader had not responded.

"We are surprised with the British government," said Sakala as Parkinson responded: "I am sorry I have no comment on that, sir."

At that point, a representative of PUDD said: "What we are saying is that we sympathize with the British taxpayers."

But Parkinson interjected: "I have no comment on that, sir."

However, Parkinson could neither confirm whether he would deliver the petition to High Commissioner Carter or not, other than just saying, "I will pass it [petition] on to the relevant authorities. Thank you very much gentlemen. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you everybody. Goodbye!"

Two youths and an elderly woman carried a banner, bearing a wrong painting of the Zambian flag, with inscriptions reading: "No British Interference. Former colonialists respect Zambia's sovereignty. Your Excellency British High Commissioner Mr Tom Carter respect our judiciary."

FPP comprises of Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) of Sakala, New Generation Party (NGP) of Humphrey Siulapwa, Zambia Development Conference (ZADECO) of Langton Sichone, National Democratic Party (NDP) of Charles Kafumbo and PUDD.

FPP chairperson, Sakala, who led the eight-person protest, said they were not disappointed even if the petition was given to the security manager instead of High Commissioner Carter.

"I think that man has been given some authority by the Ambassador to receive the petition. That is okay because apart from this we are going to post this on their [British] Parliament website," Sakala said.

According to the petition, the FPP stated that it was dismayed that High Commissioner Carter had expressed disappointment over the acquittal of Chiluba.

"The utterances attributed to the British High Commissioner to Zambia Mr Carter have the potential to cause anarchy. We have noted with sadness that the former colonial master seems to be bent on promoting anarchy and acrimony through the wrong channels of diplomatic communications, which include some so-called Non Governmental Organizations - NGOs. We are disappointed with foreign funded NGOs, which are ganged up to fan anarchy in Zambia," the petition read in part. "Mr Carter should respect the sovereignty of our country Zambia. Even the judicial processes of our courts must be respected by the former colonial rulers."

It stated that the funding of anti corruption crusade was the major factor contributing to the division and political tension in Zambia.

"Therefore, we are: (1) calling on the British government to revisit their foreign policy on countries like Zambia because the recent approach can result into instability in Zambia politically, socio-economically, (2) appealing to Britain to consider themselves as an ally and partner in development with Zambia, (3) finding it as unfortunate that Britain and some Western countries are destabilizing Zambia through unguarded statements made in the country about Zambia by their respective envoys to this country among them Mr Tom Carter," the petition read.

"(5) Appealing to diplomats like Mr Tom Carter to be aware of the Vienna Convention and utilize the channels espoused under the Vienna Convention in order for them to use the proper channels of diplomatically communication uprightly. As FPP we are well informed that Vienna Convention channels espouses that diplomatic communication must be via the Foreign Affairs Ministry."

It stated that Zambians only had one country and if there was anarchy in Zambia, diplomats would close their missions and flee.

"But we do not expect things to go that far. We want peace to always prevail and be the order of the day and future," the petitioners stated.

The petitioners also demanded that the British government gives a breakdown of the money it had disbursed to the Task Force on Corruption.

"We are aware from what we have heard that an individual prosecutor can get US $10,000 per sitting in addition to receiving K100 million salary per prosecutor per month and K200 million monthly salary for the chairperson [of the Task Force on Corruption]. What a reap it makes when that is multiplied by the seven years of Chiluba's prosecution," the petitioners queried.

"This bankrolling of the Task Force is not to mention the other expending on the other 200 million British pounds given to the founders of the Task Force on Corruption."

On August 17, 2009, Ndola High Court registrar Jones Chinyama acquitted Chiluba on all charges of theft of US $500,000 public funds but jailed his co-accused Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu to five years imprisonment. However, Chungu and Kabwe have appealed against their sentences.

High Commissioner Carter expressed surprise at Chiluba's acquittal.

CK

Labels: CHILUBA, HIGH COMMISSIONERS, TOM CARTER

posted by MrK @ 7:51 PM