Maravi

Rupiah is the most corrupt – Hichilema

Rupiah is the most corrupt – Hichilema
Written by George Chellah and Patson Chilemba

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that President Rupiah Banda is the worst, most corrupt and dangerous President Zambia has ever had. And Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba yesterday challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to make its position clear on former president Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal following President Rupiah Banda’s revelation on the matter.

Reacting to President Banda’s remarks on Chiluba’s acquittal during a closed-door meeting in Kasama last Sunday, Hichilema said President Banda had come out in defence of Chiluba’s acquittal because he wanted to protect himself from the corruption he is currently involved in.

“He wants to shield himself away from the current corruption so that nobody asks him how he ran his government when he leaves,” Hichilema said. “He is basically exonerating himself from the current corruption he is involved in like the RP Capital and Zamtel deal. That’s why he is coming out this way on the acquittal.”

He said the biggest problem Zambia was faced with was President Banda.

“He is the one interfering with the judicial process. People must target Rupiah because he is the one who is mismanaging the judiciary. Rupiah is just confirming what we have been saying that he is the one who instructed for the appeal to be stopped,” Hichilema said.

“That’s why he fired Max Nkole. It is very sad… this is what I have always said that Rupiah is in State House for himself. It is him who has destroyed the country. So far he is the worst President Zambia has ever had.”

Hichilema said President Banda was offering a poor quality leadership coupled with a corrupt mind.

“He is the lowest, the worst, most corrupt and the most dangerous President we have ever had. It's leadership with no vision, interfering in the judicial process, corrupt and also dictatorial,” said Hichilema.

And Kabimba said President Banda confirmed works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti’s earlier statement on Chiluba's acquittal.

“There is no doubt listening to what Mulongoti said about Chiluba’s acquittal and what Rupiah said in that closed-door meeting…it’s now clear that it was a Cabinet decision to influence the acquittal of Chiluba. The government must have had a hand in the acquittal of Chiluba,” Kabimba said.

“However, what is surprising is how the same Cabinet that was so committed to see that justice runs its course in this matter under Levy Mwanawasa can today state to the people of Zambia that Rupiah would have regretted if Chiluba was sent to jail. After Levy’s death last year, Rupiah has failed to sustain or uphold Levy’s legacy.

“The decision by the DPP to withdraw the appeal that was lodged by the Task Force on Corruption was in line with the government’s decision to stop this matter. That’s what is very clear from all these pronouncements...”

Kabimba challenged LAZ to make a clear statement on the issue.

“This matter is still in court and we have commenced judicial review proceedings to challenge the appeal and yet the people in government including the President keep on making prejudicial statements against these proceedings. The people that have been culprits are Mulongoti, Vice-President George Kunda and Rupiah himself,” Kabimba said.

“This must worry LAZ vis-à-vis the question of the independence of the judiciary. I challenge LAZ to come in the open and take a clear position whether these rantings are clear for the administration of justice in our country. They should be able to ask what is behind these pronouncements.”

Kabimba said LAZ had been very vague with its position on the matter.

“This is the only country that I have seen where lawyers do not side with poor people. Lawyers all over the world have been known to be instruments of social change where injustice has reared its ugly head against the people,” Kabimba said.

“Lawyers are not siding with the poor people, which is a spirit that we can’t be proud of as lawyers. Neither can the people of Zambia be proud of the legal profession anymore. This is the issue that I would like LAZ to take a position on.”

Kabimba said the government was eroding the independence of the judiciary.

“With these statements, isn’t the government itself sending bad signals to the public about the independence of the judiciary? The President is saying the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) can appeal if he wishes. How does the DPP exercise his powers against these prejudicial statements that are being made?” he asked.

And in a letter to the LAZ president dated October 15, 2009, Kabimba stated that the statements from government had the effect to erode the independence of the judiciary.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 1:35 AM