Maravi

CBU shooting victim demands $6.7m

CBU shooting victim demands $6.7m
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 23 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

A COPPERBELT University (CBU) student who was shot and wounded by police has demanded that the government compensates him with similar amount being contemplated for Dr Rodger Chongwe, about US $6.7 million.

And Luena member of parliament Charles Milupi expressed worry that Zambia could become bankrupt if the government pays Dr Chongwe the US $6.7 million about K31 billion because many other victims will demand huge compensations.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the government’s intention to pay Lusaka lawyer Dr Chongwe about US $6.7 million compensation for the shooting he suffered at the hands of police officers in 1997 in Kabwe, Cornelius Mwape, who was shot at during a demonstration at the varsity earlier this year, said he had not been compensated for the injuries he sustained.

“I have not been compensated,” complained Mwape in an interview on Monday. “I also want to be compensated. I would want similar amounts to what is being given to Dr Chongwe; somewhere there. Nothing else, only that I also want to be compensated.”

Mwape said though he had returned to the university, he was still experiencing problems with his healed injury.

“I have recovered. I am now back in school but when it gets cold I feel some pains,” said Mwape, a first year student.

Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde apologised to Mwape, his family and the nation over the shooting the student suffered.

In May last year, police in Lusaka shot and wounded two students - a second year student in the School of Engineering Chewe Chisala and a second year student in the School of Education Samuel Nasilele - during a students’ protest over 50 per cent increment in meal allowances.

This month, The Post revealed that government was intending to pay Dr Chongwe about US $5.9 million as compensation.

And Milupi said no one could be happy with what happened to Dr Chongwe but US $6.7 million would be too much as compensation.

“How do you then get equity in justice especially when you consider that a number of our own citizens and other citizens have also suffered before even worse. Many people have been shot and killed. Are they also going to receive such huge sums of money?” asked Milupi.

“If the nation can afford to pay such huge sums of money, how many can we pay before we go bankrupt as a nation? That is what we must apply ourselves to.”

Dr Chongwe justified his compensation claim, saying he was happy that the government was going to implement the decision and that President Rupiah Banda played a part in the matter.

However, President Banda through his spokesperson Dickson Jere, stated that he had blocked the payment of US $6.7 million to Dr Chongwe because the amount was too excessive and was going to set a bad precedent.

Contrary to that position, Vice-President George Kunda justified government’s intentions to pay Dr Chongwe US $6.7 million.

Labels: CBU, CHARLES MILUPI, ROGER CHONGWE

posted by MrK @ 4:23 AM