Kunda accuses TIZ of lying about Attorney General

Kunda accuses TIZ of lying about Attorney General
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 20 Mar. 2010, 04:10 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda on Thursday accused Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) of submitting false information about newly appointed Attorney General Abyudi Shonga.

Winding up debate on the report of the parliamentary select committee appointed to scrutinise the Presidential appointment of Shonga to serve as Attorney General, Vice-President Kunda said under the laws of the country, it was an offence for TIZ to lie to a parliamentary committee.

He praised Shonga as a man with an outstanding character and vast experience in legal matters.

“… For us as government we are settled on the appointment of Mr Shonga. This August House had ratified Mr Shonga Jnr SC for the position of Solicitor General.

Therefore, unless there is some serious negative factor, which has come into play since the ratification of Mr Shonga as Solicitor General, his ratification as Attorney General should not be controversial,” Vice-President Kunda said.

“Indeed, the candidate’s ratification has been well supported by all stakeholders including the professional body, the Law Association of Zambia. The only objection came from Transparency International Zambia but their objection is based on misinformation and falsehood.

“…Organisations submitting before select committees of this House should be truthful in their testimony. We all know that it is an offence to deliberately present false or malicious information before a committee of this House.

Organisations presenting half truths, biased unresearched, reckless, malicious or false information before committees should not be invited to give evidence before committees. They do not add value to the ratification process.”

Vice-President Kunda said the evidence submitted to the select committee by TIZ on Shonga was a serious indictment on the organisation’s credibility.

“To allege that the candidate Mr Shonga went to South Africa with the Inspector General of Ppolice who is a suspect in a criminal investigation without any proof is a serious indictment on TIZ. TIZ is supposed to display integrity and impartiality in its conduct if it is to be considered as a credible organisation in the fight against corruption.”

Earlier presenting the report, committee chairperson Sakwiba Sikota said Shonga was qualified for the job.

“Your committee, after due and thorough evaluation of the evidence presented to them by the witnesses and the appointing authority, and their subsequent interview with the nominee, find the nominee suitably qualified to be ratified for appointment as Attorney General.

Your committee observe that the nominee’s profession has exposed him to a wide variety of litigation matters and other relevant experience which will enable him to positively contribute to the governance of our country in the position he is being appointed,” submitted Sikota.

Chasefu FDD parliamentarian Chifumu Banda cautioned government lawyers against revealing information about their clients.

“Perhaps I should give a word of advice to young lawyers in this country. When you are a lawyer and you are appointed to the position of Attorney General, you still remain a lawyer. And remember that in law you always have clients; and as Attorney General your client is the government,” Banda debated.

“There is a tendency nowadays where Attorney Generals want to disclose advice given to their clients. This tendency must come to an end. As Attorney General, your client is government and you have to keep their confidentiality. Attorney Generals don’t play to the gallery, you are the number one lawyer in the country; and therefore you must always be on the side of justice.”

Parliamentary public accounts committee (PAC) chairperson Emmanuel Hachipuka proposed that the Auditor General’s office be involved in scrutinising Presidential appointments.

“I as chairperson of the parliamentary public accounts committee, I propose that the office of the Auditor General be involved in scrutinising these appointees. We can’t continue with the current system where abuses of public resources are the order of the day and later on the same people are ratified by this House.

The Auditor General’s office must form as one of the basis for clearing some of these appointees. I’m not saying this nominee would have been found wanting if he were scrutinised in this manner. But I was hoping that my committee would have been consulted to clear appointees,” submitted Hachipuka.
Parliament later unanimously ratified Shonga’s appointment.