Maravi

Chiluba’s status as thief will never change – Sata

Chiluba’s status as thief will never change – Sata
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 17 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday charged that the decision to throw out an application by the state to register the London judgment does not change former president Frederick Chiluba’s status as a thief in the eyes of Zambians.

And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu said LAZ has written to the Attorney General seeking an urgent meeting with him over the way forward, following the throwing out of the application.

Commenting on Lusaka High Court judge Evans Hamaundu’s decision to throw out an application by the state to register the London High Court judgment that found Chiluba and others liable for theft of about US $46 million public funds, Sata said Chiluba could not claim victory because, while he has been set free legally by judge Hamaundu, the fact still remained that he stole from Zambians.

“It will be his word against the people of Zambia’s words because we know who Chiluba was. We know how many suits he had. The people are talking about the facts; the courts are talking about the legalities, whatever the legalities. We know how many suits Chiluba had when he came to power,” Sata said. “So those who don’t know Chiluba can be fooled by what is coming from the courts.”

Sata said things were now becoming predictable in as far as the dispensation of justice was concerned.

He said those who were close to President Rupiah Banda found it easy to get away with anything.

“If you are not close to Banda life becomes tough,” Sata said.

Asked if the decision by judge Hamaundu would wipe away the public’s view of Chiluba as a thief, Sata responded: “It doesn’t change anything. What we are trying to show is we are rigging the truth.”

Sata said President Banda was rigging the truth, adding that he was worried about next year’s elections with the conduct of the President.

He said the manner President Banda was going about handling matters involving Chiluba did not give anybody the confidence about democracy in the country.

Asked if government should appeal the High Court outcome, Sata said whether the government appealed or did not appeal, the matter would be heard by the same judiciary.

“It’s entirely up to government, but which government is going to appeal? Rupiah Banda’s government? Is it Rupiah Banda’s government, because George Kunda who went to prosecute in London is a different George Kunda who is here now, he is only prosecuting Mufumbwe because his boss says so,” he said.

Sata said Zambia was abrogating its international standing.

“I remember when I was in government we passed one law where prisoners can be transferred or the other countries can take over the offences. But now with what is going on, it will be very difficult for other governments to cooperate with Zambia,” Sata said.

“And somebody says ‘we are not a colony’, but our laws today are derived from the United Kingdom and we are always quoting English laws. So for somebody to say ‘we are not a colony’, that is beyond cheap thinking.”

Sata charged that Vice-President Kunda was an embarrassment to the legal profession. He said Zambians did not know how many lies Vice-President Kunda had told over the matter, but posterity would judge him.

“George Kunda is still Minister of Justice, so all the acquittals are going to him. Is he a Minister of Justice or the minister of injustice? I think we must change the title to Minister of injustice,” said Sata.

And Lungu said LAZ would want to meet Attorney General Abyud Shonga at the earliest possible time to discuss the matter and the various options that would be available.

Asked if one of the options was to do with appealing, Lungu responded: “Those are the various options that will be looked into. We know that the Attorney General will have to look at the judgment, read it, and understand it before he can make a decision. We believe that this being a matter of public interest, we need to liaise with the Attorney General at the earliest possible time.”

Lungu said LAZ had sought immediate audience because of the interest the association had in the matter. He said LAZ was following the matter with keen interest.

Labels: CORRUPTION, FREDERICK CHILUBA, MICHAEL SATA, STEPHEN LUNGU

posted by MrK @ 7:04 AM