Maravi

Rupiah is muzzling the judiciary – Fr Bwalya

Rupiah is muzzling the judiciary – Fr Bwalya
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 13 Sep. 2010, 14:00 CAT

CHANGE Life Zambia (CLZ) executive director Fr Frank Bwalya has said it is clear in the eyes of many Zambian people that President Rupiah Banda is muzzling the judiciary.

Reacting to President Banda’s statement last week that self-anointed spokesmen for Zambians had been viciously and unjustifiably attacking the judiciary, Fr Bwalya said it was President Banda himself who had been undermining the operations of the judiciary and in some cases dictated the outcome of critical cases involving his political allies.

“I find it totally misplaced that he should blame people that have been raising critical voices against the judiciary. In my view those of us who have been critical of our judiciary have actually directed our criticism primarily at Rupiah Banda because he is the one who is muzzling the judiciary,” Fr Bwalya said.

He said President Banda’s statements clearly showed that that he was the one who had made the judiciary lose respect in the eyes of the public.

Concerning President Banda’s remarks that some people had anointed themselves as spokespersons for Zambians, Fr Bwalya said the President had also anointed himself as a spokesperson for Zambians in propagating very unpopular positions.

“I remember for instance him saying that he was happy that Zambians had accepted the acquittal of Frederick Chiluba by magistrate Jones Chinyama. This is an example of Rupiah Banda appointing himself as a false prophet. What he should appreciate on the other hand is that for us we champion the true cause of the people,” Fr Bwalya said.

He said Zambians who were demanding that government takes the registration of the London High Court judgment against Chiluba back to court were shocked by the kind of decisions the courts were making.

Fr Bwalya said if President Banda believed that disgruntled self-anointed spokespersons were creating problems, he should allow a public hearing for him to gauge the true sentiments of the people.

Labels: CHANGE LIFE ZAMBIA, FRANK BWALYA, JUDICIARY, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:19 AM