Maravi

Xavier backtracks on press conference to denounce Post

Xavier backtracks on press conference to denounce Post
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 08 Nov. 2011, 13:40 CAT

FORGERY convict and corruption suspect Xavier Chungu was today expected to hold a media briefing at which he intended to criticise The Post over his botched appointment as Luapula Province permanent secretary.

Chungu's briefing was expected to start at 10:00 hours at an unknown venue.
However, according to sources close to Chungu, the former intelligence chief was discouraged from going ahead with the briefing. The sources said Chungu's message was to be anchored on denouncing The Post, which he accuses of being prejudicial to his interests and rights.

The sources said Chungu believes he has the right to serve in public service like any other Zambian.

The sources revealed that Chungu denies being guilty of the corruption cases he is facing in courts of law. President Michael Sata last week appointed Chungu but has not sworn him in due to public pressure.

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), Caritas Zambia, opposition political parties, youth groups and ordinary Zambians alike have publicly opposed President Sata's appointment of Chungu and Emmanuel Mwamba, the former spokesperson of Frederick Chiluba, who died with a corruption tag after a seven-year corruption trial.

President Sata defied public disapproval and appointed and swore in Mwamba as Northern Province permanent secretary.

Chungu, who served as Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) director general during Chiluba's corruption-ridden regime between 1991 and 2001, is still facing corruption cases in court.

At the peak of his corruption trial during the reign of the late president Levy Mwanawasa, Chungu fled Zambia in 2004 but returned in December 2008, four months after the death of Mwanawasa.

Chungu was in 2009 jailed for nine months with hard labour for forgery of a passport.

Labels: CORRUPTION, PF, THE POST, XAVIER CHUNGU, ZSIS

posted by MrK @ 4:20 PM