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(LUSAKATIMES) Chipimo demands the immediate dropping of HH case

Chipimo demands the immediate dropping of HH case
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 1:10 pm

Leader of the opposition National Restoration Party Elias Chipimo has demanded that government immediately drops charges leveled against UPND President Hakainde Hichilema

Addressing a news conference this morning, Mr. Chipimo stated that the charges against Mr. Hichilema are unwarranted and meant to intimidate political opponents. He observed that the manner in which the case has been handled suggests that President Michael Sata had a strong hand in the arrest of Mr. Hichilema.

“We therefore demand that the state immediately drops the charges against the UPND leader and engage in constructive dialogue that will help reduce the levels of political tension. As NAREP, we believe that the statement on which Mr. Hichilema’s case is based has long been forgotten by many Zambians.”

“If at all the statement on Sudan as allegedly made by Mr. Hichilema was going to cause unrest in the nation, we surely could have seen the unrest by now.” Chipimo said.

Mr. Chipimo said the levels of political intolerance exhibited by the PF government have left many Zambians disappointed.

“If at all the statement on Sudan as allegedly made by Mr. Hichilema was going to cause unrest in the nation, we surely could have seen the unrest by now.” Chipimo said.

“Today, many Zambians have come to a painful conclusion that the high hopes they had placed on this leadership was misplaced.”

He said it is clear to see that the charges that Mr. Hichilema has been slapped with are political and had nothing to do with threatening peace and order.

And Mr. Chipimo has charged that Director of Public Prosecutions erred when he requested for an apology and a retraction from Mr. Hichilema if his case is to be dropped.

Answering questions from journalists at the news conference this morning, Mr. Chipimo said the DPP or anyone does not have powers to discontinue a matter unless via a nolle or in a case of a pardon after a conviction has been secured.

“By asking Mr. Hichilema to retract and apology before he is convinced, the DPP was being irregular and his actions were not supported legally.”

“By asking Mr. Hichilema to retract and apology before he is convinced, the DPP was being irregular and his actions were not supported legally.”

On PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba’s attendance of late Ghana President Prof John Atta Mills funeral, Mr. Chipimo said the PF government needs to be reminded that Zambia is no longer running a Party and Its Government (PIG) system of running government.

“PIG was dismantled in 1991 when Zambians ushered in a new dispensation; we are not interested in the party SG meddling in government business. Our protocol, demands, that it’s the President, Vice President and Cabinet Ministers as it follows,” Chipimo said.

He however stated that NAREP does not have a problem with Mr. Kabimba attending any other international events provided he is not doing so as a representative of the Zambian people.

Labels: ELIAS CHIPIMO, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, UPND

posted by MrK @ 4:40 PM