DNA condemns proposed impeachment of Lungu

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 10:18:18 +0000

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

ROAN Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili’s ill-conceived proposed impeachment of President Edgar Lungu on alleged corruption allegations is not only baseless and a waste of time and resources, but also an abuse of Parliament, the Zambian DNA has charged.

Zambian DNA spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa said Mr. Kambwili had to date failed to present tangible evidence of corruption allegations against President Lungu, which he had repeatedly used as an “anti-Lungu campaign scheme” to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Mr. Mulemwa said it was unfortunate that the opposition political parties were blindly championing causes they barely understood with the sole purpose of getting into power even when it was clear that there was no iota of truth in the wild allegations they were making against President Edgar Lungu.

“Indeed, he (Mr. Kambwili), together with his allies, will not fish out evidence of corruption allegations against President Lungu by moving an impeachment motion in Parliament. Further, since the impeachment motion is a resolution of a two-thirds majority Members of Parliament, then he and his allies will be defeated by the PF’s majority representation in Parliament.

“However, it’s sad that the opposition parties have joined forces with Kambwili in a futile and deliberate attempt to mislead the nation and erode the Zambian people’s confidence in President Lungu. Mr. Kambwili and opposition political parties are merely exposing their ignorance on the legal tedious process of the impeachment of the sitting President, and thus losing their relevance on the Zambian politics,” Mr. Mulemwa said.

He noted that the strong desire by some disgruntled politicians and opposition parties to replicate any happenings in other countries in Zambian was dangerous to the country’s young democracy, and a threat to national security.

He said Mr. Kambwili and his allies wanted President Lungu ousted from power like former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was this week recalled on corruption allegations by the governing African National Congress (ANC).

“Late last year, they attempted to incite the leaders of the defence forces to persuade President Lungu to resign as ex-Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was forced by military leaders to step down. They also wished the Zambian Court judges to be adventurous by imitating their Kenyan counterparts, who had nullified the election of Uhuru Kenyatta and ordered for a re-run which saw Kenyatta re-elected once again.

“Zambian DNA advises some disgruntled politicians and opposition party leaders whose appetite for power has robbed them of relevance to stop attacking President Lungu and take a break from active politics, and go for a retreat. We are appealing to President Lungu not to worry about futile schemes to force his early exit from power, and continue delivering on his campaign promises,” he said.