Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:31:21 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
ZAMBIANS will not rejoice if incarcerated UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is released before the court process contrary to assertions by Bishop Billy Mfula as that is an illegality, Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma has said.
Mr Musoma said Zambians believed in the rule of law and that no one was above the law and that it was shocking that the clergyman had opted to take a partisan stance which had potential to dilute the reconciliation process.
Mr Musoma said the man of the cloth was being hypocritical as the position he had taken on the matter had become questionable.
Bishop Mfula, who is Advocates for the Declaration of Zambia as Christian nation chairman, said the organisation supports reconciliation which would see the release of Mr Hichilema and that that would make citizens happy.
He said Bishop Mfula should not cheapen his calling by appearing to be a UPND cadre through his utterances and actions.
‘‘Which Zambians can rejoice in an illegality? Zambians respect the rule of law and no one is above the law. It is shocking that a man of Bishop Billy Mfula’s calibre has taken such a partisan stance,’’ he said.
Mr Musoma said President Edgar Lungu at the moment had no powers to release Mr Hichilema as the jurisdiction of his executive authority did not allow him and that instead that would cause an uproar among citizens.
He said the President could exercise his prerogative of mercy depending on the outcome of the matter before court.
