Fri, 30 Jun 2017 11:04:43 +0000
By ROGERS KALERO and KELVIN SIABANA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has issued a stern warning against individuals using his name and that of other Government officials to extort money from companies.
And President Lungu has regretted the death of a street vendor in Kitwe during a scuffle with Kitwe city council police officers.
President Lungu said it was a criminal offence for any individual to use the office of the Republican President or any Government office to extort money from institutions and warned that such people should face the wrath of the law.
The warning is contained in a statement by Presidential assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, at the Office of the President in the Zambia International Trade Fair. President Lungu said he had been prompted to issue the warning to people using his name, that of the Republican President, and the First Lady because the vice had become rampant on the Copperbelt.
‘’It has come to my attention that some individuals are using my name, that of the Vice President and that of the First Lady to extort money from some companies. This vice is rampant here on the Copperbelt. I have to warn those involved in this vice that they will face the wrath of the law,’’ President Lungu said.
And President Lungu said he was saddened that some politicians were trying to gain political mileage at the death of a Kitwe vendor who died after a scuffle with council police officers by inciting the mourners to rise and cause confusion.
President Lungu, who regretted the death of Ms Anita Nakamba, said it was not proper for a politician to gain political mileage over the death of a person. ‘I received the death of the Kitwe vendor who died after a scuffle with a council police officer with sadness. While government supports the idea of council removing vendors from the streets, it does not support the use of excessive force on them. It is regrettable that during the operation of the council to remove vendors, a life was lost. What is more saddening is that some confused politicians wanted to gain political mileage by inciting mourners to rise and cause confusion. This is sad,’ he said.
And police have opened an inquiry where two named politicians went to the funeral house of the deceased vendor to incite people.
He also said government had not yet made a decision to withdraw from International Criminal Court contrary to reports in some sections of the media. He said Minister of Justice Given Lubinda would soon make a presentation of the outcome regarding Zambia’s stance on the matter.
And street vendors in Kitwe have vowed to pursue the case of their friend, Anita Nakamba, allegedly killed by council police officers after she was found selling chikanda (a traditional snack) near Shoprite supermarket in the city centre.
