UPND will not support RB immunity removal

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:40:45 +0000

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General Roswin Wandi is being mischievous and hypocritical by summoning former President Rupiah Banda, charges Lusaka Lawyer Martha Mushipe.

And UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said that his party will not support the removal of former President Banda’s immunity because the PF government does not respect the office of the President and therefore there is need to bring decency and sanity to the office of the president.

In an interview, Ms. Mushipe a lawyer said that it was shocking that Ms. Wandi had allowed herself to be used to abrogate the constitution when she was aware of the demands and requirements of the law for her to take up such a position.

Ms. Mushipe warned that Ms. Wandi was treading on politically volatile ground which needed her to independently advise and correctly those pushing her to abrogate the constitution through the use of jungle and nonexistent laws.

She said that it was surprising that, “She is a learned woman and understands these legal matters and she knows the consequence of her action if she abrogated the constitution. It is shocking to see how openly ACC has decided to play double standards in the manner they are fighting the so called corruption. They have let off the hook Wynter Kabimba whose evidence is very much clear in the procurement of fuel. Ms. Wandi should not forget that governments go and come. Already people are tired of this government.”

Ms. Mushipe said that the action by Ms. Wandi was illegal as no parliament had sat to remove Mr. Banda’s immunity for any such investigations and a possible prosecution.

She said that Ms. Wandi should stop contravening the laws of the land when it comes to matters of constitutional issues because she would one day land herself into serious trouble, adding that there was need for separation of power in the way ACC, the judiciary, the police and other government agencies were operating.

And UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said that his members would not participate in legalizing illegalities by the PF government.

Mr. Hichilema said that the move by the PF government to abuse the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to use the back door to embarrass the office of the President by planning or waylaying former President Banda was unacceptable and should not be supported by all well meaning Zambians.

He said that there was need for Zambians to change their mind set on the presidency and the evil agenda of a group of crooked businessmen and some lawyers were pushing for Zambia.

“It is unacceptable and as the opposition we shall not participate in these illegalities. These people must leave RB alone. He is being recognized world over but why do we want to harass him? Why do you want to hang him? Our friends’ world over take Rupiah Banda seriously but Zambians and not Zambians as if it is all the people. A group of thieves who betrayed the late Mwanawasa over the fight against corruption have again grouped up and want to steal again using the corruption fight. That we shall not allow. We have learnt enough mistakes from the past and we don’t want to lose more money to few individuals,” he said.

Mr. Hichilema warned Zambians to open up their eyes because the people advocating for various evil  agendas had serious courts issues which needed to be addressed, adding that their interest now was to divert the attention of the people to the former president.

“We shall create problems for ourselves in this country if we want to be used in the manner a small clique of lawyers and their friends. We know them and are watching carefully their agenda. I can assure the nation that we shall not allow them to cause harm to this country as we shall fight tooth and nail to protect the constitution of the country,” he said.

Mr. Hichilema has since challenged President Sata to allow ACC investigates Wynter Kabimba if his fight against corruption was genuine.

“We know what is happening in this government, but we will keep our eyes open. They know that bringing such a defective motion to parliament will be just a sheer waste of time because it won’t even be entertained. And I hope our colleagues in the MMD feel the way we feel about these issues. The governance of this country is falling and the PF has failed the people of Zambia period,” he said.

And MMD Vice president Political Michael Kaingu said that there was no logic in the ACC’s summoning of Mr. Banda when they knew the correct procedure.

“We shall not entertain illegalities because what that woman at ACC (Ms. Wandi) did is embarrassing not only for the country and the PF government that claim to have respect for the rule of law but also to her profession. She ignored the requirement of the law before investigating a former president. The best she can do for now is to step aside because she has shown her clear partisan way of doing things. She is an embarrassment to the nation,” he said.