Chabinga’s bribery plot personal – Nalumango

By BARNABAS ZULU

VICE President Mutale Nalumango has said attempts by expelled Mafinga Member of Parliament Robert Chabinga to bribe South African Judges presiding over the case in which the Zambian government has sued late former President Edgar Lungu was merely a suggestion and should not be associated with the UPND government.
Ms Nalumango has however not dismissed the contents of Mr Chbinga’s leaked audio in which the Mafinga law maker has implicated President Hakainde Hichilema by claiming that he had been assigned by the head of State to travel to South Africa to bribe the Judge so he could deliver a favourable judgement for the Zambian government to release and repatriate the remains of former President Lungu.
Ms Nalumango has instead distanced Government from the audio in which Mr Chabinga and Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba were discussing the possibility of bribing the South African judges and cleaning up President Hichilema by ensuring former President Lungu was buried in Zambia.
In the audio, Mr Chabinga, is heard claiming that the head of State, had called him 12 times and allegedly assigned him to influence South African judges and instigate unrest in Zambia to force the release of late former President Lungu’s remains.
The audio, which has sparked public debate, was brought up in Parliament by Mpika Member of Parliament Francis Kapyanga.
Responding during the Vice President’s Question Time yesterday, Ms Nalumango claimed the contents of the recording were speculative and did not amount to any official government position or plan. “Madam Speaker, I speak from my own interpretation as Vice President of the Republic of Zambia,” she began. “Let us exercise discernment and clarity: the contents of that audio reflect an individual’s personal views and conjecture, not a statement of government policy or intent to bribe the South African courts.”
She stressed that while the audio may feature high-ranking individuals, it should not be misconstrued as a directive from the State to implement the bribery plan, which was meant to influence the South African judges in the case the Zambian government has sued the family of former President Lungu and the South African government.
“Nowhere in that audio is it said that the government has resolved to act in the manner being alleged by Mr Chabinga. These are speculative utterances, devoid of official endorsement,” said Ms Nalumango.She warned against confusing private opinions with official government actions. “In any democracy, an individual expressing opinions in private conversation with a Cabinet Minister – whether AI-generated or not – cannot and should not be mistaken for the voice of Government,” she said.
Her remarks follow rising concerns over the integrity of government operations, with critics demanding a formal investigation into the claims raised in the recording.
Despite the public outcry, Ms Nalumango maintained that the executive remains committed to democratic principles and transparency. “I rest my case,” she sai