Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:45:57 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has instituted legal proceedings against United Progressive Party (UPP) president Saviour Chishimba for malicious falsehood demanding K100 billion (rebased) in reputation damages.
Zambia Revenue Authority Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda, confirmed the development to the Daily Nation in a statement yesterday, explained that on Friday 31st March, 2017 and Tuesday 4th April, 2017, Dr. Chishimba issued statements purporting that the Authority dubiously and by corrupt means awarded a contract for the design, supply, delivery, installation, supervision, configuration, testing and commissioning of an invoice management otherwise known as Electronic Fiscal Devices to a named company amounting to K140 million.
He said the Authority was an institution of high levels of integrity and careless statements from members of the public had the potential to bring the name of the institution into contempt and disrepute, thereby affecting revenue collection.
“The Authority has, therefore, sought legal redress in the High Court on the matter as of today (yesterday) 5th April, 2017,” Mr. Sikalinda said.
And 3rd Liberation Movement (3rd LM) president Enoch Tonga has charged that Dr. Chishimba was abusing democracy by his continued spreading of falsehoods in order to appease a grudge that he holds against the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government.
He explained that the UPP leader’s attacks on Government were unwarranted as he had never produced tangible evidence to support his numerous allegations.
Mr Tonga said that there was nothing wrong with opposition leaders providing checks and balances on government but that Dr. Chishimba’s claims were an abuse of democracy.
He reiterated that accusing Government of mass corruption was an injury on the people and that it had the potential to plunge the nation into turmoil.
“Chishimba was also in Government and he doesn’t seem stable in his approach. Even if you want to fight corruption, not in that manner. You need to have grounds and not being everywhere. For me I see a man carrying a grudge, maybe he didn’t get what belongs to him,” he said.
Mr Tonga has advised the law enforcement agencies to caution Dr. Chishimba to desist from alarming the nation if he did not have any proof.
He said that the opposition leader should be stopped at all cost because he threatened to plunge the country into chaos.
“He has just been making noise. If I was President Edgar Lungu, I would have picked him up already,” said Mr Tonga.
