By SIMON MUNTEMBA and Oliver Samboko
THE Patriotic Front and former government officials should not drag the name of President Hakainde Hichilema into their personal entanglements with law enforcement agencies, State House has warned.
State House was reacting to embattled Kabushi Member of Parliament, Bowman Lusambo’s assertions that the only reason he is currently not in Parliament is because President Hakainde Hichilema doesn’t like him.
Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya said it was shameful for some former senior government officials to insinuate that President Hichilema had a hand in their battles with the law.
Mr Bwalya said in a statement that the PF and former government officials should not involve President Hichilema in their battles with the law whenever they are scrutinised by investigative wings because he had nothing to do with their battles.
He said Mr Hichilema has made it clear that he will never interfere in the actions and decisions made by law enforcement agencies as they investigate allegations of corruption and transgressions of the law involving PF members.
Mr Bwalya however said government was committed to ensuring that anyone who participated in the looting of public resources is held accountable and that all proceeds of corruption and crime were recovered for the benefit of all Zambians.
He said the culture of lawlessness and criminal wrongdoing was over and that all individuals who abused their authority to circumvent the law would not be spared but be made to account for their actions in courts of law.
Meanwhile, Mr Lusambo said President Hichilema, should remember that the five year mandate he received from Zambians does not give him a license to wantonly abuse state institutions.
Mr Lusambo said this when he feature on Diamond TV.
He said those who think he is a small boy and a nobody are just deceiving themselves.
He said unlike others who became rich through the privatization of state properties, he has never taken anything from government.
He said he will not succumb to any intimidation and harassment by those using state institutions on him, adding that those in power should know that Zambia did not belong to an individual.
Mr Lusambo, who confirmed his house having been raided by officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission, said the officers forced their way into his private residence in Chamba Valley on the pretext of conducting a search for undisclosed items.
He alleged that without identifying themselves and uttering any search warrant, the officers forcibly proceeded to access his property including the master bedroom where his wife was dressing up.
“Without identifying themselves and uttering any search warrant, the officers forcibly proceeded to access my property including the master bedroom where my wife was dressing up as she prepared to go and attend a funeral,” he said.
Mr Lusambo also alleged that during the search, ACC officers grabbed money meant for relish.
“They even searched my wife’s handbag and grabbed money for relish,” he complained.
He wondered why the ACC used force he has always been a law abiding citizen and at no point did he in his political life fail to cooperate with investigative agencies.
