By KETRA KALUNGA and PRISCA LUMINGU
EXPOSING the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Lillian Siyunyi to danger by withdrawing security from her when she is still serving shows a break down in the rule of law in this country, Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo has said.
And former Law Association of Zambia-LAZ president George Chisanga has described as extra judicial punishment the withdrawal of security from the Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Siyunyi.
And National Democratic Congress (NDC) President Saboi Imboela said it was illegal for the state to withdraw security from the office of the DPP because it is her constitutional entitlement.
Mr. Tembo said in an interview that victimisation and persecution of Ms. Siyunyi was proof that essentially the rule of law has broken down.
He said withdrawing security from the DPP’s office when the office holder was still serving, amounts to victimisation and persecution of a constitutional office holder.
“For the DPP to be exposed like that, I think it speaks volumes about the break down in the rule of law in this country, looking at the nature of her position, you realise that the DPP sends a lot dangerous criminals to court, others to the death row,” he said.
Mr. Tembo said it was sad that people who are perceived to be enemies of government are being subjected to victimisation and persecution which should not be the case.
And Ms Imboela said it was illegal for the state to withdraw security from Ms Siyunyi because it is her entitlement.
Ms. Imboela said in an interview that security was a constitutional entitlement of the DPP therefore the decision to withdraw it was highly illegal and puts her life in danger.
She said it was sad and regrettable that the UPND administration was using illegal means to remove Ms. Siyunyi from office despite knowing that constitutionally she can’t be removed until her term ends.
And Mr Chisanga said what the state had done was wrong because her case on allegations of incompetence and misconduct was still active and before the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).
Mr Chisanga wondered how the state could withdraw the security from Ms. Siyunyi when she was still holding the office of the DPP.
He said those responsible for the decision which had been taken against Ms. Siyunyi should revise it and accord her the protection because the office of the DPP was sensitive and the withdrawal of security may endanger her life.
The DPP fell out of favor with the new dawn government when information emerged that while acting on behalf of the state, she had offered an immunity agreement to former Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) liquidator Milingo Lungu.
But President Hakainde Hichilema in April this year during a press conference refuted ever meeting KCM Liquidator Milingo Lungu at State house to discuss the immunity issue and that the DPP was on her own, if she had granted immunity to Lungu.
And Ms. Siyunyi has insisted that President Hichilema should lift her oath of secrecy so that she can be able to divulge the details on certain matters that had led to her being taken to the Judicial Complaints Commission-JCC as her office did not allow her to do the opposite.
