By Isaac Zulu
Central Province UPND chairperson Albert Chifita says President Hakainde Hichilema cannot be “a judge and jury” over the corruption which happened during the PF administration because he wants to ensure that there is autonomy in the operations of law enforcement agencies.
On Monday, Charles Kabwita, who is the NDC faction interim secretary general, challenged President Hichilema to arrest former home affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo for allegedly playing a role in the procurement of fire tenders at inflated prices.
Kabwita charged that Hichilema has failed to live up to his word on the fight against corruption.
He stated that whilst in opposition President Hichilema promised that, once it forms government, the UPND will fight corruption.
Kabwita further said, instead of taking action on alleged corrupt individuals, President Hichilema has resorted to lamenting about corruption involving individuals that served in the previous regime.
“People don’t understand UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema, in particular. When the President is making those revelations, it he is just telling the nation that he has certain information and the police and other law enforcement agencies are working in the background. The fact that the President has this information it does not mean that he should now be issuing orders that can you arrest this one and that one and take them to court. No! The same people who are complaining today, like Charles Kabwita, will come and condemn the UPND government and law enforcement agencies when at prosecution stage the State enters a nolle prosequi or registers some acquittals, which was a common phenomenon in the previous regime,” Chifita explained. “People like Kabwita should know that already there’s a former minister who has sued the State for unlawful prosecution, which resulted from the prosecution initiated by the Patriot Front government and now the Zambian people will have to pay the price using public resources. President Hakainde Hichilema wants to be cautious and methodical in the way he handles governance matters, including guaranteeing autonomy to the law enforcement agencies.”
Chifita said the UPND government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema; is being cautious and methodical in its fight against corruption to avoid situations where the State would enter some nolle prosequi and registering acquittals when prosecuting corruption cases.
He explained that it is not a responsibility of the Head of State to arrest and prosecute individuals perceived to have been involved in corrupt activities, but that the mandate lies in the hands of established law enforcement agencies.
Chifita also pointed out that whilst it has committed to its agenda on the fight against graft, it does not want to be accused of witch hunting or targeting a particular region on the fight against corruption.
“Remember that it took time for the case of the KCM liquidator Milingo Lungu to go to court and people started complaining that this government is targeting a certain tribe. The Davies Chama case is another case in point,” said Chifita. “So these that are condemning President Hichilema and the UPND will start accusing the UPND of witch hunting in its corruption fight. That is what the UPND government wants to avoid. So Honourable Charles Kabwita, sir, you wait and see how the UPND agenda on the fight against corruption will unfold.”
