By Staff Reporter
Leader of the opposition in parliament Brian Mundubile has linked President Hakainde Hichilema to the ongoing arrests of his PF colleagues by the investigative wings.
Speaking with Daily Revelation following the arrest of opposition chief whip and Shiwang’andu member of parliament Stephen Kampyongo and Kwacha member of parliament Joe Malanji by the investigative wings, Mundubile, who is also Mporokoso member of parliament, described the arrests as nothing but political persecution, because there was never a time when police was not in force.
“There was not a time when the laws were suspended. So the question is whatever offences these people are being arrested for, why weren’t they called before? Was there any statement from any of them saying that we could not investigate these matters because somebody asked us not to?” Mundubile asked. “And these were our fears in the beginning when we said, once the chief executive, the President in this case supervises these investigative wings we start seeing usual things happening and this is what it is now. Because clearly if you see the pattern you don’t have to be a scientist to know that there is something wrong somewhere. But it’s for the Zambians to see because ultimately the Zambian people are our employers…we will leave it up to Zambians to decide.”
Asked on assertions that the investigative wings feared effecting arrests as the people were deemed too powerful, Mundubile said sitting ministers then, Ronald Chitotela and Dr Chitalu Chilufya were among those prosecuted.
“What kills that particular argument is the fact that even sitting ministers were arrested, so that should cure any doubt in anybody’s mind. If sitting minister’s could be arrested and prosecuted it only goes to show that institutions were left to work,” argued Mundubile.
Kampyongo’s arrest is in connection with an incident that transpired in 2015 in Shiwan’gandu where he is member of parliament.
On January 2, 2015, a Chopper belonging to a UPND entourage led by incumbent Republican Vice President Mutale Nalumango and former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa failed to take off after being attacked by alleged PF cadres in Shiwan’gandu.
Malanji, of House number 179 Acacia drive, Roma Park, Roma, was arrested and jointly charged with former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba for wilfully failure to follow the law on supplementary expenditure after they allegedly influenced the transfer of K154,201,197.00 to the Zambian Mission in Turkey.
Malanji is further charged with possession of two Helicopters and three properties, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
1 Comment