By Patson Chilemba
HH has no power to stifle justice if the investigative wings determine that the immunity of former president Edgar Lungu must be lifted, says MMD leader Dr Nevers Mumba.
And Dr Mumba said the continued resistance by PF leaders to being probed does not paint a good picture about them, as it shows that they are actually hiding something and are guilty.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, pastor Mumba said he would love for the country to break the cycle of having former presidents immunities lifted, but that ultimately justice in the country must not be stifled.
“Our position is very similar to President Hakainde’s position on this matter and the UPND. That is we would rather not lift, have Mr Lungu’s immunity lifted. I mean it would help us to create a new trend and a new path for our country, but again we are not the final adjudicators or decision makers on this issue. This mandate is securely in the hands of the investigative wings,” pastor Mumba said. “If they think that Mr Lungu must help in the investigations that are going on and he has some information that he needs to provide, at that point even the President HH who really doesn’t want to lift the immunity does not hold any power to stop the rule of law to take its course.”
He continued.
“So I think we are all hoping that it doesn’t go that way so that we can cut this tradition behind but on the other hand we cannot be seen to be stifling justice in the country. So we just have to pray and wait and see how this thing rolls out and we can just pray that the best works out for the Zambian people,” pastor Mumba said.
Pastor Mumba said he had to appear before the courts of law for seven years during the PF’s rule, even when he insisted that he could not steal even a Ngwee. He urged those in the PF to simply cooperate with the investigative wings, and they will be cleared if they are innocent.
“Their continued resistance to being probed does not give a good picture. It actually shows that probably there is so something they are hiding or they are guilty, or they are afraid to be investigated. I think they should avoid to give that picture. I think they should stand boldly in innocence before the courts of law and declare their innocence,” pastor Mumba said. “It’s just part of the process of governance. It’s part of democracy to be called upon to account for anything that has been entrusted into your hands. So we don’t see any persecution there. Absolutely no persecution.”
Pastor Mumba further said president Lungu was an articulate speaker, with a very good English command, and that his statements were usually clear and not in euphemisms, and therefore his statement about hypocrisy was directed right at President Hichilema.
“It was confirmed by (PF) acting president Given Lubinda when he was coming out of the ACC. Our understanding of that statement is that he was saying HH is a hypocrite because he says all the goods things during the day and then at night he does bad things to the PF former leaders, by incarcerating them, according to him, bringing them before the ACC, the DEC,” pastor Mumba said. “And that is really the interpretation. I would have been doubting today if Given Lubinda had not said that he agreed with president Edgar Lungu on the statement of hypocrisy. ‘These people are hypocrites who speak all the right things and now in the background this is what they are doing to us, bringing us before courts and stuff.’
“So it’s a foregone conclusion that what he meant was that HH was a hypocrite and his government. And we felt that was a very unfortunate statement to make because his administration brought us before courts everyday…and there is nothing wrong with that.”
Asked if he would accept a ministerial or any other government appointment in President Hichilema’s government, pastor Mumba said his party was already partnering with the UPND and felt that was sufficient in terms of building a better Zambia.
“I think that our continued encouragement to President Hakainde Hichilema to continue to remain true to the values of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, the unity of the nation and making sure that no one is stifled from expressing their political views…these are issues we are working together on,” said pastor Mumba.
Asked on what the plans were for the future going by the fact that the MMD performed poorly in the general elections, pastor Mumba said: “Well when you take a picture of Ukraine after Russia has bombed it it may not look that attractive but (Ukrainian President) Zelensky because of his will to defend his country is going to get a Nobel prize. So that is basically the story of MMD. But in the meantime we will be unveiling our way forward within the next few weeks. We don’t want to give our opponents too much space to begin to misinterpret the new shape we are taking.”
