By Daily Revelation Reporter
I am sure Given Lubinda is a very happy man now, former Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador George Zulu has mockingly said.
And Amb Zulu said the interpretation from former president Edgar Lungu’s statement that even Rupiah Banda was not an angel, implied that he too and those he served with in the previous government, had made mistakes but that the new government must forget about those mistakes in order to engage in what he termed as genuine dialogue.
Speaking with Daily Revelation on the arrest of acting PF president President Given Lubinda for corruption involving more than US$539,000, Amb Zulu said Lubinda got what he wished for.
“I think Mr Lubinda is very happy now because two weeks ago he challenged that ‘don’t just talk about us, bring us to court’. So now they have taken him to court,” Amb Zulu said. “I am sure he’s very happy. If he goes to court he will explain how he was earning such kind of money and who was paying, whether government or his businesses. I am sure he is very happy now that he has been given time in court.”
Lubinda 58 has been charged with five counts of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010, of the Laws of Zambia.
Details in count one (1) are that Mr Lubinda on 2nd April 2019 in Lusaka Province, did possess a house type S3-A+1 valued at US $260, 000 situated at Kingsland City, Along Twin Palms Road, Ibex Hill Lusaka.
Details in count two (2) are that Mr Lubinda on 20th February 2019, did possess US $100, 000 in his account number 055-1026566 domiciled at ABSA Bank Zambia PLC.
Details in count three (3) are that Mr Lubinda on 23rd December 2019 did possess US$80, 000 in his account number 055-1026566 domiciled at ABSA Bank Zambia PLC.
Details in count four (4) are that Mr Lubinda on 6th March 2018 did possess US $50, 000
in his account number 055-1026566 domiciled at ABSA Bank Zambia PLC.
Details in count five (5) are that Mr Lubinda on 2nd April 2019 did possess US $49, 990 in his account number 055-1026566 domiciled at ABSA Bank Zambia PLC.
The above properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Lubinda has since been released on bond and will appear before Court soon.
And Amb Zulu described the statement where president Lungu accused some people of hypocrisy where they said good things and ended doing bad things, as a bad statement that was even issued at a wrong time when the nation was mourning “peace maker Rupiah Banda.”
He said unlike his other predecessors, President Hakainde Hichilema has not launched any investigation against his predecessor, saying “he has united the country which was divided by them.”
Amb Zulu said the interpretation of many from president Lungu was that whatever wrongs he did during his time in power must be overlooked. But Amb Zulu said it was not in the hands of President Hichilema to overlook wrongdoing but the courts of law.
“We can’t be burying evils. So if RB was not an angel or he’s an angel, we can’t talk about those who are not with us. They are not there to defend themselves,” Amb Zulu said. “The President must not succumb to any cheap talk. He has a duty to serve all Zambia’s…the law knows no bigger person. So if there were mistakes that were done, let those be cleared by the law.”
He continued.
“My appeal to former president Lungu is that he has been president and knows what the tongue can do to an individual. When making statements he must be sensitive. If it’s hurting somewhere they know how to communicate among themselves as presidents,” said Amb Zulu.
More news @ www.dailyrevelationzambia.com
