By Daily Revelation Reporter
I don’t think Edgar Lungu has done anything wrong that would warrant lifting his immunity for prosecution, says incoming Lupososhi (PF) member of parliament.
And Mpankata said it is his prayer that President-elect Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND will not work to kill off the PF completely.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Mpankata said he will work to offer effective checks and balances on the incoming UPND administration.
“We will have to look at the development agenda of the UPND, and if it’s fine we will support it. If we feel it will be segregative we will oppose it because HH won elections across the country and not only Southern Province. My hope is that they will fulfill their promises to all Zambians,” Mpankata said.
He said President-elect Hichilema should not embark on a “victimisation” drive against the former government, saying “they are destined to fail if they do that.”
“Everything that happened in the past is water under the bridge. Like it happened with previous governments where you remove the immunity of your predecessor, that is old fashioned politics,” he said.
But put across to him that people wanted scandals like the fire tenders, ambulances, Mukula trade and expired drugs and condoms, among others investigated, Mpankata said President Lungu did not do anything wrong.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong that would warrant lifting Lungu’s immunity. That should not even be on the agenda,” Mpankata said. “You see the problem we have in Zambia is we think it’s politicians who do those things. Policy implementation is done by civil servants. They should also investigate civil servants who were doing those things. The implementors are the civil servants.”
On former Finance. Minister Ng’andu Magande’s urge that President Lungu should have listened to advice not to go for a third term as he now carried a legacy of having lost badly, and that having tested defeat he should leave the PF leadership to another person, Mpankata said “that will be a party decision.”
“I don’t think it’s something we should be commenting about. We are still nursing our wounds,” said Mpankata. “Our Prayer is that HH will not stifle democracy by completely aiming to destroy PF. Then there will be no democracy.”
