Committee of Citizens (CC) has described calls by some sectors of the society for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to appeal against the acquittal of former President Fredrick Chiluba as retrogressive.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says calls should not be supported by all meaningful Citizens adding that they are aimed at bringing a burden to country’s strained financial resources.
Mr. Chifire told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that, it would be expensive for government allow the DPP to appeal against the ruling as the exercise would require more resources for the cases to be effectively investigated.
He noted that people in the country should be happy with the acquittal as it shows how independent the Zambian judiciary was.
He said the judgment must be seen as a symbol of reconciliation and help the nation move forward.
Mr.Chifire stated that people are now supposed to urge government to consider disbanding the Task Force on Corruption for being selective in the way it was handling the corruption cases.
He pointed out that ever since it was created,the Task force had failed to investigate other serious and important cases such as the Zambian Airways and the ZCCM assets privatization which involved billions of United State Dollars but instead has concentrated so much on Dr. Chiluba.
He said the Task force’s sentiments that Dr. Chiluba’s immunity should not be restored because he has not yet been cleared on other counts are meant to bring confusion in the country.
Mr. Chifire explained that continued existence of the institution that was mandated to investigate the former President would mean more money being drained from government coffers instead of channeling such funds to other important developmental programmes.
He said of allowing the Task Force to continue, government must instead strengthen the Zambia Police, Anti Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission.
In another development CC Executive Director has called on the church in the country not to be partisan but instead offer constructive criticism to government only when it is necessary.
Mr. Chifire said it was important for the church to strive at ensuring that it encourages peace and reconciliation among the citizens in the country.
And The New Generation Party (NGP) has asked government not to appeal against the ruling in which Former Second Republican President Dr. Frederick Chiluba was acquitted last week.[quote]
And the Party has called for the dissolution of the Task Force on Corruption following the acquittal of Dr. Chiluba.
Party President Humphrey Siulapwa says appealing against the court ruling is detrimental and will be a waste of time as it might also take long before the matter could be concluded..
Mr. Siulapwa said his party had welcomed the court ruling and has since congratulated the former president over his acquittal.
Mr. Siulapwa said this at a media briefing in Lusaka today.
He said the judgment was a plus to the Zambian judiciary especially that it has taken about seven years to conclude the matter.
He appealed to Zambians to accept the court decision saying they should not be mislead by the media and other people who have personal differences with the former President.
Mr. Siulapwa said Dr. Chiluba had the right to ask for the restoration of his immunity now that he has been cleared of all the charges.
He said his party will make an effort to ensure that the former president gets back his immunity although this was dependant on parliament.
Meanwhile Mr. Siulapwa has appealed to government not to domesticate the London judgment.
He said there was need for the country to start respecting its former Presidents by not entertaining any call to have them judged by foreign courts.
“We need to protect our Presidents. Like the US and Britain, we should not allow them to be judged by foreign courts,” he said.
On the Task Force on Corruption, Mr. Siulapwa said there was need for its dissolution especially that former Second Republican President Dr. Chiluba’s case was closed last week.
He said there was no possibility that the Task Force on Corruption would recover any more money from the cases it was pursuing.
Mr. Siulapwa has further castigated the Post Newspaper for their continued attack on the former president despite him having been cleared by the courts of law.
He said it was not good for the Post to be writing misleading stories against the former President when the courts had acquitted him.
The opposition leader said it was for this purpose that his party supports the call by government to have the media regulated.
ZANIS
ZANIS
cifire naka siulapwa the more you talk the more money you get in your pocket.
Iwe Siulapwa if Regina Chiluba appealed why not the DPP. Why don’t people like you just shut up? Just who do u think you are
Nimbwanshi ishi kanshi?
Bushe Nibakolwe nshi aba ???? ba mumbwe !!!!!!!!!
Bushe ni baK.o.l.w.e.shi aba??? Ba Mumwe!!!!!
Interesting. These guys give similar statements on the same day and yet each had his own press conference. Are these the one man shows the analysis on ZW was talking about?
Bangwele imwe.
We, the Zambian people, are unhappy about the court judgment and it is our right to appeal to the next higher court. Why should the two of you be stopping us?
Your statements are similar which indicate collusion or one plagiarised the other’s work.
We want to see the final conclusion of this case at any cost so that it serves as an example to all our politicians.
Iwe Cifwile, if you have any evidence on corruption in Zambian airways and the privatisation of ZCCM, then inform the appropriate authorities so that they can prosecute the culprits.
FJT Chiiluba has to be held accountable for the $46m he was found to have stolen from the Zambian people when he was President so we require the London judgment to be registered in Zambia.
Abash puppets!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this guy on drugs?? if the DDP (or whatever) is not happy with the verdict, they have every right to appeal – which they should because the whole thing has shown just what a sham our justice system is. FTJ is guilty as sin and belongs in prison.
Someone needs to tell this chap that you do not put a price on justice. aarggghhh:/
Silwapa u want to be known by attacking the post and and u want protetion by supporting bwezani . We are not intrested in nosensical pipo like u and am sure sata can even do better than u foolish. No vote 4u come 2011 u faa
RB, Chiluba is Innocent according to you, Now he wants his money back,will the money come from your pocket.RB you’re not a wise leader.Now tell us what you are going todo with this matter.Lelo lelo RB.
Cifire wait until FTJ grabs your wife, thats when your eyes will open.
Siulapwa, we know that you earn a living through mouth kupolomya, however your days are numbered, Mark my words.
Looks like these guys are one and the same Pro RBs. Are they on RB’s payroll?
Bootlikckers.
This chap is a fool. If we can spend money prosecuting Kabwela for pornography that we MUST pursue the master dribbling crook.
Ba Greg naimwe, apa peve mwaitaya
If former presidents want respect from us, they must first respect themselves through their conduct while in office. If they behave like kaponyas or little Gods who dont listen to the people who put them in office then they should expect no respect after they leave office. UK & USA are not zambia. They are developed and have nothing to loose. We are hungry and poor, so who ever steals from us must pay the due price, we want to develop.
Gwilani kawalala… Let the Task Force go ahead with that idea. None of the Zambians are happy with the acquitation. A prison sentence JUST like ba Regina Mwanza-Chiluba
Siulapwa is silly and only practicing politics of hunger. Find a real job my brother or go back to SDA church and confess your sins and get rebaptized.
If to day President R. Banda says the state will appeal against this aquittal for reason, I tell Mr. Cifire will be the first one to praise RB for “ensuring justice is done.”