Zambian Vice President Guy Scott must be reminded that the PF has no right to act above the law and ignore court orders, says international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, as these repeated violations of the constitution de-legitimise the state.
According to a recent interview in the Post Newspaper, Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott justified the government’s decision to illegally revoke the passport belonging to former President Rupiah Banda saying that they would be “embarrassed” over flight risk.
“Guy Scott doesn’t need any help in embarrassing Zambia – he’s doing a great job on his own by insulting diplomatic partners and garnering a reputation as one of Africa’s most incompetent governments,” says Amsterdam, who acts as international counsel to former President Banda.
“Dr. Scott’s comments are deeply ignorant on a number of levels. Firstly, no matter how the PF government ‘feels,’ it has no right to ignore court orders, and when it does, it is acting as a criminal state. Secondly, the idea that the distinguished former President Banda would ever abandon his children, family, and nation that he loves is ridiculous – it would never happen, and that is why the Lusaka High Court granted the release of his passport on multiple occasions. And thirdly, he has never been found guilty of any crime, and is fully entitled to the presumption of innocence before these trumped up charges.”
The Vice President also cited the fact that the former President’s son, Henry Banda, lives in South Africa, however he failed to mention that Interpol rejected Zambia’s request and cancelled the Red Notice based on a lack of evidence and a failure to comply with protocol.
According to letters from Interpol, over a period of 16 months and despite repeated opportunities, the Zambian government refused to supply any details of charges and failed to make a legal case for extradition before the South African authorities. Following an investigation, the organisation determined that Zambia’s conduct “raised strong doubts concerning compliance with Interpol’s rules.”
“How can Guy Scott complain about Henry Banda when he can’t even decide what to accuse him of? Henry has cooperated and corresponded with the government since February 6, 2012, informing them of his location and willingness to answer any questions, so why does Guy Scott continue to lie about the most basic facts?” asks Amsterdam.
By acting illegally in their treatment of the Banda family, Guy Scott and other PF members are confirming the political motivations and non-existent evidence behind their accusations, Amsterdam says. The PF is determined to go after Rupiah Banda as he represents a formidable political threat in a moment of sharply rising unpopularity and public rejection of the government.
“Keep in mind that the persecution of former President Banda is being driven by a prosecutor, Mutembo Nchito, who swore before parliament that he would recuse himself from any conflicts of interest such as cases involving the former president,” said Amsterdam. “When the Law Association of Zambia summoned Nchito on disciplinary charges, he refused to attend, just like when Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba refused to attend his summoning before the Anti-Corruption Commission. Kabimba has also refused to clarify his shareholding in a company that has benefitted from government contracts. The whole world can plainly see that this is a party that acts with impunity.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to Guy Scott for proving the fraudulent nature of the state’s case against former President Banda. The day will come when the PF will be made accountable for their illegal behaviour, so my advice to Dr Scott would be to take the law to heart, and perform his duties of office according to the constitution.”
who cares
Robert Monsterdam is a coward, a frightened little pigmentally challenged boy who cant come to defend hi client in court.
He is simply Rupiah’s press assistant and I hope this is what Rupiah is paying for and not as a lawyer
I do
Me too.
@Aromatic, ati coward?… do you want the PF cadres to show up at his house and beat him up?.. coz it seems to be happening to anybody who has negative view or utters a negative statement against the PF government… its almost like a dictatorship. Remember that you are in Canada where theres is safety, but his safety cannot be guaranteed… not even by the constitution
lf this is what this guy is paid to do then RB is wasting his money-cause much of what is here is copy and paste from mulusa
Very stoopid whiteman enjoying the persecution of a former black leader under the watch of a blacker leader. Apartheid is back.
Not up to standard bakalamba. You are lost. This is not about race. Guy Scott is as Zambian as you and so entitled to enjoy full rights
Man! The hell you are, you tribalist! Scott is Zambian or can I say Lozi or Ngoni stupid?
Ba Clemon bakalamba, the Zambian constitution or any other statute on human rights in Zambia does not discriminate on the basis of colour, race, tribe, creed and what have you. You have Zambians of Asian origin, Zambians of European origin, Zambians of Shang’ombo origin like yourself all under the one blanket, ZAMBIAN! Get that into your terribly horrible thick head!
Sorry Clemon, now I understand your stance. Sorry dude.
IT IS GOOD RUPIAH BANDA’S DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN SO THAT HE DOES NOT ABUSE IT TO GO AND DISCREDIT ZAMBIA WITH THIS WHITE NUMBSKULL AND MERCENARY CALLED AMSTERDAM.
Kwena mwandi, this Robert Amsterdam is an international lawyer representing a former head of state and yet he comes up with such a mickey mouse argument!!! Surely Band can read through this joker and see that the guy has no legal skills to get him off the hook. He can actually go to the press with such mickey mouse nonsense shuwa!!
In any case whose dumb enough to think RB and his kids didnt jack our beloved country. Yes it will be promoting banana republic mentality to ignore the judicial system of the land but on the other side of the coin shredding that passport in RB’s face and sending bounty hunters to collect Henry and return him to Zambia would be true justice.
You know! This guy sounds like a politician and not a lawyer. He is actually making Banda’s life more difficult. RB should sever his relationship with this man because he will have it tougher and tougher. Imagine if Banda will be found guilty – how will Amsterdam help him avoid jail? A
What has scott ever done for the country? He seems to be in a permanent campaign mode for his party at the expense of the entire country. He is not interested in developing this country instead you can see him exploiting the weaknesses of our people using the missionary tactics. Possibly the worst VP this country ever had.
You know it is vitaly important to school yourself on a subject before you make a comment about it otherwise you end up exposing the fact that you yourself are totally ignorant on the subject matter.
I’d advise you to first go back and find out what Dr. Guy Scot has done especially in the field of agriculture for this country since the 1960’s before you come out talking rubbish.
@Country Robbers. Guy Scott mismanaged the Agriculture sector in the early 1990s. He was fired by Chiluba in 1993 after he dubiously slaughtered his Pigs and compensated himself with govt money at 4 times the going market price for pigs. He claimed his farm had an outbreak of swine fever when there was none. This unfortunately is Guy Scott’s contribution to Zambia’s agriculture!
Guy Scotts first job was as a researcher at Bank of Zambia. Kaunda fired him… he has never held a job were he has not been fired due to incopentency
He is talking law.
And all these are facts evidences against pf gvt.
SURELY HOW DOES RUPIAH EVEN IN THE WILDEST OF DREAMS OF AMSTERDAM PRESENT ” A FORMIDABLE POLITICAL THREAT” TO THE PF GOVERNMENT WHEN RUPIAH BANDA LAMENTABLY FAILED TO RULE BEYOND THE THREE YEARS OF BEING PRESIDENT THAT HE HE GOT ON A SILVER PLATTER FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MWANAWASA BEFORE HIS SECOND TERM CAME TO AN END? IT CLEARLY SHOWS AMSTERDAM HAS BEEN RANTING ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF ZAMBIA BECAUSE HIS PAY MASTER RUPIAH BANDA HAS BEEN TELLING HIM HE IS A POLITICAL FORCE IN ZAMBIA EVEN WHEN HE HAS NEVER BEEN AND WILL NEVER BE.
Who the fk is this Robert Amsterdam…he continue to lecture zambians about internal issues.. Our press is devoid of stories ..no wonder we get to hear what ever this ***** called Amsterdam is saying. RB has credible laywers in zambia who can speak on his behalf..
Go to school my man. A “wrong” is a “wrong”, whether said by a foreigner or a citizen, it still remains a “wrong”. Attack the facts of the matter, rather than messanger of the facts
I am told that RB is just waiting for Chikopa to finish his cases and thereafter RB will hire Chikopa to represent him. Do you have any qualms with that?
shut ********** . why can’t you talk for your country. you are usel.ess in your country and that’s why you have found refuge to meddle in other pipo’s countries. anyway am not surprised coz the Banda family are to dull that you have continued chewing their money. usel.ess foo.lish white man
lost sheep. If you used to eat with RB then know that those days are gone forever. You will keep on yaping nosence. PF dont even recognise you matako
PF do not sleep because of Amsterdam. Wynter said the man is dangerous and has brought down governments. Scott in Kenya told the Zambians there that Amsterdam is very sophisticated and effective and they must try to counter him. It seems it is only you who has their head in the sand believing Amsterdam is a nobody. Fact of the matter is that Amsterdam is causing very big waves.
If he (Guy) is as Zambian as you and I how come then he would never be President of the Government Republic of Zambia according to the constitution? We have to draw the right conclusions that once beaten twice shy. Zambia will never again be ruled by white people and I ain’t racist but a realist.
You may say that. But it is not about Guy Scott alone. Actually its genesis was in the Chiluba-Kaunda fiasco. Chiluba tried to bar KK from standing again! Otherwise as Veep, the man has achieved a great deal that you nincompoops with your full rights can only fathom but never realise.
The truth hurts hey? Answer the facts Amsterdam has raised instead of insulting him.Why should we Zambians always be seen as illiterates who can not even engage in intellectual debate.You may not like the man but all points raised are valid.PF has continued to disobey the courts.Interpol did remove Henry Banda off their list because the PF government could not come up with charges.RB spent months in the US knowing full well that if he came back the PF would start persecuting him but he still came back so how can he today be a flight risk.I challenge any intelligent PF supporter to answer the facts given.The rest of you can continue your ad hominem and/or ad feninem attacks as only your IQ can allow.
i couldnt have said it better myself. address the issues at hand, rather than making blanket, uninformed criticisms
It is really sad that 49 years after independence we still have white trash like Scott calling our internationally highly respected former head of state “that Chap”. And to have that son of a colonialist for a vice president!! I have no doubt in my mind that when Scott referred to South Africans as being backwards, he was infact referring to black South Africans. I feel so angry for Scott to refer to RB as that Chap, a flight risk. RB belongs to Zambia and Africa, unlike you who can easily become scottish. It is not long ago that we Africans were called “Pikininis and kaffirs” by the likes of you, so please do not open our wounds by calling an elder statesman like RB that Chap.
Bammm!
Guy Scott thinks You and I are still inferior to him. It’s an inherent belief that only the naive will deny.
My white-dude-who-finds-blacks-tiresome radar is beeps very loudly each time I see him dancing with native Zambians.
RUBBISH AMSTERDAM! WHO THE HEEL DOES HE THINK HE IS? HE THINKS ZAMBIANS ARE STUPID AND FORGET EASILY? WHY HAS HENRY BANDA BOLTED IF HE’S NOT GUILTY? SIMPLE LOGIC? STUPID LAWYER!
Henry Banda has not bolted. Even Interpol has seen through the malice of the Zambian Government and taken Henry of the Red Alert Notice. Amsterdam has achieved what rarely happens,someone being taken of the Interpol Red Alert Notice list. Do you think Mutembo Nchito or Wynter Kabimba would have achieved that?
Guy Scott paid himself for alleged SWINE FLU and that is as much as I remember him doing for Agriculture in Zambia.
GUY SCOTT, a true African and Zambian. Amen!
How dare you!
How dare you mention Guy scott and Zambia as if you give a rats A********! who are you, who are you again? I have known Guy scott as a zambian for as long as i can remember, in short since i was born! and you? i dont know you, only through online publications, when you insilt us Zambians and dont think am talking from without, so to me you are not worthy to mention Guy scott or Zambia, you are an intruder who wants to stain our country, what interest have you in Zambia if not stealing from those you claim to be defending? How dare you!
This is an improper fraction Mr Arms
I am only afraid that RB might escape a prison term by the PF’s bungling way of doing things. RB is guilty of plunder and just needs a competent court to send him to prison. We shouldn’t easily forget this fact. We missed the opportunity to send kafupi to jail and now another great chance has presented itself to teach RB and his sons and future leaders that crime does not pay.
Why don’t you sort out the current leader then? Why wait till they leave office? It’s not about teaching a lesson, it’s about enforcing the law consistently regardless of the individual’s status
Ex moma has put it concisely. Answer Amsterdam’s assertions. Most of the responses here, have no logical construction, are based on knee-jerk reactions and are emotionally irrational. Burying your heads in the sand and pretending to have been insulted because the person who said those things is not ‘the type’ that should be saying them.
If the rule of law is being observed, the constitution respected and the independence of the judiciary upheld, why have we spent the last few months showing concern and debating them? Has it not come from the PF government’s show of impunity towards court orders? – restricting freedom of assembly and speech for the opposition, failing to condemn from the highest office violence perpetrated by PF cadres against civil society e.t.c.?
Yes.
Why waste time on such a Nincompoop? His answer may come in another form!
Ba Amsterdam you are just a Chikhaala!
Rb was warned even his own family was warned mr armsterdam u ar a crook jst henry and family,u want to look inteligent at the expense of many zambians RB must be probed and he shud nt go anywere.
Guess who is footing the bill……money stolen from the poor by RBL and his sons. God has a way of punishing plunderers ask… FTJ, Bennie Mwiinga, Penza. Potatoe head with his vuka vuka will be next.