The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has charged that the UPND Government’s crusade against corruption is vindictive and selective.
EFF Secretary General Changala Siame has cited the recent arrest of PF member Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM over allegations of Conflict of Interest and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime as a typical example of a vindictive fight against corruption.
GBM appeared in court yesterday for counts he faces of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and conflict of interest involving millions of Kwachas and thousands of dollars respectively.
He has since been granted bail of K300, 000 by the Lusaka Magistrate Court.
GBM was yesterday arrested by a joint investigations team and charged with 8 counts of Conflict of Interest and 19 counts of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
In a media statement, Mr. Siame said President Hakainde Hichilema’s government is not in a moral position to raise issues of conflict of interest on GBM.
“We would like to categorically state that as Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF, we have zero tolerance to corruption. However, the approach by the UPND government towards the combat of corruption is somehow vindictive, subjective and selective.President Hakainde Hichilema, he is not in the moral position to raise issues of conflict of interest on Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba-GBM. When President Hakainde Hichilema was the Liquidator for Mosi o tunya Intercontinental Hotel now Sun Hotel, he sold the hotel and became the shareholder and the Director thereof. Did he raise the issue of conflict interest? Is this not pure hypocrisy at the core?”
“As Economic Freedom Fighters we demand that the President tell the nation why he never declared interest when he subsequently became a Director of Sun Hotel. This was during a time he was preserved with the responsibility of valuation and solicitation for a buyer for Mosi O tunya Intercontinental hotel. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Let us desist from victimizing the opposition political leaders,” Mr. Siame said
“Besides, GMB committed these alleged offenses in the reign of President Michael Chilufya Sata. Does it mean President Hakainde Hichilema had amnesia during this time when he picked GBM as his running mate in the Presidential elections in 2016? These issues raised on GBM are not new allegations. These issues have hinged on his neck for some time now. President Hakainde Hichilema, who claims to have a methodical approach to issues, could not claim of not having hindsight over these matters, unless someone would say he does not pay attention to information background when appointing people in position,” he said.
Mr. Siame said every citizen is equal before the law just as President Hakainde Hichilema is.
“However, what is interesting here is issues of principles being brought to question. If indeed the President Hakainde Hichilema is a person of principles, he could have declared interest in the case Mosi O tunya Intercontinental Hotel and he would have never welcomed GBM in his party and later on appoint him his running mate. Nelson Mandela once said, “Anybody who changes his principle depending on whom he is dealing with is not fit to lead.”As Economic Freedom Fighters EFF we believe that everyone is equal before the law just as President Hakainde Hichilema. As Economic Freedom Fighters we believe, wherever we want to go, our feet shall take us there. We have hope that refuses to die,” Mr. Siame said.
Tell him. What GBM and others are going through now will also apply to many of those serving in this Government and that’ll be unfortunate
That’s the problem with GBM. He always thought he could buy his way into power.
Let him get cleared by the courts if he is innocent. Kampyongo has just been cleared of some criminal charge where we all believed he was behind the instruction to endanger the lives of the upnd campaign team which included a former first Lady
I think you are assuming that the people in govt now will steal like your PF leaders did. Only those who will be involved in corrupt practices will be prosecuted.
Unless you are saying you will go back to arresting anyhow without cause just because they served in UPND GOVT. In which we the zambian people will not vote you in for we are keeping all these messages and shall surely use them during campaigns
Vindictive and selective? Absolutely, I bl00dy well hope so! Time for all these PF criminals to go to jail!
GBM co funded the Upnd in 2016. The only sin that he’s committed is his recent remarks against the Upnd. If you receive stolen goods you are also a thief. Those who ate GBM’s money in 2016 must all be arrested for receiving stolen goods.
Deflecting attention to many economical issues people are grappling with. We are dealing with serious jokers here it’s frightening.
Deja Vu – All crooks will pay for their crimes…so because you recieved mealie meal from Bowman during campaigns does it mean you should be arrested? Let be serious stop deflecting away from the article whilst supporting wrongdoing…we all know you have a laidback approach toward following the laws evident by your hit and run road accident…it had to take the courts to force you to cough up the third party.
When people get used to lawlessness, normality becomes abnormal. GBM is not a small boy who does not know how to defend himself if these allegations are false. Aside from that, no one is above the law. I recall HH challenges those who were alleging his hands were not clean to take him to court. Can we stop hero-worshiping thieves merely because we come from same region
#5Tarino Orange…. I didn’t know you had limited capacity. There’s a very big difference between distributing food and receiving money for political campaigns. Your party received millions from GBM and foreign funders. You can’t go in the street looking for the poor souls that got a bag of mealie meal. But you can go to HH and see how much he received from GBM. GBM as a business giant has got records of how much he paid to your party.
Changala Siame, your EEF source of resources has dried up. Spewing uncultured tantrums with your president is unheard in Zambia. It just describes and disgraces yourselves. Nothing to do with pitting of ideas.
If you stole, you stole and you need to answer to the charges. Doesn’t matter who you associated with
Twalamona
Another disappointment of a young misguided zambian ***** disguised as a politician ! Unfortunately ,if this is the caliber of (so called ) opposition leaders we are going to have in Zambia ,then UPND will rule until 2050 !
De javu u have hit on the nail
That’s the problem with GBM. He always thought he could buy his way into power.
Let him get cleared by the courts if he is innocent. Kampyongo has just been cleared of some criminal charge where we all believed he was behind the instruction to endanger the lives of the upnd campaign team which included a former first Lady
All thieves must arrested and bring back all maney