CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said it is puzzling that former Finance minister, Ng’andu Magande’s can call on Government to state its position on whether it will appeal against former president Frederick Chiluba when he knows the law.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said in Lusaka yesterday that as a former Cabinet minister, Mr Magande was aware that the Government was committed to upholding the independence of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and would not interfere with its decisions.
He said in an interview that the Government did not want to comment on former President Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal because it did not want to influence the DPP’s decision.
Gen Shikapwasha was reacting to Mr Magande who asked the Government to tell the nation whether it would appeal against Dr Chiluba’s acquittal or not.
He said the DPP was constitutionally mandated to decide on behalf of the Government on matters of appeal in cases such as that of Dr Chiluba.
“The Government does not come up with positions on matters which have something to do with the DPP. It has nothing to do with the decision on whether to appeal or not. We did not give our position on Dr Chiluba’s acquittal because we did not want to sway the DPP’s mind because we wanted to uphold the independence of the office,” he said.
He said the Government had nothing to do with the decision on whether to appeal against any court verdict or not and urged the public, especially political leaders like Mr Magande to appreciate that fact.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said according to the Republican Constitution, the office of the DPP was an independent entity, whose operation should not be influenced by any other office or individual.
He said it was equally puzzling that Mr Magande, who is a member of Parliament (MP) for the ruling party, could choose to rush to the media to discuss the issue when he had access to all the relevant offices including that of the DPP with whom he could have discussed the matter.
Gen Shikapwasha called on the people to take time and study what the law stipulates on various constitutional offices for them to fully understand their operations.
He said people should not politicise the office of the DPP because it was non-partisan which operated autonomously.
[Times of Zambia]
I think it is vice versa
Shikapwasha has been turned into a useless praise singer.Just who appoints the DPP? That was a fair querry from Ng’andu.Why then do we have ministers celebrating the acquittal of there criminal friend in Mansa instead of being in the office (Mabenga).These yokels s.u.c.k
Mr Shikapwasha, Lest you have forgotten, but let me remind you that it was Parliament (government) which lifted Chiluba’s Presidential immunity so that he could be prosecuted for grand coruption and fraud during his rule/misrule.
This is why Magande and “We the People” would like to know Government position on the matter and whether it will appeal against former president Frederick Chiluba acquital. The MMD is the ruling party and that they are organising the “Chiluba Acquital” celebratory functions is proof that the MMD government has taken a position. This is the position that “We the People” would like the MMD governmnet to state.
It is yesturday that the lands deputy minister and MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga officiated at such a function in Mansa hence the calls.
If its not the government policy to influence the DPP’s office then why let MMD cadres take the side and start jubilating. Everyone knows who is behind this and I can tell you that the job has been done and probably payments settled by now. Do not forget that once a dribbler always a dribbler. The problem is that the one behind it with FTJ might end up dribbling himself. Chiluba has already calculated the move. He was involved in the matrix scandle-remember
Just expel him from MMD and he can go and challenge HH for leadership of PF. …
Mr Magande has been playing to the gallery all along. He is an actor on the stage. In the Greek past, actors wore masks to impersonate the character they played. The actors were called hupokrites. Mr Magande is a hypocrite.
Chiluba is nothing in Luapula Province. Celebrating his acquittal in Mansa is a Seechupid thing and me as a Luapulan am very upset that this eediot called mabenga can think that we have no brains and can support a criminal. As I have said before: Jesus was innocent but was convicted while Barubbas who was guilty was acquitted.
Chiluba is nothing in Luapula Province. Celebrating his acquittal in Mansa is a Seechupid thing and me as a Luapulan am very upset that this one called mabenga can think that we have no brains and can support a criminal. As I have said before: Jesus was innocent but was convicted while Barubbas who was guilty was acquitted.
To the contary, the office of the DPP is partisan and does not operate autonomously. It only serves the plunderers like chiluba, chuungu and Bwezani banda…
This story is the reason why there has to be drastic change in the way these politicians do things. Such buffonery would not be worth commenting on if it only stayed in their circus. Sadly what these knuckle-heads do ends up affecting our very being as a people and hence this idiocy needs to be vehemently fought.
How can this guy (he doesn’t befit the title honourable) say what he is saying? Who does he take us for, *****s like his ilk? all small kids at nursery. The acts of his Boss in the passed weeks have unvieled what they as a govt think on Chiluba. To hide behind the DPP and constitutionalism is silly to say the least. We all know that the DPP cant appeal because if he does so he will go just like Nkole who appealed earlier.
Shame Rev. Ron, His behaving like a pharisee
imwe ba LT publish my earlier contribution there is nothing to censure, if you keep behaving like this we wiil go to other forums like Zanigi
This story is the reason why there has to be drastic change in the way these politicians do things. Such buffonery would not be worth commenting on if it only stayed in their circus. Sadly what these shameless charecters do ends up affecting the people and hence their callousness needs to be vehemently fought.
How can this guy (he doesn’t befit the title honorable) say what he is saying? who does he takes us for, drolls like his ilk? or kids at nursery. The acts of his boss in the passed weeks have unvieled what they as a govt think on Chiluba. To hide behind the DPP and constitutionalism is silly to say the least.We all know that the DPP cant appeal because if he does so he will go just like Nkole who appealed earlier.
Shame Rev. Ron, His behaving like a pharisee
The State should not get puzzled by Magande’s demand. Its a straight forward thing. Why is Lt. Gen. Shika going into circles. Its either GRZ takes a silent stance than making useless comments. We have serious business which this GRZ is supposed to sort ot. What is GRZ position on non opening of Chainama College of Health Sciences. When CBU gona be opened. What is being done on the strench of the road between Baobab College and Makeni Turn off, pot holes are getting bigger and bigger. LT COL Nkunika and Wyson Ngulube wake up before lives are lost. Jimbe border post is a mess what is the GRZ time frame to repair infrustructure and deployment of full staff strength. ZP, Customs and Imigration. Its no longer a war zone.
Now LT tell me what was the reason for not publishing my earlier piece, which was a replica of #10 only difference is i used droll instead of *****…..but then again these are synonyms.
Ba reverend fimo fimo there is talking on a full belly, thats why he thinks he take Zambians for granted with his fluid splashing speeches of the DPP this the DPP that. Something has to be done about our political system we r being led by not only the blind but also the foolish……
We need in our country people that are going to take the middle line and help the masses understand issues and be able to put some peoples comments into perspective. I will always be very careful not to get involved in helping people fight there enemies whom I may not consider my enemy. This man has quickly joined the ranks of incosequential politicians who lack substance in the manner they go about issues. This guy has given me a picture that he was very close to Levy who failed lamentably to fight corruption in government.This man was busy brokering Zambia airways bail out when the funds at the ministry of health were being syphoned. You must be ashamed of yourself. M’membe with his selective reporting has chosen not to highlight the terrible catastrophy that Levy and his Magande were.
We need a new tabloid in our country that will unearth issues in a factual manner and leave people to make opinion and judgement. I want to implore Zambians out there with umuchanga to get on board and save the country from these political tabloids. WE NEED SOMEBODY TO REPORT THE FACTS. WE DO NOT NEED BIASED COVERAGE THAT ONLY GO TO CORRUPT UNINQUIRING MINDS. Magande is not any better than any other minister that has been in government before.This is where I tend to think RB is running things in a very mature manner. If RB went the Levy route, and this he has indicated to the so called donors that we are going to get caught in a very childish vicious circle of unproductive persecution of past leadership. What we have seen is enough for me to ask Magande to keep his mouth shut