Former University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) President Solomon Ng’ambi has expressed concern at the simple sentence slapped on Patriotic Front (PF) Ndola Central Parliamentarian Mark Mushili.
Mr N’ambi said Mr. Mushili as a law maker was an example to society especially youth hence stiffer punishment should be meted out on him to deter would-be offenders.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, he challenged Mr Mushili to resign on moral grounds following his 6 months imprisonment with hard labour by the Ndola Magistrate court for attempting to swindle Government out of more than K300 million.
The former UNZASU leader said Mr Mushili was not fit to represent the people of Zambia as he could not inspire people or embark on real development in his area because of his theft record.
He said the people of Zambia deserved better representatives and not those with tainted records and selfish motives to defraud the country out of its meagre resources using their position.
He cast a doubt on whether the opposition was capable of providing alternative leadership as they had started swindling the country even before they formed Government.
Mr Ng’ambi called on Zambians to be wary of such people adding that it was not possible for Mr. Mushili to serve his sentence and at the same time attend parliamentary sittings.
He challenged Patriotic front President Michael Sata for being silent over the matter. He said if the PF leader was credible, he should come out in the open and condemn the act by his MP like he has been taking interest on other high profile cases.
[pullquote]He cast a doubt on whether the opposition was capable of providing alternative leadership as they had started swindling the country even before they formed Government.[/pullquote]
And Mr Ng’ambi welcomed calls by Transparent International Zambia to impress upon the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to appeal against the sentence describing it as weak and likely to encourage crime in the country.
Mr. Ng’ambi has also called on law makers to come with a law to prevent MPs serving sentences from attending Parliament as they were not free citizens.
In a separate interviews with ZANIS today, SACCORD Information Officer Oby Chibuluma called on the Drug Enforcement Commission (ECZ) to appeal against the six month suspended sentence slapped on Ndola Central MP Mark Mushili.
Mr. Chibuluma said it was shocking to see a person in a scandal involving colossal sums of money to be slapped with a minor sentence when other people in society were jailed for just stealing a small amount of money.
He has since called on other stakeholders to join in this fight so that Government could appeal. He further urged the DEC to thoroughly investigate the matter to the latter.
Mr Mushili was last week slapped with six months imprisonment which was suspended for one year.
ZANIS
Rubbish Ng’ambi, is your job “former UNZASU President”! Go get a life- look for job and stop hiring yourself out, what a waste of taxpayers money to educate you, shaaaa!
#1 Does he not have a right to express his opinion or is that only ok when PF are calling for the lynching of Musonda?
#1 How can a sane person support wrong things:o. You are a disgrace.
# 1 ur useless and dull
PF,PF!! If Sata has morals,he has to disown this MP ASAP.#1 are you ok? This is the kind of change you are calling for? Tragic!!
The problem with bloggers on this site is that pa li fulisha ifikopo, kwati bufi sure. Uku bwata bwata lyonse kwati ba balowa fye :o
#1. good job. go tell chinyama to sentence chiluba instead of the same law to be soft on some and tough on others. viva number 1, i salute you. this sponsored unza failures are full of shit.
This is useless setence. Chiluba defrauds Zambia but acquited, dola steals through the RP capital, nothing is done, etc. Let us apply the law equally. Musonda was about to be let loose had it not been for Zambians’ presure . What a counry with two laws. Let also those MMD guys with false claims at the Ministry of community and social services be jailed as well.
If this is the government in waiting, mark mushili, Willie nsanda, Mumbi Phiri, Jean Kapata, and the rest then all well meaning Zambians have evry reason to be worried for the Mother Country. Shame indeed. These are the thieves tring to hide in opposition politics. The money he was trying swindle is meant for poor citisens.
#9 Dont mind them. They are just sore because they know they cant use HH to get to plot one and their hero boy Membe has exposed the ka pact built on lies and smoke screens. Is it Chiluba’s fault that Nchito did not do his job? Why was Satan canoodling with Chiluba during his trial if he was guilty? You think we cant remember all the PF thugs waiting for him at the airport when he was going on his medical trips to South Africa? Musonda is going to face the courts what more do you people want? Go and come back with some decent policies for Zambia – you might even have a chance next year. Hypocrites.
Legal judgement must be impartial. This sentence must be repealed and instituted with one that is stiff and appropriate. As a nation we must move forward. Yes, the MP must be fired or made to resign ASAP.
A few decades ago Mr Grey Zulu commented on a case before the Courts. He was cited, charged and lost the case. The judge fined him K17.00 (I think – it was still a ridiculous figure even then). The thought process was that the man was going to lose his job anyway. KK, unfortunately, did not read between the lines.
I agree with Solomon 100 + %.You know these damn politicians because of their greedy and short sightedness ca not resign.This chaps public image has been tainted with his evil desire for money.He should resign on moral grounds.He is more of a law breaker than a law maker.
Has Chi-Katele resigned?
The most this MP can do is to step down if not he has to be forced to do so as he is a criminal who can not serve the needs of the people than steal from them what we need in Zambia is public beating to some of these leaders
Oh well , I guess he never actually stole the money , but just attempted. Let him sweep offices for attempted theft. You can’t slap a murder sentence on a person who attempted murder. There is a difference
Mark should resign, he doesn’t deserve to hold the position that he has.
The money which can be used to bring change to education, health etc is being pocketed by these selfish creatures. They are sucking money that is being paid by poor tax payers. Mark should be ashamed of himself to not resigning, the same goes to others that are misusing public funds.
# 16, if he was not stopped he could have stolen. Pl……..se dont defend him.
While, I feel bad that an MP ahould not involve himself in crime,I want to challenge this Ng’ambi why he has kept quiet on cases involving MMD cadres which have been mishandled by our courts. If I remember correctly this is the same louse that wanted parliament to expel Kanyama MP for not attending the fake NCC. In short he is an MMD stooge. If the DPP acts on this case, I would want him also to appeal against Chiluba’s acquittal, other wise he has got no balls as a man.
Zambians why do you villify one another for belonging to different parties? A wrong is a wrong and we should never define it on partisan lines. What makes most Zambians disillussioned is when the President keeps quiet when one of his cabinet colleagues commits a crime and by the same token an opposition President is loudly quiet when one of his MPs commits a crime. Zambians feel hopeless with such type of politics. You hear opposition leaders challenging those in power for belatedly bringing issues out yet they themselves cant promptly address us on Kabimba/HH differing, Mushili convinction and others. We wonder who our saviour is because this behaviour is no different from those in power.
You know when I look at the out come of court cases, I liken them to football or any other game that is controlled by referees. Some times referees help teams win games.You find a player is red carded for faul play .Yet a similar ofence commited in another game not even a yellow card will be shown.In the same way,courts will send people to long term jail for stealing little money yet big time thieves like Mushili get simple sentences. How can people not call our judges corrupt? What further evidence do we need to prove that judges are corrupt?
The courts went to the dogs a longtime ago or is it the dogs that have come to the courts?…..The rich are getting away with it and the poor suffer for their wrong doings…..I look forward to a better Zambia oneday when may be I can also contribute sense to our nation
# 1 is a chizende……….Thats why PF/UPND will never rule zambia in the next 1000years to come!
…..now that you are no longer getting money from GRZ . now you cant stand on your own. young man grow up and get a life. UNZA life is over, get real .i never haerd you say a thing on FTJ case and his stolen wife’s case . or are you looking forr money ? you can come and get sum from me .
The fact that this PF mp got what seemed to be light sentence should show that the Zambian judiciary is not corrupt but impartial surely?
#23 new party i agree with you #1 likandi. the sentence slapped on mark motorways smells of corruption. I urge judge kajimanga to call for the docket and review the case like he did on that marijuna grower sydney pf chileshe
Former UNZASU president? Try using that in the corporate world! Thats like what the heck is that @-) ? Shows that the guy is still childish and thinking UNZA students are the most important people in the country… forgetting that many, thousands have passed there already and earning decent income. In short, the guy must grow up. let him join some organisation or form one at least so he properly persues his political career.
Otherwise Sata must act on this MP.
When it comes to the law Zambians shouldn’t be partisan. We call our MPs Honourable…. Is Mark Honourable after this case? The ‘Honourable’ thing that Mark should do is give up his parliamentary seat.
In accordance with the current constitution Article 65 Disqualification for Election to National Assembly (1) A person shall not be qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly if- (a)..(f) that person, within a period of five years before his nomination for election, has served a sentence of imprisonment for a criminal offence. So Mushili if this was a criminal offence should not stand in 2011.
Oh sorry Article 65 Disqualification for Election to National Assembly (8) In this Article, the reference to a sentence of imprisonment shall be construed as not including a sentence of imprisonment the execution of which is suspended or a sentence of imprisonment in default of payment of a fine. I am not a lawyer but in my analysis Mushili can actually stand. So for any suspended sentence politicians can actually get there way and stand again. Oh..
Mushili is an individual who did that, now people are forgetting and accussing PF for all the unbelivable reason. Ok a theft is a theft, someone said Sata must be stopped cause of this case. What of AlaBee, where is Katele? jailed. Where is Chiluba’s wife? jailed. So in the same vain we call for RB’s firing of himself!!!
2, 3, 4 are you happy to see the young man prostituting himself politically to the highest paying politician! He has a right to comment but must talk sense, did he study law? Does he know about alternative punishments, silly g.o.o.n.s including 23
#32 I like your line of arguing. Somebody challenges you so they must be goons? I guess you must be the only one who is able to decide if somebody is ‘talking sense’ or not. I greatly admire your humility. Perhaps you should be the one to rule Zambia as you are such a great person.
33 I will let that roll off my back…the goons didnt give any explanation! I just did and thanks taken your comment as a compliment!
The problem with our judiciary is that it is compromised and now they are failing to deliver justice in very straight forward cases. In this case they failed to adequately sentence Mark Mushili because they didnt wasnt to look as if they were delivering justice partially after letting off MMD goons go scot free.
#35, It is important to try and be neutral. This is what will make Zambia a fair and just society, not extremist politics. Which MMD goons have gone scot free? As far I remember Katele was sentenced and has just appealed. Nyirongo was sentenced and is awaiting judgement in an appeal. Dr. Solomon Musonda is on trial. Chalwe is on trial. I beg you Timbalife, don’t hate other Zambians because they have a different opinion and belong to parties you don’t support. Let your mind be informed by facts. Then we will have Zambian we can all be proud of. Chiluba was acquitted because of the rules of evidence and I don’t know whether he is PF or MMD. He is capable of changing parties as you know..
MUSHILI SHOULD HAVE GONE IN WITH HARD LAB OUR. HE IS A THIEF.PF OR NO PF. AS MP HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO STEAL WHEN HE BECOMES MINISTER HE WILL STEAL A HUNDRED FOLDS. CORRUPTION STARTS HERE, IF A LEADER IS NOT PUNISHED FOR BREAKING HIS LAWS HE ENACTED .
#36 Mwakamba bwino maningi. Some of these people just like spouting their mouths for nothing and always wanting to paint the country in a negative life. If Mushili’s sentence was heavier, then they would have been saying that the MMD is targeting him because he is PF. In fact they would have said that it was RB who was behind his criminal activities in the same manner that they blamed RB for the bouncing cheque that Mpombo wrote.
What about the cheques that Lucy bounced, where do they fall in all this?
Anyway, are these the rulers we intend to put in power to take care of our affairs really, SHAME. To be honest these Hichilema(upnd) guys are so principled, we need to call a spade a spade or give credit where it is due. All this long we have never head these upnd guys misaproprieting or mismanaging CDF funds and they are so outstanding in their parliamentaly debates. We need to learn something from them. Honestly how can Mushili try to obtain money from GRZ through false pretence, what more when they are going to rule zambia they will just be picking from our treasury. We need to wake up guys and know the people we are yet to choose to govern us. Look at Willie Nsanda’s behaviour, really it does not fit a person of MP level (honorable).
shame on you mushili. lets hope you did not acquire your wealth muli bukabwalala
mushili if you can steal this time when you are not in real power what if?????????????????
mark is very wrong to engage in such vices actually, he is worse than chiluba because chiluba only misapplicated funds, he did not steal. all politicians are greedy, be it in opposition or ruling party..