Citizens Committee (CC) Executive Director Gregory Chifire has charged that High Court Judge Evans Hamaundu used the law to dismiss the London Court judgment case involving second republican president Frederick Chiluba (FTJ) to be registered in Zambia.
And Mr. Chifire says the Post Newspaper has no mandate rise an agenda to wind-hook the Zambian people from what is right.
Commenting on Judge Hamaundu’s ruling not register the much anticipated London High Court judgment in Zambia , Mr. Chifire says the Post Newspaper has launched a ‘new’ campaign with some civil society organization to disparage Zambia ’s judicial system so that Zambia is not seen as a sovereign State.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today Mr. Chifire observed that the Post Newspaper has got its own cases against the Zambian courts and the continued attacks on both the judiciary and government is uncalled for.
He said Judge Hamaundu is a professional lawyer who is working within the confines of the Zambian law.
He urged the Zambian people to respect the court’s decision adding that the issue is not about ex-president Dr. Chiluba but the legality and justification of the judgment.
The CC Chief also urged the Zambian people to forge ahead in other developmental issues than concentrating on FTJ’s judgment which consumed over eight years now.
He advised those aggrieved by Judge Hamaundu’s decision to use the legal suit than using the media to judge the ex-president, Dr. Chiluba.
Judge Hamaundu last week dismissed the applications for the registration of the London high court which found Dr. Chiluba and his co-accused liable for the theft of US$46 million.
The court dismissal of the application has and continues to raise concerns in sections of society with the latest being the country’s Law Association of Zambia ( LAZ ) which recently wrote to the Attorney General to consider an appeal in the Supreme Court in a matter regarding former President Fredrick Chiluba and others regarding the registration of the London Judgment.
In its press statement by LAZ President Stephen Lungu, the law body observed that it was mandated in section 4 of the laws of Zambia Act chapter 31 of the laws of Zambia to comment and provide guidance on legal matters that were of public interest.
Mr Lungu said LAZ through its research committee thoroughly looked at the matter and rendered an opinion on the same which has since been handed over to the Attorney General.
He said the Association’s opinion to the Attorney General was in the interest of the public for his office to consider lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court in order to finalise the matter adding that LAZ also advised Government to recommence the registration process under the common law which is applicable to Zambia.
He contended that the judgment of the High Court had far reaching implications therefore there was need for clarity in this area of the law.
HOWEVER, Government through works and Supply minister, Mike Mulongoti said, it respects the court’s decision over the acquittal of second Republican President, Dr Fredrick Chiluba.
Mr Mulongoti said government also respects the withdrawal of the appeal of the Direct public prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga.
The minister, who is also Acting MMD spokesperson, said the court used its legal channels in Dr Chiluba’s cases and as such government did not interfere in the matter.
He was reacting to an article which appeared in one of the daily newspapers yesterday which reported that cabinet secured Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.
However, Mr. Mulongoti has refuted claims that government interfered in Dr Chiluba’s acquittal adding that the court has the mandate to adjudicate on Dr Chiluba’s case.
He noted that President Banda had never spoken about Dr Chiluba’s case as he ( President Banda ) knew that the courts had judicial powers over the matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chifire says the State through the Attorney General Abyudi Shonga has the constitutional right whether to appeal against Judge Hamaundu’s decision or not.
He pointed out that people should not force government to appeal against the court verdict but to respect the law at all costs.
And National Revolution Party (NRP) Secretary General (SG) Kelly Walubita Jr. said in a separate interview with ZANIS in Lusaka that Dr. Chiluba’s court case should not be politicized.
Mr. Walubita Jr. in echoing Citizens Committee Executive Director Mr. Gregory Chifire said put should not raise doubts on the operations of the Zambian judicial system.
He warned civil society organization chief executive officers and politicians from advancing their political mileage.
Dr Rodger Chongwe, who is a prominent Lusaka lawyer and former Minister of Justice, the Patriotic Front/United Party for National Development (PF/UPND) Pact, Transparent International Zambia among others have expressed displeasure with judge Hamaundu’s ruling on the registration of the London High Court judgment against Frederick Chiluba and his co-accused.
But President Banda reiterated his government’s commitment to the fight against corruption and said Government respects the Lusaka High Court’s refusal to register the London High Court judgment on former President Frederick Chiluba and others.
ZANIS
What law does gregory chifire know when he is just a second year university drop out who is licking RB’s a**s to earn a leaving. I even wonder why he is given coverage by the state media. That’s why I will never pay TV licence.
The MMD shield Chiluba from facing the Law now but The money that was stolen must be recovered. The MMD seems to have a short memory. Just two years ago they sued a US businessman in Uk courts to avoid paying him interest.( Voucher transactions; George Kunda knows this case very well)
chifire dont worry whatever war membe launches it gets to nowhere he cant dupe zambians. we know membe isnt straight and has his own agenda. this explains why he can now go to bed with his sworn enemy sata. membe knows the only person who can cover his arse as far as deals committed are concerned is sata. knowing sata if he had to come to power the 1st person he would frustrate is membe. the post has lost all of its well meaning friends including neo simutanyi. its only ba pf who are now ballies with the post bcos even upnd are so annoyed for not being covered in the paper. upnd has complained for lack of coverage to no avail
# friday njikata if you dont pay znbc tv licence it means you are homeless or being kept. if you pay zesco, water bills then you cant escape tv levy. tell us the trick how come you have managed to evade tax. im sure you dont even pay your dues to zra then how do you expect as to do the choma namwala road
IM NOT ANNOYED BUT VERY SERIOUSLY ANGRY THAT RB & HIS COHORTS HAVE STOPPED ZAMBIANS FROM GETTING BACK THE MONEY CHILUBA STOLE. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PAY CHILUBA A SALARY & BUILD FOR HIM A MANSION USING TAX PAYERS MONEY WHILST ALLOWING HIM TO KEEP THE LOOT HE STOLE FROM US. BANDA MUST GO NOW NOT 2011.
Lady Gaga your comment doesn’t make sense. If Mmembe had done anything wrong this current which totally hates him would have done everything in their power to destroy him. The best they can do are contempt charges. He has nothing to hide, they have dug and dug and they have found nothing on Mmembe, he has nothing to hide. You and Chifire have the thinking capacity of a turd!:)>-
Ba Chifire, twamipapata get life for yourself dude and stop this uncalled for a.s.s licking! Since you cannot go back to C.B.U @ least enroll @ Cavendish or one of these universities in Cairo road. Get an education and then start debating rationally, you will get the respect and attention of serious minded people!
Chifire is a dimwhit just like mulongoti and the fools are so keen on protecting FTJ! Shame on these 2 clowns. The Judiciary nids an overhual and clear independence from the appointing authority
Lady gaga, post is a private newspaper which u can stop buying or close down, whichever is easier…why dont you complain about daily mail, times and znbc agenda? U think this govt wud leave the post’s a.r.s.e. if it was soiled? Lady ha ha you have hit the nail on the damn head, plus kuya bebele this g.o.o.n.s
Gregory Cifire, please stop hoodwinking Zambians, tesheti!
It is rather strange that the Minister of Justice, Attoney General and Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia has gone underground on this issue when he should be in the forefront to guide the nation on this issue of national interest.
Afterall, George Kunda started this action and prosecuted the case in London but is now not able to explain government position on the legal issues raised by the Judge and the way forward.
This issue is dividing the country and can lead to anarchy.
We need the Vice-President George Kunda, SC to guide the nation before we kill each other on a matter requirering his word.
It’s the year 1969, President Kenneth Kaunda summons Chief Justice James Skinner to explain a judgment passed by Justice Evans that the President did not agree with.
“I am satisfied that Justice Evans has acted on the principles of Justice,” Skinner said. “It is one of the functions of the judiciary to criticize the action of the executive or its individual servants whenever the need arises. If that right is denied then the courts would no longer effectively carry out their duties.”….
In his letter of resignation, he stated……Confidence in the judiciary was a delicate bloom in Africa, he wrote, “and I am not going to risk destroying it in Zambia”.
@The Post, Monday, November 24, 2008
Therefore, let Hamaundu resign if he has any principles as he has…
Editor,
Kindly my apology in making remarks below without diverting the thread discussion. I’m just shocked and scared to my bone.
So state intelligence services can track, abduct and execute accused persons even from foreign countries? I thought this behavioral practice is only synonymous with America CIAs known for renditions.
According to the UK-based human rights group, Jose Abeso Nsue, Manuel Ndong Anseme, Alipio Ndong Asumu and Jacinto Micha Obiang were abducted from Benin by Equatorial Guinean security forces in January 2010.
FULL STORY HERE on BBC website:
“Equatorial Guinea coup plotter summarily executed”
I honestly think that next year, we are going to war! former unita regiments will provide us guns… if ka fupi, vj, mulongoti and the others play their cards and we loss the elections next year by 1,382 votes..
No more sayings like.. no we zambians are a peaceful people! F… that, we are going all out.. enough of this unip-mmd bullshyt!
Mayo, Ine naya mukulala kuti waponta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)>-
And there you have it. More genocidal rantings from PF bloggers. Just look at post #14. Is there any sanity in the PF?
Capitalist.
Frustrations WILL lead to deaths if this low skilled Government keeps antagonizing its own citizens.
You only have to look at Senior Citizen and yourself who continually aspire to demeaning opposition members.
Why do you not tell your Co MMD cadres that they are wrong?
Cadre Mwata who today still believes that Chiluba has been cleared by UK courts.
Talk about blatant LIES.
Hey!!I??ll definitely have to check out Sean??s post. And I love the idea of blogging about a failure and how you learned from it. I??ll have to do that one soon