Saturday, January 11, 2025

I’m bitter that I had to spend K 65, 000 to make the Acting Chief Justice perform her duty-Harrington

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 William Harrington
William Harrington

“I am very bitter that I had to spend K 65, 000 money from my family and friends to make the office of the chief justice perform its duty,” former Transport Minister William Harrington has said.

It was in national interest, he said, to have Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo investigated on alleged corrupt activities and abuse of public office, therefore there was no need for such money to be spent.

Integrity in the fight against corruption required that institutions of governance operated in the expeditious and non discriminatory manner.

Last month, Lusaka high court judge Dominic Sichinga ruled that the acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda acted outside the law when she failed to constitute a tribunal against Masebo. He described the action as nullity.

The state has since appealed the decision.

“I am a victim of the failure of the office of chief justice to read and to implement the law on issues that should have been addressed in the public interest, and these are elements of serious unfairness,” he said.

In comparison, he said that the tribunal to have Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba be investigated had been constituted in a short period of time.

“I cannot understand why the issue of Kabimba tribunal was done promptly, compared to the Masebo issue that has taken so long to be concluded because of Chief justice Chibesakunda’s failure to comply with a ruling of the high court compelling her to institute a tribunal and thereby frustrating the entire process,” he said.

Harrington objected to an application by the State to stay and thereby delay the institution of the tribunal intended to investigate corruption charges against Masebo.

29 COMMENTS

  1. Kibimba is a lawyer and Minister of justice, he may have played his cards right and could have had his input in selecting the judges to be on the pannel, expect the outcome to be in his favour, thats why it was done earlier than Silvia. On Silvia the indication is that she might be found wanting and right now they are strategising whether to give a go ahead or keep on delaying.

    • now you know how it feels to fight for justice. remember what you and your MMD did leaving a rotten system in place due to your corruption?

      Don’t even complain, you should have spent more money for leaving a rotten system for the country

  2. Acting Chief Justice Chibesakunda can only perform one task that is acceptable. That is handing in her letter of resignation on the grounds that she is Constitutionally unfit to hold office.

    Any other action in this capacity is ILLEGAL and can constitute a CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

  3. here we go again, there is no area where the pf gvt can ever get any positive remark. its all rotten all the way up and down starting from state house where chela is ruling

  4. NInshi Ba Harrington Bafuna Chani Kansi? Everytime its him behind ma tribunals? Tawakwata ifyakuchita ka Harringtoni batini?

    • You are a lost soul. Harrington is a responsible citizen trying to make state institutions accountable. And there you are asking a lousy question on what Harrington is up to. It is because of unconcerned fellows like you that this country is accepting mediocrity.

  5. Mr.Harrington you are a hero for Justice.History will vindicate you. You are definitely not a docile Zambian who just reads and comments on online media with not thought of action.I salute you sir. One day when I have money I will donate it to your cause.

  6. Ba harrington. You want to be heard and not forgotten. Chabipa mdala. Sylvia is hard working. Imwe mwalilufyanya kaale mu mmd. Out of sight, out of mind…..

  7. As usual most of the comments coming in are completely useless other than mocking a serious issue raised by a concerned citizen. From what I read, a lot of Zambians on the streets do not understand what it means obviating or breaking the law by a government office bearer. And this is not there fault but an indication of where literacy levels lie in the country. For those unaware of Mr. Sata and click’s lack of respect of the law, once Mr. Sata was stopped by wildlife officers for routine inspections. It happened that he had game meat without permit, and the officers found fault with him. It was under Chiluba’s regime and Mr Sata was, if I recall correctly, a Minister without portifolio, defacto V/president, and Mr. Harrington was the minister responsible for wildlife. Guess what…

  8. (contd), Mr. Sata instigated the firing of Mr. Harrington which Chiluba did! And this wasn’t all, Mr. Harrington as Minister of Transport had issues with the lack of proper procedures to permit an airline in Zambia. Guess, the leaders who never what the law mean fired for a Lupunga who immediately granted the licence. Now, on this issue of Masebo in combo with Sata, it’s clear the Chief Justice is a pawn, only will move when instructed. If we all were like Mr. Harrington, we would NOT have such kind of leadership as Mr. Sata. But hey, don’t they say the leaders reflect the community they lead.., that said, it means the majority Zambians who voted for this guy have no knowledge of the law or let alone what they wish to their leaders should do. Sad for the minority where I belong!…

  9. Now that’s what I call a true patriot.Having spent his own cash for the benefit of Zed,Mr Harrington is living example of “ask not what your country can do for you ,ask what you can do for your country”

    Bravo,Mr Harrington.

  10. no asked Mr. Harrington to spend that kind of money, he wanted it moreover he enjoys when tribunals are constituted he also did the same to Dora siliya. he shouldn’t complain it was a decision made by himself so if he thinks that he wasted his money then he should stop asking for tribunals to be formed.

  11. A country gone to the dogs and monkeys! This is disturbingly sickening. Is this what you call “Chief Justice”? I care less if it walks on two, it simply doesn’t have even the slightest resemblance of Justice and ought to be driven out of that sacred office at once.

  12. Harrington reasons as opposed to riff raffs like Albert Chinyama and Mistaken identity. Think and make positive contributions than being arm chair critics without substance.

  13. Kabimba defended and protected Sylvia and that Kabimba is before the tribunal he has already played his cards with Fred. Watch and see what the outcome of this tribunal would be like. If truly was genuine, Kabimba was going to resign because there was nothing to hide everything was straight. Harrington is right here. Why spend such a mount of money while the path of justice is supposed to be straight?

    This shows and tells me somehow that people can suspect that Fred and Kabimba are the ones ruling this mother Zambia.

  14. WHY ARE YOU COMPLAING ABOUT THAT MONEY.? WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT YOURS IT WAS STOLEN FROM MMD GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU SERVED AS A MINISTER. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT YOU ARE EVEN PAYING BACK WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.YOU ARE ALSO DOING A GOOD JOB BY EXPOSING DORA CHISUSU AND MASEBO THEY THOUGHT MAY BE THEY ARE SMART.BUT DONT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MONEY IT IS OUR MONEY.

  15. Historically the head of PF and whatever has never practised patriotic politics. what can be expected from a colonial informer?

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