FORMER Republican president, Frederick Chiluba is consulting his lawyers over the restoration of his immunity and other related legal matters following his acquittal in the case of alleged theft, his spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba has said.

Mr Mwamba said in an interview in Lusaka that Dr Chiluba’s lawyers were studying the matter and the former president would soon state how he would proceed following the judgment in which he was found innocent on all charges.

Parliament in 2002 lifted Dr Chiluba’s immunity for offences alleged to have been committed in his 10-year reign as head of State and that paved way for his prosecution.

“The lawyers are studying the linkages of the case of alleged theft to other matters such as the former president’s immunity, the civil matter that was before a court in London and the case of Mrs Regina Chiluba,” Mr Mwamba said.[quote]

Meanwhile, the International Fellowship of Christian Churches (IFCC) has asked Parliament to restore Dr Chiluba’s presidential immunity because the courts have cleared him.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, IFCC president Simon Chihana said with the same vigour with which Dr Chiluba’s immunity was removed should be applied in restoring it.

Bishop Chihana said he was happy that the judiciary operated without any
interference from the Government as leaders desisted from issuing statements when the case was still in court.

He saluted Dr Chiluba for exercising maximum patience during the court proceedings.
The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) said it was good that the courts exhausted all procedures in arriving at the acquittal of Dr Chiluba on all the counts.

CEG trustee, Gershom Musonda said in Lusaka that like any other citizen, Dr Chiluba was presumed innocent until proven guilty or innocent, as it happened to be, a sure test case of Zambia’s adherence to the rule of law.

“The court applied the rule of law fairly so as to protect the former head of State’s liberty, his property and basic human rights. The court was neutral as it treated Dr Chiluba like any other ordinary citizen,” he said.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has described the courts’ decision to acquit former Republican president, Fredrick Chiluba as a relief to the labour movement.

ZCTU general secretary, Roy Mwaba said in an interview in Kitwe that throughout the trial, the process brought about shame, embarrassment and bad reputation to the labour movement.[quote]

Mr Mwaba said the charges that had been laid against Dr Chiluba greatly affected the labour movement especially that the former head of State was its product.
“For us, as the labour movement, Dr Chiluba’s acquittal is a relief in that wherever we travelled both locally and internationally, we were at pains to explain to the people out there what was happening in the country,” he said.

Britain’s second secretary for political, Press and public affairs, Gordon Ross said the United Kingdom would continue to actively support Zambia in its efforts to combat corruption.

In response to a Press query in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Ross said his government looked forward to a further institutionalisation of the fight against high-level corruption in Zambia.

On the decision by the Zambian courts to acquit Dr Chiluba, Mr Ross said his government followed the case with great interest because it was an important case for Zambia and the Zambian people.

Britain was following the civil case against Dr Chiluba, which was concluded in favour of Zambia in the London High Court in May 2007 with the court ordering former President Chiluba to pay back US$46 million to Zambia.

The case is in the process of being registered in Zambia for the judgment to be enforceable.

Italian Ambassador to Zambia, Giovanni Ceruti reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Zambian Government in the fight against corruption.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Ceruti emphasised hi country’s support to the fight against corruption, saying if not fought the scourge it deprives the ordinary person of a good life.

Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata congratulated Dr Chiluba on his acquittal and wished him well in the pending matter involving the enforcement of the London High Court judgment.

Mr Sata said it was sad that former directors of the defunct Access Financial Services Limited (AFSL) Faustine Kabwe and Aaron Chungu had been jailed for three years each.

And National Democratic Focus president, Ben Mwila has said the outcome of the court ruling over Dr Chiluba should be respected.

Reacting to the acquittal of the former president on six counts of theft by public servant, Mr Mwila said the courts were there to determine whether someone had committed an offence or not and that the Lusaka magistrate’s ruling on Monday, should be respected.

“The judgment was elaborate and fair and it should be respected. I mean the courts are there to prove a person either guilty or innocent and in this case, Dr Chiluba has been proven innocent hence the ruling should be respected,” Mr Mwila said.

[Times of Zambia]

Namwala Member of Parliament Major Robbie Chizyuka has appealed to Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe to help a Mazabuka based convict with a 10 month old baby to get released from prison.

Major Chizyuka said Susan Watama was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment after being detained for three months and even after serving six months of her sentence, she was denied her right to get one third of her sentence remitted.

He said from the time she was detained, Watama had now been in prison for a total of nine months but not yet released for unknown reasons.

Major Chizyuka appealed to Mr. Hakayobe to intervene in the matter as prison was not a conducive place for a 10 month old baby to be raised in.

He said any intervention in the matter was not meant to circumvent the law but to protect every citizen’s human rights.

Major Chizyuka said this today when the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender led by Lubasenshi Member of Parliament, Lazarous Chota paid a courtesy call on Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe.[quote]

And Mr. Chota bemoaned the poor sanitation at Mazabuka Prison saying the inmates were serving their sentences in deplorable conditions and were at great risk of getting malaria.

He also expressed disappointment at the disconnected water supply and late delivery of food rations for inmates at the prison.

Mr. Chota who is acting Chairperson of the Committee said water was a prerequisite for sanitation and called on government to look into the matter and ensure sanity was restored at Mazabuka prison.

Meanwhile, Chawama Member of Parliament Violet Sampa revealed that there had been no salt for inmates at Mazabuka Prison for the past two weeks.

However, Mr. Hakayobe said he had liaised with Southern Water and Sewerage Company Management in a bid to have water supply restored at the institution but cautioned authorities at the prison to also be committed in servicing their utility bills.

Mr. Hakayobe also pledged to look into all concerns raised by the committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender in the province.

The Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender is in Southern Province to inspect prisons and get first hand information on challenges the province is facing in relation to legal matters, governance, gender and human rights.

ZANIS

First Lady Thandiwe Banda has paid tribute to gallant women who contributed to the Liberation of the Zambia from the shuckles of colonialism.

Mrs. Banda says despite the challenging and tasking role that that women played during the struggle for independence, they have not recieved the attention they deserve.

Speaking at the official launch of the Lady Betty cruise boat in Kafue yesterday, Mrs Banda noted that women like Mama Betty Kaunda played an important role in the liberation struggle of the county as she remained steadfast in supporting her husband during the difficult times.

She explained that this was why Mama Betty Kaunda has remained a shinning example of loyalty and support , that a wise woman must give to her husband in bad and Good times .

The First Lady further thanked the Lawrence Sikutwa Associates (LSA) for recognizing the critical role that women play in the development process of the nation.

At the same occasion LSA group chairperson Lawrence Sikutwa said infrastructure development was a critical component of a well defined tourism, development agenda.

Mr Sikutwa has since challenged government to ensure that it supports all initiatives that are aimed at improving public investment that is required in the tourism sector.

He said the “Lady Betty Cruise Boat” is one of the 12 million United States Dollar tourism development initiatives which will see Kafue river Basin turned into one of Zambia’s major business and tourism centers.

And in a vote of thanks Mama Betty Kaunda called for concerted efforts from all the people in if the country is to achieve sustainable economic and social development.

ZANIS

Former President Frederick Chiluba’s executive designer suits and shoes seized by the Task force on corruption will not be handed back to him despite his acquittal on Tuesday.

And the Task Force says it will soon consult its prosecutors on whether or not to appeal against the acquittal of Dr. Chiluba.

Task Force executive Chairman, Maxwell Nkole, says the agency will hold on to Dr. Chiluba’s expensive clothing until the registration of the London High Court Judgement is determined by the high court in Zambia.

Mr. Nkole told ZNBC that the Attorney General, Mumba Malila, is trying to register the London judgement in the high court so that it can be enforced.

In 2007, London High Court Judge, Peter Smith found Dr. Chiluba liable of having embezzled public funds and ordered him to pay the government in excess of $50 Million United States Dollars.

Dr. Chiluba’s lawyers John Sangwa and Robert Simeza are challenging the registration of the London judgement.

The Lusaka magistrate court has cleared Dr.Chiluba of all six counts of theft by public servant, involving $500,000 US dollars.

FODEP has urged the Task Force on Corruption to explain the contents of the Judgement in the case where former president, Frederick Chiluba, was facing theft charges.

The Lusaka Magistrate court on Monday acquitted Dr. Chiluba who had been facing six counts of theft by public servant, involving $500,000 US dollars.

This is on grounds that the prosecution team failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

FODEP Executive Director, Stanely Mhango, says simplifying the judgement will allow ordinary Zambians to understand the ruling and end unnecessary debates.

Mr. Mhango told ZNBC News in Lusaka that FODEP is a firm believer in the rule of law and hence respects the court’s decision.

He also said the Task Force on Corruption has competent lawyers who should decide on whether or not to appeal to the high court on behalf of the Zambian People.

[ZNBC]