Mpombo speaks out on Chiluba acquittal
Former Defence Minister, George Mpombo has advised government to stop issuing reckless statements on the acquittal of second President, Frederick Chiluba.
Speaking when he featured on Radio Mazabuka’s ” Live wire programme,” Sunday, Mr Mpombo said the statements on the acquittal have potential of dividing the nation.
Mr Mpombo said there is need for government to handle Chiluba’s acquittal in a manner that will be acceptable to the general citizenry and unite the country.
He warned that if not properly handled, the second Republican President’s acquittal could affect the economic and social development of the nation.
The former minister said statements issued by government leaders prior to the judgement of Chiluba’s case could have to a large extent influenced the out come of the case.
He also urged government to reconcile with the Roman Catholic Church saying attacks on the church are unacceptable and misplaced.
Mr Mpombo said government should pursue a consultative process and avoid antagonising one particular church.
“An attack on the church is an attack to all Catholics which is not healthy for the country,” he said.
But Chief government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha dismissed claims by Mr Mpombo that government has been reckless on the statements on Dr Chiluba’s acquital.
Mr Shikapwasha, who is also Iinformation and broadcasting minister, said Zambia is a democracy which allows divergent views as evidenced by the debate on those against and in support of the Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.
He said the Judiciary operates independently adding that Zambians should accept and respect the acquittal of Second President.
The minister said what is surprising is that even Patrotic Front leader, Michael Sata is accusing government of having influenced the court decision to acquit Dr Chiluba when he, himself (Mr Sata) when he was acquitted by the same court no one accused him of having influenced the judgment.
” People should learn to accept the fact that the Judiciary in court is independent, We know that some people wanted to see the former President go to jail,” said Mr Shikapwasha.
On the attack to the Catholic church, Mr Shikapwasha maintained that the statement he issued in parliament still stands.
Loading ...
Iwe Mpombo, we have heard this before! These days everyone is an economist and can tell you how anything and everything can affect the value of the Kwacha and increase unemployement.
Can’t believe this hypocrisy!
Its sad that RB and his impis do not want to hid to any advise. RB and his impis are misleading me that i ve accepted the verdict passed by Jones Chinyama, no. Chiluba is a criminal and he deserve to be in prison. Ok, so imwe ba MMD you think he will campaign for you in 2011, you ve lost the election and when new government take office, will for sure revisit the case and that time it will express sentencing of Chiluba and his cronies.
Mpombo’s advise should be undermine coz you are misleading me for sure. May i should exercise a citizen arrest and see if it works in Zambia. RB and your impis listen iwe and wake up.
So presidential citizen,telling somebody that the best they know is to drink imbote and katata is not an insult? Mpombo is a big man to be disperaged like that, morover what George is talking about is valid and senior citizen trashing it just like that makes sense to you.Iam warning you!am unlike small men like you who stay on the blog with borrowed computers to discuss non issues.You said you reported me to who?I thought you should report me to the police?or DPP Mchenga if you so wish.Stay away from this,Senior citizen has been saying all sorts of rubbish on this blog and you are quiet.We are not small men my brother we are busy contributing to the economy of the country when you and your cronies are busy praising playfull politicians who are not adding anything to the imancipation of this beautifull country.I have no apologies to make. Get a life.
MJT,
I’ve reported you the editor of this blog. Good bye. Go and blog on Zambia Online where there are no rules.
MJT,
Hold your fire. I donot seen any insults by Senior Citizen.And mind you minds that insult so easily are ‘rust’ as they highly coroded. Read thru citizen well researched contributions including the Imbote and Katata, I feel Citizen knows Mpombo well unlike yourself who lives by insulting. I personally know Ba
George so well, I reside in his Constituency, a registered voter at Nsungabukanda Polling District in his constituency. When Ba George appeared on the Mazabuka Radio, He surely didnot insult anybody apart from giving advise to GRZ where danduheads like yourself belong. So Ba MJT, what is the source of your insults?
I have known Mpombo for a long time and there is not change in him for those that think he has change. he has always stood firm on issues that border on national security and the economy. He commends where its is due and condemns where necessary. He also kneels where possible and stays aloof to nobodz like RB. Keep the same spirit Hon Mpombo
Mpombo, keep up the spirit, you are not like others who can’t survive without a ministerial position. You have heed your conscience. you are the man Zambia needs not people like Senior Citizen, who are always negative.
Big Jay, i conquer with you on your comment about Senior Citizen. But i request you to understand him because he does not speak what is his but somebody’s. He has a wicked job to keep.
Senior Citizen ever since i started reading peoples’s ideals en decisions on ths site you re th worst speaker i’ve ever cum across. And i would advise th wacth d to block you coz u re a person full of negatvie ideals en decisions. No wonder Zambia will remain undeveloped as long as we hve pipo like you around.
Senior Citizen, ulala pa computer?
how can he say that his sentment in p,ment,stand he is mad,thats what he is mad
Mpombo should just continue confusing himself than talking of national division and court influence he has no clue about.The Zambian Judiciary is the most responsible and independent system in the whole of Sub Sahara Africa hence contracted to preside over many Global level judicial panels.Our products have and serve on the ICC, in Namibia, the Gambia, Gabon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, currently on the Kenyan Electoral commission and in East Asian countries.
Let him read what LAZ said in response to Sata’s tatement below:
LUSAKA 15 September 2006
ZAMBIA OPPOSITION CHIEF PLEDGES TO DROP CHILUBA CHARGES
Zambia’s controversial opposition leader Michael Sata pledged Friday to drop all corruption charges against former president Frederick Chiluba if elected president in this month’s election.
Sata, campaigning in northern Zambia where Chiluba remains extremely popular, told a public meeting that the ex-president was being “persecuted” by his successor Levy Mwanawasa who is seeking a second term of office.
The PF leader Michael Sata said all the people who have been arrested alongside Chiluba on corruption charges were from Northern and Luapula provinces,which showed that Mwanawasa hated them as a people.
“The man (Mwanawasa) is vindictive for nothing.I will drop all the charges against Chiluba,” said Sata.
He said he would also allow the return of fugitive ex-intelligence chief Xavier Chungu who fled the country two years ago after being arrested for corruption and abuse of public funds when he worked under Chiluba.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) however said that Sata’s statement carried no weight as the president law does not have the powers to drop charges in cases which are before the courts.
My take is rather than invest in this counter productive discourse why not start to dream a little dream. With this economical boom in our region, why not revisit Zambia Empowerment Blue-Print, and begin to position ourselves to benefit from the investment that was made through facilitating the liberation of this region on our behalf by Dr Kaunda and his team. Dr Kaunda was advised to invest in this as it had the potential at the time to be a boom market for Zambia AND zambians, so he went on to structure an economic infrustracture such has the Kafue Nitrogen Chemicals and the like which was intended to service this region and not Zambia alone, in anticipation
The liberation policy of Dr Chiluba was to build upon the Kaunda’s Zambianasing policy which in itself was an Empowerment Policy. In short, instead of us risking our children’s future through this useless persuits rather let revisit this, and probably capture the South African govt’s Black Economical Empowerment model, validated it and implement
Mpombo is exihibiting failed leadership behavior.All he knows best is to drink katata and Impote than national affairs and christianity.By all dimensions, the Rt.Reverend Ft.Lt.General Shikapwasha’s August House speech was and is irreproachable to any Godly citizen.It created no space for apologetics.There was no better way of articulating it but the way he did it.This is a battle of the antichrist, anti salvation, anti Christian nation convenant, anti peace and pro-rituals against the body of Christ.Personally I unflinchingly stand with Reverend Shikapwasha and refuse to serve no foreign God but Jehovah.
Joshua 24:20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”.
“Ye are My witnesses”, saith the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10-11)
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of hosts; “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)
“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8)
Also in Isaiah 45:5,6 and 18.
Mpombo its nice that you are coming out in open that you are a changing man.My wish is that let others learn from you and perhaps follow your steps.