Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Steven Lungu has said it is wrong for Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata and other civil society organisations to comment on a matter before the courts of law because it is prejudicial and a bad culture that should stop.
And the Judiciary Department has said those accusing President Rupiah Banda of being behind the conviction of Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo should provide evidence and avoid making wild allegations.
Mr Lungu said in Lusaka yesterday that it was not right for anybody to comment on Mr Mpombo’s case because it had not been disposed of.
He wondered why the case had generated debates and accusations when it was still in court.
“This is what I have said before and I will continue saying, commenting on matters still in court is prejudicial and people should desist from this culture.
“The Mpombo case has not yet been disposed of and it is not right for people to continue commenting on it,” he said.
Mr Lungu said the best time to comment on any matter was when it had been concluded and that any comments should have a sound basis.
[pullquote]“The Mpombo case has not yet been disposed of and it is not right for people to continue commenting on it,” he said[/pullquote]
Judiciary Department public relations officer, Terry Musonda said yesterday it was sad that the civil society and some politicians always wanted to involve the president in selected convictions and judgments even when they knew that the judiciary operated under stipulated laws.
He said in an interview in Lusaka that Mr Mpombo’s was purely a court case and not political in any way.
“We all understand that people are entitled to their own opinions especially on the outcome of court cases, and where they have evidence on any allegations let them provide it because how else will society believe them if they just continue speaking from without,” he said.
Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani on Friday convicted Mr Mpombo on one count of issuing a cheque of K10 million on an insufficiently-funded account and sentencing is expected to take place today.
Meanwhile, PF Luapula MP Peter Machungwa has said it is unfair to attribute all professional decisions Government institutions make to President Banda.
Dr Machungwa described Mr Sata’s assertions that President Banda had influenced Mr Mpombo’s conviction as shallow politicking and called for the respect of the judiciary.
And former National Energy and Allied Workers Union secretary general, Yotam Mtayachalo advised Mr Sata to stop dragging the judiciary into politics.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Well, it had to take the likes of Machungwa not to see the link between Mpombo’s conviction and Rupiah Banda’s behind the scenes schemes. Anyway, what would one expect from a chap whose mouth has a cunnung semblence to the feminine genetalia and even has the audacity to utter ‘cikala cobe’ in parliament!
Ok, we’ll see shortly if this conviction had no blessing from state house when that Lucy Sichangwe goes to court for a similar offense.
What about Mulongoti’s comments, a GRZ minister?
the “no comment on matters still before the courts of law” thing should be revisted. it should not be used as a tool to gag public opinion. the public is party to the justice system.
Machungwa should pray MMD retains power 2011 otherwise there is a cell waiting for him at Kamwala
We will see whether the state is not involved after judgement has been passed on a similar case involving Minister Lucy Changwe. We are watching you?
ba mpombo fyakulifwaila abene benka balebonati bachenjele sana pano bali benka mu chimbokaila. how do you issue a cheque for ten million when you only have K47000 in your account. mpombo thought by resigning the rest of cabinet would follow him but luckily they are not as kutumpa like mpombo. were is mmembe, sata, TIZ, HH, they are free breathing good air enjoying food and beer while mpombo is being beaten by lice nokunya usunsumene if you have no balance in your legs you will fall on your faeces as you pupu. good ridance from public eye next changwe
It is politically motivated, you think you are talking to your children
Machungwa is busy job- hunting, that is why he can’t use his moral obligation (like Milupi) to resign. Even Mpombo has that courage, He clings to PF for his job, just for allowance. Thses are pipo in Chiluba store billions, thus all says is nonsense. same old machungwa! As for Mpombo this was clear it would come to pass especially when the thinkless mulongoti said (and implicitly directed the judicially) Mpombo would need him when in prison. Gross interference. Sata commments, and it becomes a big issue. spare me! I wonder how some people are blinded by little they get from MMD & forget the masses.. When they play with a murderer (MMD) they sing praise even if he kills their neighbours (Zambians), as long as he doesn’t kill him, but gives them money. Selfish individuals heeh?**==
# 9 tc progressor so machungwa stole billions pliz give facts to relevant office and action will be taken. we must have been hyponotised at the time machungwa helped himself to billions. I wish you could have facts rather than just yarping, gimme one example were machungwa stole. for all I know this guy is a lawyer and former home affairs minister. Whats wrong with lobbying for a job how do you feed your family if you dont seek for promotion. I would also want to get a good govt job
#10 diasporic slave – Machungwa was found guilty of diverting funds to MMD convention and also he was being investigated on how he built his house in Lusaka.He decided to abide by what ever LPM asked that is how he has survived.
Mpombo has himself to blame for dropping his “guard” in a fight that he himself started. The law says it is criminal to bounce a cheque, no one forced him to issue a cheque on a bank account that had insufficient funds. If you break the law you get punished, period! Watch your steps Mr. Mpombo!
Did Finlay give evidence in court?
It is politically motivated, you think you are talking to your children
Prove it is politically motivated. Where is your evidence?
Mpombo was convicted for a crime under the law. Now since he is no longer in cabinet, he did not receive any real or implied surport. He committed an offence period. There is no information to surport Rupiah’ s involvement. He wasjust caught pants down
Trouble is Findlay is a businessman who needs a suitable political atmosphere for his mischievious erands. He wired underages & we all know that. It must not take Mulongoti to push for the persecution of one Mpombo, no! The police must initiate that.As if ministers really have nothing to do in these well decorated offices. LAZ has always been wanting in as far as their contribution to national building is concerned. In a nutshell, its always been biased with easteners. Am not sure where we should place restitution, or the law of estoppel in this happentance? However, thats the result of having a head of the judiciary a veep and a member of the ruling party.
PEACE.
And now that you have caged Mpombo, why is RB still keeping his Minister of Lands who equally bounced a ten milliok Kwacha cheque as well. This is double standards being taken by RB. He is quiet on his Minister and gives order to have Mpombo looked up, What a Shame
This Stephen Lungu is a biased lawyer. Why did he choose to keep quiet when Mike Mulongoti commented on the same case a couple of days ago? Mulongoti said, ‘Mpombo deserves to be in jail’.
Lungu is correct. Under the law, you should not comment on cases. The question to me should be is there need to amend the law???
Keep in mind that Sata said that Rupiah secured the conviction implying that the there was unfair intervention. Now one task of LAZ is to maintain the integrity of the Judiciary and that is what he did
. While Mulongoti said he agreed withe judgement and refered to issues outside the case at hand without actually casting doubt on the Judiciary and and making unsubstantiated allegations like Sata ( charecteristically ) did
#11 dejavu thanks at least you have come up with something that I have to check.
De ja vu. Actually Levy wanted him expelled from MMD but he survived on an injunction and then went to pF, And if you follow his activities he has been always loyal to FTJ
. As for the parliament issue, the main witnesses in the case died in a traffic incident. The House issue never really got to court.
Satan is a devil==== the old devil thinks everyone is as evil as himself..! to hell wit yr finished kaponya PF hooligans without chance of sniffing statehouse.
What did Sata say? I have noticed the state media has this annoying tendency of making the reply a news item without bothering to elaborate on the original statement