The clergy in Ndola have expressed mixed feelings over calls by some NGO’s to have former Republican President Rupiah Banda’s immunity lifted.
Pastor Raymond Bwalya of Christ Ministry International Church in Kabushi has said that there was no need of removing the former President’s immunity as it would serve no purpose.
Pastor Bwalya said the late second Republican President Dr Fredrick Chiluba had his immunity removed and the courts later acquitted him of his cases.
He noted that the case of Dr Chiluba was not only time consuming but also costly.
The clergyman has since advised government to use such money for developmental projects and not on Mr Banda’s immunity removal.
“You saw how much money and time was wasted on Dr Chiluba, its better government uses that time and money to develop the country, there are areas that need serious development in this country, people need water, food and many other services not Mr Banda’s immunity removal no,” he said.
And Pastor Chapuswike Chibelushi of Tag argan area said removing Mr Banda’s immunity was a welcome move as it would clear his name.
“People should understand that removing his immunity will assist him to clear his name, right now people are pointing fingers at him but once he goes to court he will either be convicted or acquitted, so it is an opportunity for him to clear his name, it’s a very welcome move,” he said.
Pastor Chibelushi said Members of Parliament (MPs) should listen to calls by the people and the NGO’s at large.
He said MPs are in parliament to represent people and that they should advance peoples wishes and not their personal views.
He said it will be good even for opposition MMD MPs to vote for the removal of Mr Banda’s immunity as it would show that the MMD as a party has nothing to hide.
Some NGO’s have been calling on Members of Parliament ahead of today’s re-opening of parliament to move a motion to have Mr Banda’s immunity removed.
ZANIS
Pastor Chibelushi you are not sincere when you say they MPs should listen to peoples wishes which people. What you think is the opposite of what you think so it is not every one who wants the immunity to be removed. i am against sorry.
Just because you are against does not mean I am against, and I am also one of the people. Sorry. Unfortunately for you intolerant guys, you think (like HH) that you are the only ones entitled to an opinion, and you dont accept that others have differing views. It is not just PF who wanted RB out. It is not just PF who wanted to see him prosecuted. When it comes to Chiluba’s case, it was being tried by a compromised judiciary which was under RB’s patronage, the RB who was promised an electoral victory by Chiluba campaigning for him using “international tactics..” So, it can not be used as an excuse to prevent RB’s judgment because it is not an equivalent parallel.
that is the more reason why RB must be prosecuted! he alegedely chewed tax payers money instead of dealing with social ills
You are right, it’s a waste of resources and time. That money can be invested in education , health or agriculture to upgrade the poor living standards of our people.
Pastor Chibelushi you are not sincere when you say they MPs should listen to peoples wishes which people. What you think is the opposite of what I think so it is not every one who wants the immunity to be removed. i am against sorry.
Zambia is still such a sorry sight and yet we are still focussing on witch hunting
JUST LEAVE HIM U R ALL THE SAME CASES WILL FOLLOW YOU AFTER YOUR TERMS YOU DON’T LEARN STOP WASTING OUR MONEY PLEASE
Africa is backward because of worshipping leaders and thinking that they should get away with crime. In developed countries, there is no such thing as immunity for a leader suspected to be involved in criminal activities. Wherever presidents know that they are protected from prosecution, they are likely to get involved in corruption and other vices. A president is a citizen who is entrusted with the running of government by the electorate. he/ she is expected to conduct him/herself in a matter consistent with that high office and if he/she does not, the law should visit him/her. Crime is crime, whether committed by a charcoal burner or president and both must be held accountable.
Africa is not developed because iddiotss like you are easily duped by conmen. I can mention one case to you membe and mutembo nchito conned DBZ a goverment institition out of 14bn tax payers money,now you tell me one of RB’s alleged crime before i give you the second one on these crooks.be real and not partisan syanyokoh.
From what you are saying, it is better then to advocate for the change in the law that confers immunity on presidents and former presidents rather than dwell on a fruitless exercise of removing immunity which only serves to make lawyers richer and richer while the country looses millions of dollars! Remember the money spent on paying lawyers in the Chiluba case, US$13million for a case of alleged stolen US$500,000.00!!!!!
Now tell me who won and who lost?
Kamutanda, *****s are those who can not counter a rational argument without reorting to vulgarities. Your friend Muthangatambeta argues his case without a bad word. Look in the mirror my friend.
Mr Mulenga
Even President Obama has immunity against prosecution for Acts taken during his Presidency but this immunity is not to shield a president from “criminal activity” but those acts such as declaring WAR etc that might otherwise be considered as crimes. In RB’s case many people will agree with the quest to remove his immunity if only specific allegations can be articulated as those of M’membe and Nchito have been.
Y are not talking about Mutembo Nchito and Membe? This case has evidence where as RB’ s has no evidence. I knwo of 14 B stolen by Mutembo. Tell me what RB has stolen so that I start supporting. Cant just support blindly, its dangerous.
True! Can’t support blindly.
mwana ba Hamutombe stole a cow in 2001 but was acquitted by chief Monze, so no need to report mwana ba Hamutombwe to chief Gwembe for stealing a cow in 2031….good thinking ba Pastor eh! one wonders if there is no theological college which teaches that ‘where there is no justice, there is no peace’…why don’t you also speak for the people who are in jail for stealing mangos out of hunger?
Kabimba and GBM!! Freeee freeeeeeeee no interview no nothing freeeeeeeeeeeeee
You are a very sick Pastor, infact I would conclude that you are not a Pastor for our Lord.
Please if you have nothing to say just shut your big mounth.
pipo are saying they should remove the immunity of RB as if its a bullet proof. KK was arrested on Xmass witthout removing his immunity, just go ahead & remove the immunity of RB but I pity sata coz he is just being used by the bwnjimfumu boy. deep down his heart he knows that RB has no case.
if u remember in his unsubstiated allegations sata talked of Gold, Lexus vehicles but they have proved to be all false allegations.
Lets pray for Zambia
Oh God mweba giva, noku geta. mwaligeta mwana wenu Chilufya briefly, nomba mwamu givilila. nomba moneni efyo aletuchusha. Adulisa obunga ne fyisashi, elyo taletugiva ulupiya iwesu mu 90 days. nomba alefwaya ku geta ulupiya iwa kwa munankwe HH. Awe tata natuchula saaana, iseni mumugete fye.
Amen.
Change the provisions of the constitution so that no office bearer will enjoy any immunity after office! If we don’t see this in the new constitution we will forever kick our backsides!
A PASTOR IN MUFULIRA ONCE ADVOCATE FOR CHILUBA TO BE MADE REVEREND.
WE KNOW U, MONEY MATTERS ALWAYS BLIND THE CLERGY IN ZAMBIA.
ZAMBIANS SHOULD FOCUS ON REALISTIC THINGS THAN SUCH. THIS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS PRIORITIES WRONG. WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME. NEXT IT WILL BE SATA WHEN HE IS OUT. WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS? SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THIS RUBISH. LEAVE RB ALONE AND CONCENTRATE ON BUILDING ROADS, SCHOOLS & OTHER VALUABLE INITIATIVES TO HELP WELL BEING OF ZAMBIANS. PF BE A DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT?? THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.
The PF are trying to keep busy the Zambian people with such foolish calls of removing RB ‘s immunity. If PF has evidence let them proceed and let the law take its course even though the law wasn’t allowed to take its course on Wynter Kabimba’s corruption case so how then and where does Mr Sata draw the line in this issue of corruption. what criteria is he using to label Mr Banda as corrupt?
Evidence first ba pastor, if there is enough evidence then we have no objection not putting the cart before the horse…
If we let very president who comes in power to steal like RB and FTJ there will be no water and food for the people. So immunity for RB is a must. Registration of the London judgement is also a must.
Let it be removed if he didnt steal then he is safe you cant run a nation when every one steals and not probed free for all the rich while the poor sink into more poverty no development without accountability zambia is poor because you all thieves to to steal as they want and you say it is ok iam sorry ba pastor
People courts are expensive, the government may not kind paying hired lawyers but for an individual it so expensive in money, time and many other implications. To say RB should face to trial to clear his name may sound like a wise thing to do when you are not the one accused but facing the reality of the courts even when you are innocents is so costly. On top of that, those calling for removal of his immunity can not mention a single charge. And even if they mention the charges, how can be sure they are not merely being malicious. Think about the accusations of fake 3 trillion kwacha, fake seeking of asyllum in south Africa etc. They manufactured charges against Chiluba in parliament and it’s same team in charge now.