Government has said opposition UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema remarks over Judge Lovemore Chikopa are regrettable.Chief government spokesperson Joseph Katema said Judge Chikopa is back in his home country Malawi as the Tribunal he is supposed to chair is still a subject of legal contentions in the courts of law.
Zambia Daily nation is reported that Mr.Hichilema said President Michael Sata should be held accountable for having allowed Judge Chikopa to continue drawing allowances for his discredited tribunal that had failed to commence sittings because of serious legal challenges it faced from inception.Mr.Hichilema wondered why Judge Chikopa was still in Zambia when his tribunal had become a failed project against Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda and two High Court Judges, Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna.Hichilema claimed that Judge Chikopa was a relative of President Sata through his former wife and that was why he had been allowed him to continue staying in the country and enjoying public funds for malingering.He said Zambia had yet again ran out of antiretroviral drugs, the life-saving drugs and yet President Sata had found it prudent to continue spending money on the Malawian Judge.
“Judge Lovemore Chikopa has continued to stay in Zambia malingering while Zambians have continued paying him. What is going on with this Malawian Judge and his tribunal? Please, go back to your country because you cannot continue enjoying our tax payers’ money for malingering in our country. We have run out of ARVs again and yet President Sata finds it prudent to continue paying his relative for doing nothing,” Hichilema said.
Below is the Full Press statement
Accusations from opposition UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema over Judge Lovemore Chikopa are regrettable.
Mr Hichilema is challenged to have his facts right before issuing statements that are misleading and misguided.
Contrary to Mr Hichilema’s allegations, as reported in today’s Daily Nation, Judge Chikopa is back in his home country Malawi as the Tribunal he is supposed to chair is still a subject of legal contentions in the courts of law.
Instead of calling for the arrest of Judge Chikopa, it is Mr Hichilema who should be cited for contempt of court by commenting on matters that he knows very well are before the courts of law.
This Government is a firm believer in the independence of the Judiciary and will not allow the likes of Mr Hichilema to interfere with the operations of this important organ of the state for their political expediency.
Let me also take this opportunity to give a friendly advice to political groupings that in choosing leaders for themselves, they should go for people with experience in leadership at grassroot level so as to avoid embarrassments such as this one.
The nation expects national leaders to address them on national issues from a well informed and researched position.
Hon. Dr Joseph Katema, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
So how come you are the only one who knows that Chikopa is back in Malawi? Transparency is not expensive!
Dr katema please what contempt??… and why did you take days to “discover“ that chikopa is back in Malawi??
Ludicrous, they undermine HH and call him names but find the onus and nervous to respond to anything he say.
Looks like when he coughs they automatically get a cold/flu.
If that is the job of a chief Government spokesperson then, surely it is the easiest job one can have, where you utter things which you necessary don’t believe all in the name of pleasing your president
Extremely disappointed by their actions, maybe just maybe this government is not fit for purpose.
Thanks
@ 1.2 Mushota: Yes, he is keeping them on their toes. Not too long ago, the president had to cut short his working holiday to the U.K. and came back home hurriedly, in response to HH’s demands. He is the voice of the opposition. At least they recognize that.
The judge may back in Malawi but he might be on paid holiday!!
1.2 Lies are supposed to be rebutted. There are too many weak souls that believe anything that comes from one hh’s mouth. You know he has a perchant to exaggerate anything and lie between his coloured teeth with impunity.
Did Sata not announce it at his latest PRESS CONFERENCE?
Katema that is CONTEMPT OF COURT to disclose the whereabouts of the state witness. Disclosing that in fact Chikopa was allowed to cross border SECRETLY is worse than HH’s questions. In fact HH is defending Sata to pay all damages to Chikopa for defamation of character and family embarrassment. That “press release” is best document to present EXIB 1.1
Mushota,
Govt has a responsibility to refute falsehoods.
Because u follow HH blindly
HH has nothing more to offer other than bark
Mushota sometimes makes comments that just don’t make an sense at all.
ATLEAST FYABUKAYA TRIED TO MAKE US LOUGHING NOW THIS……WHAT IS HIS NAME U SEE SATA IS FOND CHANGING HIS USELESS FOLLOWERS I HAVE FORGOTEN THE SPOKESPERSON
Surely we should all accept that the onus is on Government to clarify matters that are as sensitive as this one. Wild speculations such as the one made by HH should never go unchallenged. I mean this man often times comes up with speculations that leaves one gob smacked. Would you honestly trust a man like him to prudently run the affairs of mother Zambia. He has such a morbid and disjointed view of things. We would end up with a civil war. Thank God, he will never rule.
CHOKING WITH HATRED , LOL!
You deserve a thumbs down just for using the “N” word as your name. I call on everyone posting today to give you a thumbs down.
HH/UPND’s strategies have failed so they have resorted to telling lies and issuing unresearched pronouncements. The best they can do is reflect on their failed strategies and change before it’s too late. Otherwise come 2016 they will be licking their wounds again
@ Nigger. Can Chikopo issue be speculation? Please ZWD sniff more on this matter of Chikopo. When the Chikopo came in Zambia the nation was informed. Why then was his return so secret? King Soul has lost favor with God because of such people like Nigger no feelings for the poor. HH, 2016
Ba HH as Next President we expect good grammar from you: Malingering is faking illness to escape work. Thats not what Chikopa has been doing.
chizungu mdala. Let us make it easy for you, HH is too complex for you to understand.
Malingering
1.To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.
2.evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated.
So its not just illness, but being incapacitated also isnt it? So what is incapacitation
Incapacitate
1.To deprive of strength or ability; disable.
2.To make legally ineligible; disqualify.
So when HH says,”enjoying our tax payers’ money for malingering in our country.” he is saying Chikopa is faking incapacitation to finish his duty as per agreement between him and GRZ by virtue of him being ineligible to do so because of the court injunctions, when in actual fact he could go home and only come back when all these injunctions are sorted out…
Do you understand now brother/sister???!!!! Chikopa is cheating here or maybe true that he cant finish his job because of the stay on his tribunal by the other judges probed,and therefore is waiting patiently while enjoying our money when he could just go home to malawi and only come back when the whole stay,injunction etc are all sorted out and the tribunal can commence fully. So instead of saying it the way i have here, HH, just used a few words, in this case malingering, to paint the picture perfect!!!!
But you Africans! Imwe ba kolwe, Someone becomes complex because of English? Atase! its just a language like any other.
@redemption song – dont get me wrong brother. my writing HH being complex is not in anyway attributed to the fact that he uses english, but that his english, the way he uses the language, is too complex for some. in no way does this make him better because he uses english. He is a better man by virtue of him being what he is as a person and not the language. Mwikate iyi point tata!!!! Ka sungu fye aka mdala, like you said, its just another language and not a test for superiority!!!!
@kolwe Still even after you explanation the judge is not faking incapacity. The law in Zambia has made it impossible for him to work. malingering?
HH is indeed a small-think guy. The leader of the pastoralists party called UPND!
Lelo am sending ba sakhala kumyenu pa 2201 kalanga street to come nokukulopola sana mambala iwe!!!!
Walalila yesu lelo lol!!!!!
When did Chikopo go to malawi? Someone has evidence that he is still signing bills somewhere on public funds.
Some people are so jealous of the learned judge that they deliberately misspell his name, how sick!
Not you again!
90 days of “Donci kubeba”.
I only believe HH. He can say anything and I will believe it.
UPND I am in!
“ati donchi kubeba!” donchi ifya bufi fye! Ba litubepa badddd!
@Ba Mwisho
Bravo! UPND Iam also in!
Can’t this government tell the truth just for a day? Last night I was drinking with Judge Chikopa at Mukuba Hotel, the Gem of the Copperbelt. Tomorrow come to the Savoy Hotel I will be with Chikopa. Which Chikopa are they saying is back in his home country Malawi? Please!
Where is your conscience imwe ba mambara that you have lie all the times.
ba chanda if you have nothing to say you should learn to keep quiet,your bosses will understand you have no contribution like this you expose your desperation so much.
Chanda good morning Sir,
Please someone told me that the government is building the house for this Chikopa Lovemore within Lusaka, are you able to confirm?
There is no way that UPND President, HH can just say things anyhow, he has facts on his fingertips about Chikopa. Let people not even doubt that the man Chikopa is still around in Zambia as Chanda has been seeing him and drink together.
Chandra is in SA and lying that he is in Ndola and blind hh supporters are busy liking the falsehoods. What a party!!!!
embarrassments is the norm actually with your Boss in plot 1
I do not get any sense out of the response given by honorable Joseph katema .
The mp spent time writing nothing and this is how time in pf is spent, “DOING NOTHING”
Very sad indeed. Big SHAME
Okay, even if he is back in Malawi, can the minister clarify also whether he is getting paid or not, since the tribunal is still in place?
They smuggled the stray judge out, on a midnight flight to Malawi and are now claiming that “he is back in his home country.” Smart jackals aren’t they?
And what guarantees they will no sneak him back in?
But how come no one saw him at KK airport leave zambia? This minister is not telling the truth.
So, the job of the minister of information is to issue statements against allegations from citizens!! Because this is exactly what Kapeya used to do daily: waiting for anyone to make an allegation and respond immediately! What a job!!! Sometimes learn to keep quiet!!!!
The watchdog will tell us were chikopa is we call on the to do so asap, please ZWD do us the honours.
You believe in the hearsay and lies of the ZWD, God forbid.
Mushota has hit the nail on the head. Fellow kaponyas are complaining.
Bitter
Bitter and wins bye-elections, How do you explain that?
There is a strong correlation between the kwacha falling and sata making careless statements. He says his ministers are useless and the kwacha depreciates.
No wonder investors are scared!
Mutale wi lan sekesha, awe kikikikiki
Naimwe ba Katema, when Chikopa was coming to Zambia it was announced that he was coming and he came during the day BUT why should today Chikopa leave secretly at night without Zambians knowing that he had left the country while he was getting the tax payers money?
HH is sick, mu lwele.
Does he not have intelligence guys around him?
This clearly shows how baseless and meaningless his press conferences have become.
@Lovely
Its funny how HH catches all of you PF minions with your pants down. Now that HH has said it, you have sneaked Chikopa out of the country to authenticate Katema’s statement.
Why was he hounded out of Zed secretly when it was announced in a press conference when Chikopa landed in Zed ?
Atleast HH hold press conferences.
Next week HH will report on the President’s visit to doctors in India.
Anyone at his level could have easily checked with the hotel before committing oneself to an issue.
But he reports on any speculation and virtually on anything that ZWD says.
The fact remains crystal clear that it is absurd for the Zambian Government to hire a cheap Malawian Lawyer just to come and degrade our national judicial system. History will have been recorded to the effect that Sata used his presidential powers to pay Judge Chikopa in-kind to a Lawyer who defended his deportation from Malawi.
As for Mr. Katema, he must be well advised to reflect on PF’s collective blunder for having launched the degradation of the Bemba Chiefs in Kasama. History will judge them harshly. Besides, Katema’s health must be the concern of his family and friends.
True.
Impeach him for abuse of office. One more to add to the long, long list!
bane let this guy stay in Zambia, let him build a house from kalingalinga, give him a plot there.
actually he is \ man / so
PF is Good almost in everything except imbwa winter kanyele. the cartel is now known bachimbwi. we are ready for you
@MUSHOTA AND OTHERS
HH attacked the President with impunity that he doesn’t care for his people by continuing spending on CHIKOPA. It was not a by-the way statement for government to ignore but held a press conference over the same matter. It was not the first time HH has lied and accused SATA publicly. He once said SATA has sent youths to SUDAN to train them as militia men. If SATA is wrong must be told so. If HH is wrong,should we just sing him a praise? I thought leaders must be factual and countable with what they say because they may cause their followers kill each other and yet it was a lie in the first place.Even the comments on depreciation of kwacha by MUSHOTA was regrettable. Even if I’m comfortable here in LONDON,I can never rejoice over the sufferings of my people back home.
@ UMWAUME & ADVISE YOUR LEADER ; Do you have evidence that youths were not sent to Sudan? Or simply do you understand the meaning of the MOU signed between PF (Wynter K) and the ruling party of Sudan which was even published in YOUR PAST NEWS Tissue by Mumembe?
Is your statement about issues in courts not contempt? No contempt is lighter and heavier, it is same.
@ ADVISE YOUR LEADER; If Sata’s lies about MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKETS, CONSTITUTION IN 90 DAYS ETC were clear to you but still lies, then, is the statement that demands to save your money from Judge Chikopo or Chikopa not better? Don’t be a CADRE for the NAME but for substance.
HH supporters you are biased you should advise you Party President when ever he opens his mouth he is again a laughing stock,sounding gong.He had said it plainly that Judge Chipoka was in the country.Let him defend him self and if he is arrested for contempt of court do not complain he has asked for it. HH is not fit to rule this country trust me .I have followed his statements ,full of hatred nothing tangible.How can i vote for a person like that.HE Sata had(has) a clear message more money in our pockets simple and we voted for him.What abour your under FIVE,what is his slogan?
Pleases tell us your action plan your agenda how your party can contribute to our mother Zambia imwe ba UPND (United party for national destruction).
Advise…
Umwaume….
HH is apeaking for Zambians:
(a) who want the government to be transparent especially where our money as tax payers is being spent;
(b) to know why Chikopa remained in Zambia at our expense even when it was clear that it would take long before this tribunal was going to take place:
(c) to know why Judge Chikopa’s departure from Zambia, if at all he has left, should not have been announced;
(d) who know that the government is obliged to be accountable to the Zambian people; and
(e) Our republican President would have acted exactly as HH is doing if he were in the opposition.
By the way is some calling another man useless a sign of respect and love? I bet no could be the most reasonable answer. But for PF supporters that is call man of action. It is just a few weaks ago when some lawyer was called fake by head of state. Is that love or the other way round, Chibamba Kanyama was once referred to as useless and fake economists. May it is love at its best for PF supporters, other than Kambwili who is on record defending himself to be useful.
It is shocking to the hearers and shameful to the citizen when Jge Chikopa came into Zambia it was broadcasted all over the show but why not telling the Nation that Chikopa is back to his home country? We need to know how much money has he extracted from the Zambian Taxpayers money for doing nothing and who shall refund the worsted money?
You guys need to understand that no president, including HH, Nevers or anyone else will deliver for Zambians as long as they have too much power and the institutions remain weak. The only hope the country has is to have a good constitution which limits the power of the president. That will only happen through street protests and civil disobedience. Remember that even an educated Mwanawasa refused to give us the constitution. Instead he employed delaying tactics which culminated in the creation of the immensely expensive Constitution Review Commission. Therefore, even HH will do the same. After all turkeys cannot be expected to vote for Christmas. Politicians have worked out that Zambians are docile. After all Chiluba is rumoured to have said just that.
You’re spot on Mukame and I agree with you 100%.
I can’t believe I’m the first to comment on this thread. I want to thank the spirit of my late mother for standing by me to achieve this great feat. I also want to thank my siblings for their support on this endeavor. I also send my sincere appreciation to Airtel for making their network functional at the time I commented on this thread. And the biggest praise goes to almighty God for his protection and guidiance.
To the lusaka family I say shalom. It is never an easy thing to be FTC. Keep trying hard. You will surely get there.
Thanks
*drops mic* where is bana kalaba nalufya amaso
Hey @ zemuntu, mate what are you going on about? No judgemental but are you OK mate. Your comment makes me get worried about you… was this supposed to be posted here or perhaps on your Facebook page? It looks a little odd and misplaced, no offence intended but would be a good idea to check yourself in with the doctor to check the screws upstairs (no stigma is attached).
:maverick, crawl back to your friends basement
Even Sata should go back to his home country of Tanzania till we have constitutional checks and balances after we adopt a new constitution.Sata’s presidency is a big negative for Zambia.
These guys are a shocker! They officially announced judge Chikopa’s arrival with a bit of fanfare even throwing him an official swearing in ceremony. But they are sneaking him quietly out of the country if indeed heis gone. You would think they would say something publicly especially knowing too well that his continued stay was controversial. The onus is on them to tell the public where Chikopa is not HH to stock him and know his whereabouts.
By the way they this govt still has some explaining to do for having brought him in in the first place and continued to pay him tax payer money for doing nothing. It doesn’t matter whether he is gone now. He shouldn’t have been here at all so what do they say about that
The onus is on GRZ to exonerate themselves for misusing our tax money on this Malawian. HH has every right to talk on our behalf, the suffering masses, that is what it means to provide check & Balances!!!
Sata’s presidency has been a disaster,more drama than substance,it all sounds like a soap opera than serious governance.Chikopa living off poor zambian taxpayers thanx to PF’s incompetence.
Ifimatwiiiiii!!Why did it have to take HH to declare interest before you could unleash the wereabout of your redlipped judge.Useless!!
Get ready for more Satanomics for the next 7 years.
Under age will probably mature to compete with Chimbwili for plot 1
even on economic matters, HH misfired and blamed SI 43 & 55 for weak forex. Kwacha is still weak. Ba Economist mwabepa!
I think there’s no president in waiting from the opposition. After such a daft old man we need a smart young man. Can you see any?
Palibe
what contempt? Katema for sure you are useless MP and minister. Chikopa is not in court for anything, you are truly misled mr useless minister. On the issue of one grass-root leadership, the best you could have done is not to touch that topic at all. The reason is that the example of a true grass-root leader in this equation is Sata and he is a failed leader so far. Next time do a better job.
This govt has failed all round. There is no area one can say they are doing well. Everything has failed. Sorry.
Truth be told: the worst President Zambia will ever have is Sata with his evil goebels M’membe. He has destroyed the economy and the Kwacha is now getting to Mugabe dead Zim $
And yet his tribesmen still want the rest to think, he means well for ZED!
zambia needs strong leaders of integrity failure to which you will continue to live in poverty like your mugabe neigbours
why didn’t you tell us he left ..when the moron came in you informed the nation..?HH faka pressure