THE Foundation for Democratic Process, (FODEP) has urged Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka to step aside and allow for a by-election in his area following his conviction by the courts.
FODEP executive director Macdonald Chipenzi said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the continued incarceration of Muteteka had continued to deprive the people of Chisamba representation in parliament.
He said the people of Chisamba were in need of representation hence
the need for Muteteka to step aside.
“Currently, there are no benefits for him as an MP for the area and there is no benefit for the people of Chisamba so it will be in the interest of the people if he steps aside,”
“As leaders we should reach a point where your if your relevance is no longer there, you step aside,” Mr Chipenzi said.
The Lusaka High Court on Thursday upheld the five-year jail sentence slapped on Muteteka for stealing a motor vehicle belonging to his constituency.
Muteteka was in January last year convicted and sentenced by Lusaka Principal magistrate Aridah Chulu for stealing a Mitsubishi Fuso light truck valued at K75,000 belonging to Chibombo District Council in Chisamba Constituency.
He registered the vehicle, ABX 3529, in his name but defended this move by saying the people in his constituency had petitioned him to use his personal vehicle because it was more convenient than their constituency vehicle.
But Judge Betty Mung’omba said that there was no vehicle which the former local government deputy minister swapped as he claimed because both vehicles were registered in his names and were under his custody.
It was wrong for Muteteka to deprive the people of Chibombo of the motor vehicle which was bought using Government money under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Ms Justice Mung’omba said that Muteteka’s defence that he had swapped the motor vehicles because people in his constituency had petitioned him to do so, was unfounded and unsubstantiated.
Fodep should be firm and fair,they are calling for muteteka to resign and leaving out another convict with fake academic qualifications just because he belongs to the ruling party.why is fodep applying double standards?Is it an indication that they have been compromised?
@olas mizi, I think our stance here should be that we now have two jailbirds that need to fly into the cage and out of our way. I am hoping that each political party will take responsibility for releasing their convicted members from their parliamentary responsibilities and prepare for by-elections as prescribed by the current law.
@Olas Mizi. Lets be fair and objective in our criticism. Fodep was among the first to call for Masumba to relinquish his position as MP.
I guess this response is from Muteteka himself. Baba, time is up in the parliament. it is now another term in chimbokaila.
I am yet to come across a people-type as brazen-faced as a Zambian politician. Under ordinary circumstances the first stirrings of an accusation should send one packing to concentrate on being cleared – but noooo! In Zambia even an incarcerated guy has to have his case “tabled” before a “decision” about his status and political fate can be determined! Someone pass me the puke bucket as we await a clean-cut constitution and perhaps clearer judicial reforms!
our statement on Masumba esp those who did not read it. It was even published on Lusaka times on 30 sept, 2014;
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has advised former Sports Deputy Minister Stephen Masumba to seriously consider the interest of the people of Mufumbwe and resign his position as area Member of Parliament on moral grounds and pave way for fresh elections to asher in a new representative to complete the remaining months.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi has observed that the continued clinging on to the Mufumbwe seat by Mr. Masumba despite his conviction is not only a disservice to the people of Mufumbwe but an affront to representative democracy as well as the entire democratic process of the country.
Mr. Chipenzi who noted that Mr. Masumba’s stay…