Friday, March 29, 2024

Government explains withdrawal of GBM’s diplomatic passport

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Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila
Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila

Government has clarified that the action to withdraw Former Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba’s diplomatic passport was done within the law.

Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila said the law under the Passports Act No 22 of 2003 does not allow Mr. Mwamba to possess a diplomatic passport as he is no longer a cabinet minister neither is he a Member of Parliament as per ruling of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

He said this during a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon.Mr. Mwila said Mr. Mwamba was not arrested neither was he detained as was alleged.

He added that Mr. Mwamba is free to apply for an ordinary passport to enable him travel.

Immigration officials withdrew Mr. Mwamba’s diplomatic passport yesterday around 15 hours when he attempted to leave the country.

Meanwhile, Police in Luwingu have warned and cautioned opposition UPND candidate in Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election Patrick Mucheleka over the alleged assault of Luwingu District Commissioner Patrick Chanda.

Mr Mucheleka appeared at the Police Station in Luwingu this morning in relation to accusations that he perpetrated violence which led to the beating of Mr Chanda by suspected UPND cadres last weekend.

Acting Northern Province Police Chief Lackson Sakala said in an interview that the former MP was questioned for his alleged involvement in the electoral violence before being warned and cautioned.

“It is true that he was warned and cautioned today; he came in the morning together with his lawyer and the matter is in relation to what you have been writing about,” Mr Sakala said.

Mr Sakala advised politicians taking part in the Lubansenshi by-election set for September 24 to abide by the rules of the game and ensure they observed the law.

He warned that the police had deployed enough officers to maintain law and order by dealing with any lawlessness ahead of the parliamentary by-election.

“Apart from this incident, I can say that the campaigns have been peaceful but I would like to say that all those that are taking part in the by-election should maintain peace at all times,” he said.

Mr Mucheleka was summoned following reports that UPND cadres had assaulted Mr Chanda who they accused of campaigning for PF candidate George Mwamba.

At least six suspected UPND cadres were also arrested on Monday in connection with the assault of the district chief.

Police also arrested a UPND member of Tolopa village for alleged unlawful possession of four voters’ cards and four national registration cards (NRCs).

28 COMMENTS

  1. The Kachema party is a problem.Police should arrest all those who will break the law regardless of their political affiliation.

    This Mucheleka should campaign peacefully like others are doing.If he loses the elections,he has an option of getting a job at HH’s farm…..milking the animals and life continues !

    • the fact that you as a minister is explaining norml government procedure and law is what makes it wrong. i dont see the reason for you to explain to us. we will make our own judgements because we know for starters that he shouldnt even have hd the diplomtic passport unless he was a special government envoy on a government sanctioned mission which required tht he retain his diplomatic passport. As upnd we know that, ba GBM was unfortuntely on the wrong side of the law. No wonder he gve you the passport. but be warned, treat everybody the same.

    • this is how shallow and hollow our politics are practiced. the entire minister wasting tax-payers money preparing to address the press over this simple matter. This should give the sense of how not busy our ministers are in this government and Africa in general

    • I cant imagine meeting this man with a cigarette in his mouth and wearing a Bennie, You can start instant diarrhoea, thank god he is a minister. God forbid

    • Withdrawn it at a time he is about to leave the country, is done in a bad taste.

      This Government’s conduct is unbecoming and I hope GBM somewhat wins his seat in Northern province, We will see what they will claim the defeat on.

      Thanks
      BB2014

    • @ Zedpoorpeople,
      You are right when you say Zambian ministers in particular and African ministers in general are not busy hence their engaging in trivial issues. Once a Zambian is chosen as a minister he becomes a king not a servant of the people. Their arrogance is sickening. The reason for this is simply because Zambians are a docile lot who can never take ministers to task. And since there is no body to take them to task they just do as they please. Our president is also too humble to take even our simple third-rate ministers to task. I doubt if any Zambia minister can confidently articulate the work, vision and mission of his/her ministry. It’s a mess.

    • Stupid excuse, there lots of Zambians with diplomatic passports yet neither ministers no MPs, ofcourse he was and have a graceperiod for such transition, u mean even yourselves when you leave ur offices?? You will surrender the passports there and then??

      Get serious Davies??? And be a professional damn zambian ministers are so stupid never seen such nonsense

  2. no need to explain such a trivial. fat albert KNEW that he wasn’t entitled to use that passport. you can tell from the way he looks down in shame pa picture

  3. Are you saying all former Ministers have handed over their diplo-passports? What about Kalusha, he is neither an MP nor a Minister, but he has one. Just say he crossed a line which he should not have and it is pay-back time. Even a 5 year old knows, so do not insult us.

  4. I am waiting the day of the year 2016 when Edgar Kachasu Lungu will have his diplomatic passport withdrawn. Iam cant wait to see Davis Chama being arrested by the same police officers who fears him today. I cant wait to see Edgar Lungu, Rupiah Banda and Henry Banda being arrested for the corruption of Angolan oil they are involved in. Henry Banda and edgar lungu are involved bin the dubias oil deal of angola.
    2016 will be exreamely hot for Edgar Lungu, Rupiah Banda, Henry Banda and Davis Chama the killer.
    Edgar Lungu is the most useless president of Zambia since 1964.

    • @ Hilda Malama (Medical Doctor)
      Indeed Medical Doctor for dogs! Instead of treating rabbies infested dogs, you are busy wasting our time, iwe galu. The fact that you failed to make it to real Medicine studies and ended up treating dogs doesn’t justify your frustration on innocent people.
      President Lungu is a brilliant lawyer respected by all his former classmates, you ka vet officer was just doing umwembeshi pa UNZA. No wonder swine fever has taken long to be controlled ’cause even in the field you are just as good as your poppy.

  5. There was no need for the government to explain itself cos GBM knew that he didn’t deserve the diplomatic passport since he is an ordinary citizen. He just tried to make news for himself.

  6. I think the best thing would have been to inform GBM before hand to hand in his diplomatic passport and not embarrass him publicly as it was done;

  7. Well, since he has been holding that passport from 2013 & may have used it a few more times, they could have just let him leave and advise him to surrender the passport on his return. No need to disrupt his plans & trip.

    • James you are spot on: but it cannot happen in Zambia, let alone Africa. We dislike each other so much so that people rejoice in the suffering of their colleague or competitor. We would rather the mines are owned by a white foreigner than our own. See what Dangote has done? A true African investing in Zed when Lafarge, a french owned firm, was busy exploiting us. If only we can stop and think, we all could be very happy in our own country.

  8. The problem with government service is that the same characters frustrating others also dance to the same music. How many I. Past 25 years persecuted friends only to face the music as ordinary citizens? Some died early out of shock.

  9. Ba UPND bushe muli ma sushi? Your party is questioning why the the speaker has expelled the fat man from the house. Even the watchdog knows that diplomatic passports all over the world are issued only to people conducting diplomatic and official government business, and to facilitate the travel of people who are employed by or acting on behalf of the government. Does the fat fit in any of these categories? What is the issue here?

  10. Granted, the fat man is incapable of interpreting basic laws. Ignorance is no excuse…
    Did he need an immigration officer to stop him at the airport for using a wrong travel document?
    Did he need a traffic officer to stop him for using a learner’s drivers license to drive a vehicle without a qualified driver?

    I am glad we all know now whose weight was felt?

  11. Luapula Premier,
    I agree with you and the answer to your question is simply….”GBM felt his own weight”. Ba vice president wa dung party.

    • Travelling by GBM is not GRZ business. GBM should have known better. Be like Winter Kabimba who made sure he surrendered all GRZ peripheneria before being pursued. Too cheeky the Great Big bag of Maize (GBM). Attention seeking just like his newly found friend.

  12. Truth to tell, he ain’t no dilomat, certainly he does not even act it in ppersonal conduct. Put him in ‘cattle class.’ The fat Heffer can Moo from there!

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