The ruling PF has said that it is dismayed by the UN human rights experts to criticize President Edgar Lungu for pardoning Clifford Dimba who was convicted of the rape and his appointment as an ambassador in the fight against gender violence.
PF Media Committee and Publicity Vice Chairman Sunday Chanda in a statement released to the media said that it was expected that international media should be above board in terms of their research and reporting.
Mr. Chanda reminded Dubravka Šimonovi, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, that such power to pardon is at the discretion of Presidents worldwide, adding that President Lungu did not break any law to exercise the pardon,
Below is the full statement
CONSTITUTION EMPOWERS PRESIDENT TO EXERCISE PARDON – SUNDAY CHANDA, VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Lusaka, Zambia, 25th December 2015 – It is expected that international media should be above board in terms of their research and reporting.
In this regard, reference is made to the International Media which covered one Dubravka Simonovic, a UN Special Rapporteur who called on the Zambian Government to publicly withdraw Dimba’s appointment as ambassador in the fight against gender violence. We wish to remind Mr. Simonovic that such power is at the discretion of Presidents worldwide. We wish to educate Mr. Simonovic that His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu did not break any law to exercise the pardon. It might interest Mr. Simonovic that pursuant to Article 59 (d) of the Constitution of Zambia, CAP 1 of the Laws of Zambia, President Lungu has pardoned 502 convicted prisoners on the occasion to commemorate Christmas Day which falls on 25th December, 2015.
The pardoned inmates who include two prisoners aged 75 and 83 are serving various jail sentences at different prisons across the country. President Lungu has done this in exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy
Further, Mr. Simonovic would be wise to know that Article 60 of the Zambian Constitution prescribes that there exists an advisory committee on the prerogative of mercy which consists of such persons as may be appointed by the President. These may be appointed for the purposes the President in relation to persons convicted by courts-martial and for purposes of advising him in relation to persons convicted by other courts.
It must be mentioned that the President depends on the said Committee to advise him regarding convicted persons on whom the prerogative of mercy may be extended. We wish to place on record that President Lungu, a lawyer by profession and firm believer in human rights, acted within the confines of the Constitution and upon recommendation by the advisory committee on the prerogative of mercy and Prison authorities regarding Clifford Dimba’s pardoning. It must be stated here that once new allegations of a gender-based offence were reported, the Zambia Police effected an arrest and not even the Presidential pardon acted as his shield from arrest and possible prosecution.
The PF as a Party condemned Dimba’s reported negative conduct post his release and called on the law to take its course. We must state here that Dimba’s conduct will, however, not deny future reformed convicts from being considered for Presidential pardoning, whether or not the committed crimes were in the form of gender-based violence or not.
We are also aware that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has retained a UK Consultancy doing media placements for him. These will do whatever they can to cast Zambia, which is an Oasis of Peace, into negative light. The Independent Newspaper in the United Kingdom under its ‘stark warning over rising political repression in Zambia from Opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema’ quoted Mr. Hichilema as having said that Zambia is about to slide into a genocide.
Firstly, Mr. Hichilema is an international alarmist who prides in taking to international forums to discourage foreign investment into Zambia. He does not understand his patriotic duties as he takes pride in speaking ill of the same country he desperately seeks to rule one day. The international community would be wise to know that it is Mr. Hichilema’s style of tribal politics and those of his party which can trigger a genocide if given the chance but Zambians have seen through him and hence his rejection in four (4) consecutive elections. Mr. Hichilema’s political career was birthed on a tribal cradle and to this day, his political party continues to pride itself in the Mapatizya formula, which every Zambian knows to be a bloody election gimmick following UPND’S orchestrated political violence during the former ruling party MMD’s reign.
It should interest the international community that while in Opposition, PF never had violent clashes with the former ruling party, MMD. It was always UPND fighting members of the then ruling MMD, a provocative and violent Mapatizya culture they have extended to PF’s rule. Mr. Hichilema is therefore not being candid enough because Zambians have rejected his political party’s violence and they (Zambians) will not allow genocide to happen to them. While President Lungu and PF have been consistently preaching the Country’s unity through an aggressive promotion of the nation’s ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ motto, Mr. Hichilema and UPND have continued to embrace and entrench tribal and regional politics. It therefore just takes a pinch of due diligence on the part of the international community to confirm that a potential genocide trigger is embedded in UPND’s tribalism, regionalism and the infamous Mapatizya formula.
Lastly but not the least, we noted that on 23rd December 2015, BloombergBusiness distortions through their local correspondent Matthew Hill under its story “Zambia Considers Reintroducing Currency Rules, Treasury Says”. We do not expect reputable international media to sink to such levels of reporting untruths and figments of their own imagination.
We have engaged Mr. Matthew Hill when he misrepresented President Lungu’s call for National Prayers and Fasting. It is clear that he sees nothing wrong in purveying falsities about Zambia and its people.
On this matter, Zambia’s Secretary to Treasury Mr. Fredson Yamba dismissed these reported notions and subsequent statements as misleading and mere fabrications and to the best of our knowledge BloombergBusiness, through Matthew Hill has not corrected their untrue version. BloombergBusiness’ Matthew Hill ought to know better that the Zambian Government remains committed to principles of a free market economy driven by private sector with Government playing the role of a facilitator and regulator. We refuse to believe that such inconsistencies and half-baked stories by international media a mere coincidence.
Issued by: Sunday Chilufya Chanda, Vice Chairperson, PF Media and Publicity Committee
Rubbish
People need to understand that for this character to put food on the table he has to open his mouth even when he’s not entitled to comment. This statement was supposed to be issued by state spokesman or the Minister of Justice and not a party nonentity and this is one of the examples of PFs confusion at all levels. Ba Chanda please only comment on issues concerning PF, muleipanga icipuba. Lungu hasn’t seen it wise to give you a government position so please don’t overstep your party boundaries.
We are not saying he broke the law. It is the morality of the decision that is under scrutiny.
Why Fr. Bwalya allowing such PF puffs to smell around Ed Lungu? From Kanene to Bloomberg business? Too much pollution coming from PF secretariat
Ba Realist – Try to be realistic, Sunday has articulated things very well here. Without countering his points, you just state “Rubbish”. Should we develop an opinion about you based on this response?
What’s wrong with this Chanda honestly? The President’s constitutional powers to exercise pardon are not being questioned. What’s in question is the intent behind this and the message it sends out there. it’s like pardoning Oscar Pistorius and making him an ambassador for non-violence against women!!!!
Mr. Chanda no one is questioning the Powers of the president , it is the morality and the message it sends out.
I condemn the move wholeheartedly as well.
Thanks
BB2014
It is pointless trying to explain what “Morality” is to this nincompoop, for him , it sounds & probably means “molu ati??” Probably loves his “vikondilo” (hooves as his delicacy!!)
Mr. Chanda, where is your morality and human decency?
How can you defend PARDONING of CONVICTED RAPIST of minor and subsequent appointment as AMBASSADOR?
And you call your self Christian?
SCUM more likely, SHAME ON YOU.
But y bring in the issue of HH bin the Dimba case? To me Mr Sunday you really have no real issues on HH the tribal this has stopped working.
Because HH is feeding the biased international press with falsehoods.
@Obsever did HH talk to UN?UN does not need HH to tell them what is happening in Zambia, with internet and their envoys they have all the need. Everything now is on public domain.Just admit that your PF president made a big mistake by appointing a convicted rapist to be an ambassador.
This was a moral misjudgement and he should dissolve that advisory committee.
But why bring in the issue of in the Dimba case? To me, Mr Sunday you really have no real issues on HH the tribal thing has stopped working.
Does this Sunday Chanda know what he was supposed to respond to? He has definitely missed the critique and demand of the UN.
Maybe the advisors (of the 14th most corrupt country in Africa) should explain themselves…
…,,,the UN human rights activists were not disputing the fact that the president has powers to pardon inmates…but the mere fact that the president has so far shown not interest in his ambassador’s behaviour since he was released from prison send a wrong signal about the commitment the govt has on GBV…that’s why the UN were merely demanding the withdraw of Dimba’s appointment as GBV ambassador….how do you maintain the ACC director who finds himself in a corruption case….or a DEC employee finds himself in a drug related scandal….
Sunday is responding to a wrong question…
This Sunday & his drivel. He didn’t even read what he’s responding to. Dubravka Simonovic is a female. The issue is about what message Jameson is sending on GBV when he pardons Kanene just after one year not about his prerogative. & what’s this got to do with HH. Who ever uses the T-word is the perpetrator himself. Sunday & his kind are the ones misleading their Kadansa, the drunk.
The sooner the ruling PF Party realises that people like Mr. Chanda, who do not scrutinize issues, are a danger to it, the better. PR does not mean hating those with divergent views. Sometimes we learn from listening.
Tell them Sir, they need to know and be reminded that we do have a knowledgeable, Professional and well educated President in Place not ba Kachemas the smooth criminals
Who acquire wealth dubously in the name of
Privatisation of Country Resources.
@Bongo just wondering what is your IQ? The issue here is not educational qualifications but moral judgement of your president being questioned.If you cannot see anything wrong with appointing a convicted rapist as an ambassador then only Christ can save you.
@ Him
You think that Bongo’s intellect level can understand your question?
get a life; you keep on and on on the same nonesense;
Let’s understand him. It’s difficult to criticise your boss even when he is doing wrong. The man needs the job and if it means defending wrong things so be it. Local NGOs, the local media, international media, the United Nations are all wrong because wisdom was only bestowed on the PF.
Chanda your statements are growing in loud hollowness by the day. Anyway this is what happens when you lose morality. This doesn’t need one to be PF or UPND the truth is that this decision is wrong based on the behaviour of Dimba after he released. This is how we destroy good leaders.
Comment:What Do U Expect 2 Come From Chanda’s Mouth Is Just Rubbish
The president must not have exclusive pardoning powers. So that he foesnt pardon the wrong people like his relativrs and friends, Parliament must pass the pardons
THIS IS THE PROBLEM IN ZAMBIA!!
Useless, clueless Cadres attempting to pacify their master, justifying cr@p, instead of apologising, whist ensuring their bellies remain filled. As humans you are allowed to make mistakes, U useless Cadre.
I’m 100% sure had Dimba r@p€d this Cadres daughter, his stance would be totally different.
ZAMBIA WILL NEVER DEVELOP AS LONG AS WE HAVE SUCH ST00GES, IN CORRIDORS OF POWER!!!
Our young girls are not safe in this country under PF. Obviously for president Lungu, Tasila is old and is given security at state house and with Chanda the children are protected in high walled fence and what about we the commoners? PF out in 2016
Sunday Chanda is a highly disturbed man. He should at leasr seek the opinion of the PF Media team so that he doesnt vomit sh*t everytime he speaks. And this free publicity he is giving to HH should worry ECL. This obsession with HH is moronic. Somebody tell him that silence is golden, especially when thr criticism is due and genuine
Why not save some words and just say you are drunks and you don’t have a clue what to do in the business of running a country? It would be more honest. I am a die-hard Sata man but these days with these useless chumps around I could almost even vote for HH
And some people are saying that they will decampaign PF!
Relax people, no need for that. Dull *****ss like Sunday are doing a fantastic job themselves without any assistance from anybody else.
Most sane and reasonable people would recognise that Lungus judgement was morally bankrupt on this and keep quiet.
Trying to defend the indefensible just shows a total lack of common sense.
How about getting your facts straight before issuing an official statement?!! Dr. Dubravka Simonovic IS a WOMAN, for Pete’s sake! And the explanation for pardoning this person is just malabishi! PF, how do you look at yourselves in the mirror sometimes?
Dubravka Simonovic, Chair, Commission on the Status of Women
Ms. Dubravka Simonovic has been the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations since May 1998. In March 2000, she was elected Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women for a two year term.
Prior to her assignment at the United Nations, Ms Simonovic served from 1997 to April 1998 as Deputy Consul General in New York. From 1994 to 1996 she was Head of the Department for Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Croatia. From 1992 to 1994 she served as Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of the Republic of Croatia. From 1988 to 1992, Ms. Simonovic headed the General Administrative Services of the “Vuk Vrhovec”…
… Institute. From 1982 to 1988, she was a legal representative before various courts in her country.
Ms. Simonovic was a member of the Croatian delegation to the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo 1994, and to the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995. She was a member of the Croatian Government Committee for Equality from 1997 to 1999.
Ms. Simonovic was elected in 1999 as a Vice-Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century.”
Ms. Simonovic serves as her country’s national expert to the Steering Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe and was elected in 1999 as a…
…as a Member of its Bureau for a two-year term.
Ms. Simonovic holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D in law from the University of Zagreb. She has published two books and numerous articles.
PF “intellectual”(lol) vs. real intellectual