Friday, March 29, 2024

Nevers is still eligible to stand as Republican President-MMD

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Dr Nevers Mumba at the news conference
Dr Nevers Mumba at the news conference

The opposition MMD has clarified that its leader Dr Nevers Mumba who was convicted of an offense of abuse of office authority is still eligible to stand as Republican President.

This week, the Lusaka Magistrate Court found Dr Mumba guilty of abuse of office authority on three counts but was given an absolute discharge.

This is in relation to the case in which Dr Mumba was was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission and charged with one count of failure to follow procedure contrary to section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No 38 of 2010.

He was also charged with two counts of abuse of authority of office contrary to Sections 99(1) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

In the first count, It was alleged that Dr Mumba on dates unknown but between 1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada failed to follow procedure in the disbursement of Canadian Dollars CAD$122,000 received by the Zambia High Commission from Barrick Gold, funds meant for a cultural exchange programme which was being conducted by the Zambian High Commission in Canada.

It the second count, it was alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada, Dr Mumba abused his authority of office by awarding a contract for electrical works at the Zambian High Commission residence in Canada to a company called Restcon Construction Services at a cost of Canadian Dollars CAD$9,000 without following laid down procedures.

In the third count, it was alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada, Dr Mumba abused his authority of office by awarding a contract for the carpeting at the Zambian High Commission residence in Canada to a company called Argos Carpets at a cost of Canadian Dollars CAD$19,850 without following laid down procedures.

But the MMD through its National Secretary Elizabeth Chitika said Dr Mumba is still eligible to stand as President.

In a circular to all party members, Mrs Chitika said Dr Mumba the leader of the MMD since the judgement in the Canadian case was handed down on the 11th September 2018 at the Lusaka Magistrate Court in his favor.

She said Dr Mumba received an absolute discharge in this case which means no conviction is recorded.

“In simple terms he was acquitted and he is not answerable to any charge,” she said.

“You should therefore not entertain any kind of newspaper headlines, radio, TV and texts sent to you from haters who have deliberately decided to mislead and confuse the nation especially our officials that the political career of our President has come to an end after the court discharge.”

“This is far from the truth, our President is finally free and the whole Canadian fiasco which started six years ago has come to an end.”

She added, “We thank the good Lord that a way has now been cleared for the party leadership to swing into action and rebuild our Party especially after the High court determines the MMD case next month. Kindly be guided accordingly.”

22 COMMENTS

  1. Eligibility is not same as qualified.
    In Zambia we only vote for ELIGIBLE, but not QUALIFIED.
    Ba Edgar had issues, he didn’t and he still don’t qualify to be president, BUT just because he ELIGIBLE and you VOTE for him. You are still yapping that Ba Edgar Fimofimo is ELIGIBLE for 2021, but no one is preaching if he QUALIFIED.

    You are really fffcuked up you people..

  2. The current leadership in Zambia is not gripped with shame.Most of these leaders are bankrupt morally.It is not just a matter of standing as a president,it is your conscious which should convict you.Since most of these leaders luck moral conscious,they have no shame to declare themselves as candidates even when the law forbids them.
    We are living in times where people who stand as leaders,even if they are naked,will always see themselves as dressed up.It is a big shame that morality and integrity have been thrown in an abyss of disgrace.Convicts,pilferers and embezzlers are not supposed to be near the corridors of power.These are the people that have made politics to be dirty.

  3. Can the ACC appeal this judgement? Surely a thief cannot get away with it so easily. Mumba needs to dragged back to court on appeal by the ACC.

  4. WHY?
    ONLY IN ZAMBIA!!
    Why would a convicted crook be allowed to contest the Presidential seat?
    NEVERS, YOU ARE A CORRUPT GOON. JUST GO BACK TO THE LAND!

  5. This twit took over MMD which had over 45 mps and brought it down to getting 1% in a presidential election. And you still think he is “eligible”?? To come and do what?? Take it to 0.01%??? In Zambia, we create dictators from opposition level, instead of glorifying the institution or collective that is MMD, we want to glorify individuals. As if no one else exists to take it further. RB lost and let go. Just like upnd who believe kainde is the alpha and omega of Zambia’s future. Nevers should move on!!!

  6. The court FOUND HIM GUILTY. And thats why he was beging for mercy that “he has children, he runs a church blaa blaa”. So when you are found guilty it does not mean you are cleared. He was found guilty, but instead of being sent to jail the court excercise leniency (we don’t understand why). In a case like this, in normal democracies, the prosecution can appeal the sentence, especially if offences of abuse of office have a prescribed jail term. Because what this leanience says is that abuse of office is a forgiveable offence. And what will stop others from doing the same?

  7. Zambians kwena you all worried about Nevers little cases of not following rules, when there are more serious cases of corruption that may lead to us losing our country. The chinese are being awarded every contract without any rules being followed. We need desperate need to impeach the president before we drown deep in debt. Nevers’s little case has no bearing on me and most Zambians than whats happening now.

  8. Sad state of affairs….state is being salawulad to the Fong Kongs. Nevers’s case is just to divert people’s attention from Zamhina

  9. I don’t understand our judicial system. If they knew that they would not send Nevers Mumba to jail even if found guilty why did they prosecute him in the first place? Justice is for the poor and unconnected in this country. They have set a bad precedence. Even Edgar if he happens to be convicted in future they won’t send to jail as he will be ‘deemed’ to have occupied the highest office in the land.

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