Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services (GEARS) Executive Director, McDonald Chipenzi says there is nothing wrong with the emerging calls to have former President Edgar Lungu’s immunity removed because such a move exists in the current Zambian constitution.
Mr Chipenzi charges that the debate on the need to have Mr Lungu’s immunity removed is a healthy debate in Democracy where freedom of expression and opinion exist.
Mr Chipenzi told ZANIS in Livingstone today that Zambia being a constitutional democracy allows the constitution to have a former President’s immunity removed if the citizens feel that particular Head of State committed some offences which they should be made to account for.
Mr Chipenzi however contends that the immunity clause in the constitution must be done away with because it allows Presidents to misconduct themselves whilst in office.
He said doing away with such a clause will force Presidents to conduct their duties and functions with due diligence while in office.
Mr Chipenzi notes that the immunity clause has led to some presidents to behave carelessly and with impunity knowing that they are protected by law
You are not the right person to comment on this. It has already been explained how the process works.
Move on from former president . you folks have got a country to run.
time break the cycle of arguing with former presidents.
Majority of upnd senior officials will die before any reasonable or sane judge grants such a f00Iish request to remove immunity of a former president. Stop wasting time and rule the country
Fully agree. Lungu must be made to answer to all his actions. Why he didn’t handover power in 2016 in accordance with the constitution. Among other vices that occurred. The constitution needed to be followed at all times as the most important document in all nations.
Deja Vu – Why is he not the right person? Is he not a stakeholder like you and me…don’t you comment on LT pretending to be objective yet we know where your allegiance lies
A randy youth draws a tattoo on his body of Mutale Mwanza with hope that she’d give it to him but rewards with a 10pin instead. The next thing is the whole ACC summons Mutale for questioning on suspicion of money laundering! In the meantime, a quack from Kalumbila buys a midget size lice infested nondescript prison jacket at K2.5M as other Party zealots cheer him on but the ACC doesn’t do anything and Chipenzi doesn’t see anything wrong with that. So it’s still cadres in charge. They’ve called for ECL’s arrest and so be it? This is change that wasn’t change. Many UPND members will end in prison when Bally is shown the way to Bweengwa. Nipano tuli
Zambian presidential aspirants have to know , and expect their immunity to be lifted should be found to have abused power……….
It must be common knowledge that as soon as you leave office , investigations will commence……..
If you are clean , you have nothing to fear and must actively encourage investigations……….
#5 He is compromised. We know his history but I don’t want go further lest you label me PF as has now become the trend among your people.
#5 Tarino Orange your allegience lies with Upnd and it’s your right. You can accuse me as much as you want but remember previous ruling parties fell into the same trap you are already falling into. I express my opinion on how I see things and instead of you attacking me (cancel culture) try to debate and defend logically. I don’t support Political parties but as a citizen I only the best for me, my family, my country. Finally don’t forget why the PF lost power.
Deja Vu – My allegiance is with the people of Zambia …I wouldn’t care less who is in govt provided they are capable of delivering and not a Kakistocracy like PF was.
What matters here is not love for Edgar Lungu or hatred for him; it’s the law and evidence.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu is a Criminal and must be Prosecuted.We are learning more and more Outrageous Acts of Corruption and theft of Public funds .
The French have just prosecuted Former President Nicholas Sarkorzy,he is now on 2 years house arrest.Israeli have in the past jailed former President and are currently in the process of prosecuting President Nyetanyahu.
Lungu is a Thief and he needs to be Prosecuted.
Removing immunity on all former presidents. How many are they? It’s only Edgar, Rupiah belongs to hh.
You may target Edgar today, you will be the target tomorrow. What hh must know is that one day he will leave that seat.
I have never seen a president with so much hate. Every drop of blood from Edgar will haunt you hh. I wish Edgar’ body guards would have killed hh when he competed with presidential motorcade.
Edgar Lungu weakened the bond btwn the state and the citizen due to rampant corruption in his government. He almost put Zambia on the path to a failing state.
To weaken the bond btwn citizen and state is as close to treason as u can get. This bond is wht keeps Zambia together. If citizens begin to see the state as illegitimate where does that leave Zambia?
Much as I’m not political, this hatred by UPND supporters and their surrogates of former president Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and anything PF, is going to divide the country even further. Remember you all supporting president HH and the UPND, it’s the people from other provinces and not Southern, Western and North Western that made HH president. You are trading on deadly ground by creating this unnecessary division. 2026 is very near and instead of trying to build unit, you are dividing the country further and even the people that voted for HH from other provinces, are now beginning to pay attention because this has become a vendetta against the former president and the former ruling party. To be forewarned, is to be forearmed.
And where were you when HH was being tried for treason for a traffic incident, when it is your own being asked to account it is hatred
Some of the Double Standards is unacceptable. What is wrong with us Zambians? This is the man in a shortest period, is the Richest African former Head of State. We want to know how he made that money at the expense of Hospitals and health Clinics not having Medicines. Let alone some retirees died while waiting for their payouts. Remove his Immunity, if not guilty he will be cleared.
Wrongs must be accounted for, whether ECL. HH, whoever comes next, full stop. Only thieves and law breakers and tribesmen do not want the constitution to be followed.,
Mayanda Mulenga @16, it’s not about love or hatred for Edgar Lungu but a matter of law and evidence. Do u get it? Are u capable of getting it?
If the government has evidence then they
Should go ahead and remove immunity.
But if you do not have proper evidence then
It’s a waste of court time and money.
No there’s have to be compelling, objective evidence based reasons to have a former president’s immunity removed, not just cadres yupping in the street shouting with placards.
That evidence needs to be presented to Parliament who would then debate and decide on the matter.
“… if the citizens feel that particular Head of State committed some offences…”… nothing to do with feelings of citizens.
I have no issues with Edgar Lungu’s immunity removed but write a compelling argument with evidence so we can see it.
Chipenzi you are a UPND surrogate, so just zip it.
Surely if one is innocent and is being accused wrongdoing then an innocent person would then actually be eager to be cleared, so that any doubts are quickly cleared.
Moreover it is the Zambian people’s money not UPND
The majority of Zambians just want the truth
You only call for lifting of immunity after investigations show some glaring issues, lifting of immunity is the last action if tangible evidence has been gathered, analysed, corroborated, witnesses are available, exhibits and documents all gathered, after you have some thing water tight then you can ask for immunity to be lifted, but you cant call for lifting of immunity now, show your basis, so in short much as we all believe that tyrant Edgar Lungu was not clean, we should still follow the process and avoid mob psychology and emotions
If you think you have reason to suspect ECL committed crimes whilst in power, first let those with the responsibility be allowed to investigate him. Secondly, once evidence has been collected, lay charges on him. Thirdly, let President Hichilema take these charges to Parliament and move a motion to have the former President’s immunity lifted. Fourthly, allow the former President to respond to the charges. Finally, the courts of law will have to prove the former President guilty of charges brought against him before he can be convicted of any wrongdoing. Due process demands that the foregoing be followed and not that one inconsequential fellow calling himself leader of some fictitious NGO assumes the role of jury and judge and convicts the former President in his own person. That cannot…
… be justice but something that only takes place in a kangaroo court presided over by Chimpanzee whilst imbibing his favourite Chibwantu drink.
I personally dont think that HH will be found in cases that will demand the removal of the immunity. The man is so courageous and overzealous with what he is doing.
Chipenzi u are useless upnd cadre . Stop that nonsense. Zambia will be divided if this trend continues. Let hh work on economy , create jobs etc . Take care you will loudest .
It is health indeed to debate removal of presidential immunity. I hope since some people strongly believe ECL stole public funds and encouraged corruption, they should be allowed to free debate this issue, in the same vein people should be allowed to debate what happened during privatisation and who benefited at the expense of Zambians and some died due to none payment of benefits because companies were sold so cheaply to have funds cover liabilities. If we allow this then we will be fair. And no group should shut up the other. Deal, Mr Chipenzi?
All the Defeated PF thieves against removing their Big Thief /Looter’s immunity… the citizens have the final say… not the clicque.
kkkkkkkkk pa zambia very childish, educated people are the most ignorant people in the world especially pa Z (quote).We need to move please fertilizer is now is selling at K800.
This foo.l
I thought he was going to talk about 1. fertilizer at K250 per bag
2. Millie meal at K50
3. Kwacha appreciating after the swearing in of the president
4. Free education
5. Sale of the jet
6. Meal allowance for student
7. The under5 developmental agenda etc
Only to bring up useless issues ba under5 please start working …
Tribalism ? …………Hahahahahahaha…………………Ba Kawalala nabo ?
This is a very weak argument – which can only be supported by people with less integrity. Mwamba has just exposed himself. My earnest appeal to this new Dawn Government is that as they embark on amending our Constitution let them drop some of this useless Presidential privileges introduced by Thieves.
1. President and others’ retirement houses – Let them build own houses from earnings.
2. President immunity – Immunity to drop off immediately one leaves office.
3. Perpetual salaries till death – Put them on Pension schemes
4. Reduce the powers of appointing almost everyone in Civil service