Patriotic Front Member Chishimba Kambwili has condemned President Hakainde Hichilema for allowing the arrest of former PF deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri for the murder of Lawrence Banda.
Ms. Phiri has been formally jointly charged with former president Edgar Lungu’s barber Shebby Chilekwa for the murder of Lawrence Banda a United Party for National Development (UPND) member.
And Kambwili has charged that the UPND was living the trajectory of the PF government of arresting and detaining people without offences for the purpose of punishing them.
Mr. Kambwili who said Ms. Phiri was innocent, has alleged that the arrest of Ms. Phiri was politically motivated and that the government should desist from using the Police for retribution, revenge and settling of political scores.
“As commander in chief of all armed forces, how can President Hichilema allow the police to arrest and charge Mumbi Phiri when he himself said on record during the church service for the burial of Lawrence Banda that he was shot at in the eyes of many including Mumbi Phiri, which clearly states that she was innocent and did not pull the trigger, so why should he allow the police to arrest her?” he said.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Kambwili has challenged the head of state to fire the Inspector General of Police and the investigating officers in the matter for incompetence.
Mr. Kambwili has charged that the Head of State promised the people of Zambia of respect for the rule of law but that he had taken to the trajectory of the previous governments where arrests were used to settle political scores.
“President HH is not walking his talk but is talking the talk, he promised the people of Zambia of the respect of the rule of law, he also promised of freedom of expression where people are free to criticize the government without fear, but this is not what he is doing let us stop the UPND from continuing on the trajectory of the previous governments route of using arrests to settle political scores, for retribution and also as a form of revenge,” he said.
Mr. Kambwili, who demanded for the release of Mumbi Phiri, said her release would serve as a litmus test for President Hichilema to show the people of Zambia that he means well.
“Am appealing to the international community, all non-governmental organizations and all well-meaning Zambians to condemn this act and release Mumbi Phiri, let this matter be devoid of politics be looked at as it is, this case will serve as a litmus test for HH to show the country that he means well. Why jointly charged her with Chilekwa when in fact she was not the one who pulled the trigger?” He added.
I am calling on President Hichilema to sit down with the police and release Mumbi Phiri who we all know was innocent I remember that President Hakainde Hichilema and I once condemned in its strongest terms the arrests made by the PF on innocent people for political retribution” he stated.
He indicated that the PF government had on various counts-imposed arrests on then opposition UPND members for political vengeance.
“I can cite examples on how the PF abused their power by using the police to arrest the opposition, which included the treason charge slapped on the head of state himself, Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo and Obvious Mwaletata who served for one year for the case of aggravated robbery and Garry Nkombo who was also another victim of political arrests, including himself who was slapped with 39 cases under one court and 11 cases in others courts for political reason” Kambwili said.
He added that he would formally write to the Head of State to remind him of the times when he was in the opposition and in alliance with Kambwili in which they agreed that once in office such arrests would be things of the past.
Yesterday, Mumbi Phiri appeared in Kaoma Magistrates where she faces charges with former President Edgar Lungu’s Barber Shebby Chilekwa for murder of Lawrence Banda.
Phiri arrived in court at 10:00 hours clad in a floral African print (chitenge) outfit, white jersey, blue head sock and a green mask looking calm and confident.
The two accused appeared before Kaoma Magistrate Besting Hamaseke for explanation of the charge.
Facts before the court were that on October 6th ,2019 Mumbi Phiri 52 of Waterfalls area in Chongwe, a housewife and Shebby Chilekwa 34, a businessman of Chilanga whilst acting together allegedly murdered Lawrence Banda in Kaoma District.
Magistrate Hamaseke told the accused persons that they had been charged according to section 200 of the Penal code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Both Phiri and Chilekwa did agree before Magistrate Hamaseke that they understood the charge read before them.
Magistrate Hamaseke explained that the duo could not say anything because they were merely before his court for the explanation of the charge as the court awaits instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The two will appear in court on March 10,2022, for mention whilst they remain in custody.
“You have appeared before this court for an explanation of the charge so that you know the reason you are in custody because your matter can not be tried in this court. Your charge is according to section 200 of the Penal code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. I am waiting for instructions from the DPP whether or not I should release you,” Magistrate Hamaseke explained.
Phiri becomes the second accused person to be charged with the murder of Lawrence Banda, the first one being former President Edgar Lungu’s Barber Shebby Chilekwa.
Lawrence Banda, a UPND sympathizer was shot dead in Kaoma District in 2019 during the run-up to council chairperson by-elections.
Should we assume that the New Dawn is following the pecking order to effect these political cadre murder cases?. Why haven’t they made a single arrest on the case of murdered Northwestern PF provincial chairman?
KiKikikikikiki Ahahahah Look at this untrustworthy man. Couldn’t even appreciate when in detention HH family brought him food. Accountability, accountability and accountability is the song today. Arrests within PF or outside is meant for accountability. Even on your death bed, Zambians will demand for accountability.
That’s PF for you they do not think first they just defend …even this Lazy Lungu’s barber they were defending without looking at the evidence, go and watch archive videos of Mumbi Phiri talking carelessly about this matter. PF were so arrogant that they just talked any how even on camera.
I quote “Chishimba Kambwili has condemned President Hakainde Hichilema for allowing the arrest ….” the keyword here being “ALLOWING”,,,,,
Is it realistic that every arrest is sactioned by the president? Kambwili be reminded that if this was happening in PF rein, things, have changed. Arrests are allowed by the security wings in coraboration with with the DPP. Please, leave out the president from your mess !!! don’t make yourself relevant by baselessly attacking the president, we know you are after the PF Presidence, keep your dirty work in your PF camp and don’t spill out. If there was anyone that HH would go after, it will be LUNGU. The rest you are nonentities to HH, don’t cheat yourselves.
asking for international community, churches and Zambians to condemn you for defending a killer. Zambian observer you would have attached a video for mumbi phiri and Lawrence Banda for the people to see which person we will condemned more, however I would like to advice chishimba kambwili to behave, Lawrence Banda was a human beings like mumbi phiri ,therefore, he deserves justice. His children were crying like I don’t know instead of you to have pitty on his children , soever , for me I understand you, you are doing that because of thetribalism you have planted in your heart . Mumbi phiri is supporting you to take over PF presidency no wonder you are trying to defend her . Zambian observer attach videos for madam phiri and Lawrence Banda . Politics is not about killing your friends but…
This conman who’s never been politically consistent or principled cares about rule of law ? I THINK NOT.
They are going after women and old and frail innocent people like chikwanda. They are scared to come after me because they know I hold a lot of dirty secrets and recordings of hh and his upnd officials
Case .. long overdue.
Let’s not forget that he [CK] was bought by PF and nearly set the country on FIRE.
How many people pulled the trigger? How many bullet holes were find?
This Party called PF has no leaders, does this man honestly think Police can just wake up from nowhere to say lets charge Mumbi Phiri with murder, such a serious crime carrying capital punishment , PF lowered leadership standards in the country when they were in government, they are doing the same in opposition now with the likes of this man
There is a leadership crisis in PF. The party needs complete new people, preferably young, vibrant, clean with no excess baggage
The current PF leadership made us loose elections , and we have not seen any new strategies nor rebranding
As PF members, we demand complete new leadership and not any of the current leaders including Kambwili
The PF convention must be brought forward, we want to vote for complete new leaders
This man is very du.ll…
Pleas let him be president of PF…….
He still does not know that a gang of criminals who murder some one, even other gang members are arrested as part of the crime ,aiding and abetting a murder , even if they did not pull the trigger……???
It is upto Mumbi phiri to be an accomplice to murder or be a witness and testify against the killer………..
She told everyone, she was there and witnessed the whole thing………..
Have this BUFFOON CK as PF President it will be this nonsense everyday
Chishamba chambwili is finished after his chishimba has stopped working.
He is not Imbwili as you call him but ichishimba cha mbwili juju nor wonder he looks like that.
These guys they are demon possesed. Look at Ocean Tembo’s behaviour too full of jelousy and hate.
Next is you kambwili. Who is going to cry for you?
Someone said they scared to after me ??
Why would wate ones time going over a loud mouth with nothing
Maybe when life style audits come they’ll look at your shack
Imwe sure is the Kaoma saga connected to the Mongu issue where ba Mumbi Phiri threatened police officers and few days the police arrested ba HH and charged him with treason?
Kambwili’s immaturity and political irresponsibility makes him unsuitable for any public office.
Just watch the archive of videos of BUFFOON CK you will find something on CK …this fat bum fears prison because he loves eating bread with butter and fatty foods.
Chishimba Kambwili doesn’t even acknowledge that a murder was committed in Kaoma but is just concerned with Mumbi Phiri. It’s a pity that those who covered his press conference could not ask him even simple and obvious questions.
Kambwili, I am wondering if you understand what constitutes the charge of murder. Added to this, I doubt if you understand the connections between Chilekwa, Mumbi Phiri and the murder of Mr. Banda. The circumstances which led to the murder of Mr. Banda definitively involve Mumbi Phiri and, this is the justification for her arrest. Kambwili, I urge you to carefully read and understand all relevant matters in their entirety. Your problem is that you have approached the current matter in an emotional manner. Due to this, you are clearing forcing the public to use piece meals and, shift the blame to the door step of UPND. Kambwili’s argument is very poor and it is riddled with huge gaps. The reasons for Kambwili’s argument cannot support the conclusion.
Another fact is that Kwambwili is…
Who listens to lying Kambwilli-has-no-willie? Nobody
Or is it Kambwilli-micro-Willie? Doesn’t matter he is a nincompoop
This stinking tribal bigot, had Mumbai been Lozi or Kaonde he would not be howling like a baboon like this.
Planing a murder and pulling the trigger are connected….