Her remarks follow the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court’s decision on Tuesday to sentence Sampa, a UPND member and former Kasama MP, to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour in a matter where he was accused of theft and forgery.
Lusaka Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Irene Wishimanga also acquitted Sampa on one count of theft by agent amounting to $70,000 in cash belonging to investor Kunihiro Fugishima, stating that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Reacting to the development in an interview on Wednesday, Imenda said people should not join the ruling party expecting to be shielded from the law. “This conviction sends a strong message that no one, regardless of political affiliation, is above the law. Members must uphold integrity and accountability in their actions,” she said.
She added that the party respects the judicial process and urged Zambians to have confidence in the courts. “Justice has been served where evidence was proven, and where it was lacking, acquittals have been made. This reinforces the independence of our legal system,” she added.
Imenda further called on political office bearers to maintain transparency in their dealings, saying it is crucial for building public trust and strengthening democratic governance.
“The ruling demonstrates that our institutions are functioning and that the law applies equally to all citizens. It should serve as a reminder to all public officials to act responsibly and ethically in their positions,” she concluded.
The crimes he committed were so heinous no right thinking person could look the other way…an intelligent person applying knowledge wrongly
This lady also. Kuti waseka. Just because Sampa has been convicted, for her it means the law is not applied selectively
Not because of this case THE LAW IS VERY SELECTIVE
Let’s hear your song when out of office
How about some statistics on how many UPND members have been prosecuted the past five years. And how many opposition members. How many UPND members have been harassed by police and so-called security forces and how many from the opposition. You would be too embarrassed to reveal. Yet you have the stats
Even the few UPND members that have been arrested are discards. After being kicked out police receive instructions to arrest them
It selects the turncoats from the original party members. The muselela kwakabas from the older membership
Bo Imenda, desperately commenting on little sacrificial lambs. Trying to put a justice perspective on a corrupt system
Sampa just joined recently and the reason was for his cases to be washed away so you cannot call him a upnd member but a short term marriage of convenience which didnt work out. Now hoping for a presidential pardon.