… law should be applied fairly to all Zambians whether rich or poor JUSTICE SHOULD BE APPLIED EQUALLY – TAYALI
JUSTICE should be seen to be applied equally and fairly to all Zambians whether poor or rich, and if the poor are dying in jail for stealing a chicken, let rich politicians face the same wrath of the law for their crimes, Chilufya Tayali has said.
Mr Tayali who is Economic and Equity Party (EPP) leader said it was folly for Zambians to accuse him and government of being villains for fighting cor- ruption by reporting the culprits with certain ailments to law enforcement agencies and having them arrested.
He said there was nothing to cry foul for in a matter involving Roan constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Chishimba Kambwili who fell sick whilst in detention at Woodlands Police station after being arrested for alleged criminal activities.
Mr Tayali told the Daily Nation that it would be folly for government to lose focus or be swayed on its crusade to fight corruption by some blame game of being accused of having caused Mr Kambwili’s illness when he was just cornered by the law like any other person.
He said Zambians should not talk about fighting corruption if they don't want people to be arrested just because they have BP or diabetes, adding that they should blame the wrong doers instead.
“I will personally not lose focus nor will I be swayed on my crusade to fight corruption by some blame game of causing Kambwili to get sick and government should not be swayed by his (Kambwili’s) sickness as well.
“I know how you feel, because I felt the same when Mutembo Nchito and Fred M'membe were persecuting FTJ, whom I loved so much. But if poor people are dying in jail for stealing chicken because they are hungry, why should they feel guilty for pursuing a person who is alleged to have stolen millions,” Mr Tayali said.
The EEP leader said Mr Kambwili should have known better about his health and how to keep himself away from trouble that could trigger his BP and diabetes.
“Of course I am sympathetic to his ailment, but it was him (Kambwili) who challenged everyone for a ‘punch for punch.’