LAWYER TICKS OFF CHIPIMO
“Stop misleading nation. There is no law that regulates the value of gifts the President can receive”
THERE is no law in Zambia that compels a sitting republican President not to accept a gift worth more than US$ 1, 000, Lusaka lawyer Hobday Kabwe has said.
National Restoration Party (NAREP) leader, Elias Chipimo reportedly claimed that it was unlawful for President Edgar Lungu to accept a piece of land he had been allocated in eSwatini by King Mswati.
Mr Kabwe however rubbished the claims by the opposition party leader, adding that there was no law that restricted the President from accepting gifts of any quantity.
He explained that there was only a law that regulated the conduct of Members of Parliament and ministers, but that such a law was not applicable to the Presidency even if he was part of parliament.
Mr Kabwe reiterated that by virtue of the President not being part and parcel of parliament, the President was above the parliamentary code of conduct.
He said in an interview that that the code of conduct for the republican Presidency, emoluments and allowances were regulated by only the republican constitution.
“Saying that the President can’t receive gifts exceeding US$1, 000 is not true. Where is Mr Chipimo getting that authority from?
“The much misquoted Parliament and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act applies to ministers and Members of the National Assembly only,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior chief Mujimanzovu of the Kaonde people of Solwezi district expressed disappointment with people criticizing President Lungu for accepting the piece of land.
He also said that there was nothing wrong with the gesture and that Zambian chiefs in North Western Province had at one time given King Mswati a piece of land. He explained that in 2009, traditional leaders in the area gave King Mwsati a piece for land and it was therefore not surprising that he had reciprocated.
The traditional leader said that King Mswati might be reciprocating the gesture by giving President Lungu land in his country.