LUNGU LAND GIFT LEGAL – WYNTER
“Elias Chipimo was quoting Chapter 36 or something of the anti-corruption act, but he must go and read the Supreme Court judgment in former President Chiluba’s case, where the court declared that the President was not a public officer, the truth is there is nothing in the law that says the President cannot receive a gift,” said Rainbow Party General Secretary Wynter Kabimba
THERE is nothing constitutionally wrong with the head of state receiving a gift from anyone, says Rainbow party General Secretary Wynter Kabimba.
Reacting on the legality of President Lungu receiving a land gift from King Mswati of Eswatini Kingdom, Mr Kabimba said the law that National Restoration Party (NAREP) President Elias Chipimo quoted when he addressed the press two weeks ago did not apply to the republican President.
“He was quoting Chapter 36 or something of the anti-corruption act, but he must go and read the Supreme Court judgment in former President Chiluba’s case, where the court declared that the President was not a public officer, the truth is there is nothing in the law that says the President cannot receive a gift,” he said.
Mr Kabimba who featured on Pan African Radio yesterday said there was nothing in the constitution that stated that a president or minister cannot receive a gift.
He said it was instead a matter of personal decision for a president not to accept a gift from anyone. Mr Kabimba however clarified that there was no time during a Presidents term of office that he could act in an individual capacity.
He further said that Zambians should not be reliant on donor funds but work towards creating an economically independent country.
Mr Kabimba who was responding to a question from a caller on whether Zambia was in debt crisis, said debt was a construct by western countries to ensure that third world countries remained poor and as such Zambians only needed to take charge of their fate.
“We in the Rainbow Party believe that Zambians need to work hard, we talk about terms such as development aid what are we developing? I cannot see it.
“The Problem is we are too comfortable receiving form donors, Zambia must stand up and be catalysts to our own economy. We must claim our own fate,” he said.
Mr Kabimba also refuted reports circulating on social media stating that the rainbow party had been bought by the Patriotic Front government, adding that Zambians are abusing social media and using it for the wrong purposes.