Crooks invade Presidential race

…suspected criminals want to enter State House to clean their names

Many political leaders, he said, had a lot to explain to the Zambian people owing to their previous dubious dealings that continued to hover on their heads.

Security service, Mr Mwanza said, should not be intimidated but feel emboldened to expose crooks and con-men vying for political office to perpetuate their criminality.

He lamented that the political space in Zambia had been dented by some politicians who have an insatiable appetite to abuse public property for their personal gain.

He appealed to UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema and Socialist Party President Fred M’membe to explain their position on matters affecting them, “Mr. Hichilema must explain the controversy and contention over the 4 Lima properties scandal, sale of Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone and the holding of Saturnia properties while pensioners languish in poverty and others die,” he said.

Mr Mwanza said Socialist Party leader, Fred M’membe must explain his taxes and benefits from privatization of Zambian Airways where the Development Bank of Zambia had lost a lot of money.

Mr Mwanza said the political space had been invaded by criminals and fraudsters who were banking on becoming republican President to clear their names of wrongdoing.

“Zambians needed answers before you even think of becoming President. Names must be cleared of wrong-doing first. Otherwise as it is, this is invasion of our political space which has been known to be noble,” he said.

And Zambian DNA spokesperson, Spuki Mulemwa said Mr Hichilema and Mr M’membe need to explain all allegations against them before thinking of having their names on the ballot.

Mr Mulemwa said the allegations against the two political leaders were very serious because they involve public resources which must be pumped back into the economy if they were found wanting.

He also said several pensioners had died as a result of the frustrations incurred after the privatization of public assets.

“Hundreds of pensioners have died because the manner in which the privatization was handled which left pensioners destitute,” said Mr Mulemwa.

JACK Kalala should be the last person to be attacking President Edgar Lungu and should instead he should tell the nation why he was recalled from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he was Consul General at one time, the Evangelical Youth Alliance has said.

Alliance Executive director, Moses Lungu warned that Mr Kalala should stop scandalizing innocent people, but clean up his own mess

Reverend Lungu was reacting to remarks Mr Kalala who alleged the Heat of State was corrupt.

He charged that the former government officials should stop attacking the Head of State because he had not come out in the open to explain why he was recalled from DRC.

He said that President Lungu does not blow the trumpet when he is dealing with corrupt individuals because he respected government institutions.

“We would like to express our sadness over remarks by the former special assistant to the president.He should be the last person to talk about corruption and I challenge him to tell the name why he recalled from Congo,” he said.

Reverend Lungu said the Head of State does not talk about corruption because he works quietly.