Task force cartel resurfaces

… pushing for political persecutions

THE cartel that pressurised late President Levy Mwanawasa to set up a task force on corruption has resurfaced and pushing the new president to set up the new fast track courts to persecute political opponents.

PF Information and Publicity chairperson Raphael Nakacinda said the cartel that coerced President Mwanawasa to persecute Dr Frederick Chiluba had returned and were pushing the new president to set up a fast track court aimed at discrediting the former ruling party.

Mr Nakacinda said that it was shocking that a witch hunt had started with people being sent to countries like Eswatini and Belgium to sniff out properties former President Edgar Lungu had.

He said that this was a witch hunt and that the country spent a lot of money investigating former presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Chiluba only to discover that they did not have anything in their coffers.

“It’s a shame that the country lost millions in trying to persecute Dr Chiluba due to political reasons because there was a cartel that was controlling President Mwanawasa and now they want to control the new President,” he said.

Mr Nakacinda also challenged the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to stop victimising political parties over the source of their funding.

He said there was no law that stated that a party should disclose its source of funding and that the PF SG did not need to give any information.

Mr Nakacinda said the UPND when in opposition refused the proposal and that the now Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe was in the forefront.

“This is a witch hunt how can the investigative wings interrogate the PF were the source of funds for adverts and other things came from when there is no law that compels parties to do so,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Nakacinda questioned the silence from the church following the abolition of Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance.

He said the silence from the church following the abolition of the ministry was worrying and that most clergymen were trying to seek jobs and favours.

Mr Nakacinda said it was the duty of the clergy to defend the values of the country and not putting personal interests first.