YES, PROBE CHILUBA PROSECUTION
Dear Editor,
IWISH to add my voice to that of LAZ, YALI and the Daily Nation’ s editorial comment, demanding for the probe in the unjustly manner in which the late President, Chiluba was prosecuted.
Our memories still remain fresh, how that Parliament was made to lift FTJ’s immunity with the speed of lightening. Parliament was made to breach even its standing orders which provides guidance on the procedure that it ought to follow when debating a matter of an individual citizen who is not at Parliament. The august house allowed itself, to be denied the basic minimum period of time it required to study such an important matter before commencing any debate. As a consequence, Parliament denied Dr Chiluba the right to be heard before his immunity was lifted. He was pronounced guilty before being proven innocent. On the other hand, the courts of law failed to hold in check the executive arm of government, who through the then Republic President, continued issuing running and contemptible commentaries over the matter that was in court. Besides, the Courts of law failed to stop the wrongful prosecution by choosing to preside over an illegal prosecution. Dr Chiluba’s lawyers raised these preliminary issues regarding the wrongful prosecution, but their submissions fell on deaf judicial ears. It would appear that the main preoccupation that those involved in that illegal prosecution had, was only that of appeasing the whims of those who wielded political power then, but not the delivery of justice to the accused. I say this, to the exclusion of the then Registrar of the High Court, Jones Chinyama, who presided as Magistrate. This is so, because the case was just as signed to him, by his superiors, then. Lest we forget, it was during that same time that the late Mukelebai Mukelebai was hounded out of office as Director of Public Prosecutions, allegedly for standing his ground by offering his independent and professional legal position on the frivolous charges over which the former President’s immunity was lifted. In the nutshell, it is high time, that the Chief Justice set into motion the inquiry to probe the unjust and illegal prosecution of the late former President. In the same vein, I wish to make a humble appeal to President Edgar Lungu, to move a motion in parliament, seeking to restore the Presidential immunity to the late Dr Chiluba. Dr Martin Luther King Jr, once said: “Injustice to one, is injustice to all.” Lastly, allow me to most sincerely express my gratitude to the retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Musonda for daring to obey his legal conscience, in order to bring to the fore the injustice done to the late President, Dr FJT Chiluba. Rev. Dr Charles Mwila Mutambala, President, Better World (Z) Ndola.