Metro

Ex-President Lungu accuses Hichilema of ‘selective’ corruption fight

Published

11 months ago

December 27, 2023

Former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has accused his successor, Hakainde Hichilema, of being selective and playing double standards in the fight against corruption in the country.

Lungu, who made the allegation in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday in Lusaka, described Hichilema’s corruption fight as a smokescreen to persecute perceived opponents and enemies of his administration while shielding his indicted allies from facing the law.

The former Zambian leader, who was reacting to the resignation of Foriegn Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Stanley Kakubo, following accusations of corrupt practices, said Hichilema should be condemned by all because the “real fight against corruption had no eyes, that it did not choose depending on one’s proximity, or the lack of it, to the corridors of power.”

“I am compelled to comment on Hichilema’s continued shielding of his ministers and other senior government officials from corruption allegations while at the same time proclaiming that there will be no sacred cows in his fight against corruption,” Lungu said in the statement.

He further emphasized that serious allegations of corruption had been revealed against Kakubo whom he merely thanked for resigning his position after the allegations were made public.

“Last year in April when Kakubo was first accused of corruption, Hichilema, and not the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was the one who declared him innocent.

“What message is Hichilema sending to the Law Enforcement Agencies when he is the first one to defend his ministers accused of corruption?

“The first time Kakubo was accused of receiving huge bribes in envelopes from some Chinese businessmen and Hichilema was under pressure from the public to fire Kakubo. But he did not do that”, he said.

Lungu said he was not implying that Kakubo was guilty but simply saying that if there were no sacred cows in Hichilema’s fight against corruption, Kakubo should be investigated and if need be, prosecuted and declared innocent or guilty by the due process of the law, not by Hichilema.

“Kakubo’s conduct in his latest accusation definitely raises more questions than answers and instead of commenting on the allegations, or at least inviting the Law Enforcement Agencies to take interest in the matter, Hichilema only heaped praises on Kakubo as a diligent government worker and leader who should continue working hard in his new role as a backbencher.

“How can a worker and leader who is always accused of corruption be described as diligent?

“While Hichilema publicly exonerated Kakubo, he set the ACC on former Ministers namely Bowman Lusambo and Ronald Chitotela. The former Ministers were declared guilty of being in possession of property believed to have been obtained through proceeds of crime.

“These are the double standards I am talking about. For Hichilema, all the former leaders are thieves who should be punished by the law,” Lungu noted.

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Metro

Zambian govt successfully repatriates trafficked toddler from Mozambique

Published

14 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian government has announced the successful repatriation of a one-year-eight-month-old child who was trafficked to Mozambique.

Making the announcement at a media briefing held at the Ministry’s head office in Lusaka on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Angela Kawandami, expressed relief and joy at the child’s return, following the abduction from Lundazi District in October 2023.

Kawandami revealed that the case was reported to Lundazi Police Station on October 28, 2023, and following intense investigation, the child was trailed to a house in a care facility in Tete, Mozambique, before being repatriated.

Kawandami emphasized government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights, citing the Children’s Code Act of 2022 and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2008 as essential tools in combating child trafficking.

“These laws mandate the state and relevant actors to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of children, especially those at risk of trafficking,” she said.

She further highlighted the role of Zambia’s National Referral Mechanism in ensuring a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to trafficking cases.

“Through effective collaboration between the Ministries of Community Development and Social Services, Home Affairs and Internal Security, the Zambia Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department, and Interpol, the child was returned safely after a year of continuous efforts,” she narrated.

She urged the public to remain vigilance and report suspected trafficking cases, noting the increasing threat of human trafficking.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Director for Anti-Human Trafficking in the Ministry of Home Affairs Boris Mulengu, praised the strong cooperation between Zambia and Mozambique, stressing the importance of intergovernmental collaboration in combating trafficking.

Meanwhile, the child’s mother expressed heartfelt gratitude for her child’s safe return, acknowledging the emotional toll the abduction had caused.

She thanked the government and all involved agencies for their unwavering dedication to reuniting her with her child.

Metro

Finland-based Nigerians in panic as authorities search for Simon Ekpa’s sponsors

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Some Nigerians based in Finland have been thrown into panic mode following the arrest and detention of the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRIGE), Simon Ekpa, who was arrested on Thursday by Finnish authorities on terror-related charges.

Ekpa was arrested alongside four other individuals by Finnish authorities on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism.

The dissident had made himself infamous by using the social media to promote violent activities in southeastern Nigeria, including attacks and murder of civilians and security personnel.

According to some Nigerians in European country, following the arrest of the separatist leader and the four individuals suspected to be sponsors of his group known as IPOB-AutoPilots, the police have begun a manhunt for other sponsors, thus creating panic in the Nigerian community and those who may have had dealings with the agitator.

Several sources who spoke to journalists, said Nigerians in the European country are afraid of commenting on the arrest of Ekpa over fear of being attacked.

A Nigerian community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said that the Igbo community in the was gravely affected by the violent acts of the secessionist group.

“Everyone is afraid to speak about Ekpa’s arrest. The key people in Finland and the Igbo community at large are not ready to lend their voices either,” he said.

He added that some persons were being accused of reporting Ekpa to the police and were being threatened.

“A particular person they accused now, they’re after him. This happened before he (Ekpa) was even remanded; what will happen when they imprison him? Everyone is afraid. These people are very deadly.”

Another Nigerian who spoke acknowledged that there was serious tension among Nigerians in the country.

“People don’t want to speak about Ekpa for fear of being hunted by his followers. We believe that they will hunt whoever comes out to talk about their leader. But the Finnish Government is trying to get rid of the situation.”