ARCHBISHOP BANDA WILL BE SUBJECTED TO ZAMBIAN LAW, NOT VATICAN – MWEETWA

ARCHBISHOP BANDA WILL BE SUBJECTED TO ZAMBIAN LAW, NOT VATICAN – MWEETWA

CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says government cannot report Archbishop Alick Banda to the Vatican.

Mweetwa says government is not answerable to the Vatican, adding that in the archbishop’s case Zambian law is applicable.

Meanwhile, former secretary to cabinet Leslie Mbula says the law doesn’t discriminate, therefore Archbishop Banda should face it.

Responding to a News Diggers editorial which suggested that it would have been wiser to report Archbishop Banda to the Vatican to allow internal processes to run their course, Mweetwa said government cannot be entangled in Vatican issues.

“You can’t entangle us in the issues of the Vatican and whatever, no! As government, we are just there to ensure that there is rule of law, period! The issue of the Vatican, why do you want to invoke the Vatican, for what? The law which is applicable in Zambia is Zambian law, let us not hyperbolic this issue. There is no drama about it, why do you want us to go to the Vatican? Are we answerable to the Vatican, we are not. So, this issue should not be taken out of context. This is a simple issue of the law, rule of law, this is a juridical matter and not a political matter. Why do you want us to report to the Vatican?” wondered Mweetwa.

“We are not the prosecutors, and we should not be passing commentaries, while these proceedings are in place. Otherwise, we risk the fact that when the matter goes to court, if at all it reaches the courts, we will be said to have had premeditated thoughts over this matter. So, I only commented yesterday, because we needed to clarify one or two things, we are not here to comment about that issue. How many people are appearing before the courts of law, that the government is not talking about? Why should we talk about one person?”

Meanwhile, Mbula said the law doesn’t discriminate, therefore, Archbishop Banda should face it.

“Who is Archbishop Alick Banda? Is he a citizen? Is he subject to the law?
In South Africa, Mr Zuma was taken to court. Mr Zuma was president. In Venezuela, the President, there is in court. So the law doesn’t discriminate. But what is important is to find out the truth from the Archbishop. What is the truth about him? And the truth shall set him free. That’s what the Bible says. So the drug enforcement, the security ways, are trying to get the truth from him. The truth can set him free,” he said.

Asked if he thought it would have been wise to report the Archbishop to the Vatican, Mbula argued that the offense was not committed in Italy.

“I hear you, but the offence was not committed in Italy. So, the law also has what they call areas of jurisdiction, this is Zambia. It was committed in Zambia and the law is very clear on the steps to be taken. And the law took the steps. And in my view, if I do something wrong, I was secretary to the cabinet, they’ll come for me. Mr Chiluba did something wrong, the law went for him and so on. So please, let’s not over-politicise matters. My view is, let the law take its course. That’s all I can say without undue interference. But then, because then the common person will say, if I were that, they would not have done this. They are doing this to me because I’m a commoner. So, they’ll be saying the law therefore is discriminatory. But the law does not discriminate. We put up these laws so that they could apply to all of us, without exception,” Mbula said.

“So, he should be subjected to the due process of the law that is within the jurisdiction of this country. He’s a citizen of the Republic of Zambia, and the law talks about anybody who commits an offence here in Zambia will be subject to that. But you know, it’s just an enquiry for him to explain himself. Because the truth, if he can come out and say what happened, it shall be revealed. It shall be explicated, It shall be freed consciously and physically”.

On sentiments that the matter has only been resurrected now because the Archbishop has been critical of government, Mbula said it didn’t matter how long the crime was committed, when evidence comes up, it should be pursued.

“What is the right time? Because they say, in my language, they say a case never rots. So it could have been 10 years, 20 years. Once the evidence comes up, they’ll do it. Sometimes it’s a question of gathering evidence. They don’t want to rush. Because if they rush, they’ll think that maybe they are being vindictive, that they want to take their time. And they’re not saying he’s guilty. They call him to find out what the truth is. But it’s important for him to say what happened and then he’ll free himself,” said Mbula.

News Diggers