DPP defends handling of Tayali case, rejects selective prosecution claims
Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri has defended the handling of criminal proceedings involving Economic and Equity Party leader Chilufya Tayali, rejecting claims that the case amounted to selective prosecution.
Lusaka, 28 July – In an interview, Mr Phiri said accusations of selective prosecution were commonly levelled against prosecutorial authorities around the world, particularly in politically charged environments.
He said such allegations should not, on their own, be used as a measure of the work or independence of Zambia’s National Prosecution Authority (NPA).
Mr Phiri said he had read a statement issued by Mr Tayali’s lawyer outlining how the matter had progressed through the legal process.
According to the statement, the proceedings eventually culminated in an apology by Mr Tayali, after which the criminal case against him was discontinued and formally closed.
Mr Phiri said that, as far as the NPA was concerned, the matter had been concluded and Mr Tayali was now a free citizen.
He added that any developments involving Mr Tayali after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings were outside the mandate of the NPA.
The DPP also defended the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Zambia’s criminal justice system, saying not every criminal matter necessarily had to proceed to a full trial.
He said such mechanisms could be used in appropriate cases where the circumstances allowed, maintaining that the handling of Mr Tayali’s case was consistent with the options available under the justice system.
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