By Oliver Chisenga
THE fight against corruption and other crimes that the UPND government has embarked on risks meeting serious resistance if the current Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Siyunyi continues in office, says Gregory Chifire.
In a statement, Chifire said Siyunyi was not fit to hold office due to her repeated conduct in the past that showed bias and compromise.
He said many justifiable complaints bordering on professional misconduct and abuse of authority of office were made against the DPP, but “the system” shielded her.
“Now is the time that appropriate action, albeit, in line with the law is taken against the DPP. Mrs Siyunyi has been used in the past by the PF government to prosecute those the regime considered their enemies on one hand and protected the friends of the regime against prosecution on the other hand,” Chifire charged.
Chifire, who is Southern Africa Network against Corruption (SANAC) director, claimed that Siyunyi had compromised her integrity and “right standing in the eyes of the general public to continue as DPP”.
“Mrs Siyunyi is a compromised prosecutor who cannot dispense her duties without partiality. Whereas she was appreciated in the previous regime for her rare skills and seared conscience… to the advantage of those in power, her skills do not fit in the current set up that is fighting for a just society and is thirsty to fight crime irrespective of the perpetrators. Her skills have become obsolete and untenable,” he said.
Chifire said Zambia needs a DPP that is professional and non-partisan, and that Siyunyi does not fit that billing.
He charged that Siyunyi is a “PF DPP”.
Chifire also said the PF destroyed the justice system of the country and that the current DPP was at the centre of breaking that system.
“Mrs Siyunyi enjoyed special relationship with the PF and it will thus be impossible for her to prosecute any of the PF members that are being investigated for corruption and other crimes. Already, there are files involving PF members from the Anti-Corruption Commission gathering dust on her desk because she has refused to give consent,” said Chifire.
“Surely, we don’t need a rocket scientist to tell us that DPP Siyunyi is compromised and not fit for office. Her position has become unattainable and she must resign with immediate effect. I am alive to the fact that the DPP enjoys security of tenure. However, there is irrefutable evidence that warrant her removal in accordance with article 58(2) of the Constitution of Zambia. Some of the evidence is in public domain. But if the authorities need more evidence, I shall be glad to tender it. Anyway, the citizens have not forgotten how not long ago she protected [Raphael] Nakacinda against prosecution in the MMD motor vehicle case. This woman has refused to prosecute PF officials facing corruption. There is a litany of cases that warrant the removal of this DPP. Siyunyi must go. She is in bed with the PF. They did dirty works together, they protected each other, they scratched each other’s backs, and they cannot stop now.”