HH MADE HIS MONEY
…he also wants you to make yours
the right way – Nalumango
By Fanny Kalonda
NO one is persecuting anyone but if you wronstand here on behalf of this government that we want to prosecute you, says Vice-President Mutale Nalumango.
She stressed that President Hakainde Hichilema made his money from opportunities created by government just like the UPND administration was doing now for all citizens.
“It is not what other people do that convicts you. So Honourable, the President made his money and he wants you to make your own money. But not to get money that you have not worked for,” Vice-President Nalumango said. “We will not allow criminality. If in fact you did wrong, you need to be convicted.”
She reiterated that the government is not persecuting anyone stating that doing so would mean they are inconsistent with the thinking of uniting the country.
During the Vice-President’s Question Time yesterday, Chama South PF member of parliament Davidson Mung’andu charged that the UPND government is abusing the law by shifting the burden of proof from the law investigative agencies to the accused.
He said it was surprising that President Hichilema suddenly believes that everyone who has money has stolen except him.
“If the same were to be applied to the President on how he became rich, would he be in a position to explain to the Zambian people on how he got his wealth?” asked Mung’andu. “By the way DEC (Drug Enforcement Commission) and ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) are abusing the way where the burden of proof is put on the accused than opposed to them proving before the courts of law that people indeed had stolen.”
In response, Vice-President Nalumango said in the spirit of uniting the nation, the government would not allow criminality.
She said the notion that President Hichilema feels that whoever has money has stolen is imaginary.
Vice-President Nalumango said President Hichilema only wants people to gain wealth the right way.
“That is why there is a policy that investors must partner with Zambians,” she said.
Vice-President Nalumango said the government had no intention of persecuting anyone but “only prosecute those found wanting”.
“Some of you seated here were also PF ministers. Why have you not been followed if it is persecution?” she asked.
Vice-President Nalumango said even if people were to be arrested for the wrong reasons, it would be a good thing for them to be exonerated by facts, “that their name is clean”.
“There is no need persecute anyone. Every Zambian has a right. There is no need to change prosecution to persecution. No one is persecuting anybody. I stand here on behalf of this government, we want to prosecute you and if indeed you did wrong you will be convicted,” she said.
“Some of you seated here were also PF ministers. Why have many of you not been followed if it is persecution? You can go to bed, if you go to bed and the ACC follows you, you should not fear. Even if you are arrested for the wrong reasons, you would be exonerated by facts that your name is clean and that is good for you.”
Vice-President Nalumango added that she is confident that the investigative wings would do their work diligently.
“I want to quote some book, Madam [Speaker], which says, ‘your sin shall surely find you out. It is not what other people do that convicts you. So Honourable, the President made his money and he wants you to make your own money. But not to get money that you have not worked for, Madam,” said Vice-President Nalumango.
“There’s no persecution but prosecution. And if Nalumango does something, you will see me in court. We are not investigative wings but they are listening and will do due diligence.”