I AM NOT A KILLER, DIDN’T KILL LAWRENCE
… Muchemwa cries for clearance from new dawn Govt
By MARY MBEWE
I am desperate to be cleared because my life is in danger and I am in hiding because some of the UPND members have been calling for my blood and that of my close relatives and associates against this very false allegation linking me to the death of one of their members Lawrence Banda in Kaoma. This rumour has been in circulation and mostly in UPND run social media platforms labelling me as a killer while strongly inciting members of the general public to harm me on sight.
The truth of the matter remains that at the time of the Kaoma by election campaign I was out of the country as I together with my wife took our son for medical treatment. When this false alarm went viral I was only a few days in the country from the said trip abroad and as a law abiding citizen, I took it upon myself to report to Zambia Police headquarters where I submitted an official complaint over this allegation. The Police through Cyber crime Unit did interrogate me and requested that I submit all my active phone numbers to ascertain whether I indeed was in Kaoma at the time of the incident and this they requested together with my travel documents (Passports) including that of my wife and son plus the medical records for my son and other relevant documents pertaining to my trip to South Africa.
Zambia Police promised to get back to me after conducting their independent search and cross checking the facts against my submission and assured me of my safety as well as that of my family while they looked into the matter.
To my dismay the Police have not issued a report to clear my name lamemts former PF Intercity branch Vice chairman and member of the PF security wing, Francis Muchemwa. Francis, who has since retired from politics to focus on his established Real Estates, Farming and Logistics business says it’s about time the state security gave their position over the matter. It is a known fact that Zambia Police have both the expertise and competences to adequately probe and apprehend suspects in that case.
He also noted that a lot of misleading and untrue statements were published to give an impression that the PF had an upper hand in the management of Bus stations and markets when in fact not. It is wrong to allege that Lusaka City Council’s inefficiencies in revenue collections from various bus stations and markets was a result of the PF interference when in fact not. It must also be clearly understood that all bus owners deposited their money directly into the council accounts as opposed to the wrong impression and statement given to the public.
In welcoming the announcement by Inspector General of Police, Lemmy Kajoba, that police will reopen old cases which were not conclusively dealt with, Francis Muchemwa, feels this is the only life line and a golden opportunity for him to be finally cleared of a terrible tag and accusation of murder.
Francis has been living in self-exile since the UPND ascended to power for fear of his dear life. Immediately upon taking over government most of the UPND cadres went on rampage attacking all PF members perceived to have committed crimes during their party rule. This they did without involving law enforcement agencies and alot of my colleagues fell victim and most of them sustained serious injuries while others are still in hospital nursing serious wounds. Sadly most of these cases have not even been reported to the Police because the same victims would rather live in pain as they fear to face their assailants who’s aim is to kill. It is against this barbaric behaviour and mob justice that Francis left the country.
Asked if he fears for his life, Francis says, “Yes I do, and until such serious allegations placed on my name are cleared, I wont feel safe.” He is currently out of the country while his wife and children are struggling to make ends meet on their own.
“What the Inspector General, Lemmy Kajoba, has announced is very important and I will be very happy if the men and women in uniform to expedite other pending issues such as my request. He has also called upon the media fraternity to take an interest in such matters and ensure the truth is availed to the public. I’m fully aware that Zambia Police have a duty to react to my submission but also to invite all those accusers to submit their evidence to help the Police in concluding the investigations. This is nothing but cheap propaganda meant to incite the public to rise against me as they have failed to find tangible eveidence linking me to this allegation.
I have always advocated for justice for Lawrence Banda and I have always prayed for such an investigation to be made public so that all those who were misled can come face to face with the truth says Francis. With tears in his eyes and cracking voice, Francis talks of his upbringing and how a life in a seminary taught him to respect life, that which his enemies have accused him of taking.
“I am so happy with the IG pronouncements, on this matter, and in the interest of the public, let them do their homework by calling on Hon. Mumbi Phiri who confessed seeing everything happen. There were other senior members of the PF campaign team who were available at the scene of crime and can actually help the Police with investigations he says.
“So with this pronouncement I am hoping the trigger happy person who truly committed the crime would be arrested, so I can have my life and peace back.
I am not free,” Francis says with pain in his voice.
Well in this case, the simplest explanation is what Francis has.
I initiated this call for Zambia Police to clear my name during the PF regime. Last August, I wrote to the Attorney General through my lawyers, to clear me and we are still waiting for that clearance.
For 3 months now, I have been taken away from my family and it’s not easy for them living without me as a breadwinner. My business has been adversely affected. I am an entrepreneur with over 50 people drawing salaries from me and that directly entails those people would eventually be declared redundant over a cooked up allegation. I also have loan obligations with various banks for the business capital we obtained to grow capacity.
He says spending part of his education at Lubushi Seminary helped to ground him, to appreciate life and learnt what it means to be a servant of the people.
Asked if he was getting money from Intercity when the PF had an office there, Francis denies this.
“Never,” he says and adds, “I am a seasoned businessman with a reasonable record of both failures and successes. Let it be placed on record that I have never worked for the council and as such I have no clue how they managed or mismanaged their affairs.
Francis says he has left politics because there is too much jealous and politicians are selfish individuals who pride in using other people. He admits that he was at Intercity under PF as Vice Chairman of the branch as but as well as a director of the Interxity Boxing Academy, which was identifying talent among youths and promoting fights for them.
Now, the boy from Mporokoso, is a shrewd businessman with a good chance of succeeding in life if only the state can clear his name for wrong doing.