It’s Not HH’s Job to investigate or Prosecute Criminal Cases- Wynter Kabimba
By Prisca Lumingu
State Counsel Wynter Kabimba has cautioned President Hakainde Hichilema against making statements that may be perceived as interference in the operations of investigative and prosecuting agencies.
Mr. Kabimba’s remarks follow the President’s recent statement in which he claimed to have contacted authorities in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Turkey to assist in cornering former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and seizing his helicopters.
In an interview with Millennium Radio, Mr Kabimba says that it is not the President’s role to investigate or prosecute criminal cases, as such responsibilities are constitutionally vested in the investigative agencies and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr. Kabimba who is also the Economic Front president explained that these institutions have the capacity to collaborate with their international counterparts whenever necessary, without presidential intervention.
He emphasized that in a democracy, the President must be the first to uphold the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government, warning that failure to do so risks creating a perception of interference.
Mr. Kabimba further noted that such statements could undermine public confidence in judicial outcomes related to cases mentioned by the Head of State.
He advised President Hichilema to exercise caution when making spontaneous public remarks, stressing that everything said by a sitting president carries significant weight and can easily be misinterpreted.
The remarks came after the court case has reached a judgement and the window for appeal has closed.
How then where is this interference? Which branch of government does not want to see the successful conclusion of corruption cases? The impunity with which Mr Bonanza conducted himself by imitating HH’s traditional dance when he thought the State had lost the case was shameless mockery aimed at all Zambians by celebrating the looting of the treasury. Let’s not overlook the serious implications of Mr Bonanza being found not guilty.
Mr.KabimbaEveryone knows that a President is not police,judge or jury.Do you always have to ride literally on every word he says , surely!