“What is happening to Brian Mundubile and the team is bad. The delay to take them to court is so regrettable. Their human rights must be respected accordingly as they are still innocent before the law.” – Nevers Mumba
By DAVID KANDUZA
FORMER Republican Vice-President Nevers Mumba has described the ongoing delays in bringing incarcerated opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his co-accused to court as highly regrettable and unfortunate.
Speaking during a live television broadcast on Prime TV in Lusaka, Dr Mumba stressed the urgent need to protect constitutional mandates and human rights.
He emphasised that under Zambian law, all accused individuals maintained their presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
During the programme, Dr Mumba revealed that President Hakainde Hichilema was personally aware of the situation and desired the matter to be presented before the courts at the earliest possible opportunity.
Dr Mumba, however, noted that administrative and procedural barriers had hindered that progress.
“I am fully aware that President Hichilema wants this matter to be taken to court at the earliest time,” Dr Mumba stated, adding that it was deeply unfortunate that certain impediments have disrupted those efforts.
Dr Mumba who recently stepped back from partisan politics to take on a broader statesman role had maintained that the resolution lied within an expedited, fair and transparent judicial process.
He concluded by urging judicial authorities to clear the underlying logistical bottlenecks and immediately present the detainees to the court to allow the rule of law to take its course.