By Staff Writer
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) says from the response of President Edgar Lungu given yesterday, regarding the recently released Financial Intelligence Central (FIC) report it confirms President Lungu’s lack of seriousness in dealing with corruption allegations.
HH said UPND has been on recording on the need for citizens to unite and rescue itself from the PF government.
“Did anyone surely expected any better or miraculous response from Mr Lungu who has failed to dismiss his Minister of Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela currently facing nine counts of corruption allegations in court? And how can such a casual approach trigger a serious reaction from his subordinates such as Ministers, PSs, Directors, various investigative agencies among others that Mr Lungu is supervising?
“It is typical of him to treat such reports detailing financial embezzlement as mere mfwiti mfwiti (Witches or wizards) and hogwash, because he is at the epicenter of the game. If we were in his position, we would have immediately called on the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission and the Police to independently study the report and expedite investigations and bring all the named suspects to book,” he said
He said a President who is serious would have commended FIC for the job they are doing and encourage them to continue their role as an oversight institution that ensures checks and balances are enhanced for effective and corruption free government.
HH said the Financial Intelligence Centre is a constitutionally recognised organization mandated to investigate and issue reports on suspicious financial activities, but typical of Mr. Lungu and his disregard for the rule of law, he decides to use derogatory terms against them.
“If Mr Lungu was in doubt about the actual individuals and entities cited in the FIC reports, surely he would have asked them to give him or indeed the Zambia State Security Intelligence Services popularly known as the Office of the President (OP) to furnish him with concrete data.
“We know Mr Lungu in his privileged position knows who is involved but is afraid because he is an accomplice. It will once again take the people power to come together and rescue ourselves from these criminals,” he said.
