“The removal of the legal immunity to former president Chiluba is what the rule of law entails,” Vice-President Kavindele said. “Laws rule this country and not men. It is on this ground that the future of this country should be built.”

The removal of former president Frederick Chiluba’s immunity is a clear message that the rule of law rather than men should rule, said Vice-President Enoch Kavindele yesterday.

Moving a motion to suspend Standing Orders 17, 18 (1) and 96 to enable the House adjourn sine die, Vice-President Enoch Kavindele said the removal of Chiluba’s immunity was a firm foundation on which the future of the country must be built.

“The removal of the legal immunity to former president Chiluba is what the rule of law entails,” Vice-President Kavindele said. “Laws rule this country and not men. It is on this ground that the future of this country should be built.” But Bangweulu independent member of parliament Joseph Kasongo accused the Mwanawasa government of having a double-faced fight against corruption.

Kasongo said he was aware of three ministers who have been involved in corrupt practices yet President Mwanawasa was doing nothing about it. He said one minister was bought a vehicle by a parastatal under his ministry while another messed up the Ministry of Tourism. Kasongo said a third minister was linked to criminals.

But Vice-President Kavindele advised Kasongo to be specific and name those accused rather than put a general complaint which would lead to unnecessary speculation. Meanwhile, Vice-President Kavindele disclosed that the government was about to amend the car theft law because it was too harsh.

He said legal affairs minister was working on it before it was presented to Cabinet. Vice-President Kavindele said he believed that there should be bail for motor vehicle theft.

And Lusaka Central FDD member of parliament Dipak Patel questioned the wisdom in adjourning sine die when there were a lot of bills not considered.

He said this part of the session needed to look at many bills like the National Council for Aids, Finance Management Act and the transport policy. But Vice-President explained that the bills had been stuck because there has been no Attorney General to sign them before they are presented to Parliament.

He said the House was expected to resume sitting next month to consider a number of bills. A special session was called by President Levy Mwanawasa on July 11, 2002 who disclosed to Parliament gross corrupt activities by the Chiluba administration.

The session saw the removal of Chiluba’s immunity. During the session, five reports of select committees on, the appointment of Ernest Sakala as Chief Justice, appointment of Sandison Silomba as Supreme Court judge, the appointment of Caleb Fundanga as Bank of Zambia governor, the appointment of five High Court judges and the appointment of legal affairs minister George Kunda as Attorney General were tabled.

Over 100 questions were presented for oral answers. The session also saw the appointment of Jason Mfula as Deputy Speaker after President Mwanawasa withdrew the nomination of Simon Mwila to Parliament. UNIP’s Danwood Lungu was selected deputy chairman of committees.

During the same session, two new members of parliament entered the House. Newly elected Lufwanyama MMD member of parliament Eddie Kasukumya has since been appointed as education deputy minister, taking over from deputy speaker Jason Mfula.

Kalombo Mwansa was nominated to the House by President Mwanawasa when he appointed him as Foreign Affairs minister after the resignation of Katele Kalumba.

Webster Malido, The Post (Lusaka), August 9, 2002