National Restoration Party (NAREP) President Elias Chipimo says the judiciary is living in very interesting times.
During an interview on the Radio Phoenix Radio talkshow “Let THE People Talk,” this morning Chipimo said it was curious that the four judges who ruled in favour of the tribunal where either on contract or close to retirement.
“Now maybe it is a coincidence that if you look at the four judges who ruled in favour of the tribunal one of them is actually on her second contract who is the acting Chief Justice Chibesakunda and the other three are very close to retirement where as the other three are far from retirement so they are a bit of security,” Chipimo said.
“I am just pointing some basic issues not to say that it is what transpired. We need to secure the tenure of judges and not put them on contract.”
He said, “It is very interesting Judge Chibesakunda, Judge Florence Mumba, Judge Phiri and Judge Wanki all the four judges who made the ruling that the president acted within his constitutional powers in appointing the tribunal while the three others judge Mwanamwambwa, judge Chibomba nd judge Arida Mungomba basically made the ruling that the president did not act in within his constitutional powers,” said Chipimo.
“A Supreme Court decision should not divide opinion it is rare for a Supreme Court decision to raise so much debate.”
And Chipimo says the international community is closely monitoring the situation in Zambia.
He said thirty minutes after being arrested by the police for unlawful assembly he received an email from the Human Rights Watch that called for politicians to be careful.
“The international community is closely watching the situation in Zambia because 30 minutes after being arrested I received an email from the Human Rights Watch telling me we heard you have been picked up which shows how much Zambia is being monitored,” he said.
Chipimo said the hastiness with which the fuel subsidy was erased leading to a sudden increase in fuel.
“We do not agree that it was going to be impossible to remove the fuel subsidy but they should have done it gradually to prepare people maybe in a phase of three to six month. Because invariably when fuel prices increase everything else increases,” he said.
“What the government should have done was to reduce the cost of buying this fuel, reduce the size of the bloated government.”
“Look there is at least five ministers with three deputy ministries even Dr Frederick Chiluba with his expansionist agenda never got that far. There are 41 deputy ministers, 10 provincial ministers, 20 cabinet ministries which brings the number to 71,” he said.
“Each deputy minister is entitled to 800 litres of fuel which by the way they get in cash and with that 15 percent increase it means they have received a 15 percent salary increase.”
He added: “In essence deputy ministers are party officials on party pay roll you will even find them at road blocks checking licences.”
“In Zambia a deputy does not even deputize because when the minister is away another minister acts,” he said.
Chipimo said the talk about jobs created should also picture those lost as a result of decisions that are being made.
“We are being told that 125, 000 jobs have been created. What type of jobs are these? Are they casual jobs? Are they long term or are they tree planting?” he said.
Chipimo said Zambia needed a politician and not a leader.
“Zambia needs a leader and not a politician these by-elections you are having are a result of politicians who are only worried about elections why a leader thinks about the next generation,” he said.
Chipimo defended his party’s shunning by-elections.
“Look at the Kapiri by-election where there are 84, 000 registered voters and only 13, 000 turned up to vote so it means the real winner of that election is the Apathy party,” he said.
The NAREP leader said his position on gay rights was a biblical one.
“If you look at our country it is very clear where we stand our position is a biblical one. I also stand by the Bible,” he said.
“We should not encourage this debate it will only make things worse.”
He also said he was of the view that former PF supporter Fr Frank Bwalya who quit his lofty position at Zesco given to him as a reward for campaigning for the ruling party whilst in opposition should stick to his 40 days retreat and not engage with the media on a daily basis.
“Fr Bwalya should stick to his 40 day reflection and not engage with the media on a daily basis. I think he should listen to God more as he promised earlier,” he said.
The NAREP leader said deputy ministers were merely part y officials on the state’s role who apart from reading speeches just sat in their air conditioned offices.
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