UPND WANTS TO BLOCK POTENTIAL OPPONENTS FROM CONTESTING IN 2026 BY USING COURTS – DR M’MEMBE
….as Bank of Zambia testifies that its system cannot capture deposits made in offshore accounts
Lusaka… Monday November 25, 2024
Socialist Party President Dr Fred M’membe has claimed that the UPND administration wants to block potential opponents from standing in an election by way of disqualifying them through the courts of law.
Dr. M’membe firmly believes that this is an abuse of Criminal Justice System.
Speaking to journalists shortly after appearing before the Lusaka Magistrate Court, Dr. M’membe said it is clear that the UPND wants their opponents to be handed with convictions so as not to contest future elections.
“Those our colleagues in government managing our country are abusing the court system. For this case today, for those who sat in there today and listened can attest to the fact that there is an abuse of the Criminal Justice System. This is not a matter for which I should have been arrested and arrayed before the court of law, this is an abuse,” he said.
“We know that our friends are desperate to ensure that potential opponents are disqualified from standing using the Criminal Justice System. They want us to be handed with convictions so that we don’t stand in the elections. It will not happen!”
It is alleged that on July 16, 2024, between 13:00 hours and 14:00 hours, Dr. M’membe published an article on his Twitter and Facebook pages titled “Tshisekedi tells DRC Catholic Bishops about the USD 20 Million Payout to Buy Zambia’s Silence.”
And when the matter came up for commencement of trial today, the State called Kiza Moses Mbozi, a Senior Analyst at Bank of Zambia to provide expert testimony on whether Central Bank monitored any electronic balance of payment between Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema and President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Mbozi testified during cross examination that the electronic balance of payment monitoring system used at Bank of Zambia cannot capture $20m handed to the recipient after being flown into the country.
He said the system used in data support at Central Bank will not capture if money is deposited directly into a recipient’s offshore account.
Mr Mbozi told court that the Bank of Zambia does collaborate with regional central banks to monitor inflow and outflow of cash except he never advised the Zambia Police who were making an inquiry that they had an alternative to collaborate with regional central banks in their investigation.
Defense Counsel: Confirm that the electronic balance of payments monitoring system you used to search at Bank of Zambia can only capture transactions recorded electronically?
State Witness: Yes
Defense Counsel: So if $20m is flown into the country and handed to the recipient in cash, your system will not capture it?
State Witness: No
Defense Counsel: Your system will not capture if the money is transferred into an offshore account?
State Witness: No
Defense Counsel: Confirm that when you were conducting this search, you did not venture into whether the two subjects ( President Hakainde Hichilema and President Felix Tshisekedi) you mentioned had offshore accounts?
State Witness: No
Asked if he was aware of the existence of Panama papers, Mr Mbozi responded in the affirmative saying he was aware of the confidential information of individuals with established offshore companies.
Defense Counsel: Are you aware as to why Dr Fred M’membe is in court today?
State Witness: Am sure it has to do with the Police inquiry.
Defense Counsel: What did he say, which has landed him here today?
State Witness: I don’t know.
Defense Counsel: He is alleged to have incited members of the public to rise against government, do you have evidence to show members of the public that tried to rise against government based on what was written?
State Witness: NO
Defense Counsel: From your search, did you come across any evidence that he incited members of the public?
State Witness: No
The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday, November 27 for continuation of trial.
SP Media
UPND WANTS TO BLOCK POTENTIAL OPPONENTS FROM CONTESTING IN 2026 BY USING COURTS – DR M’MEMBE
