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RB Must Take Blame For His Lawyer To Call Zambians ‘Idiots’- Sakeni
FORMER President Rupiah Banda must take the blame and responsibility of calling Zambians “useful idiots” because the lawyer who uttered the offensive words is on his payroll, Government has said.
This is contained in a statement issued by Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni in Lusaka yesterday following the inflammatory statements.
Sections of Zambian society have described the statements as patronising, insulting and even racist.
“Lawyers speak on behalf of their clients,” Mr Sakeni said. “The insults from Amsterdam [Mr Banda’s lawyer Robert Amsterdam] as reported in the media are therefore Mr Banda’s.”
Mr Amsterdam described as ‘useful idiots’ Zambians supporting calls to lift the immunity of Mr Banda. Transparency International Zambia, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes and sections of the Church have called for the lifting of Mr Banda’s immunity.
Mr Sakeni described Mr Banda’s link to the derogatory remarks as “unacceptable and unbecoming of a man who once swore to uphold the Republican Constitution and protect the people of Zambia as head of State. Zambians are not idiots and the former President should not hide behind Amsterdam”.
Mr Sakeni wondered whether Mr Banda, currently under a corruption probe, is indirectly stating that he “presided over idiots”.
“And when he was campaigning for the Presidency during the 2011 tripartite elections, was he campaigning to lead a pack of idiots?” he asked.
Other concerns have come from Fred Mutesa, a former University of Zambia lecturer and opposition leader, who advised Mr Amsterdam to be cautious next time he discusses Zambian issues, given the cultural differences of the West and Africa.
“He should be more careful next time,” Dr Mutesa said.
“We see what he says as patronising and insulting because of our different historical backgrounds,” he said.
Mr Sakeni on the other hand advised Mr Banda to wait for the due process of the law to clear his name if he has not committed any wrong instead of opting to insults.
Zambians do not deserve to be ridiculed and insulted for asking Mr Banda to account for public resources they entrusted him to preside over while he was in office, Mr Sakeni said.
“A lawyer worth his calling needs to know that presidential immunity is in the prosecution, not in investigation,” said Mr Sakeni adding “if necessary, immunity can be lifted at prosecution stage. The former President, therefore, needs to face the investigative agencies for purposes of investigation, not to plead immunity at this stage.”
Mr Sakeni’s position has been backed by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), whose leader James Banda has stated that Mr Banda can be probed even with his immunity intact.
“Immunity as provided for in the constitution is against prosecution and not investigation,” Mr Banda said in a statement.
Mr Sakeni said the fight against corruption will continue and will include “bringing all those who plundered public resources to account for their actions through the due process of the law”.
Posted by
BOZAMAN BUFIMAN SAKENI
February 22, 2013 at 9:27 am
IWE CI SAKENI(KOLWESTAN0 ULEUMFWA ICISUNGU AYI-USIFULL IDIOTS- LIKE YOURSELF FOR BLINDLY CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF RB`S IMMUNITY
Princess
February 22, 2013 at 9:53 am
Useful Idiots: Term invented in Soviet Russia to describe people who blindly supported the likes of Lenin and Stalin while they committed atrocity after atrocity.
Today, it refers to brainwashed liberals and leftists the world over (usually college students that aren’t necessarily idiots, but just misinformed, naive, and ignorant of facts due to being indoctrinated with liberal/socialist propaganda through their public education) who believe that George W. Bush has committed more crimes against humanity than leftist darlings like Saddam Hussain, Yasser Arafat, and Osama Bin Laden, and still defend Communism, the cause of over 100 million deaths to this day.
Mwanalume
February 22, 2013 at 9:56 am
Our leaders are an embarrassment!!! Stop exposing your indigence of understanding and wisdom Mr Sakeni.
The wistle blower
February 22, 2013 at 10:53 am
RB has run out of ideas.He does not realise that Amsterdam wants his money.After Amsterdam gets his money he will disappear then RB will have nowhere to run!!Bupuba.
Tonga Bull
February 22, 2013 at 11:24 am
Sakeni can you shut up.
Lisa
February 22, 2013 at 11:34 am
@Tonga Bull lol! as if his near to you kikikikiki! were did u go? u were missing for somtim.
spinx
February 22, 2013 at 11:34 am
ba sakeni lekeni ukutubikamo mu fiko fyenu ba politician. why is it that when it comes to dirty things you have to involve us. Naimwebene ngatwaibukisha mwaletuka ba sata those days. sylvia masebo aletuka ba sata those days bali muli ba mwanawasa but what has happened today. so just shup up mudala and concentrate on your farms ,you might need armtadarm as well in the near future.
Mathews Mubanga
February 22, 2013 at 11:36 am
well …. With our standards these are insults …
pili
February 22, 2013 at 11:50 pm
which standard?!
pambashe
February 22, 2013 at 11:43 am
KB was guilty just from the time he was voted out by complaining in advance how he wud find himself in jail and cried…..90 days formula still on
MAMWI
February 22, 2013 at 11:46 am
@USEFUL IDIOTS, PLEASE NOTE FROM THE CONTRIBUTORS, SLOWLY LOOSING PPLRITY, IF I MAY ASK WAS SAKENI INVOLVED IN ROAD ACCIDENT, HE HAS TOO MANY TEETH IN MOUTH, ARE THEY MORE THAN THIRTY TWO??? WHEN THE MAJORITY ARE AGAINST, NI MWISHIBE MULILO WA AKA. BE CAREFULL.
Janet c
February 22, 2013 at 11:52 am
Can’t understand ppl defending RB, where is your human dignity, pride and confidence!!! I mean surely, the man RB and his children are clearly living off your hard-earned tax payers money that they stole, and ppl have the audacity to defend RB – no wonder zambia is still backward. We need that money back – zambia no longer has room for criminals and fraudstars like RB et al
Rupiah Banda
February 22, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Why u rent posting my blog u have stated behaving like ZWD also
Josh GM
February 22, 2013 at 1:09 pm
An ***** is an *****, useful or useless.
Josh GM
February 22, 2013 at 1:13 pm
An !d!ot is an !d!ot, useful or useless.
simlaw
February 22, 2013 at 1:27 pm
let us watch where they going in political game bcz us we spectators.
Rupiah Banda
February 22, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Leave me alone………One day it will be you.
popo
February 22, 2013 at 2:03 pm
lead by example when fighting corruption kabimba,fred mmembe and GBM first.Useful ***** chi sakeni.
mbikusita
February 22, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Our dear lord come to our aid, give unto us more of your apostles/desciples to deliver thy own creation from poverty in their heads.