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‘Robert Amsterdam Is A Coward’
Robert Amsterdam, the international counsel to the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR), has a cunning knack of dividing opinion in Zambia.
Depending on which side of the political spectrum you belong, you will either hate him or like him but for the neutrals, the man brutally confronts the truth in manner that very few would in Zambia—something that others find distasteful.
It was only the other day that he was berating diplomats who only speak on matters that put them in good standing with the government yet look the other way on issues that affect the common man in the streets.
Amsterdam spat feathers because the United States, the British and Japanese dignitaries accredited to Zambia have seen every wisdom in the government’s move to remove subsidies on fuel and agriculture.
But these same diplomats continue being quiet on issues happening right under their noses in Zambia like the persecution of the opposition, the country’s dying democracy, rise in violence under the current government, high-levels of corruption, political intolerance, needless by-elections, dying media freedoms, rights of association and assembly etc.
You do not need to be an Albert Einstein to know that Zambia has been on a downward spiral since the PF got into power in 2011.
It is amazing that if a blind man like Elijah Ngwale can see the PF’s failure and Zambia’s political deterioration, including the Catholic Church which heavily supported the PF, the diplomats pay a blind eye to all these injustices.
A good opportunity has today arisen for the diplomats to redeem themselves by at least saying something on events of this morning where former president Rupiah Banda was blocked from travelling to South Africa despite a High Court order allowing him to board the Johannesburg-bound plane.
By the way, saying something on this issue may either be to condemn what happened this morning or indeed commending the state for not allowing Rupiah to travel despite the court ordering so!
It was only a few weeks ago that Rupiah was prevented from travelling to Kenya at the airport to witness the inauguration of Uhuru Kenyatta as president despite a court order.
The questions that beg answers go beyond Rupiah and what happened today. Where is the rule of law when court orders are being disrespected at the whims of those in power?
What then is the use of courts when the executive will easily disregard what they have ruled?
What guarantee is there that a common man from Luwingu, Kanakatampa, Sibuyunji, Mufulira, Muchinga province or John Chinena will receive a fair share of justice under the PF?
Law by nature has a notorious way of catching up with the very people that use it at their expedience when it suits them.
The issue of disregarding court orders, like was the case this morning or during the illegal lifting of Rupiah’s immunity, means a new precedence being set and this will be exercised on you and me when Rupiah is long gone.
That is the point the PF and most bloggers are missing.
It maybe fun to call Rupiah names today or indeed use him as a political punching bag but the same bells that are tolling for him today may well toll on me, you and yours tomorrow.
After all, people like Fred M’membe and Mutembo Nchito, themselves lawyers, must know the importance of court orders in the dispensing of justice. They should also remember that justice is not administered on the basis of perception but facts.
We are all made to believe that Rupiah’s son Henry is a thief but the government has failed to lay charges on him for his criminal proceedings to begin.
The international police has since removed his name from the list of wanted criminals because until proven otherwise, all these accusations have been laced with political interests by those in power in Zambia today.
Not until Rupiah is pronounced guilty, he remains innocent no matter the perceptions or allegations. It’s the plain truth that Fred M’membe, Mutembo Nchito and Sata must know.
Is it not the same clique that ran to parliament to strip his immunity (to the delight of suspected criminals like Gabriel Namulambe, Wynter Kabimba and embattled Given Lubinda) but later changed the charge sheet suspectedly because of a lack of a prime facie case?
At 76, Rupiah may not be around for a lot of years to come but the precedence that fossil in State House is setting for him today may follow the likes of Fred M’membe and Mutembo Nchito that are literally wiping his backside with their tongues.
The issue of the break down of the rule of law is what any sane being expects the United States, the British and Japanese dignitaries accredited to Zambia to also comment on publicly like they did on subsidies.
Just like on the issue of alleged corruption by Rupiah, the same diplomats should also comment on president Michael Sata’s directive to the Anti-Corruption Commission not to investigate any of his ministers unless they get permission from him!
Maybe Rupiah needs a political come back to fight his endless political battles.
The courts are certainly being rendered useless.
Posted by Kunda
on June 8, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Leon Davies
June 8, 2013 at 2:28 am
The same Rupiah Banda manupulated the courts! Who ever expected the acquittal of the late Fredrick Chiluba? Well, I wish lucky that he gets himself disentangled in this web so that he can enjoy his pension.
Tonga Bull
June 8, 2013 at 12:41 pm
KUDOS TO YOU MY FRIEND.WE ALL KNOW THESE ARE SCHEMES BY HENRY BANDA AND HIS USEFUL ***** OF HIS LAWYER ROBERT ARMSTERDAM.REBASED BANDIT(RB) CANT BE TRUSTED KUDOS TO GOVT.VIVA GOVT VIVA PF AND ALL WELL MEANING ZAMBIANS.WE KNOW ALL HIS SCHEMES THE DEVIL WILL NEVER SUCCEED SO LONG HE THE MIGHTY ONE IS ON THE THRONE.MWATUBELA MANINGI BA POMPWE,THIS WOULD BE THE PRECEDENCE AND WARNING FOR ALL OF YOU IN GOVT.
Wapya Baisa
June 8, 2013 at 3:57 am
Your argument is baseless because you want to involve foreign nations to to help your RB. Let him suffer the consequence of his criminal mind and let him assist the Govt to track down his fugitive son so that the law you are talking about take its course. think before you sit and type anything for the consumption of the masses
MK
June 8, 2013 at 4:01 am
The author has mistaken the job of the courts with that of the police. It is not the job of the police to prove that someone is guilty or innocent, it is the job of the courts!. Another thing is that Zambian courts have no jurisdiction in South Africa that court is valid for Zambia, If RB decides to stay in SA there is nothing any Zambian judge can do to make him come back. Some countries do not allow any person facing criminal charges in their home countries to enter their country.
By-elections should be blamed on the opposition, they are boasting about expulsions of their MP’s and because Amsterdam and Sikota starts to sing a song about by-elections and you start the blame game on PF! The level of immaturity being exhibited by the leaders of the opposition is staggering and politics of hate will not take them anywhere. PF is working and the opposition is still complaining about 2011 elections instead of promoting their policies to the people.The opposition should just accept that they lost to Sata and swallow their wounded pride and move on, their policies are not PF policies!
kakolwe
June 8, 2013 at 4:42 am
Why do opposition supporters ALWAYS want to force everyone to agree with them? Convince us why you should be the OPTION coz we already know that you are the OPPOSITION!!!
rex
June 8, 2013 at 4:54 am
A coward takes cheap shots when their opponent is not looking, is restrained or un able protect themselves!
A coward, knows what is wrong but operates from fear.
Who is the coward?
Lusaka
June 8, 2013 at 5:01 am
Those people who are still supproting PF i think have a mental problem. maybe they have special shop were they buy mealie meal cheap, other wise for some of us mealie meal is expsensive under this failed government. how can some one support an executive that has no regard for the judicary, an executive that has 60 plus ministers all eating tax payer’s money, an executive that hires thugs to kidnapp people and beat up people who are praying in church, this government has no respect for God.
Kirkland
June 8, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Ba Lusaka. You are the one with a mental problem. If you have found mealie meal to be too expensive switch to potatoes or Mongu rice. Is that so hard for you to do? RB is just a Zambian like me and thus should be subject to the same rule of law as I am. Why should you offer any sympathy to someone who stole from the Zambian people? For those chaps who tried to use the house of God to further their political agenda, I have no sympathy for them. In fact they were not beaten enough. Next time take your nonsense far from the house of the lord
Y
June 8, 2013 at 6:15 am
Where do my comments go afta posting
Deus Wa Soccer
June 8, 2013 at 6:28 am
The only problem with Zambians is that they forget that RB created the most difficult conditions for courts to function in. Can someone really believe it that all those people who are insulting PF were insulting MMD. We seem to be dealing with a group of crazy people who have short memories. This drunkard RB must pay for his sins and thanks for the PF’s stand.
Y
June 8, 2013 at 6:28 am
Chiwamila galu kuluma mbuzi. Then chaona munzako chapita mawa chili pali iwe. Today it may b pf on the driver’s seat but it may not be tomorrow, tuleloshya!!!!!!!!!!!
Akaice ne fimina
June 8, 2013 at 7:18 am
RB is facing criminal charges with cases if international nature, his son is on the wanted list in Zambia and is on the run. Yet somebody very much wants him out of Zambia. Can’t you smell a rat? I have a running nosd but I do.
landa
June 8, 2013 at 7:43 am
We have no rule of law in Zambia now.
osanamiza mwene Luangwa
June 8, 2013 at 9:05 am
The author is right! Today you can sing and praise Sata.. but wait, the Lord God of Hosts knows best how to fight for the oppressed. YOU who were there, did you ever think that South Africa was going to be free ? You who were there in Kavalamanja, did you ever think Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) was going to be free? NO. Today the apartheid is a thing of the Past. The wars accross the Zambezi River are no more… so Zambia shall be liberated from such evil one day…SOON.
Kirkland
June 8, 2013 at 12:55 pm
You numpty we were liberated long before South Africa and Zimbabwe, but MMD decided to shackle our development because they thought they would never leave power. Am sure you are one of those who ended up thinking that everything including corruption, theft, abuse of office, etc was a normal way of life in Zambia.
Leon Davies
June 8, 2013 at 12:21 pm
No need to bring in God in this nonsense! Mr Banda should not forget how he used to behave when he was president. My hope is that they try to clear his cases as soon as possible so that sanity comes back to the country. Why didn’t you people advise Rupiah when he was busy manipulating the courts? Too bad time has come for him to taste the consequences…sorry!
pat
June 8, 2013 at 12:56 pm
talk of poor pepo in prison.no body is on there side.pf is just few month in power but u ar opposing evely thing.we hav hop in its policies.RB should wait until is pronounced not gult.
Osmore
June 8, 2013 at 1:51 pm
I urge the pf to be stronger. U have given more space to criminals like this author. Then u have unpatriotic members who ‘ba fyatile’ have no principles.U too have the judicially that in the name of automous are passing dishonourable judgements.
jonams
June 8, 2013 at 7:24 pm
well articulated my friend you are well informed.
Dim Wit
June 8, 2013 at 10:46 pm
I have discovered one evil under the Zambian sky!
Zambians seem to enjoy inflicting pain on each other.
We are a plundered lot who forget so easily especially when all seems well on our side! We are too quick to praise our leaders instead of taking them to task on every decision they make whether good or bad. We should be the ones doing what Armstadam is doing! Remember, leaders become dictators because of hero worshipping them! Any criticism thereafter is never taken kindly.
Complacency is what Zambians suffer from!
Only time will tell.