Zambia’s half-hearted corruption fight worries Milner Katolo

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By Theresa Bwalya Kalenga

Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) interim Vice President, Milner Katolo says law enforcement officers are shielding embattled Luapula Province Minister, Derricky Chilundika from prosecution as alleged conspirators languish in police custody for illegally mining Sugilite stone in Muombe area of Sub-Chief Kundamfumu in Chembe District.

On intra-party politics, Counsel Katolo wants Zambia’s Seventh Republican President Hakainde Hichilema to desist from making disparaging remarks on former Sixth (6^th) Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Equally concerning to Counsel Katolo is failure by Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu to quicken the pace at which Zambia is amending the 1955 Public Order Act (POC) viewed as a weopon to weaken opposition and citizen checks and balances on the three arms of government; Executive (Presidency), Judiciary (Courts) and the Legislature (Parliament or National Assembly).

Sugilite is a semi-precious gemstone that has a vibrant pink to purple color, known as a healer’s stone as it can help with physical and emotional well-being, a rare and expensive, because of its lustrous shade called ‘grape jelly’.

Mwense Council Chairperson, Stephen Chikota, currently serving as United Party for National Development (UPND) Deputy National Youth Chairperson for Administration is in custody with others for collaborating with foreign nationals to mine Sugilite stone.

Featuring on a Sunday, 18^th March 2023 Crown Television Zambia (CTZ) Royal Breakfast show anchored by Tapelo Joe Simataa and Alfred Chiimba, Mr. Katolo regretted the ‘sacred cow’ double standard in which suspects in the sigilite scandal are being treated.

Counsel Katolo wants Chilundika, Luapula Province Police commissioner and all individuals mentioned arrested and speedily taken to have their day in court, recalling that UPND is not walking the talk as Chikota has been in custody for seven days contrary to President Hakainde Hichilema’s assurance that law enforcement officers will not arrest anyone before thorough investigations.

However, describing UPND’s fight against corruption as half-hearted, Counsel Katolo laments that Chikota’s plight is indicative of unlawful and lengthy detention as no individual is supposed to be detained for more than 48 hours.

Further, Katolo is wandering why investigations into a truck impounded with Sugilite in Kabwe, Central Province and reports of trucks laden with mukula logs have vanished with no traceable destination reference.

Noting abundant mineral resources in Zambia, Counsel Katolo is heart-broken over unregulated mining activities in Rufunsa District of Lusaka Province.

Counsel Katolo wants the Zambian Government through Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to formalize role modeled mining entities, as a basis on which to track mineral ore export revenue.

interim President Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF) and Counsel Katolo launched ZMP on August, 2022 exactly 210 days ago and the double lawyer headed political outfit continues to find its feet in a quest to unseat the UPND Administration led by President Hichilema and Zambia’s Second Female Vice President, Reverend, Witner Kapembwa Mutale Nalumango.

From Sunday, 18^th March 2023, the date of the interview to Thursday, 13^th August, 2026, only 1243 days remain for the Mwangala Zaloumis led Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to supervise a competitive poll.

On intra-party politics, Counsel Katolo prayed that President Hichilema to will publicly apologize for insulting Dr. Lungu as such carefree utterances set a political trajectory that will result in HH being insulted by a successor.

Counsel Katolo implored his peer Mwiimbu to amend the Public Order Act viewed as a means of improving Zambia’s democratic credentials.