Leader of the Socialist Party (SP) Dr Fred M’membe has reported Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa to Police over his statement that UPND worked well with Mr. Chishimba Kambwili to issue tribal remarks so that the then president Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu could be hated by the people and be brought down.
Dr M’membe said the statement in question is a self-confession by the Minister of being party to Mr. Kambwili’s hate speeches for which he was charged, arrested, prosecuted and convicted by the courts of law.
He stressed that Mr Mweetwa should be prosecuted for the crimes in question.
“On Monday between 10 and 14 hours, I watched Mr. Cornelius Mweetwa hold a press conference. that press conference at government complex which was streamed live on various platforms. He confessed that he worked well with Mr. Chishimba Kambwili to issue tribal remarks so that the then president Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu could be hated by the people and be brought down,” he said.
“This is a self-confession by Mr. Mweetwa of being party to Mr. Kambwili’s hate speeches for which he was charged, arrested, prosecuted and convicted by the courts of law. Confessing to be a party to this crime necessitates that Mr. Mweetwa be similarly charged, arrested and prosecuted for the same crime Mr. Kambwili was convicted for.”
The opposition leader said Mr. Mweetwa is not above the law and does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution which is only enjoyed by a sitting president.
“Mr. Mweetwa has confessed to promoting, encouraging and abetting tribalism, ethnic divisions and hatred. And on Tuesday the 13th of February 2024 Mr. Mweetwa is reported to have phoned Mr. Innocent Phiri, a journalist with KBN television to help him kill the story of his confession and promised him to be paid for that. This is also in itself a crime of bribery,” he said.
“I therefore, as a responsible citizen and in line with my professional and citizen duties report Mr. Mweetwa to the police so that he can be prosecuted for the crimes stated above. I hope and pray that the police will favourable respond to my complaint.”