TREASON PROBE STILL ON
…DPP says Mundubile, Makebi, Findlay and others will face court after investigations are concluded
By Charles Musonda
DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri says the State is still investigating treason suspects being held at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe.
In an exclusive interview with The Mast in Lusaka on Friday, Phiri said the delay in taking National Reconciliation Party for National Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu, prominent Lusaka businessman Harry Valden Findlay and others to court for treason was because law enforcement agencies were still investigating the case.
He said law enforcement agencies had the mandate to investigate cases and should be given space to do so without undue pressure.
“Some investigations are complex. The mandate of investigation is with law enforcement agencies and this process sometimes may take time, but it must be respected, and the space and opportunity must be given for them to inquire, and this is for the betterment of you, myself and the public in general,” he said.
Phiri pleaded with stakeholders to allow police and other wings to do their job.
“Allow them space to unravel what is at stake; that is the mandate of law enforcement. It’s not injustice to investigate, no. It’s the role they have to play,” Phiri said.
He appealed to stakeholders who had expressed concern over the prolonged detention to exercise patience.
“I want to appeal to all stakeholders to give the police and other law enforcement agencies the space in which to operate and the time within which to conclude whether there is a case or not,” he said.
Phiri said sometimes, after investigations, law enforcement agencies may close a case for want of evidence.
“They will not come to that conclusion if there is no space given to them to operate,” he said.
When reminded that the treason detainees were already charged, Phiri said there were several processes that had to be undertaken before taking the case to court.
Phiri said the police and other law enforcement agencies needed to compile a docket that has to be vetted.
“So, all these processes take time. In every society, including the Western world, there are these processes that take time before a matter can go to court. The whole world over, I can give you examples of people who have been in custody, and they have never been taken to court after many months because there is a process that has to be undertaken systematically before a matter can be taken to court. Usually, this is when people misunderstand and say why are the accused not being taken to court?” he said.
