Geoffrey Mwamba censures Clive Chirwa

Acting Home Affairs Minister Geoffrey Mwamba said Government would not succumb to Professor Chirwa’s threats last Friday to denounce his Zambian citizenship if his passport was not released within 24 hours.

Mr Mwamba said it was wrong for Prof Chirwa to use threats and some form of blackmail against the Government in an attempt to obtain his passport.

“This Government is not going to succumb to any form of blackmail by Prof Chirwa over the release of his passport because he knows well how it was seized.

“Even when obtaining it, he must use the same route. Attacking Government and giving it an ultimatum will not work,” Mr Mwamba said.

He advised Prof Chirwa to follow the due process of the law each time he needed his passport instead of using blackmail.

“Professor Chirwa is a suspect. He is facing charges of abuse of authority of office and failure to disclose interest.

“I wish to state that the seizure of his passport is not aimed at frustrating or persecuting him but rather as part of his bail conditions,” he said.

Prof Chirwa was last Friday reported to have threatened to denounce his Zambian citizenship if Government failed to release his passport for him to go and see his family in the United Kingdom as well as to attend the funeral of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwamba says President Michael Sata did not travel to Vubwi District in 
Eastern Province at the weekend because the date coincided with the burial of late Health Deputy Minister Patrick Chikusu.

 Times of Zambia