TWO academicians, Professor Muna Ndulo of Cornell University and Dr O’Brien Kaaba from the University of Zambia, have raised serious concerns regarding recently entered consent judgments, describing them as potential avenues for fraud and corruption.
Professor Ndulo and Dr Kaaba have questioned the legitimacy of the settlements, pointing to either a lack of sound legal justification or awards with significantly inflated legal costs.
They are dismayed at the apparent inaction of oversight institutions, particularly the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which they believe should play a pivotal role in safeguarding public resources.
In their joint statement, the have scholars cited specific cases, such as that of Kaizar Zulu, where they argue that there was no moral or legal basis for the state to compensate individuals injured in his private capacity.
“For example, in the case of Kaizar Zulu, it is clear he was not acting on behalf of the state and there is no moral or legal justification whatsoever for the state to compensate those he injured in his private capacity,” the two stated.
Professor Ndulo and Dr Kaaba have called an immediate halt to certain consent judgments, suggesting that certain cases may be pursued for personal gain, constituting corruption within the State Chambers.
“We are also concerned that in some cases the lawyers representing concerned individuals and those in State Chambers have previously had personal connections, raising questions about conflict of interest and the credibility of the negotiations and the protection of public interest in these settlements.”
They called on President Hichilema to critically assess his legal team, urging the dismissal of individuals involved in what they perceive as questionable dealings.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 30th November, 2023)