Robert Amsterdam, the international counsel to the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR), has a cunning knack of dividing opinion in Zambia.
Depending on which side of the political spectrum you belong, you will either hate him or like him but for the neutrals, the man brutally confronts the truth in manner that very few would in Zambia—something that others find distasteful.
It was only the other day that he was berating diplomats who only speak on matters that put them in good standing with the government yet look the other way on issues that affect the common man in the streets.
Amsterdam spat feathers because the United States, the British and Japanese dignitaries accredited to Zambia have seen every wisdom in the government’s move to remove subsidies on fuel and agriculture.
But these same diplomats continue being quiet on issues happening right under their noses in Zambia like the persecution of the opposition, the country’s dying democracy, rise in violence under the current government, high-levels of corruption, political intolerance, needless by-elections, dying media freedoms, rights of association and assembly etc.
You do not need to be an Albert Einstein to know that Zambia has been on a downward spiral since the PF got into power in 2011.
It is amazing that if a blind man like Elijah Ngwale can see the PF’s failure and Zambia’s political deterioration, including the Catholic Church which heavily supported the PF, the diplomats pay a blind eye to all these injustices.
A good opportunity has today arisen for the diplomats to redeem themselves by at least saying something on events of this morning where former president Rupiah Banda was blocked from travelling to South Africa despite a High Court order allowing him to board the Johannesburg-bound plane.
By the way, saying something on this issue may either be to condemn what happened this morning or indeed commending the state for not allowing Rupiah to travel despite the court ordering so!
It was only a few weeks ago that Rupiah was prevented from travelling to Kenya at the airport to witness the inauguration of Uhuru Kenyatta as president despite a court order.
The questions that beg answers go beyond Rupiah and what happened today. Where is the rule of law when court orders are being disrespected at the whims of those in power?
What then is the use of courts when the executive will easily disregard what they have ruled?
What guarantee is there that a common man from Luwingu, Kanakatampa, Sibuyunji, Mufulira, Muchinga province or John Chinena will receive a fair share of justice under the PF?
Law by nature has a notorious way of catching up with the very people that use it at their expedience when it suits them.
The issue of disregarding court orders, like was the case this morning or during the illegal lifting of Rupiah’s immunity, means a new precedence being set and this will be exercised on you and me when Rupiah is long gone.
That is the point the PF and most bloggers are missing.
It maybe fun to call Rupiah names today or indeed use him as a political punching bag but the same bells that are tolling for him today may well toll on me, you and yours tomorrow.
After all, people like Fred M’membe and Mutembo Nchito, themselves lawyers, must know the importance of court orders in the dispensing of justice. They should also remember that justice is not administered on the basis of perception but facts.
We are all made to believe that Rupiah’s son Henry is a thief but the government has failed to lay charges on him for his criminal proceedings to begin.
The international police has since removed his name from the list of wanted criminals because until proven otherwise, all these accusations have been laced with political interests by those in power in Zambia today.
Not until Rupiah is pronounced guilty, he remains innocent no matter the perceptions or allegations. It’s the plain truth that Fred M’membe, Mutembo Nchito and Sata must know.
Is it not the same clique that ran to parliament to strip his immunity (to the delight of suspected criminals like Gabriel Namulambe, Wynter Kabimba and embattled Given Lubinda) but later changed the charge sheet suspectedly because of a lack of a prime facie case?
At 76, Rupiah may not be around for a lot of years to come but the precedence that fossil in State House is setting for him today may follow the likes of Fred M’membe and Mutembo Nchito that are literally wiping his backside with their tongues.
The issue of the break down of the rule of law is what any sane being expects the United States, the British and Japanese dignitaries accredited to Zambia to also comment on publicly like they did on subsidies.
Just like on the issue of alleged corruption by Rupiah, the same diplomats should also comment on president Michael Sata’s directive to the Anti-Corruption Commission not to investigate any of his ministers unless they get permission from him!
Maybe Rupiah needs a political come back to fight his endless political battles.
The courts are certainly being rendered useless.