Double standards in PP, fails to discipline some officials

The governing People’s Party (PP) was swift to suspend Ralph Kasambara and Oswald Lutepo from the party because of their court cases, but how about other suspects facing criminal charges such as Cassim Chilumpha, Yusuf Matumula and Paul Maulidi?

Chilumpha, PP Central Province vice-president, and the party’s treasurer general Matumula are facing treason charges following their arrest in 2007 on suspicion that they plotted to assassinate former president Bingu wa Mutharika.

For his part, PP acting secretary general Maulidi is answering charges of embezzling K5 million (US$11 961) he allegedly collected on behalf of his client using his law firm Maulidi and Company.

The common denominator is that all the cases are still on the floor of the courts, but while Kasambara and Lutepo were disciplined by the party, the three have not been sanctioned.

This raises questions about fairness and impartiality in PP in dealing with members who are being tried in the courts.

At the time of their suspension, Kasambara, who is being accused of conspiring to murder Treasury budget director Paul Mphwiyo, was director of legal services in the party while Lutepo was deputy director for recruitment.

Lutepo is facing theft and money laundering charges stemming from the alleged involvement of his company, International Procurement Services, in the pillage of government resources.

In an interview on Wednesday, Maulidi dismissed assertions of selective application of party discipline, arguing that the cases are different.

He said the party looked at the magnitude and significance of the cases as well as the publicity they generated.

According to Maulidi, the treason case against Chilumpha and Matumula are ‘almost dead.’

But Maulidi could not explain the basis of his argument that the cases are dead considering that the legal process is still in motion.

“We are also looking at the effects of the cases on donor relations. We are considering the positions of the party versus the elections. We are not saying anybody who has a crucial case will be suspended. These people were in police custody and we had no time to listen to their cases and invite them to the disciplinary meeting,” he said.

Political analyst Dr Blessings Chinsinga said the party is flouting its own regulations in its pursuit of victory in 2014.

“Why apply the law selectively? We understand that this is an election year, but the party must be seen to be fair and just to its members. The grounds the party is presenting are not credible,” said Chinsinga.

He argued that it was not up to the party to judge one case over the other, saying all cases involve deviation from the law and must be treated as such.

“PP should desist from the culture of bending rules and regulations regardless who is involved, at what time and the type of the case committed,” said Chinsinga.