Ronald Chitotela fails to take plea, UPND Head says Edgar Lungu must remove him from govt

Zambia's Infrastructure and Housing Minister, Ronald Chitotela, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission last week due to severe corruption charges, had recently appeared in court. But he is unable to take plea and the matter was adjourned as the third accused was not before the court.

Ronald Chitotela is jointly charged with Gregory Chibanga, Brut Holdings Limited and Diris Mukange with two counts of concealing property suspected to be proceeds of crime. The Minister is also accused to have disguised his property in the name of Diris Mukange, Zambia Reports confirmed.

The President of United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema recently said that country's President Edgar Lungu must immediately remove Ronald Chitotela from the government to facilitate the process of fair prosecution and adjudication of the corruption charges levelled against him. According to him, if Zambia's Head of State doesn't remove him from the government, the public will consider the accused as the Head's agent in the massive corruption going on at that ministry, Lusaka Times noted.

"We state so because Mr. Edgar Lungu's defence of those facing corruption charges clearly shows that he too is a beneficiary of the same but he must be stopped by citizens," Hakainde Hichilema said. He further said that the Zambians wouldn't allow a situation where someone confronting corruption charges is flying the pride of the Zambian flag representing the nation at both local and international levels.

"Clearly, Mr. Lungu's conduct shows that the arrest of Chitotela is just a public relations show whose aim is to hoodwink the international community and our citizens. There are several people who have been removed from their positions on mere suspicion of financial embezzlement or other misconduct and are awaiting their cases to be disposed of," Hichilema insisted.

Also Read: Zambia: Ronald Chitotela's arrest isn't fight against corruption: Geoffrey Mwamba