Zambias former president Rupiah Banda may lose his benefits due to his continued engagement in active politics, officials have said.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, last week ruled that Mr Banda had been violating the benefits for Presidents Act by his continued engagement in politics.
A statement from the presidency said the matter will be tabled before Cabinet for final determination.
The law relating to the pension and other benefits conferred on a former Head of State by the Benefits of Former Presidents Act Cap. 15 of the Laws of Zambia as amended by Act No. 21 of 1998 and the circumstances under which the said entitlements and benefits can be withdrawn are irrefutably clear, said President Michael Sata in a statement issued late Saturday by his spokesperson George Chellah.
Therefore, in view of the fact that Mr Banda has continued to play an active role in politics under the party which he leads, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), the matter of his continued entitlement to draw benefits from the State will be tabled before Cabinet for a decision shortly.
Executive say
The onus of forfeiting Mr Bandas emoluments and other benefits he is entitled to is on the Executive. Earlier on Saturday, chief government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda told the privately owned, The Post, news agency that government was working out modalities to remove Mr Banda from the payroll.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, last week ruled that Mr Banda had been violating the benefits for Presidents Act by his continued engagement in politics.
A statement from the presidency said the matter will be tabled before Cabinet for final determination.
The law relating to the pension and other benefits conferred on a former Head of State by the Benefits of Former Presidents Act Cap. 15 of the Laws of Zambia as amended by Act No. 21 of 1998 and the circumstances under which the said entitlements and benefits can be withdrawn are irrefutably clear, said President Michael Sata in a statement issued late Saturday by his spokesperson George Chellah.
Therefore, in view of the fact that Mr Banda has continued to play an active role in politics under the party which he leads, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), the matter of his continued entitlement to draw benefits from the State will be tabled before Cabinet for a decision shortly.
Executive say
The onus of forfeiting Mr Bandas emoluments and other benefits he is entitled to is on the Executive. Earlier on Saturday, chief government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda told the privately owned, The Post, news agency that government was working out modalities to remove Mr Banda from the payroll.
