.NCHITO

By DELPHINE ZULU –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mutembo Nchito to pave way for investigations into his alleged misconduct and acts of impropriety.
Mr Lungu has since appointed a tribunal to probe Mr Nchito on eight terms of reference that include the probing of the alleged acts of impropriety.
The tribunal members are former chief justices Annel Silungwe, as chairperson, Ernest Sakala and Mathew Ngulube as members, and Mathew Zulu as secretary.
Mr Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda announced the development in a statement yesterday.
“Mr Lungu has with immediate effect appointed the Tribunal to inquire into the alleged misconduct and alleged acts of impropriety by Mr Nchito, as provided for under Article 58, sub-article (2) and (3) of the Constitution of Zambia,” the statement reads.
The Tribunal has been tasked with eight terms of reference that include the probing of the alleged misconduct and impropriety.
The Tribunal has also been tasked to recommend whether Mr Nchito ought to be removed from office as a result of the allegations.
The President has since notified Chief Justice, Irene Mambilima, of the matter.
Mr Lungu has appointed Lillian Shawa Siyuni to discharge the functions and powers of the DPP during this period.
Mr Nchito recently entered a nolle prosequi in a magistrate’s court in a matter he faced 11 counts of criminal misconduct, abuse of authority and fraud and uttering false documents.
This was after he had been detained following a bench warrant issued against him by a Chongwe magistrate, before the matter was moved to Lusaka.