President Lungu defends embattled Health Minister

President Edgar Lungu has defended embattled Health Minister, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya who was last week arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission on four counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of Crime.

Dr. Chilufya is the latest cabinet minister to be arrested on corruption related matters following his Tourism counterpart Ronald Chitotela.  

Isaac Chipampe, the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations in a statement said State House has noted the concerns in some quarters of society that Dr. Chilufya has continued to serve despite being charged with corruption.

He said the President believes that Dr. Chilufya is currently innocent until proven otherwise by the courts of law, saying this assumption is predicated on the principle of presumption of innocence which is enshrined in the constitution.    

President Lungu said a mere allegation is not a conviction and it is not the duty of the accused to prove his innocence.

And the Head of State has insisted that he respects the independence of the Judiciary and other investigative wings, saying he will not do anything to interfere in their operations.