Ng’ona now stands alone. If the court rules against him, he should shoulder the financial burden alone. Others in politics must learn that engaging in questionable schemes at the behest of those in power carries personal risk.
Even if President Hichilema used him, Ng’ona acted willingly—and must therefore face the consequences. To feel pity for him is, frankly, to insult decency. But I also have a problem with the role of Chirwa and Company in this case.
The lawsuit raises serious ethical questions. Is it not professionally questionable for lawyers to participate in actions that may be linked to political manipulation or misuse of public funds? The firm’s explanation—that it hesitated to aggressively pursue payment due to confidentiality concerns, and because Ng’ona consistently claimed State House and the President would pay the bill—does little to inspire confidence.
Read Full Article on Lusaka Times
[paywall]
The State cannot legally cover the legal fees of a political party; doing so would constitute a misuse of public resources. Shouldn’t a firm of Chirwa and Company’s stature be well aware of this? In the end, this case speaks to broader governance failures.
[/paywall]
