We will all pay back – Kapata

By OLIVER SAMBOKONOW that the Constitutional court has clearly stated the amount each minister should refund to the treasury, there is no two ways about it, we all have to pay back, Lands Minister Jean Kapata said.Ms Kapata also said she was shocked that the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) can issue a statement based on an old story which someone dug up for propaganda and for gullible people which unfortunately includes some legal minds .Ms Kapata was reacting to a LAZ statement based on an old story published by the Daily Nation on November 2019 where the minister was quoted saying she would not pay back the money earned while working after the dissolution of parliament.LAZ yesterday fell for social media scammers circulating the one year old story and issued a statement indicating that it was disappointed that the Mandevu law maker was not willing to pay back the money as adjudged by the constitutional court.But Ms Kapata said the statement by LAZ did not reflect her truth position as at no time did she say she was not going to respect the court ruling as it was been insinuated by the law body.She said she was going to sacrifice her December salary to pay back the allowances and salary, she was paid during the time Parliament was dissolved before the 2016, general election.“I will sacrifice my December salary to pay back because the constitutional court is the final authority on this issue,” she said.Furthermore, she said, President Lungu has also given direction and all of us ministers have to pay and I am paying back.She said it was disappointing that the LAZ rushed to demonise her name without due regard or consulting her.