Mukata’s death sentence unchristian – 3rd LM
Keith Mukata
Third Liberation Movement (3rd LM) has described the conviction of United Party for National Development (UPND) Chilanga MP Keith Makata as unchristian.
Party President Enock Tonga says it is unchristian to sentence someone by hanging in Zambia, a Christian nation.
Tonga notes that in as much as Mr Mukata errored, sentencing him to death by hanging is a breach of the Christian principle of forgiveness.
“Yes, the man (Mukata) should serve his sentence for the wrong he did, but should he be punished for life?” he wondered.
Tonga has since called on the courts to exercise maximum leniency on Mr Mukata in future appeals.
He says the UPND Chilanga MP is a first offender and the courts should exercise maximum leniency going forward.
“I would like to appeal to the courts of law to exercise maximum leniency on the convict in an event of him appealing. This is the only way that love and forgiveness would be demonstrated,” he said.
Tonga maintains that leniency is a Christian virtue and the court should exercise it if it believes in the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
“The court must show us that Zambia is a Christian nation in the way they pass sentences,” he observed.
The 3rd LM president stressed that if the court fails to show leniency on the Mukata going forward, people will think his conviction is politically motivated.