THE Democratic Party has written to the Inspector General of Police demanding an investigation into the leaked telephone conversation between the two senior government officers, Levy Ngoma and Josephs Akafumba.

The DP argues that the alleged telephone conversation implicated President Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice President in attempting to circumvent the electoral process regarding the Kabwata by-election and hence prevent the party from exercising its constitutional right to participate in the same.

In a letter dated February 8, DP ,through its lawyers from WM Kabimba and Company, stated that they would commence legal proceedings in the High Court if no investigation into the matter was instituted within 14 days from the date of the letter.

“Investigation in respect of the leaked telephone conversation by Messrs. Levy Ngoma and Josephs Akafumba. We refer to the above matter and wish to inform you that we have been retained by the Democratic Party (DP) and hence note our interest as advocates. Our client’s instructions are in respect of the telephone conversation between the two government officers above named which was leaked and subsequently went viral on social media platforms on 19th January, 2022. During the ZNBC main news at 19:00 hours of the same day, one Thabo Kawana, a director in the Ministry of Information visited the studio to clarify the government position in the matter. The director’s statement was to the effect that the alleged audio conversation was fake and that the authors of the same would be arrested promptly,” read the letter.

“The meaning and effect of Mr Kawana’s statement is that an offence of impersonation had been committed by the persons involved, a matter which the police should have taken interest in to institute investigations immediately to thwart such offences. This is so because the alleged telephone conversation implicated His Excellency the President Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice President in attempting to circumvent the electoral process regarding the Kabwata Constituency by-election and hence prevent our client political party from exercising its constitutional right to participate in the same. In view of the above, we have been instructed by our client that unless you commence and/or institute an investigation into this matter within 14 days from the date of this letter we shall commence legal proceedings in the High Court to seek an order of MANDAMUS to direct you to do so without any further notice to your office.”