THE Government will not involve itself in handing back properties that were seized by the Taskforce on Corruption to individuals cleared by the courts of law, chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha in an interview yesterday said the Government would not force the investigative wings to hand back the assets to the owners.

He said if there were any seized assets that were handed over to officials cleared by the courts of laws, such decisions were made without any Government interference.

Gen Shikapwasha said he was not aware that some assets had been given back to second Republican president Frederick Chiluba and Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province governor, Moses Katumbi.

"The Government cannot involve itself in giving back properties that were seized by the Taskforce. If the courts of law have cleared somebody and the courts decide that such individuals should be given back their assets, there is no way that the Government can overrule the court's decisions," Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said that if anybody had evidence that the Government was forcing the investigative wings to hand over the seized properties, such leaders should report the matter to the relevant wings of Government.

The minister also said the Government would not abuse any parastatal company for the benefit of the MMD.

He said the emphasis of the Government was to ensure that parastatal organisations operated effectively, without interference from anybody.