*Former ACC Chairman Musa Mwenye speaks out*
I am grateful to the people and the President of the Republic of Zambia for the opportunity to have served as Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
When I assumed my office as Chairperson of the ACC, two years ago, I declared my assets in accordance with the law. Although, the law does not require me to do so at the time of leaving my office, I have today decided to make a voluntary declaration of my assets to the Learned Chief Justice. All of us who serve in public office must be transparent in our financial dealings and must all be willing to declare our assets and explain how we acquired what we have. And I encourage all those in public office today, who have not done so to do that in the interest of transparency, integrity and accountability.
Let me mention that I was privileged and honored to have served with men and a woman of integrity on the ACC board under extremely difficult conditions. Despite having been sidelined and denied access to any information on ongoing investigations and prosecutions for a full year, the board continued to mount pressure internally for the right thing to be done by the Director General and his team.
Legally, the board of the ACC, has no powers to arrest anyone, that power lies with the Director General. Equally, the board has no legal powers to hire and fire the Director General – that power lies else where.
That said, I strongly believe that we cannot fight corruption unless we fight ALL corruption – past present and future. Those who committed corruption in the past regimes must be investigated and prosecuted. Even current government officials who have betrayed the trust of the people of Zambia must also be investigated and prosecuted. Almost three years down the line, we should have seen some government officials arrested and dismissed. This is a matter that was a constant source of friction between the board and those who refused to do their job in this regard. Instead, they elected to be selective in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
It is also worth noting that successive governments have manipulated the operations of the ACC by appointing a strong board to give a veneer of respectability but appointing management that is ‘user friendly’. But I am proud that the board I served refused to be intimidated, remained in position and demanded internally and publicly, both as a board and in our individual capacities, that the right thing be done. We made our position known and nobody can claim ignorance over these matters I have highlighted in this statement today.
And to the rank and file of the ACC, who continue to do their job under difficult conditions, I say thank you and encourage you to soldier on. To my fellow former board members, former Vice Chairperson Mrs. Irene Chongo – Lamba and former Commissioners Dr. O’brien Kaaba and Dr. Tommy Namitondo, who I served with in the past two years, I say thank you for your unity of purpose, integrity, strength of character and courage. It was an honour. Sadly, I did not have the pleasure of working with newly appointed board member Mr. Jack Kalala because the board was dissolved before we had any significant interactions. We all did our best and I have no doubt whatsoever, that posterity will judge us correctly.
I thank you!
What was the board of directors’ role if it had no information on anti-corruption operations such as investigations, prosecutions and therefore not in a position to evaluate how management was performing? Was this denial of information on anti-corruption operations and prosecutions backed by law? If that is the case, I doubt it they will find any decent persons to serve on the ACC board.
I am equally baffled by this revelation.
Perhaps the biggest question that begs an answer is: what was the board doing other than getting allowances?
The Board of Directors was just used as spectators to cheer players of the dirty games of corruption. No wonder corruption has sprout everywhere, government officials, civic leaders, parastatal officials, etc.
But I told you all this more than 2 years ago. I got insulted then, remember?
But what is coming out is nothing compared to the real heavy graft going on. Especially with our mines. It is completely shocking how greedy these new guys are. They seriously make PF look like babies when it comes to theft and corruption. People think I just hate Hakainde. I do not hate him, but I loathe what he is presiding over. He is obsessed with money, as if he will take it with him to his grave, or ever have time to really enjoy it given his limited time on earth. That money will remain in Panama indefinitely. This is money that can transform the country. This is money that has come from Zambia via dubious means.
Vote wisely in 2026.
I may agree with you over this revelation by Musa Mwenye SC but all the same vote wisely vote for HH7 in 2026/31
When are saying , hiring your own has profound consequences and effects on how those hired see themselves to those who hold positions that are there to overseeing the smooth operation of the system.
It is not coincidental or surprising to hear what the former chairman is saying about internal struggles, police and prison, teaching commission, ACC, DEC, parliament, Judiciary, and other sectors just to mention a few.
You have a ZNS Chief having shares as majority shareholder in a government corporation a meal mealie and comes out with the fullest possible dullest explanation to justify this illegal takeover and the Attorney General’s Office is quietly doing nothing. In parliament the opposition wants to know why this is happening? Nelly shuts them.
Police former Protective Unit commanding officer had embarked on one of the most dangerous nepotism and tribalism , his a lazy incompetent and scandalous police Constable in three months, he was promoted three times to assistant superintendent and moved him from central province to LSK. Abusing fuel and police transport to build his house. Instead of sacking him he has been transferred to Muchinga as second in Command. Why HH is the enabler and promoter of the motto’ it’s our time.’ No one listens to someone overseeing the smooth running of institutions because they are Tonga appointed by a president who is Tonga and can only listen to him. Ask Mr Bowa who was removed for increasing fuel when he was not part of that meeting because he was having a beer. Did they reduce fuel prices after an out cry from the people? No they removed someone who not part of the increase because it would been too much to explain to the people knowing the tribalism and nepotism in this government.
See how the vice president struggles to explain things in parliament as most of the information is held from her and she appears incapable and incompetent to vanish the country with what is happening she is always rescued by Nelly or deputy speakers. Nalumango is only there as rubber stamp and she does not even know what is happening. It’s not a secret no wonder HH and his minions want to remove the clauses running mate / 50+. Nalumango is less respected than NKombo, Mwiitwa, Siakalima, Mwiimbu. Look at their scandals no action has been taken against but moved or promoted and remove others
Musa Mwenye, you have ran your race. You were dealing with a very insecure individual who has refused to declare his assets and equally refused to move to Nkwazi house for obvious reasons. Corruption, corruption and corruption.
And you stayed the whole two years without flinching. If it wasn’t for the boot, you could have continued eating with them to stupor. Integrity and Hypocrisy don’t mince!
Your first paragragh is loaded and a personal attack. That is a question of personal choice.
Lets not use personal attacks to destress from the issue that led to your removal. Its was Dr. Kaaba’s the outspoken bold person that I have the most respect for.
If you felt so strongly as you suggest. Why didnt you resign? As they say, power corrupts. One issues you felt strongly you wrote publicly and we lauded for those positions. However, this missives seems to be a response at your removal and would never have been made had the board not been removed.
To me the other person that needs to go is the Mr. Muchende. Corruption is sometimes about perception. And those offices need people who are percieved as being above board.
The slightest hint of a lack of integrity marrs any effort that the collective effort make take. And Government is not about individuals. Dont wreck and marr the efforts of the many persons that have chosen to serve in this government. Resign for the greater good of the efforts of many. Money is not everything. In time you will learn. Ask your predecessors. You are not the first nor will you be last.
Drop the law suit while you are at it. We see that as nothing but an effort not any different from the Former DPP and Milingo Lungu and his helm at KCM as liquidator. Self serving. That is not what public service is about. And a failure to demonstrate that outwardly, by dtopping the Kaaba suit, we will forever see you as a man that sought to shut up another for speaking up about what he saw as something wrong.
Ba Mwenye, sometimes its better to bow out quietly. This article is really a dent to who you are. Mature people dont make emotional statements. They are proven overtime. An example is the former ERB Chair. He has been vilified since the very person who sought to humiliate him has too been removed. Tondolo musuma….
As for the declaration of assets. ECZ has a copy of what HH went into office with. A similar declaration will be made when he opts to stand in 2026. If not, the law doesnt compel him to. You could have used your time to ask for amendments to the law on the issue and the ACC act. Take time and find out the wisdom in some of the issues you are “whining about”. Status is awesome but it comes with its own set of woes….its life. You accepted the job accept that your time is up. Do so with grace…we will respect you more
Everyone has declared their assets except the tribalist conman.
You see now the results.
By insinuation, the conman has been labelled as corrupt in this letter. Which we all know he is.
Vote wisely in 2026.
Which law allows the President to declare assets? When you the Defunct TuPF criminals changed the law to hide the assets of ECL did you think that you will be in power forever? Very short sighted stupid idiots
Vote wisely vote for HH7 in 2026/31
Indigo pls keep quiet. You arise an irrational arguement.
1. At the time of filing nominations to ECZ all candidates declared their assets. Including SET.
2. There is no law that compels the President to do so. Why didnt your ECL ensure that the act was amended? If its done at filing that same measure you expect to use can be dont when the candidates stand in the next elections.
3. Musa Mwenye is using the statement to deflect the real issue that he was removed for. Now he wants to cry foul. All these issues about being a “toothless” board. Why did he accept the position? Why did he not resign if he thought he would not add value to the board. We enjoy the perks that come with the job and when removed we want to suggest the problem was soomewhere or someone else. Its called deflection. Not wanting to be held accountable. Musa Mwenye to me is a joker. He just needs to keep quiet. He failed after grandstanding.
Why is he talking about declaring assets now?
Because he knows that his ex boss is a conman up to no good. Read in between the lines, if you have been to school.
You’re the greatest illiterate this country has ever produced, Defunct TuPF criminals
Vote wisely vote for HH7 in 2026/31
Pls Indigo take a moment and listen to yourself amd understand that your rationale lacks basis. Over and over we have told you. All Candidates filed their assets and liabilities at ECZ when filing their 2021 Presidential nominations. What Mwenye states is misleading and simply deflecting the issue that led to his dismissal. If the board was toothless why didnt he step down instead of being removed? Ego is the problem as humans. When you have an ego, you make mistakes like taking a job that lacks real function. What is the role of the ACC board? From his statement it lacks substance. Why take the job? As a lawyer he read the act so knew that the job was a big zero. Why did he stay this long as Board Chair?
I had respect for Musa Mwenye until this latest, purely personal and inconsequential demand that everyone should declare their personal assets and how they accumulated the same. You want to equate that directly to corruption, and in the process unwisely implicate the President, Mr. Mwenye? Grandstanding does not equal to corruption or equal standing. Your role was to identify, or lead to the identification, of culprits in matters of corruption. Not to try and impose your personal, philosophical beliefs about asset stripping and asset declaration. In this misplaced crusade, you missed the goal and target by a significant mile. You were supposed to preside over the largest and most consequential corruption probe in Zambia’s history, Hon. Musa Mwenye. Instead you woke up every morning pursuing the wrong target, on the wrong side of the lane. On that score, my friend, you betrayed the hopes and dreams of the Zambian people.
Dr. Kaaba still remains the hero in this while ACC saga. Not you unfortunately.
Well said
The board of directors has to be given the power to appoint the director general, the board has to have an input in the investigations that are carried out by questioning things like consent judgements and checking how these are processed and agreed. If the directors are just there to watch what is happening without powers to anything about what is happening, then those positions are absolete
True but look at the uniqueness of the entity.
This is an investigative wing of Government. Why it even has a board, am still wondering.
Does any Ministry have a board? No. The oversight nature of the board can not apply here as the board doesnt have power.
The sensitivity of the nature of the investigations would be compromised (is what am able to adduce from Mwenye’s statement). The links between various state Investigatives wings and intelligence. The nature information is gathered and shared between agencies would be compromised.
The board would be better comprise of a cross section of leaders from those same agencies.
I would like to believe this was tried before (in the Kaunda era). And officers were found have compromised the agency. A top down evaluation may be required to redesign the agency. Clearly its somewhat compromised if the agency, Chambers and elements in the judicary are signing off on issues to under mind the law.