Corruption Scandal Rocks Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission as Former Chairman Speaks Out
Former Chairman of Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Musa Mwenye, has lifted the lid on the alarming state of affairs within the country’s premier anti-graft agency.
Mwenye, who served as ACC Chairman for the past two years, has voluntarily declared his assets to the Chief Justice, setting a powerful example of transparency in public office. However, his revelations paint a troubling picture of the challenges faced by the ACC board under his leadership.
Mwenye disclosed that the board was “sidelined and denied access to any information on ongoing investigations and prosecutions for a full year,” despite their efforts to ensure the “right thing be done” by the Director General and his team.
The former Chairman further criticized the selective nature of the anti-corruption efforts, stating that the ACC has failed to investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving past and present government officials. “Almost three years down the line, we should have seen some government officials arrested and dismissed,” Mwenye lamented.
This contention between the ACC board and the Director General’s office appears to have been a constant source of friction, with Mwenye accusing the management of being “user friendly” and unwilling to fulfill their duties.
Mwenye’s scathing remarks come on the heels of President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to dissolve the entire ACC board, citing the need for “necessary reforms to ensure the continued effective operations of the Commission.”
The President’s move has been viewed by many as a tacit acknowledgment of the deep-rooted problems plaguing the anti-corruption agency. The resignation of Director General Thom Trevor Shamakamba, amid allegations of shielding corrupt officials, has further compounded the crisis.
As the Hichilema administration grapples with these corruption woes, the public is left wondering whether the promised crusade against graft will ever materialize. Mwenye’s candid statement has not only shed light on the internal turmoil but has also served as a wake-up call for the government to address the systemic challenges that have undermined the ACC’s effectiveness.
The nation’s faith in the fight against corruption hangs in the balance, and the Hichilema administration must act swiftly and decisively to restore public trust and demonstrate its commitment to eradicating the scourge of graft that has long plagued Zambia.
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21st July, 2024
Banene is the cause of all this!
Very annoying!
First, there was no need to move ACC to State House!
Secondly, Tongalization of DG positions was another flaw!
Finally, the micromanaging and interference in ACC and DEC operations has caused many to take the back seat for fear of losing their jobs!
ACC is dead!
We told you so ba saa!!
Corruption is a non-partisan scourge!! Every Zambian is at risk! Why? Check what the “pyramid of need” stipulates.
These allegations require full investigation via a commission of enquiry; some judges have been mentioned, Muchende has been under investigations for a long time as confirmed by ACC, former Board chairman also wanted a kick back from the CEC/KCM dispute, etc. The story is jumbled but it looks like our corruption fight also needs to be sanitized.
I still somewhat believe in bally. I highly sympathize with him for the difficulties he has to appoint credible people to critical positions. His biggest challenge is politics. He appoints those who did one or two things to enable him become Eagle one. But we all know that in Zambia every one gets into the political pitch to get a descent living. Such people are likely going to look the other way when wrong things are being crafted. They want the kickback, and quick money to show they have arrived at the elite club of the country. What they don’t know is that it takes only one dose of a wrong favour to get hooked to a point of no return. In his appointments, Bally must look beyond politics and fish out credible Zambians that can do the job he wants on behalf of the nation. He must not even be shy to engage people in diaspora to come and use their vast experience recreating and regenerating process and way of conducting descent business. The corruption epidemic in Zambia is concerning. It is even visible on the streets and within young people. Wrong has been normalized, and when such happens, then the shit has hit the fan. We can do this all together. Bally, provide the political will. There are some who still believe in you.
This apologist attitude is really crass.It condones malfeasance!!
The truth is the President is surrounded by wrong advisors. These presidential advisors carry a heavy duty and may make or bring down a President. They do wrong or right things in the name of the president. Advisors are centre of attraction from business communities local or foreign especially the corrupt business people. Like Kaizer Zulu, these advisors have indirectly presidential commands.
The President should find ways of awarding the people he fought with, by giving them non-sensitive positions. Positions like ambassadors, Chairpersons of boards.
He must clean up the people who are around him these people believe they are untouchable since they suffered at hands of PF.
Imagine for a year a chairman of Acc couldn’t with closely with the DG of ACC this highly dangerous and suicide. Two key important people couldn’t agree to go along. And my opinion one of the two had an upper hand reporting the president. Definitely the president was listening more to one of the two.
It is time the President must act before he goes down with these guys like Kaizer Zulu and ECL
You are very correct.
I like your short analysis.