“METHODICAL” WILLFUL FAILURE to APPOINT ACC BOARD, BOARD CHAIRPERSON, DG IS DISASTROUS – KASONDE MWENDA
November 1, 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) express grave concern over President Hakainde Hichilema’s deliberate inaction in failing to appoint a Board, Board Chairperson, and Director General to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for an unprecedented four months. This failure directly undermines the government’s own professed commitment to combat corruption, effectively paralyzing one of the country’s most crucial anti-corruption bodies.
Since the resignation of Mr. Thom Trevor Shamakamba from his position as Director General on July 17, 2024, and the subsequent dissolution of the ACC Board on July 18, 2024, following an urgent appeal from former ACC Commissioner Dr. O’Brien Kaaba, President Hichilema has shown complete disregard for filling these key positions. This calculated negligence renders the ACC essentially defunct, leaving the President himself as the de facto Board, Board Chairperson, and Director General – a position wholly unsustainable in the fight against corruption.
For a President who claims to prioritize integrity and transparency, such willful delay reflects a troubling lack of commitment to rooting out corruption. This stagnation is symptomatic of deeper issues within President Hichilema’s leadership – one that, contrary to his self-praise, appears disorganized and indecisive. If the fight against corruption were a true priority, competent and qualified leadership would have been instated without delay.
The implications of this inaction are profound. Without an appointed Board and Director General, the ACC is crippled, unable to independently address or investigate ongoing cases of corruption. The President’s reluctance to make these appointments creates a vacuum that permits further corruption and diminishes public trust in government institutions.
The EFF hereby demands that President Hichilema immediately appoints a qualified and competent ACC Board and Director General. This must not be a mere symbolic gesture or an exercise in political patronage; rather, it requires the appointment of professionals who possess both integrity and commitment to the rule of law, not political operatives or allies. A handpicked assembly of unqualified individuals will only serve to further erode the ACC’s legitimacy.
The EFF stands resolute in calling for these immediate actions, and we will not waver in holding the Hichilema administration accountable for the integrity and functionality of our institutions. Failure to act is a clear indication that this administration lacks both the will and resolve to tackle corruption, a serious disservice to the Zambian people who deserve a government dedicated to transparency and accountability.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there.
Issued by:
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
President Kasonde Mwenda C