By Daily Revelation Correspondent
Economic Front leader Wynter Kabimba has sued the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Tom Shamakamba for refusing to inform the general public on the investigations against Solicitor General Marshal over corruption allegations that he received over $500,000 bribe from a named former liquidator.
And Kabimba has charged that the refusal by Shamakamba to inform the general public on whether or not Muchende is under investigation for corruption, is in itself confirmation that the government is conducting a selective fight with its corruption policy.
In this case, two of Kabimba’s party members Womba Kayombo and Paul Chola who are first and second applicants have cited Shamakamba, seeking leave to apply for judicial review in the public interest.
According to court documents filed in the Lusaka High Court dated September 7, 2023, Kayombo and Chola explained that on August 22, 2023, they instructed their lawyers to write to the ACC requesting the disclosure to the public of the nature of investigations against Muchende a public officer.
The duo stated that on August 28, 2023, the ACC in response to the said letter stated that it was unable to
comply with the demand. “That it is clear from the above that the respondent has refused to inform the general public whether or not the commission is carrying out preliminary investigations for acts of corruption against Marshal Muchende, a matter which is in the public interest as Marshal Muchende is a public officer in the government which has waged a fierce fight against corruption since 2021,” the applicants submitted.”>Womba and Chola stated that the refusal or failure by Shamakamba to share information with the general public is in itself counter productive to the government’s proclaimed policy position that there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption under the current administration.The applicants also stated that since Muchende was a public officer in the present government, the refusal by Shamakamba to inform the general public whether or not he is under investigation for corruption was in itself confirmation that the government is conducting a selective fight with its corruption policy.“That we therefore, believe that this is a suitable case for the grant of leave for judicial review in the public interest,” read the affidavit verifying facts in support of ex-parte summons for leave to apply for judicial review.A few weeks ago, Daily Revelation published a story quoting sources from State House indicating that the ACC had placed a restriction order on the house belonging to Muchende over assertions that he had received over US$500,000 bribe from a named liquidator. But there were efforts by powerful forces within the UPND administration to sit on the matter.Daily Revelation got in touch with Shamakamba who refused to divulge what Muchende was being investigated for saying, “I will not comment for the time being. I will tell you once whatever is being done.”
Following up on the above, Kabimba wrote Shamakamba giving him a 7-day ultimatum within which to disclose the nature of investigations against Muchende or he will seek legal redress in the courts of law to force the commission’s hand.
However, Shamakamba responded to Kabimba’s letter telling him that the commission shall not give in to his demands.
Kabimba later replied to Shamakamba’s response where he told him that he understood the legal implications of what the ACC was saying but he would let the legal provision be tested in the courts of law.
