By Mubanga Mubanga
Socialist Party deputy secretary general Antonio Mwanza has challenged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) must name the ministers that are being investigated.
In a press statement issued on Friday, Mwanza stated that ACC must name all the ministers and government officials under corruption investigations.
He further stated that the ACC was quick to announce the names of ordinary Zambians who were under investigations but it was refusing to do so with ministers who were being investigated.
“Deputy Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Monica Chipanta Mwansa has announced that the ACC is currently investigating some cabinet ministers and other government officials for alleged corrupt practice. Strangely, the Commission says it won’t reveal the names of those under investigations,” Mwanza stated.
He said the behavior by the ACC to shield criminals in the government was totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated.
Mwanza also stated that the same ACC was quick to publicly announce the names of ordinary Zambians who were merely suspected and not even under formal investigations but when it came to the ruling elite, the ACC found it prudent to hide the names of the suspected criminals.
“This double-standard is what has made the so-called fight against corruption a sham and a mockery to the people of Zambia. It is such behavior that has eroded the faith and confidence that people once had in the ACC and other similar state institutions,” Mwanza said.
“It is a joke and a mockery of justice to assume the ACC can effectively investigate a minister while he is holding on to his office; ministers have too much power and influence and they can easily abuse that power and influence to intimidate ACC officials and frustrate any meaningful investigations.”
Mwanza state that the only way to ensure justice was to have those ministers under investigations step aside and allow the ACC to investigate them freely and fairly.
He stated that as long as those criminals were holding on to their offices, nothing would happen, saying naming them would put public pressure on the state to have them step aside, and that was the only way the ACC could effectively investigate and prosecute them.
Mwanza stated that he sympathized with the ACC because they could not go against President Hakainde Hichilema, who was shielding his officials from prosecution.
“We sympathize with the discredited ACC because their hands are tied; they can not go against their appointing authority, President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema who is the number one culprit in shielding his officials from prosecution. President Hichilema promised the Zambian people that once elected into office he will fire any government official under investigations to pave the way for a fair and transparent process, however, today he is doing the opposite,” Mwanza said. “Instead of firing, he transfers ministers with questionable credentials from one ministry to the other, like its musical chairs. Instead of firing Solicitor General Marshal Muchende, who is under formal investigations, the president has opted to arrogantly keep him in office. What corruption is the President fighting?”
