By Staff Reporter
Chishimba Kambwili has asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to immediately tell Zambians that they are investigating Solicitor General Marshal Muchende, and that President Hakainde Hichilema must immediately ask him to step aside if he is being investigated.
Speaking with Daily Revelation on assertions that the ACC is investigating Muchende for allegedly receiving a bribe from a named former liquidator, Kambwili said President Hichilema must immediately do what he professed during his opposition days that he would ask government officials that were under investigations to step aside.
“If indeed, Muchende’s house they have placed a restriction order, why haven’t they announced to the country? Because everybody who is being investigated, the ACC calls a press conference and notifies the country. Now what is so special about Muchende that the ACC are doing it secretively without announcing to the nation? Clearly it shows that there is a lot of corruption which is being swept under the carpet,” Kambwili said.
He said he was aware of the rampant corruption going on in the UPND administration, wondering why every year when there were fertilizer contracts to be issued, the administration cancelled and re-advertised and allowed those who participated to bid again.
He said if the complaint was that the firms recommended were expensive against the others, “why should that person be allowed to tender again?”
“Solicitor General’s case if at all it is there, clearly shows that there is no fight against corruption but there is only political persecution using the ACC,” Kambwili said. “Why is he keeping the Solicitor General still in his position? Now I want to challenge the Anti-Corruption Commission on two things, one, why haven’t they announced this investigation and two, why is the Solicitor General still performing his functions? Because the President always used to say that if a public servant is being investigated he must vacate office until the investigations are over.”
Kambwili said he has always spoken against the President’s inconsistencies, where today he says this and tomorrow does the exact opposite.
“So I am challenging him to remove the Solicitor General with immediate effect so that the investigations can be carried out without interference,” Kambwili said.
And Kambwili said it was surprising the President immediately arrived in the country and called for a press briefing over one matter, despite the numerous challenges besetting Zambians.
“Akanwa kamilandu kalaibala. If you know something about something obviously you tend to be guilty about something. Because you see even when you are not guilty and involved, your actions speaks louder than words,” Kambwili said. “There are a lot of thefts that have happened in this country you have never seen a President call a press briefing immediately. Sometimes we put ourselves in a very awkward situation. I think the UPND are not experts in government and what to do when confronted with an issue.”
Kambwili said it was unnecessary for the President to call for a press briefing over the KKIA gold scandal, as the ministers of mines and Home Affairs had already spoken to it.
“What the President needs to be preoccupied with are the issues affecting the people of Zambia, high cost of living etcetera. Yesterday people expected that he was going to say something about the high cost of mealie meal in particular but alas he was just talking about the gold scandal. Let’s run the country properly you know. We are becoming a laughing stock,” said Kambwili.
