By Isaac Zulu
Activist Brebner Changala has highligted the close relationship between President Hakainde Hichilema and Solicitor General Marshal Muchende, stressing that the administration is protecting its officials against alleged involvement in corruption while targeting opposition leaders.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Changala said the UPND administration is interfering in the operations of the Anti-Corruption Commission, saying this is the more reason why investigations in the alleged investigations against Muchende for allegedly receiving over $500,000 from a named former liquidator, are being frustrated.
Changala said the fact that President Hichilema and the UPND administration opted to take the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Financial Intelligence Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission have been realigned to the executive arm of government is an indication that the UPND has political interference in the discharge of duties by law enforcement agencies.
He said that Muchende has been a private lawyer to President Hichilema whilst in opposition, drawing attention to that close relationship.
“As you may be aware, the Financial Intelligence Commission, the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and other law enforcement agencies, by Act number 11 of 2023, the law enforcement agencies have been brought under the Executive Arm of government, under the Presidency,” Changala said. “And it should be noted that President Hakainde Hichilema has a close relationship with Solicitor General Marshal Muchende because Marshal Muchende was his private lawyer whilst in opposition. In fact, Marshal Muchende was appointed through a biased eye to the position of Solicitor General. Clearly, the fight against corruption has collapsed under the New Dawn government. It collapsed because it is targeted at members of opposition political parties. It has collapsed because it there is political interference from the Executive Arm of Government.”
He stressed that the UPND government is protecting its party officials involved in corruption allegations, while targeting those in opposition.
Changala said that “grand corruption is usually in the corridors of the executive arm of government,” saying the same executive arm of government “is a client to grand corruption.”
He said that in case the Anti-Corruption Commission institute prosecution proceedings, the current ACC Director General should relinquish his position so to pave “investigations devoid of political interference.”
“We expect that once prosecution proceedings are instituted against the sitting Solicitor General, the Anti-Corruption Commission Director General should resign from his position for failing to uphold his Constitutional duties,” said Changala.
