By Merlyn Mwanza
Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti says she hoped Tasila Lungu had not felt intimidated by the noise coming from the UPND side after she sat down following her contribution that new ACC director general Gilbert Phiri is conflicted over what she termed as his relationship with President Hakainde Hichilema.
Tasila, the Chawama member of parliament and former president Edgar Lungu’s daughter, said Phiri was a lawyer for the president for a long time and also represented the UPND during the petition for the Chawama seat. She said the investigative institutions were supposed to be independent but charged that Phiri was conflicted, saying she hoped he would serve the interests of Zambians as he takes office.
However, Tasila was receiving some heckles as she was making her contribution, prompting Speaker Mutti to urge members of parliament to allow especially the ladies to debate.
Feira member of parliament said he was actually against the motion asserting that people who were being ratified like Henry Mbushi was a member of UPND.
Lumezi independent member of parliament Munir Zulu quoting Russian President Vladimir Putin said those who fight corruption should be clean, saying it was his wish that the matter over the cancellation of the hunting concession in chief Mwanya’s area be investigated now and not in five or 10 years time from now.
Shiwang’andu member of parliament and former Home Affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo said he hoped the ACC would show the same vigor in prosecuting current and future corruption just as they have shown in prosecuting past corruption, like the issues of “calendars.”
He said the Speaker always gave different calendars to the members of parliament every year, and there was therefore no need “to seek for calendars from outside which are written in Chinese.” Kampyongo said this in apparent reference to Foreign Affairs minister Stanley Kakubo.
But Solwezi East member of parliament Alex Katakwe argued that no one would find an appointment of any person without political opinions.
He said the nation was waiting for those who were accused of being corrupt to be prosecuted, saying the name of “corruption, corruption, corruption” without convictions will not be accepted.
Katakwe urged that corruption should be pursued impartially.
Local Government minister Garry Nkombo said those who were being ratified should be looked at from their professional standing, describing the game of retribution as “(I)fyakale” which he said went with the PF.
Justice minister Malambo Haimbe talked up the diversity of those who have been appointed and also their track record of professionalism.
Parliament today ratified the appointment of Musa Mwenya as Anti-Corruption Commission board chairperson, Phiri as ACC Director General, while Irene Lamba, Henry Mbushi and O’briene Kaaba have been appointed as commissioners on the same board.
Others ratified are Pamela Sambo as Human Rights Commission vice-chairperson with Father Emmanuel Yona Chikoya, Tom Shamakamba, Christine Chama and Laura Miti as commissioners on the same.
Retired Judge Prisca Nyambe and Chad Muleza have been ratified as members of the Judicial Complaints Commission -JCC.
