By Patson Chilemba
Solicitor General Marshal Muchende says the debate surrounding him is a distraction, saying the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should do their thing if they are indeed investigating him.
Speaking with Daily Revelation on the matter surrounding assertions that there is an ongoing investigation by the ACC against him for allegedly receiving US$500,000 from a named former liquidator and that a restriction order has since been placed on his house, Muchende said he could not comment earlier when Daily Revelation made effort to contact him as he was inundated with other activities at the time.
“There are so many things that we are trying to do and for me all this is a distraction. I want to remain very focused,” Muchende said. “Let the ACC do their thing if they are doing something about this case. Let them run with it. Media, let the media do their job. Let me also do my job, you know what I mean?
He said he did not intend to continue commenting on this matter anymore, following the recent statement he gave to the Mast Newspaper.
He said “this thing has been going on for a long time”.
But asked on the fact that despite his position not to make further comments, the public is still debating the matter given his position as one of the key legal officials in the UPND administration, Muchende said he can understand about the narrative being created against him but stressed that people can create all sorts of narratives but the important aspect was one’s conscience and not any other consideration.
“You need to first know where you stand yourself and I think that’s what’s important to me really at the moment. People can say all sorts of things, narratives can be spined, (but) as long as I know where I stand myself, I know the truth. So I don’t want to comment over this issue,” he said.
Asked if he has been contacted by the ACC and on information that a restriction order has been placed on his house for having allegedly receiving over $500,000 from a named former liquidator, Muchende said he would not regurgitate himself over the matter.
Asked on remarks by Economic Front (EF) leader Wynter Kabimba that he is taking the matter to court on account that the ACC has hiding the investigations in order to shield Muchende so as not to create a narrative that the UPND is corrupt, Muchende said Kabimba was free to proceed as he wished, saying he has filed a lot of cases in the the courts, including one against ZICTA on the former director general at Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
“It’s his prerogative really. Let him enjoy the fruits of being a Zambian,” said Muchende.
