… Contrasts himself to HH saying he will declare his assets tomorrow without the law requiring him to
By Staff Reporter
Former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairperson Musa Mwenye says failure to arrest and dismiss serving government officials who were under investigations was a constant source of friction between the board and those who refused to do their job in the commission’s management.
And Mwenye in contrasting himself with President Hichilema who has refused to declare assets arguing that there is no law compelling him to do so, stated that he will tomorrow voluntarily declare his assets to the Chief Justice, although the law does not require him to do so at the time of leaving office
Breaking the silence following the dissolution of the board he chaired by President Hakainde Hichilema last Friday in a statement to Daily Revelation yesterday, Mwenye said his board operated under very difficult conditions, which involved being sidelined and denied access to any information on ongoing investigations and prosecutions for a full year.
“Let me mention that I was privileged and honored to have served with men and a woman of integrity on the ACC board under extremely difficult conditions, and despite having been sidelined and denied access to any information on ongoing investigations and prosecutions for a full year, the board continued to mount pressure internally for the right thing to be done by the Director General and his team,” Mwenye stated. “Legally, the board of the ACC, has no powers to arrest anyone that power lies with the Director General. Equally, the board has no legal powers to hire and fire the Director General – that power lies elsewhere.”
He stressed that he strongly believed that the fight against corruption could not be won unless “we fight ALL corruption – past present and future”, stressing that those who committed corruption in the past regimes must be investigated and prosecuted, including current government officials who have betrayed the trust of the people of Zambian people.
“Almost three years down the line, we should have seen some government officials arrested and dismissed. This is a matter that was a constant source of friction between the board and those who refused to do their job in this regard. Instead, they elected to be selective in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities,” Mwenye stated. “ It is also worth noting that successive governments have manipulated the operations of the ACC by appointing a strong board to give a veneer of respectability but appointing management that is ‘user friendly’. But I am proud that the board I served refused to be intimidated, remained in position and demanded internally and publicly, both as a board and in our individual capacities, that the right thing be done.
“We made our position known and nobody can claim ignorance over these matters I have highlighted in this statement today.”
To the rank and file of the ACC, “who continue to do their job under difficult conditions”, Mwenye urged them to soldier on.
“To my fellow former board members, former Vice Chairperson Mrs. Irene Chongo – Lamba and former Commissioners Dr. O’brien Kaaba and Dr. Tommy Namitondo, who I served with in the past two years, I say thank you for your unity of purpose, integrity, strength of character and courage,” Mwenye stated. “It was an honour. Sadly, I did not have the pleasure of working with newly appointed board member Mr. Jack Kalala because the board was dissolved before we had any significant interactions. We all did our best and I have no doubt whatsoever, that posterity will judge us correctly.
Contrasting himself to President Hichilema who it has been argued by officials in his administration that he could not declare his assets yearly on account of absence of a law requiring him to do so, Mwenye stated that he would declare his assets today without the law requiring him to do the same.
“I have today decided to make a voluntary declaration of my assets to the Learned Chief Justice. All of us who serve in public office must be transparent in our financial dealings and must all be willing to declare our assets and explain how we acquired what we have,” stated Mwenye. “And I encourage all those in public office today, who have not done so to do that in the interest of transparency, integrity and accountability.”
He nevertheless expressed gratitude to the President for having granted him the opportunity to serve as ACC chairman.
