By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The President of Zambia has relieved the entire board of the country’s anti-corruption body of their duty, after they themselves were accused of corruption.
Hakinde Hichilema took the decision days after the head of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Thom Shamakamba, resigned from his post.
Shamakamba and the country’s Solicitor-General, Marshal Muchende were accused of taking kickbacks, but both men have strongly denied the allegations.
Since he came to power three years ago, President Hichilema has been investigating a number of officials from the former government accused of graft, including his predecessor and his wife.
ACC officials have been accused of receiving payment from politicians listed for investigation, in exchange for amnesty.
A whistleblower, O’Brien Kaaba, a former board member of the ACC had raised alarm over the alleged corruption in the agency.
“Going by press reports, ACC, for example, has made legally senseless settlements immunising some of the most corrupt individuals, thereby shielding them from justice and accountability,” he wrote earlier this week.
He said the same “immunity deals” under the former governing party, the Patriotic Front, were now being “used under the current government in a manner that shows no commitment to fighting corruption”.
He said the ACC must be reformed, alleging that the rot goes beyond the four fired board members and affects the whole institution.
Kaaba has been sued by Muchende over defamation.
A statement from Zambia’s presidency said dissolving board was necessary “to renew the Anti-Corruption Commission’s sacred mandate”.
The statement announcing Shamakamba’s resignation was also issued by State House, leading some to speculate whether he quit or sacked.
