Zambia corruption: President Hichilema fires entire anti-graft board

Zambia’s President Hakinde Hichilema has taken the extraordinary step of firing the entire board of the nation’s corruption-busting physique, after they themselves have been accused of corruption, which they deny.

It comes days after the top of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Thom Shamakamba, resigned from his submit.

Both he and the nation’s solicitor-general – Marshal Muchende – have been accused of taking kickbacks. Both males strongly deny the allegations.

Since Mr Hichilema got here to energy three years in the past, the authorities have been investigating a quantity officers from the previous authorities accused of graft.

Now, the explosive allegations are that ACC officers have been taking funds from politicians focused by the probe in trade for amnesty.

The whistleblower is a person known as O’Brien Kaaba – who was as soon as a board member of the ACC.

“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 stated the identical “immunity deals” beneath the previous governing get together, the Patriotic Front, have been now being “used under the current government in a manner that shows no commitment to fighting corruption”.

He stated the ACC have to be reformed, alleging that the rot goes past the 4 fired board members and impacts the entire establishment.

Mr Kaaba has been sued by Mr Muchende for defamation – a step that different figures might but take.

An announcement from Zambia’s presidency stated dissolving board was needed “to renew the Anti-Corruption Commission’s sacred mandate”.

The assertion saying Mr Shamakamba’s resignation was additionally issued by State House, main some to take a position whether or not he had in truth been fired.

Additional reporting by Natasha Booty