Written Buy Lisa Murimi
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has taken the extraordinary step of firing the entire board of the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) after they were accused of corruption—a charge they deny.
This drastic measure follows the recent resignation of the ACC head, Thom Shamakamba, amid similar allegations.
Shamakamba and the country’s solicitor-general, Marshal Muchende, were both accused of taking kickbacks, accusations they strongly deny.
The move highlights the ongoing tension in Zambia’s fight against corruption, which has been a focal point since Hichilema took office three years ago.
The authorities have been investigating numerous officials from the former government accused of graft.
The explosive allegations against the ACC officials suggest they accepted payments from politicians targeted by the probe in exchange for amnesty.
These claims were brought forward by whistleblower O’Brien Kaaba, a former ACC board member.
“ACC has made legally senseless settlements immunizing some of the most corrupt individuals, thereby shielding them from justice and accountability,” Kaaba wrote earlier this week.
He alleged that “immunity deals” previously used by the former ruling party, the Patriotic Front, were now being misused under the current government, undermining the fight against corruption.
Kaaba’s allegations have led Muchende to sue him for defamation, and other figures might follow suit.
However, Kaaba insists that the corruption within the ACC extends beyond the four fired board members and permeates the entire institution.
A statement from Zambia’s presidency justified the board’s dissolution as necessary “to renew the Anti-Corruption Commission’s sacred mandate.”
The announcement of Shamakamba’s resignation by the State House has led to speculation that he might have been dismissed rather than having resigned voluntarily.
