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Several stakeholders have expressed concerns over the recent appointment of former Ministry of Lands Permanent Secretary, Daphne Chabu, as the new Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and retired Judge Evans Hamundu as the Board Chairperson.
Green Party president, Peter Sinkamba, welcomed the new board but warned that its effectiveness would depend on addressing concerns raised by former Board Commissioner Dr. O’Brien Kaaba.
Sinkamba pointed out that the previous board, despite having prominent members such as State Counsel Musa Mwenya, was criticised for being dysfunctional and ineffective in tackling corruption.
He stressed that unless the underlying issues that hindered the previous board’s performance were addressed, the new board risked being equally ineffective.
This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.
Sinkamba likened the ACC to a “toothless bulldog” in the fight against corruption, highlighting Kaaba’s resignation due to the commission’s failure to act on corruption issues.
In a similar vein, Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP) president Mwenye Musenge questioned why President Hakainde Hichilema waited for Judge Hamundu’s retirement before making the appointments.
He also expressed concerns about the perceived regional bias in the appointments, suggesting that it could further deepen divisions in the country.
Gideon Musonda, Executive Director of Advocates for Democratic Governance, cautiously welcomed the appointments.
He urged the new board to focus on restoring confidence in the fight against corruption, emphasizing the importance of professionalism and neutrality in the role of the ACC.
Meanwhile, New Heritage Party spokesperson Aggephrey Brill criticised the appointment of Chabu, suggesting that her past affiliations with the ruling UPND party created a potential conflict of interest.
Brill warned that placing a partisan individual in charge of the ACC could undermine its independence and erode public trust in its ability to investigate corruption, particularly within the ruling party.
He called on President Hichilema to reconsider the appointment and urged the National Assembly to reject Chabu’s appointment, advocating instead for a neutral candidate to ensure the ACC remained free from political influence.
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