Leave ACC alone, Sata told

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:26:11 +0000

December 7 2012

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has been told to stay away from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigations against Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba on allegation of receiving kickbacks in oil deals.

In separate interviews, MMD president Dr. Nevers Mumba, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and ADD’s Charles Milupi said that President Sata should instead divert his attention to addressing the critical shortage of mealie meal that has hit the country rather than throwing his energy on protecting illegalities by ministers facing corrupt probes.

Dr. Mumba said that it was shocking and surprising that President Sata yesterday castigated ACC for the presence of the media during the ongoing investigations.

He said President Sata should not forget that Zambia had laws of which his ministers should follow and respect.

Dr. Mumba observed that, instead of President Sata counseling Mr. Kabimba, he decided to go for officers at ACC who were doing their work.

“He is not a qualified investigator and therefore he must not interfere with these investigations, it is absurd for him to come out in such a protective way. This country has enough problems and it will only be prudent if Mr. Sata diverts his attention to finding a lasting solution to the mealie meal crisis the country is facing,” he said.

And Mr. Hichilema said that the PF leadership had no moral right to talk about how ACC should conduct itself during the investigations of corruption allegations in the PF government and cabinet.

He said that the PF government was involved in corruption, adding that the direct involvement of President Sata raised many questions to whether the PF regime was committed to the fight against graft or not.

Mr. Hichilema said that it was strange and shocking that President Sata was the one running to speak out protecting wrong doers such as Kabimba.

He said it was uncalled for, for the head of state to speak out in the manner he had been doing because it could mean that he did not support the investigations, adding that many Zambians have come to believe that President Sata was not committed to better the livelihood of the people and fight corruption.

“This man has been quiet, so why should he speak out today? Is it that Kabimba is being protected? Mr. Sata should stop this route otherwise he is creating and sowing a seed of discontent in the people. Let him stop interfering in the investigations. We don’t need him to direct ACC on what to do,” he said.