ACC is toothless-Syakalima

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:50:48 +0000

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is a toothless law enforcement agency which will not command any respect from the people of Zambia for being compromised, says former UPND Siavonga Member of Parliament Douglas Syakalima.

And Mr. Syakalima has said that Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwel Lungu’s understanding of the fight against corruption is highly questionable and deceiving to the people of Zambia as it is selective and biased in support of his friends.

In an interview, Mr. Syakalima said that the people of Zambia have lost confidence in the ACC because it had become completely toothless , a bulldog which could no longer bite.

He said that ACC’s compromised fight against corruption had dented the image of the once respected and vibrant security wing in the nation, adding that its failure to probe corrupt PF leaders currently serving as ministers was a scandal which should demand for the removal of its Director General Roswin Wandi.

“It is really shocking that ACC wanted to show its blunt teeth on Former President Rupiah Banda when it failed to deal with crooks in the PF and at the DPP office. We know them and we are not surprised that even Roswin Wandi is now a laughing stock in the PF security wing. She forget the requirements of the law in dealing with immunity. This is how it is when you act without thinking you expose yourself to serious criticism,” he said.

He said that it was shameful for ACC to pretend that corruption was only in MMD when senior PF leaders and Ministers were conducting themselves in a corrupt manner.

Mr. Syakalima said that Africa and the world over was laughing, “African countries are laughing at us because of failure to understand corruption. People are using corrupt mean to fight corruption. In fact those spearheading the fight against corruption in the PF are the most corrupt people because they also know that ACC is a toothless bulldog, it cannot bite them. But we have to warn them that we shall come into government and address this matter.”

Mr. Syakalima said it was immoral for ACC and other investigative wings to continue scheming on how to accuse and embarrass a leader who was commanding world recognition and respect.

“You see ACC has a small memory and they think that Zambians are foolish people, they have forgotten that they failed to interrogate Kabimba who doesn’t enjoy any immunity just because they did not inform Mr. Sata about their intentions. We want to state as UPND that we are closely watching them and we shall not allow ACC to be compromised to an extent where professionalism was failing,” he said.

And Mr. Syakalima has that the stance taken by TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu on corruption fight was questionable because it no longer inspired the people of Zambia.

He said that it was strange that TIZ was advocating for the removal of Mr. Banda’s immunity without any evidence of corruption against him.

Mr. Syakalima said that the double standards shown by Mr. Lungu had dented the image of the organization and that it was high time he quit to concentrate on supporting unknown agendas pushed by people with a questionable characters.

He said that it was now clear that Mr. Lungu’s agenda was not to fight corruption as he had failed to vigorously condemn Kabimba’s conduct at the ACC offices.

“Why didn’t Lungu and his TIZ organize mass protest over the K14 billion his friends owe DBZ. Why didn’t he protest over Wynter Kabimba’s conduct at ACC? Why didn’t he protest over the Public Order Act? Why didn’t he protest over the acquittal of Rajan Mahtani. Mutembo Nchito entered a nolle after being found with a case to answer? Let Lungu tell the people of Zambia why has his organization failed to come up with a position on issues of Mahtani and the DPP? We know these are his friends. Lungu is a mole in the fight against corruption and we will soon protest to his employers who are the Transparency International for his double standards. “