Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:04:44 +0000
By Aaron Chiyanzo
AMOS Chanda has been summoned several times by the Anti – Corruption Commission (ACC) but I cannot fire him because he has been found to be clean, says President Edgar Lungu.
And President Edgar Lungu emphasized that he would not hesitate to fire any cabinet minister who was not cooperating with the commission when being investigated.
The President disclosed that his aide for Press and Public Relations, Mr Chanda had been summoned for questioning several times but that he did not shield him and was found clean.
He said during the commemorations of International Anti- Corruption Day that he would not be compelled to fire government officials on mere suspicious or accusations of corruption.
President Lungu however warned that those not cooperating with investigative wings would be dismissed without delay.
He said that investigative wings were free to carry out their duties without interference from his office and that they should not fear.
President Lungu pointed out that he did not interfere when Mr Chanda was summoned by ACC, alluding that there would be no sacred cows in his government.
“Amos Chanda here was several times summoned by ACC, but I cannot fire him because he was found clean. I will not fire someone just because someone is saying that he is corrupt, investigative wings should first of all do their job.
“But those who do not cooperate with investigative wings, like one minister I dropped, those we part ways so that they can be investigated thoroughly,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Lungu said that in as much as he was not going to be compelled to fire cabinet ministers on mere allegations of corruption, he expected them to cooperate when being investigated.
He said that he would not tolerate corruption in his government as the poor Zambians were the ones suffering the most from the scourge.
