By SIMON MUNTEMBA
I have instructed my lawyer to commence legal action against the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for unlawful raid and search at my personal property, Amos Chanda has said.
And Mr Chanda has disclosed that ACC officers were forcing him to disclose ‘State secrets’ that came his way when he was Presidential Spokesperson to Zambia’s sixth republican President, Edgar Lungu, a portfolio he left two and a half years ago.
He told the Sunday Nation in an interview that legal action against the ACC was underway because the search was unlawful and done in an unprofessional manner.
“My lawyer is under instructions to begin legal proceedings against ACC for unlawful actions ,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Chanda said that he had also written to acting ACC Director General Silumesi Muchula complaining that the search by his officers was conducted unfairly as he was threatened with drastic action by one of the investigators holding a pistol in his hands.
He also lamented that the ACC officers were forcing him to disclose ‘State secrets’ that came through his way when he was Presidential Spokesperson.
“I do not exaggerate, but as a law abiding citizen, I need to secure a Presidential waiver to talk, as I still have 22 years and six months to 2044 for me to talk openly on information which reached me as a public servant while at State House,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Chanda who emphasized that he was not above the law, said he would not allow to be used as a scapegoat to investigate other persons.
He said as a law abiding citizen, he was willing to corporate with the investigative wings but should not be used as a scapegoat to fight ‘another person with immunity’.
“I cannot be used to search another target with immunity, I am not the one who crafted the law,” protested Amos Chanda. I am not a prisoner, I have not run away from Mukobeko Maximum Prison, so I must not be harassed like a common thief,” Mr Chanda said.
He added, “Just as is the case with the ACC, I am neither above, nor below the law.”
Last week, the ACC searched Mr Chanda’s house and farm and seized K95, 000 and title deed belonging to his tenant.
The following day on Friday, the ACC officers went back to search at his residence but were locked out because they did not have a search warrant.
Later in the evening, Mr Chanda told the media that unidentified people broke into his car and stole four title deeds for his properties, K64, 000 cash, a diplomatic passport, laptop, and other important documents he wanted to take to his lawyer
