By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
FORMER Tourism Minister in the Patriotic Front (PF) regime, Ronald Chitotela, has filed a lawsuit against the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) claiming that the property valuation exercise intended to be carried out at his State Lodge property by the investigative wing is illegal.
Mr Chitotela contends that the said property which is stand no. CHONG/LN_21188/51, State Lodge, Chongwe was not acquired through corrupt means.
He wants the Lusaka High Court to order that the restriction notice by ACC dated March 22, 2022 under section 60 (1) of the ACC Act no 3 of 2012 in respect of the property in question be reversed.
He is also seeking that the property valuation exercise intended to be carried out by the investigative wing be declared illegal and be restricted.
Mr Chitotela stated that on March 22, 2022, he was served through his lawyers, Messrs. Andrew and Partners Legal Practitioners and Notaries Public, with a restriction notice.
He said that the notice stated that the ACC was investigating him for corrupt offences.
“That the said notice directed that I should not dispose of or otherwise deal with stand no CHONG/LN – 21188/51, State lodge, Chongwe. That the aforementioned property is not derived or acquired from any corrupt practices whatsoever,” he stated.
Mr Chitotela said that ACC has interviewed him as to whether he acquired the property through any corrupt practices.
He claimed that he wrote to ACC on March 28, 2022, expressing his disquiet over the said notice and demand for its removal, but instead received a response two days later informing him of its intention to search the property.
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