ACC accused of double standards in graft fight

ACC accused of double standards in graft fight

By Adrian Mwanza

WE HAVE no confidence in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s fight against corruption anymore because it is selective and politically skewed, says the Community Action Against Corruption (CAC).

In an interview with The Mast yesterday, CAC executive director Brighton Tembo said the directives by Minister of Health Dr Alex Katakwe to investigate five suspended senior officials at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) was nothing but a political stunt.

Tembo said nothing different would be achieved from Dr Katakwe’s directives.

He said Zambians had lost confidence in anything involving ACC and the government in the fight against corruption.

“For me, I feel ACC is using double standards in the fight against corruption because we have seen cases involving high-profile individuals dragging on, but for those deemed as political opponents, they do not take time. People will be arrested and taken to court within days and yet nothing has happened to all the well-known politicians connected to the ruling party,” he said.

Tembo said the directive from Dr Katakwe to ACC was just a façade.

“I received the information from the Minister with caution because nothing good will come out from the investigations but mere rhetoric. This has happened in the past and I don’t see anything achievable,” he said.

He explained that not long ago, certain ministers and other senior government officials politically connected were cleansed in very strange circumstances, even when evidence was clear, pointing to corruption and abuse of office.

Tembo said the country was used to drama in the corruption fight.

He said there was need to make the fight against corruption genuine and not a show-off platform, yet nothing achievable.

“I have no faith in this corruption crusade, which seems to be a political settlement. I don’t expect anyone to be persecuted because it is just a publicity stunt to hoodwink the Zambian people that something is being done when nothing,” said Tembo.