Court summons Anti-Corruption Commission boss

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has of late come under spotlight, smarting from inadequacies and ebbing public trust.

It appears the ACC is facing a myriad of woes some of which have not come under public scrutiny and perhaps it is time the graft body laid bare the underlying burning issues.

The ACC has been bashed left, right and centre in the manner it has been handling investigations, prosecutions and its inherent poor response to public outcry.

Selective application of the law on the part of the ACC is one of the most outstanding allegations in the public domain and if this matter is not addressed adequately, trust or lack of it will reach the lowest ebb.

Poorly handled investigations have rendered court cases an academic exercise while officers have been accused of being lackadaisical in their approach to reports presented to them.

Clearly, the ACC needs to do more in investigating corruption in the private sector rather than magnifying the vice in the political arena, targeting those in the ruling party.

Very few opposition political leaders have been investigated on the questionable acquisition of wealth, yet the tab has been stamped on politicians in the ruling party.

Yes, political leaders in the ruling party are closer to public resources, but this does not preclude opposition leaders from investigations; they too must be made to account for the massive wealth acquired fraudulently.

Therefore, the ACC must come out clean and redeem itself from such snares especially that the atmosphere will be getting highly-charged as the country draws closer the 2021 general elections.

For the purposes of driving the point clearly, it will be prudent to run through a few salient points.

Firstly, it should be appreciated that it was under the PF Government that the Anti-Corruption Act, 2012 (No. 3 of 2012) was born to repeal and replace Anti-Corruption Act 2010, which had some noticeable loopholes.

As outlined in the amendment, the Act provides for the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corrupt practices and related offences based on the rule of law.

This must be based on integrity, transparency, accountability and management of public affairs and property; the ACC must provide for the development, implementation and maintenance of coordinated anticorruption strategies through promotion of public participation.

But one wonders if the ACC has ever encouraged genuine public participation!

Additionally, the Act provides for the protection of witnesses, experts, victims and other persons and also provides for nullification of corrupt transactions.

In fact, the Act is so rich that it extends to international conventions such as the domestication of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

It also touches on the Southern African Development Community Protocol Against Corruption and other regional and international instruments on corruption to which Zambia is a party.

There are other areas which the ACC is mandated to superintend over.

With the foregoing, it is clear that the ACC has not met the benchmarks to be held in high esteem or to exude any integrity as outlined in the Act.

It is thus incumbent upon this important institution to reclaim its glory and apply the law fairly and without fear and favour.

The ACC will need to strengthen the education unit and also enhance its link with the public so that indeed integrity and fairness are restored.