The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has justified the move to clear Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba and his Justice counterpart, Wynter Kabimba of corruption allegations due to insufficient evidence.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, ACC public relations manager, Timothy Moono confirmed that the two ministers had been cleared of corruption allegations because of lack of evidence.
Mr Moono said the two ministers’ cases were thoroughly investigated but were unsubstantiated.
“The ACC investigated the corruption allegations against Mr Mwamba and Mr Kabimba but we found no evidence of corruption against them and this is why they were cleared,” Mr Moono said.
And Mr Moono said that 470 reports of suspected cases of corruption were received in the first quarter of this year.
Out of the 470 cases, 306 did not have elements of corruption and as such advice was given to all that provided the information on how best these cases could be pursued.
He said 164 reports contained corrupt elements of which 108 were placed under investigations.
He said as at March 31, this year, the ACC was probing a total of 759 cases countrywide.
Meanwhile the ACC has formed three integrity committees (ICs) as provided for under the national anti-corruption policy in three institutions bringing the total number of established ICs countrywide to 32.
“The successful corruption prevention interventions by ICs in some institutions where they have been established has provided an impetus for continuing to roll out this initiative as the ICs continue to develop and implement corruption prevention measures in their institutions,” said Mr Moono.
The ACC had continued to conduct corruption vulnerability assessment in the last quarter covering six public institutions in the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Judiciary, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA),Workers Compensation Fund Control Board, Livingstone City Council and the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship.
He encouraged chief executive officers in various institutions to seriously take the government’s integrity programme as a means to significantly reduce corruption in public institutions.
When did the President give you permission to investigate Winter Maize and Obese Geoffrey? And when did you question them? No ACC you are as toothless as Munkombwe’s feasting month!
I love the confusion in the PF Government its Like from the top Headmaster to the last cadre its just trial and error. Some times I feel like we don’t have a president. I will echoe the words of other wise bloggers here that ,Its high time Sata moved from Group 3 to Group 2 in terms of governing the country may be by 2016 he might accidentally find himself in Group one
I trust acc thoroughly
CORRECTION: Wynter Kabimba and GBM were thoroughly investigated BEFORE WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAR THEM!
CORRECTION: Wynter Kabimba and GBM were thoroughly investigated BEFORE WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAR THEM!
OR, IS IT: Wynter Kabimba and GBM were THOROUGHLY CLEARED before we were INSTRUCTED to investigate them!
I love the confusion in the PF Government its Like from the top Headmaster to the last cadre its just trial and error. Some times I feel like we don’t have a president. I will echoe the words of other wise bloggers here that ,Its high time Sata moved from Group 3 to Group 2 in terms of governing the country may be by 2016 he might accidentally find himself in Group 1
This being a high profile case hinging on the credibility of ACC, I expected Mr Moono as a PR boss to be more professional in the way he communicates. Just shouting on the roof top that we investigated them and found nothing will not cut it and that is why sharp minds on this site don’t believe you.
If you want us to believe you, you need to issue a comprehensive report detailing the following
1) The full list of allegations levelled against these Ministers
2) The Exact Date when permission was sought from the president to investigate the Ministers
3) The exact dates these Ministers were called in and interviewed
4) The Dates when third parties like ZESCO and Trifugira were interviewed
5) A rebuttal of every point raised by the accuser based on ACC findings
Spot on bootlicker!! These chaps think we are small children to just shout that these two goons were cleared and we believe. Prof. Chirwa has been suspended but these two were not. Any new government that comes into power after these clowns should reopen these cases. One day, their invisibility will be removed and then, they will dance pelete!!!
Put a detailed log of your investigation in the public domain and leave it to the public to judge. Put the facts you found on the table. We are not children for you to just shout that they were cleared and you found nothing. Tell us what you were looking for and explain why you concluded that you found nothing
Well suggested Mr. Chief.
One Question to you Bwana. Was this done to your late president Chiluba? Was this done to the Katelez … and all those with corrupt charges? One tends to think someone already thought they were guilty until with no chance of being proven innocent.
people really analyse issues here. I like the debate. especially in the manner the late FTJ s cases were cleared by Royal Botom (RB).
We can’t believe that cos the two strong puppets and key ministers of the president who were investigated while still in their offices. If they were suspended by the president like Clive chirwa they cud ve been found wanted.how can you investigate ur boss in defense and justice ministers. But a small man like chirwa , to prove that he is not above the law like kabimba and mwamba the president pronounced his suspension quickly. Tell me how can a press secretary say bad things to his boss to the public?
Zambian shouldn’t buy anything thrown at them by PR .PR shouldn’t just issue release press statement ,but should hold Q and A session.
NO NO NO! ACC. First things first. Did you get permission from the President to investigate them? If so, when were they interviewed? This is very important because the President instructed your DG to obtain permission from him. 2. Wynter Kabimba stormed your offices with hoards of clenched fisted, blood shot eyed hooligans and literally intimidated your officers.3. The ministers were not suspended to pave way for an independent inquiry. These three reasons make the case of very special interest. Did Kabimba ‘quietly’ come back again? The fact that this matter keeps popping up means you ACC did a very bad job. It won’t go away until after 2016.
This is the result of having non-professionals in the field. Tomorrow there will be no case against Chirwa, so what else is new?
Failed states did not happen over night; it is a gradual process. We are headed there at this rate. What qualifies someone to be investigated WHILE still in office while another is investigated AFTER being suspended? These are some inconsistencies that are making some of us squirm with discomfort. WHAT IS WRONG WITH JUST DOING A PROFESSIONAL JOB!??? IS SO MUCH TO ASK JUST TO DO A GOOD DAY’S WORK!!!????
ACC should tell Zambians how they investigated their BOSS Kabimba without him being put on suspension as Clive Chirwa has faced?We all know that Kabimba insisted to be interviewed in public.When the did this interview take place without the public knowing about it?Meanwhile Mutembo Nchito despite his corruptly initiated NOLLE against Rajah Mahtani is still in office as DPP!!!Is this not shamefull?
ACC should tell Zambians how they investigated their BOSS Kabimba without him being put on suspension as Clive Chirwa has faced?We all know that Kabimba insisted to be interviewed in public.When the did this interview take place without the public knowing about it?Meanwhile Mutembo Nchito despite his corruptly initiated NOLLE against Rajah Mahtani is still in office as DPP!!!Is this not shameful?
To all those kwalolomwela PF puusylickers and real PF cadres,,, these are dangerous lies!!!
This lies will cost you one day in future!!
Immediately the President allowed Kabimba to get away with his stunt of riding in with a band of cadres to the ACC and then imposed further restrictions on the investigation, the whole process was corrupted.
No matter what ACC says (and even if the duo is in fact not guilty!) there will forever be a cloud of suspicion over these two because of how the matter was handled.
I have reservations on this one. If the president was serious with corruption fight, he could have suspended winter and gbm the way he has swiftly suspended chirwa. Further, he could have ordered for all ministers and perm secs to leave falls park apartments. I wish the president didnt have double standards. . .
Asryt ! Way to go ACC ! The problem with us Zambians is that we have this mentality of assumption and always expecting things to go they way we want.Sorry ACC do not work depending on emotions.Their work is always evidence based.
Zebige ,please read what others have written about the way ACC should go about informing Zambians on this issue. I find your comments to be way out of line. In particular, go through what ‘Chief bootlicker’ and ‘Greyhound Moonde’ have written and then respond if you can.
I don`t have to read what others have written to come up with an informed opinion.I respect their views and yours, but it is just too unfortunate that we are all looking at this issue from different angles, perspectives and political influences.Though for me the political influence has less bearing on my assumptions and analyses.
Very good point Zebige – there is just this missing link in terms of information especially in sub-Saharan Africa that gives room to speculate. In most societies I have lived (and worked) outside of that area the word SACRED is very rare. You get to read even the most unlikely information about the most “privileged” person. An investigation using public funds must consistently and correctly be communicated to the audience, that is, the taxpayer. Let them decide whether or not they do not want to read what is put before them. It must not be a blanket secrecy clause that is unspoken… Other than that we hope all is being done according to what the professionals’ job descriptions have prescribed to them.
When did ACC receive the letter of authority from Sata to go ahead and carry investigation against the two corrupt PF senior officials. And when did the interviews take place and where were the PF cadres kept whilst the interviews were taking place?
ACC do give us something that can convince and reassure us that indeed you investigated the two and your investigation were free from intimidation.
Chirwa go back to work. Suspension lifted due to lack of evidence.
Rubbish ACC. Do what MMD Bootlicker has suggetsed, then maybe we will believe you.
Also blame the non-functioning opposition. They are supposed to insist on answers in cases like these. In South Africa, the opposition will even sue the government to release information if they are not satisfied with a response.
We expected it ! Obviously, you have been bullied into saying this! However, you are not fooling anybody but yourselves ! That Winter person has a huge chip on his shoulder and too arrogant to allow you to question him !! When did you do your investigation him ? At one point all of you will be answerable to the people of Zambia for all these blunders made during your tenure in government !! Zambia has continued to spiral into extreme poverty & underdevelopment. It is categorised as a third-world country, where ordinary people are so poor that they survive on less than a $ per day !! Zambia is one of the failed states in Africa because of voting plunderers into government, who continuously enrich themselves rather than share country’s wealth with the ordinary people who voted for them !!
Somebody remind me. I don’t remember Winter being suspended to pave way for the ACC to carry out their work. I only remember Winter intimidating the authorities. Was that meant to clear his name? It seems Chiwamila Galu kuluma Mbuzi.
Idence implies, crime was committed but not enough information for conviction. You should have used the little information you had and taken they to court so that we Zambians know that they committed the crime but were to clever to leave the tracks. And we would know better to never vote for them
The most informed class of Zambians know very well that the ACC is currently administered by a bunch of cockroaches. The ACC is DEAD.
The most enlightened class of Zambians know that the ACC is run by an invasive bunch of cockroaches. This institution is actually dead under the current climate