By CHILA NAMAIKO –
PARLIAMENT on Thursday evening unanimously ratified the appointment of Kapetwa Phiri as director-general of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with a clarion call for him to ensure there are no sacred cows in the fight against graft in all corners of the country.
The House also ratified the appointment of Cecilia Mbewe as Clerk of the National Assembly describing her as a committed servant with a wealth of knowledge in parliamentary matters.
Moving the motion to adopt the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee to scrutinise the two nominees, chairperson Peter Daka informed the House that Mr Phiri and Ms Mbewe were both scrutinised and cleared by security wings and were found to be of high integrity.
Mr Daka, the Patriotic Front (PF) Msanzala Member of Parliament (MP) was confident that Mr Phiri taking over the helm of ACC would ensure professionalism in the daily execution of his duty.
Debating on the motion, Kabwe Central MP Tutwa Ngulube (PF) urged Mr Phiri to be exemplary in order to erode the public perception that ACC was selective in the fight against corruption.
Lupososhi MP Bwalya Chungu (PF) urged Mr Phiri to excel judging by his performance while acting as ACC director-general.
He challenged Mr to ensure there were no sacred cows and compromise when it comes to investigating corruption cases.
Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo (UPND) said corruption was a cancer which, if not curtailed could spread to all sectors thereby undermining the development of the country.
Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu, however, said it was an act of being unreasonable that some people could keep dragging ACC in unnecessary accusation on its operations with intent to dent its image.
Mr Zulu advised critics to refrain from criticising the ACC without evidence and that fighting corruption required an act and evidence which MPs could ably help Mr Phiri by enacting more laws.
“It is necessary as MPs that we should carry out our duties diligently as we swore to do instead of opposing everything. Lets us help through enactment of legislation to empower Mr Phiri in the execution of his duties,” he said.
Justice Minister Given Lubinda said ACC was a professional body which never required directives to carry out its mandate and was keen to investigate anybody within or outside the jurisdiction of Zambia.
Mr Lubinda said the commission produced timely quarterly and annual reports and it was folly to accuse it of being inactive when a matter was taken to court and a suspect was acquitted because that depended on evidence provided.
He called for collective efforts to fight graft and that it was unreasonable for UPND MPs to accuse ACC of targeting the opposition when many Government officers had been probed.
He said President Edgar Lungu would not be derailed by detractors in his quest to ensure public resources were used prudently and would not interfere in the operations of the commission.
“President Lungu has never abrogated any law. Whether some people like it or not the President is living by the powers of the Constitution,” he said.
On Ms Mbewe, who among other credentials holds a master of Laws Degree in International Taxation, Tax Planning and Treaties, Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) said she deserved it as she had provided exemplary leadership having worked for 20 years at the National Assembly.