In a press briefing held earlier today, Musa Mwenye SC, the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Board, vehemently refuted allegations of misappropriation concerning K65 million forfeited funds held by the commission. Mwenye addressed the media to clarify the situation surrounding a document circulating on social media, which suggests misconduct within the ACC. The purported interim management letter was also referenced in an article published by the News Diggers Newspaper.

Mwenye began by highlighting that the ACC had not received the document in question and had only become aware of its existence through social media and press reports. While expressing concern about the origin of the letter, he stressed the importance of it being officially availed to the ACC before being leaked. Furthermore, Mwenye urged caution and called for the authenticity of the document to be verified, considering the history of the matter and the surrounding circumstances.

“We have not received the document that is circulating on social media and have only had sight of it from social media and press reports. We are therefore not aware of its authenticity. This having been said, we hope that this letter has not been leaked from the Auditor General’s office without it being availed to us first. The history of this matter and the surrounding circumstances raise great cause for concern,” Mwenye stated.

The Chairperson emphasized that the investigation at the Ministry of Finance had commenced in November 2020, preceding the appointment of the current board. He revealed that following the investigations, the Deputy Auditor Generals and the Auditor General himself were arrested on separate occasions in March 2023. The ACC received a formal request for information from the Auditor General’s office on March 3, 2023, after the aforementioned arrests. Mwenye expressed full confidence in the Auditor General’s office, considering it a vital institution of the government, and stressed that it should not be used to pursue personal legal battles.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you may wish to know that the investigation at the Ministry of Finance started in November 2020, long before this board was appointed. Following investigations, the two Deputy Auditor Generals and the Auditor General were arrested on 1st March 2023, 2nd March 2023, and 9th March 2023, respectively. The Auditor General was interviewed on the 10th of February 2023,” Mwenye clarified.

Mwenye then turned to the document circulating on social media, stating that it contained numerous inaccuracies and appeared deliberately tailored to tarnish the reputation of the ACC. Specifically, he pointed out a false allegation on page 61 of the purported management letter, claiming that K65 million forfeited from Ms. Faith Musonda had been misappropriated. To refute this claim, Mwenye reminded the press of a media briefing held on February 23, 2022, where the ACC handed over a cheque worth K65,333,046 to the Minister of Finance. The funds were transferred from the ACC’s Bank of Zambia account to the Ministry of Finance on March 3, 2022. Therefore, Mwenye categorically stated that the money was not misappropriated within the ACC.

“At page 61 of the purported management letter, there is an allegation that K65 million forfeited from Ms. Faith Musonda was misappropriated. This is a blatant falsehood. All of you members of the press, attended a media briefing on the 23rd February 2022 at which the Anti-Corruption Commission handed over a cheque for K65,333,046 to the honourable Minister of finance. The money moved from the Anti-Corruption Commission account at Bank of Zambia to the Ministry of Finance on 3rd of March 2022. It is therefore not true that this money was misappropriated in the ACC,” Mwenye clarified firmly.

Expressing disappointment, Mwenye criticized the media for publishing unverified documents and failing to seek confirmation from the ACC, Bank of Zambia, or the Ministry of Finance. He reminded the press of their vital role as partners in the fight against corruption and urged them to exercise caution before disseminating alarming statements without factual verification.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please bear with us. We will not address the document that is circulating on social media but suffice to say that it contains a lot of inaccuracies and details that appear tailored to deliberately embarrass the institution… You members of the press are key partners in the fight against corruption and in the future, we would urge you to avoid publishing alarming statements without verifying the same,” Mwenye expressed his disappointment.

Concluding his statement, Mwenye reiterated that the ACC, like any other government institution, is open to accountability and warranted criticism. However, he emphasized that such criticism must be based on facts rather than innuendo. He acknowledged the aggressive nature of corruption and called on everyone not to succumb to the machinations of those seeking to weaken the ACC and its efforts to combat corruption.

“We will not address the document that is circulating on social media but suffice to say that it contains a lot of inaccuracies and details that appear tailored to deliberately embarrass the institution… Ladies and gentlemen, corruption fights back and it does so viciously and we must not give in to the machinations of those who wish to weaken the Anti-Corruption Commission and the fight against corruption,” Mwenye concluded emphatically.

Thabo Kawana have expressed his confidence in the ongoing efforts to restore the country’s economy, which was previously labeled as a junk economy. Mr Kawana, the Ministry of Information and Media Director Spokesperson, highlighted the significant progress made by the New Dawn Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.

Speaking on Muvi TV’s Assignment Programme called “Zambians Scorecard of the UPND,” Mr. Kawana emphasized the positive growth and the international community’s renewed faith in Zambia. He stated, “With the coming in of the New Dawn Government, we have started registering positive growth and the international community has opened up to us.”

Mr. Kawana attributed this positive change to the deliberate measures implemented by President Hichilema and his administration. He remarked, “We are now living within our means so that the generation that comes after us does not find a huge mountain of debt as we found ourselves.” The government is committed to rectifying the previous administration’s unsustainable spending practices, ensuring a better economic future for Zambia.

Assessing the promises made by the UPND while in opposition, Mr. Kawana commended the government’s achievements. He stated, “On the checklist of promises made by the UPND while in opposition, the scorecard is impressing.” He highlighted the fulfillment of various commitments, including the provision of free education, the payment of pension benefits to retirees, the partial withdrawal of pension funds, and the payment of allowances to military personnel serving in United Nations Peacekeeping operations.

In an exciting development for healthcare in Zambia, Mr. Kawana revealed that Ndola is set to have its own Cancer disease hospital. He announced, “The Ministry of Health with cooperating partners have signed a contract to put up an ultra-modern Cancer disease hospital in Ndola and is expected to be completed in the next twelve months.” This new facility will supplement the existing Cancer disease hospital in Lusaka, ensuring improved access to specialized care for patients in different parts of the country.

Furthermore, Mr. Kawana disclosed that funds have been released from the Treasury to procure new machines and rehabilitate the old ones at the Cancer disease hospital in Lusaka. He assured citizens, saying, “Issues surrounding the operations of the facility will soon be a thing of the past.” The government is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare system, striving to provide quality healthcare services for all Zambians.

Expressing gratitude to the Zambian people, Mr. Kawana stated, “The New Dawn Government is indebted to the Zambian people who gave it the mandate to preside over the affairs of the country.” The government remains committed to fulfilling its promises, restoring the economy, and improving the lives of its citizens.

Services Chiefs and Defense security today presented presents to President Hakainde Hichilema as he celebrated his 61 birthday today at Community house today in Lusaka.

And in receiving the presents, President Hichilema called for unity in the country and support to the government during the debt restructuring process.

Mr Hichilema encouraged the general citizens to support the government in the debt restructuring process as it was a key agenda for economic development.

The President who was surprised by the birthday gesture assured that once the debt restructuring process is closed the country will have many open opportunities for social and economic development.

Mr Hichilema also encouraged the defence wing to work together in unity and appreciate the team work spirit.

“We are truly humbled by the pleasant birthday surprise. We were not expecting you on a Sunday. We are grateful for your thoughtfulness, we are challenged as a country in so many areas and the key agenda is the debt restructuring process which needs us to stand together as a nation and close the deal for the economic development of the country,” he said.

In a display of statesmanship and political camaraderie, former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has extended warm birthday wishes to President Hakainde Hichilema as he celebrated his 61st birthday. The gesture highlights the spirit of unity and goodwill between the two leaders, transcending political differences and fostering a sense of national unity in Zambia.

Former President Edgar Lungu’s birthday message to President Hakainde Hichilema goes beyond the realms of politics. It exemplifies a mature and constructive approach to political transition, demonstrating that despite being on opposing sides of the political spectrum, leaders can rise above personal and ideological differences to prioritize the interests of the nation and its citizens.

The public display of camaraderie between Lungu and Hichilema has the potential to bridge political divides and foster a spirit of national unity. In a country where political tensions have often strained societal cohesion, this gesture sends a powerful message that politics should not overshadow the larger objective of working together for the betterment of Zambia. It is an encouragement for citizens to prioritize common goals over political differences and engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation.

Hon Sunday Chanda, the Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya Constituency, has emphasized the crucial role played by the Church in the nation’s development and called for constructive engagement between the Church and the government. In a thought-provoking statement, Hon Sunday Chanda highlighted the historical significance of the Church in Zambia’s journey towards peace, democracy, and social justice.

Zambia’s status as a Christian nation has fostered an environment where faith in God plays a central role in the aspirations of its people. The Church, as a result, is expected to actively contribute to the spiritual, political, socio-economic, and cultural aspects of the nation. Over the years, the Church has been an active participant in various significant moments, such as the liberation struggle, democratization efforts, and the fight against social injustices.

“Religion in general, and in this particular context, the church in Zambia, is expected to play an active and not a passive role in the life of the nation — spiritually, politically, socioeconomically, and culturally,” stated Hon Sunday Chanda. “The history of our great nation bears witness that the church has consistently played both an active and catalytic role at different stages in our nation’s journey.”

Recognizing the importance of peace and stability, Hon Sunday Chanda asserts that the Church is a key cornerstone in Zambia’s collective pursuit of genuine nation-building and development. “Since peace and tranquility are chief cornerstones in any nation’s aspirations to achieve appreciable levels of socioeconomic development and national stability, the gatekeepers of this peace, unity, and tranquility such as the church inevitably become chief cornerstones in our collective pursuits for genuine nation building and development,” he explained.

While the Church operates within a broader societal context, it holds multidimensional responsibilities and interrelationships with various formal and informal structures and institutions. Hon Sunday Chanda believes that the Church should make unbiased contributions towards improving the well-being of the masses in collaboration with government and non-governmental structures.

“The church has multidimensional responsibilities and interrelationships with all these formal and informal structures and institutions in our great Republic nation,” noted Hon Sunday Chanda. “Among these multidimensional responsibilities and interrelationships that the church has is making meaningful and unbiased contributions towards improving the spiritual, political, socioeconomic, and cultural well-being of the masses.”

Citing scripture, Hon Sunday Chanda highlights the role of the Church in actively participating in improving social and economic conditions within society. “The Holy Bible tells us that ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world’ (James 1:27),” he stated. “This scripture goes beyond the exclusive literal care for widows and orphans alone but includes all those in destitution by using various means such as offering spiritual and material solutions to the need or being their voice on certain issues at higher levels.”

Hon Sunday Chanda emphasizes that the Church’s message of social justice is at the core of the Christian faith. “The message and voice of the Church cannot be quenched, no matter the circumstances or changing times, because it is ordained by God Almighty,” he expressed. “Defending the weak and the fatherless, upholding the cause of the poor and the oppressed, and seeking justice are all fundamental aspects of the Church’s role.”

Expressing concern over recent tensions between the Church, particularly the Catholic Church, and the government, Hon Sunday Chanda calls for constructive engagement. He urges the government to embrace healthy debate and constructive criticism as essential measures of good governance and national development. Drawing from historical experiences, he emphasizes that conflicts between the Church and the government have often resulted in the Church emerging victorious.

“It is in this regard that the recent stand-off between the Church, in particular the Catholic Church, and Government, has been a source of great concern for all well-meaning Zambian citizens,” Hon Sunday Chanda shared. “We, therefore, pray for the current government to reconsider their relationship with the Church in general, for the well-being of the nation.”

In conclusion, Hon Sunday Chanda applauds the Catholic Church for its significant contributions to the development of Kanchibiya Constituency and beyond. He recognizes the Church’s efforts in establishing healthcare facilities, schools, and projects that promote social justice. He calls for genuine engagement between the government and the Church as they collectively tackle the complex developmental challenges faced by Zambia.