Anti-Corruption Commission intensifies digital migration tender probe

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stepped up efforts to get to the bottom of the digital migration tender in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services that has since been scrapped on account of corruption.
This was confirmed by Mr Timothy Moono, the ACC spokesman, who added that the commission is “still collecting” data which will help to ascertain who might have abrogated the law.
Mr Moono said ACC has not started probing any individual because officers are still investigating the process and procedures under which the tender was awarded.
“The investigations in that matter commenced recently and we are following up issues and procedures so that we would know who abrogated which law and who was responsible,” Mr Moono said.
The ACC has, however, officially written to Cabinet Office that it is probing some top officials from MIBS regarding the tender, whose value ran above US$200 million.
The ACC has also warned and cautioned suspended Copperbelt police commissioner Mary Tembo for alleged corruption.
Ms Tembo is alleged to have received a motor vehicle from a mining company on the Copperbelt for her personal use without declaring it to her superiors.
“We have concluded the investigations into Mary Tembo’s case and we have already recorded a warn-and-caution statement. The matter is now with our legal department, which will analyse the evidence and give a legal opinion later,” Mr Moono said.
Mr Moono also said the commission will engage Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba to get more details on his statement that he has empirical evidence against some ministers who are allegedly involved in corrupt activities.
He also said that investigations into the cancellation of a contract to instal CCTV cameras at the Ministry of Home Affairs have reached an advanced stage.
Mr Moono said ACC wants to find out why the contract was terminated and if procedure was followed in awarding the contract.
He also said during the last quarter, the ACC received 496 reports of suspected cases of corruption, out of which 275 reports did not have elements of corruption.
Mr Moono said 221 reports contained features of corrupt practices and the commission instituted investigations in 138 cases.
“However, 83 reports did not have sufficient details for investigations to be instituted and they were consequently referred to relevant institutions for administrative action,” he said.
Mr Moono said the commission recorded 16 arrests countrywide during the last quarter and six convictions were secured, bringing the total number of convictions this year to 18.
He said an acquittal was recorded last year, bringing the total number of acquittals this year to five.