——The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has welcomed the move by the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe PF Mongu Central Member of Parliament and North Western Provincial Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.
NAREP Youth League Secretary General Bwalya Nondo said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka this evening that if the minister is found wanting the law must take its full course.
He however cautioned the ACC not to be selective when handling corruption cases involving government officials.
“We don’t know how far the Anti-Corruption Commission has gone in probing Honourable Kambwili concerning the advert that was published in the Daily Mail a few months ago congratulating him for the degree he obtained at Copperstone University”, said Mr Nondo.
Mr Nondo recalled that in the recent past ministers alleged to be involved in corruption activities were fired before the investigations were launched.
However, he wondered why Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili has not been suspended following the adverts that were published in the Daily Mail a few months ago congratulating him for the degree he obtained at Copperstone University.
“The minister involved was not suspended while others in the past were fired even before the investigations could take place”, he said.
He alleged that the PF government is using the Anti-Corruption Commission to intimidate those that have fallen out of favour with the party and those with a different view from them.
Mr Nondo said the general public wonders as to how independent the Anti-Corruption Commission is because of its selected investigations.
“There have been so many ministers who have been accused of being involved in corrupt practices but the Anti-Corruption Commission has not moved in to probe them. Some ministers have been probed but nothing positive has come out. Stop hoodwinking Zambians, we want see results not political gymnastics”, Mr Nondo observed.
He has since appealed to ACC not to be impartial in the way it functions adding that whoever is involved in corruption must be dealt with regardless of their political belonging.
“We call on His Excellency, President Michael Sata to immediately suspend the honourable minister in question and pave way for proper investigations because there is no way we can have a minister who is being probed for corruption in office. We also urge the general public to report anyone involved in corruption”, he noted.