The African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC) has given the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) a 24-hour ultimatum to update the nation on the matter and name the firm involved in the alleged corruption case against two Cabinet Ministers in Zambia. Engineer Charles Milupi, who is the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, and Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Minister of Finance, are reportedly being investigated for allegedly receiving $250,000 each from a named contractor as kickbacks.
Speaking during a Media Briefing in Lusaka, APNAC Secretary General Munir Zulu said he had information from impeccable sources that the two Ministers had been secretly appearing before the ACC, and that State House was aware of the investigations. Zulu questioned why the ACC was not updating the nation on the progress made, and tasked the commission to tell the nation why the matter they have been investigating for two weeks is not being availed to the public.
“If the ACC does not tell us where this money came from, we shall name the contractor who transferred $250,000 to each one’s account. We have the information. We are giving them a benefit of the doubt to tell the nation. Why is this information being guarded secretly? We have also received disturbing information that Engineer Mulchard Kuntawala allegedly transferred some money before he was appointed RDA Board Chairman through a bank transfer again to Hon Charles Milupi, and the ACC have been investigating the matter. We demand that the ACC must come out clear on Milupi and Musokotwane,” he said.
Hon Mulenga FUBE, an APNAC Member, demanded transparency from the ACC, stating that if the transfers occurred, it is grand corruption meant to benefit the individuals who received the money. He called on the ACC to issue a statement within 24 hours, saying that the two ministers under probe are holding two sensitive positions and control the resources of the nation. “As APNAC, we are just doing our oversight role on the Executive. What we are doing is blowing the whistle, and in this case, the whistle is being blown in the direction that the ACC must issue a statement. They must issue a statement within 24 hours, this also includes Mr Kuntawala because it is presumed that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. As citizens, we have a right to demand that ACC up their game. Let them use the same measure they use on suspected proceeds of crime. We are here talking about an exchange of cash. We demand transparency from ACC because it is a wing that we expect will expose abuse of public office,” he said.
The allegations have raised concerns about corruption in Zambia’s government. The APNAC’s ultimatum to the ACC underscores the growing demands for accountability and transparency in Zambia’s public institutions. Corruption is a significant issue in Zambia, and President Hakainde Hichilema has vowed to tackle it. The allegations against the two ministers come at a time when the government is trying to rebuild the country’s economy.
