PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has with immediate effect appointed Silumesi Muchula to act as the Anti-Corruption Commission Director General for administrative convenience pending appointment of a substantive.
This follows the resignation of the substantive Director General Zacharia Phiri and the expiry of contract of the Deputy Director Rosemary Khuzwayo who previously served as acting director general for a long period.
Mr. Hichilema has also invoked Section 12 and the ACC Act number three of 2012 to avoid a vacuum in the leadership of the ACC.
According to a statement issued yesterday by Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya, the Head of State has with immediately effect also dissolved the ACC board and thanked the members for their service to the nation.
“Under the Anti- Corruption Commission Act number three of 2012 (the Act), the President is mandated to appoint the Director General of the ACC, who once appointed is required by the law to execute the mandate as head of the ACC independently and impartially,” the statement read in parts.
He said the ACC Act also empowered him to appoint and remove the ACC board whereas the board comprises independent non executive directors who played no role in the day to day operations of the commission.
Mr. Hichilema said the changes were aimed at ensuring smooth and efficient operations of the commission while the consultative process on strengthening it as a key oversight institution was on-going.
Mr. Hichilema has since thanked Mr. Phiri and Ms. Khuzwayo for their services and implored Mr. Muchula while in his acting capacity to serve diligently without fear or favor and in the interest of Zambian people.
