The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in performing its functions, Head of Communications Timothy Moono has stated.
In a statement issued yesterday , Moono said the ACC sought to clarify this position “in the wake of misunderstandings by some members of the public on the operations of the Commission to the extent that the Commission’s autonomy is said to have been compromised due to the absence of the Board.”
He said contrary to that misunderstanding, the Commission’s autonomy is not dependent on the appointment of its Board of Commissioners but the enabling law provides for the ACC’s autonomy.
Moono explained that the Board of Commissioners is established as the Commission’s governing body to provide the policy and strategic direction. “Further, considering that members of the Board of Commissioners are non-executive members and meet quarterly or as may be required, the Board is not involved in the daily operations of the Commission.”
He said that function is vested in the office of the Director-General, who is assisted by the Deputy Director-General, the directors, and such other members of staff as the Director-General may appoint.
He stressed that contrary to the wrong assertions of compromised autonomy and operations, the Commission “has continued to discharge its mandate professionally and with the tenacity it deserves.”
Two months ago, President Hakainde Hichilema dissolved the entire Board of Commissioners of the ACC after it was embroiled in in-fighting amid revelations of corrupt practices and threatened attacks between the then Commissioner Dr. O’brien Kaaba and then Director-General Thom Shamakamba, who resigned his position forthwith.
Shamakamba and Kaaba are currently involved in legal action against each other, consequent to these events.
