TIZ welcomes Aka's resignation

TIZ welcomes Aka's resignation
By Kelvin Tembo
Thursday September 25, 2008 [04:00]

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu has welcomed Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika’s resignation from Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), saying he was misleading other commissioners. And Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu said the resignation shows inconsistency on Aka’s part.

Commenting on Aka’s resignation as ACC commissioner yesterday, Lungu said Aka had compromised his position.

“We welcome his resignation and agree with the ACC chairperson justice Valentine Chileshe that his involvement in active politics created a conflict of interest which undermined the role of fighting corruption without fear, favour or political affiliation,” he said.

Lungu said TIZ would have demanded Aka’s removal from the ACC in an event that he did not resign because it was clear that he supported one particular political candidate in the forthcoming presidential election.

He said TIZ opposed the appointment of Aka as ACC commissioner because he was an active member of the ruling MMD and his resignation had vindicated them.

Lungu said TIZ respected Aka’s intellectual capacity and advised him to use it correctly so that he did not get entangled in the same situation again.

He further recommended that Aka resign as chairperson of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism if he was chosen on the basis of him being a commissioner of the ACC.

And Mulafulafu said although Aka’s decision to resign as ACC commissioner showed inconsistency on his part, it was a personal decision which should be respected.

He recalled that it was not long ago that Aka resigned from active politics and only resurfaced a few years later.

“It shows that he is not stable in deciding his political direction,” he said.

Mulafulafu also asked Aka to resign from the National Governing Council because the position was not supposed to be held by anyone in active politics.

Justice Chileshe on Tuesday announced that Aka had resigned from the ACC following his active involvement in politics.

Aka has endorsed the candidature of Vice-President Rupiah Banda for the forthcoming presidential elections.