Maravi

‘Kayukwa has destroyed ACC'

‘Kayukwa has destroyed ACC'
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 15 Sep. 2011, 13:55 CAT

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) yesterday said ACC's director general Lt Col Godfrey Kayukwa's conduct over UPG's bribery has destroyed the institution's reputation. And TIZ called for Kayukwa's immediate resignation for causing irreparable damage to ACC's image and credibility.

Commenting on revelations by The Post last Monday that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has been investigating UPG, the South African company contracted by the ECZ to print ballot papers for next week's election, contrary to Kayukwa's earlier pronouncements that ACC was not investigating any of ECZ's suppliers, TIZ president Reuben Lifuka said Kayukwa's behaviour was disappointing.

"Transparency International Zambi finds the latest revelations regarding the conduct of the Anti Corruption Commission and in particular the Director General Col Godfrey Kayukwa in the handling of the allegations of impropriety by UPG, as not only unfortunate but damaging to the reputation of the institution," Lifuka said.

"It is evident from the information provided thus far that the Director General was economical with the truth when he publicly declared that at no time did ACC investigate a matter connected with ECZ and/or any of its suppliers.

"This is in direct conflict with the statement recorded by the ACC from Mr Edward Ndota on 17th January, 2008 at the ACC House in Lusaka from 15:45 hours to 18:25 hours. The truth is that ACC has been investigating issues surrounding UPG for a long time and it was irresponsibility on the part of the Commission to lie to the public. This conduct by the Director General is not only undesirable but draws reputational risks to the ACC. The fight against corruption, already suffers from credibility due to the manner that ACC has conducted itself, and this latest episode simply compounds matters even further."

Lifuka wondered why Kayukwa found it convenient to intentionally mislead the nation about a matter that ACC had under its conduct. He said such behaviour could only exist where there were other interests to serve other than public interests.

Lifuka said TIZ stood by its earlier position that the allegations surrounding UPG were serious and required a timely and pragmatic response.

"We find some of the arguments for not taking action against these allegations incredulous, if not shortsighted. It is disingenuous for anyone to state that UPG is transparent simply because they have been able to deliver quality products," Lifuka said.

"It is wrong to assume without any investigation that UPG is not capable of unethical conduct which includes bribery, simply on account of the company having been the printer of ballot papers for Zambia for the last couple of years. It will be myopic for anyone to assume that only companies that deliver poor services are liable to engage in corrupt activities. It is public knowledge that in the last couple of years, world-renowned multi-national corporations like Samsung and Siemens, have had allegations of bribery leveled against them. Authorities in different jurisdictions have not shied away from investigating these entities simply because they deliver quality goods and services. Similarly, these companies have had to deal with these allegations head on and they have not sought to clothe themselves with any form of immunity from investigation and prosecution on the grounds that they are handling sensitive public procurements."

Lifuka said UPG should therefore be investigated in full and its corruption brought to the fore.

He expressed disappointment that the ACC had been passionate about defending clear-cut corruption.

"UPG should not be sanitised and absolved from investigation simply because they are engaged in an important process of printing ballot papers for Zambia. UPG should be investigated in much the same way that ACC investigates any local company that supplies goods and services to Government. Failure to do so, will simply build impunity and disorder. What will give ACC the moral right to pursue any local company alleged to have bribed public officials, when it is failing to do so for UPG?" Lifuka asked.

"Again, we wish to state that the simple passage of time, will not erase these allegations and ACC should do what is publicly expected of them and investigate these allegations. As TIZ, we are disappointed to note that from the foregoing that Col. Kayukwa has been too defensive and too passionate about supporting the very wrongdoing that his institution is mandated by law to address. ACC requires leadership that is non-partisan, committed and dedicated to public service. Unfortunately, we fear ACC is rapidly losing credibility and the dire consequences of a weak anti-corruption body, are too ghastly to contemplate. We are aware that there are several other cases which ACC is not acting on for reasons that defy logic."

Lifuka said TIZ felt let down by the ACC's conduct and called for Kayukwa's resignation.

"As anti-corruption activists and practitioners, we feel let down by these acts of commission and omission and we are left with no other choice but to demand the immediate resignation of Col Kayukwa as Director General of the ACC. We are of the strong opinion that unless immediate action is taken to salvage the image of ACC, the admirable and diligent work of many gallant ACC officers, who have loyally served this country, will come to nothing and they will stand discredited for the failings of their superiors," said Lifuka.

"We want to urge the ACC Commissioners to equally do their own due diligence before defending and giving legitimacy to wrong actions of their management and staff. It is a pity that the ACC chairperson judge Timothy Kabalata joined the fray to simply parrot the same misleading statement from their Director General. ACC Commissioners should endeavour to embark on a process to rebuild the tattered image of the Commission."

Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, GODFREY KAYUKWA, REUBEN LIFUKA, TIZ

posted by MrK @ 6:01 PM