ANTI-Corruption Commission (ACC) Board Chairman, Musa Mwenya, has refuted allegations that the K65 Million forfeited from Ms Faith Musonda was misappropriated by the ACC.
The allegations had surfaced on social media and were later reported in the News Diggers Newspaper in their Monday publication.
At a press briefing, Mr Mwenya stated, “We have not received the document that is circulating on social media and have only had sight of it from social media and press reports. We are therefore not aware of its authenticity.”
According to Mr Mwenya, the investigation at the Ministry of Finance began in November 2020, long before his board was appointed. The two deputy auditor generals and the auditor general were arrested between 1st and 9th March 2023. The audit was initiated only after their arrest and subsequent interrogations.
In defending the ACC’s reputation, Mr Mwenya highlighted an instance of misinformation from the circulating document.
“At page 61 of the purported management letter, there is an allegation that K65 million forfeited from Ms Faith Musonda was misappropriated,” he said. “This is a blatant falsehood.”
The Chairman referred to a media briefing on 23rd February 2022, where the ACC handed a cheque for K65,333,046 over to the Minister of Finance. The money was moved from the ACC account at the Bank of Zambia to the Ministry of Finance on 3rd of March 2022, thus countering the claim of misappropriation.
Mr Mwenya voiced his disappointment with the media’s handling of unconfirmed information, stating that the press plays a crucial role in the fight against corruption. He urged for accuracy and verification in reporting, calling for a united front against corruption.
“Ladies and gentlemen, corruption fights back and it does so viciously, and we must not give in to the machinations of those who wish to weaken the Anti-Corruption Commission and the fight against corruption,” he said
