President Edgar Lungu has revealed that some of his ministers are involved in corrupt practices and have acquired huge wealth in a short period of time.
Speaking he swore-in five neminsters at State House this morning, Lungu expressed concern at the increasing cases of corruption that has beset the country and warned the newly sworn-in Ministers not to fall prey to corrupt activities.
The President was specifically concerned with reports he has received linking some Ministers to corrupt activities and warned that once found wanting, he would not hesitate to relieve them of their duties even before they are investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
President Lungu noted that corrupt activities were not just being committed at Ministerial level but even at lower levels of Government. He wondered how some people had amassed property rapidly at the expense of poor Zambians.
The President said it was appalling to see huge amounts of money being credited to some bank accounts regularly. He also warned against illegal allocation and acquisition of land using political influence and other illegal activities.
Meanwhile, the President has taken a swipe at the ACC for being inept because of their failure to prosecute corruption cases. He speculated that perhaps the ACC was used to a situation where they are directed on what to do and who to pursue.
“I will not use the ACC to fire anyone, but l expect them to operate efficiently and fairly,” he said.
President Lungu wondered why the ACC no longer availed reports to the Office of the President as was the case before, when they were so many corrupt activities which were being conducted with impunity.
The President also noted that it was difficult to act against some Constitution Office bearers on matters of corruption because they were bound by the Constitution.
President Lungu has appointed and sworn-in Matthew Nkhuwa as Minister of Works and Supply replacing Ronald Chitotela who has been transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development in the same capacity.
Others who have been appointed and sworn-in are Mpulungu MP Freedom Sikazwe as Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mpika Central MP Sylvia Chalikosa as Minister in the Office of the Vice-President, Matero MP Lloyd Mulenga Kaziya as Minister-Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection and Rev. Godfridah Nsenduluka Sumaila as Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs.