“I know where this is coming from, I understand the timing,” Anti Corruption Bureau Director Martha Chizuma’s loaded statement can be confirmed as several senior key officials have been lined up for arrests within the next fortnight.
The Investigator can confirm that arrests of MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka and suspended President Lazarus Chakwera’s Chief of Staff Prince Kampondamgaga. Mkaka was being investigated in relation to having received two vehicles from British businessman Zuneth Sattar whilst Kapondamgaga was mentioned in the ACB report to the President of having recieved cash and vehicles.
“Expect the arrests this week or next. I am sure a request to appear at the ACB was already issued to them. The arrest on Tuesday was a reaction to the same to derail the process,” said our source.
The report names 83 Politicians, Military, Police, Public Services, Judiciary, media and civil society organisations as having benefitted from Zuneth Sattars generosity in exchange for public contracts.
“Senior Journalists from Nation, Times, MBC and other media houses were paid cash and materials to not write anything about Sattar. These too will be picked not this year, but likely early next year,” said the source.
Chizuma who was picked from her home at 4am and driven 48km away to Namitete is yet to speak publicly of the ordeal which has attracted condemnation from local and international stakeholders. President Chakwera was left with an egg in his face when he and his three ministers publicly admitted that they were not aware of Chizumas arrest.
Police said they acted following a complaint by Director of Public Prosecutions Steven Kayuni over a recording in January which was leaked saying it injured his reputation. However, the heavy handedness of the Police amidst 16 days of activism against gender based violence and with President Chakwera expected to attend an Anti Corruption Day event on Friday this week, cast shadows on the administration seriousness in the fight against corruption.
