The Case Of Dr Chilufya
Since the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed that they are investigating Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya in relation to alleged possession of property reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime there have been a growing number of calls for the minister to step aside.
While State House says “there is no law compelling Lungu to fire a corruption accused minister,” a number of opposition and civil society figures have been quick to point out the problems inherent in such as response.
Addressing the matter the United Party for National Development (UPND) has stated that while it recognises that everyone is ‘innocent until proven guilty’, there is a problem with Dr Chilufya continuing to hold a ministerial portfolio in light of the allegations he faces.
“The reason why influential people under investigations are supposed to leave office is to create an enabling environment for investigations to take place. Some people wield a lot of power and influence which can be used to interfere with witnesses or instil fear in investigation officers,” the party explains.
“We feel that Mr Lungu is setting a very bad precedence by shielding people accused of corruption such as Dr Chilufya who command a lot of influence as a minister, as the move hampers the country’s strides in the fight against corruption,” they continued.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party President Harry Kalaba has stated that it could be in the minister’s own interest to resign.
“If Chitalu Chilufya remains as the health minister and yet he is being probed by the ACC, even when he will be exonerated, and maybe rightly so, people will not believe that Chitalu Chilufya has been exonerated. We have seen this before where some minister was exonerated by the courts of law, but people still consider that particular person as being corrupt,” Kalaba explained.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has called for the minister to stand aside while investigations continue.
“Dr. Chilufya presently plays a sensitive role in the multisectoral response to Covid-19 and such allegations will be an unnecessary distraction. We know that in the recent past, President Lungu, for reasons he alone can explain has failed to act against Ministers facing such allegations, but we still call on him to ask Hon Dr Chitalu to step aside in order to facilitate a smooth investigation into his case,” TI-Z President Rueben Lifuka has stated.
Lifuka noted that such a move would be “in conformity with standard practice where public servants that are being investigated have stepped aside to allow for investigations to be carried out independently and without any potential undue influence.”
“It has always been our considered view that the ACC is given the independence and latitude to discharge its mandate professionally and therefore this decision needs the support of all Zambians. This is just the first steps in the process and we are cautiously optimistic that the ACC has done its work and ready to move to the next stage and hopefully bring this matter before the courts of law at the earliest opportunity,” he stated.
The ACC last month confirmed that they have conducted interviews with Dr. Chilufya and recorded a warn and caution statement. According to News Diggers sources the ACC could also be investigating the Minister’s connections to a single sourced government contract awarded to Lilypeck International of Dubai by the Ministry of Health.