Zambia Anti-Graft Body Arrests Former Justice Minister

The Anti-Corruption Commission, Acc, in Zambia has charged and arrested the country’s former justice minister with allegedly five counts of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Given Lubinda appeared for questioning on Monday at the ACC offices in Lusaka, where he was formally arrested before being released on bail.

His lawyer, Jonas Zimba, confirmed Mr. Lubinda had been charged for allegedly owning a house in Lusaka’s upmarket Kingsland City and owning four different bank accounts.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lubinda denied the charges at a press briefing he held in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He labelled his “interrogation hypocritical.” He also downplayed events, saying there was “nothing new in the allegations as he had previously been summoned to answer similar charges.”

He said “he was happy the charges were proceeding to court so that he could prove his innocence.”

Though Zambia’s new government is pursuing an anti-corruption drive after winning general elections last year, they are yet to secure any major conviction of former government officials.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq