The Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities in Africa (AACAA) has elected Zambia Anti-Corruption Commission acting director general Kapetwa Phiri as vice-president for its board.

And Transparency International Zambia says the feat demands enhanced professionalism and accountability from the ACC.

“Transparency International Zambia would like to extend its hearty congratulations to the Anti – Corruption Commission as an institution and the Acting Director General Mr. Kapetwa Phiri for being elected to serve as Vice President on the board AACAA. This is no small feat for the commission. The ACC and agencies in the African region have shown confidence in the Zambian ACC to the effect that they have chosen them to represent the other commissions and agencies on the board,” stated TIZ acting executive director Wesley Chibamba.

“We believe that the confidence exhibited by the African Anti-Corruption Commissions in the Zambian ACC is in good faith and requires everyone’s support. The appointment of the ACC to serve as vice president on the board of the Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities in Africa (AACAA) means that Zambia now sits at a very strategic position to influence Anti-Corruption policy in the region. More than that, it puts Zambia in a very unique position to learn and share best practices with other African countries in the fight against corruption.”

He urged the ACC to take advantage of this opportunity and remain steadfast in fighting graft.

“We are alive to the fact that the ACC has continued to make positive strides in the fight against corruption but there still remains room for a lot of improvement for them to be truly effective and win the full confidence of the Zambian people. We would like to urge them to be swift but thorough in their investigations, impartial in the execution of their duties, to investigate and prosecute even serving public office bearers,” said Chibamba.

“We further encourage the ACC to be reasonably communicative with regards to what they are doing on a number of corruption allegations including on issues stemming out of the Auditor General’s report.”