Kabwe Central PF member of parliament Tutwa Ngulube says the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been the major contributor for voter apathy because it has not done much to sensitize the electorate.

And Ngulube says the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should not embarrass the country by making statements which suggest they are incompetent.

Meanwhile, Ngulube says his appointment as deputy PF parliamentary whip was not meant to silence him because he always speaks his mind.

Speaking when he featured on Live radio, Thursday, Ngulube blamed apathy in the just ended Katuba parliamentary by-elections on ECZ.

“The problem that we have with people not going to vote is ECZ. Electoral Commission of Zambia is supposed to sensitize the voters. Don’t just leave it for political parties. When you hear that there is a by-election, like Katuba, the constituency has over 45,000 voters and only 15,000 people voted. So it shows you that 30,000 people did not vote. Only 30 per cent people voted, and so where is the 70 per cent? It is up to ECZ to take it upon themselves and educate the people. So the Electoral Commission of Zambia must take it upon themselves and deal with the issue of voter apathy because you cannot forever be talking about apathy in this day and age where technology has grown and people have advanced in terms of communication,” Ngulubwe said.

And Ngulube advised ACC on how it could solve the 48 houses mystery.

“ACC can move in, issue a notice of seizure of land or properties suspected to be proceeds of crime and advertise that ‘we have seized 48 houses, we don’t know the owner, and we are giving you 90 days to come and claim these house. Failure to which, we will sell them.” if after 90 days the owner of those 48 houses does not show up, the Anti-Corruption Commission will grab those properties and make them properties of the state. That is the law. You see, you cannot fight corruption by saying that ‘we have failed to find the owner.’ Do you think the owner will be seated there outside the houses to say ‘anyone looking for the owner, it’s me here?’ And the owner of those houses might not even be aware that ACC is looking for him and that is why ACC must move in and issue seizure notices on those properties and advertise,” he said.

“What we are telling the Anti-Corruption Commission is that they should not embarrass this country. They can’t tell us that all those investigators at ACC have failed to find the owner.”

Meanwhile, when asked if appointing him as parliamentary deputy chief whip was a way of preventing him from attacking his party, Ngulube said he always spoke his mind.

“I don’t think I ever attacked my party. I have been speaking on behalf of the people of Kabwe Central and even before I became a member of parliament, I have been speaking my mind. I am a trained lawyer who knows that power of the voice. I cannot allow myself because of politics to burry my profession. When there is something correct, we speak and defend it and when there is something wrong, we condemn it. It has given me an opportunity of knowing how to work with people. It has also tested my leadership. And one thing I enjoy most is just to coordinate the business of the House, to coordinate with back benchers, with ministers and to communicate when the minister is not coming or is coming. It has added something to my CV. It has given me an opportunity of knowing the business of Parliament, it has given me an opportunity of interacting with the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly,” said Ngulube.