ACK General Dealers proprietor Ackson Tembo has refuted an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) media statement that he had been arrested for corrupt practices involving Mukula.

On Tuesday, ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe Tembo had been arrested and was currently on bond pending court appearance.

But in an interview, Tembo said he was surprised when he heard that announcement because he did not get any correspondence from the Commission.

“I was not arrested; I am even surprised because I didn’t even go there and no one called me. So you should ask them where they arrested me from. I was at my office. What should I say? Should I start asking them, it is just to look at them. If they have anything, they will come to me but as far as I am concerned they never arrested me. Ask them, they are the ones that are reporting, they should have proof,” said Tembo.

On Tuesday, Chibwe said Tembo has been charged with two counts of Conveyancing of Forestry Produce without a License and one count of Unlawful Export of Mukula timber.

“The Commission in the same matter, has arrested Ackson Tembo, a Lusaka businessman for corrupt practices involving the export of Mukula logs without following laid down procedure. Ackson Tembo aged 39, and proprietor of ACK General Dealers, of plot number 7059 off Mumbwa road in Lusaka has been charged with two counts of Conveyancing of Forestry Produce without a License and one count of Unlawful Export of Mukula timber contrary to the Laws of Zambia,” said Chibwe.

“This is in connection to the matter in which the Commission in October last year, seized trucks hired by ACK General Dealers loaded with Mukula logs enroute to Namibia and Zimbabwe, with unknown final destinations. In the first count, Tembo has been charged with Conveyancing of a Forestry Produce without a Licence contrary to Section 89 as read with Section 99 of the Forestry Act number 4 of 2015. Details are that Tembo whilst acting together with persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1st July 2021 and 31st September, 2021 in Chirundu District did unlawfully convey 23 steel containers laden with pterocarpus chrysothrix also known as Mukula contrary to Section 99 of the Forestry Act number 4 of 2015.”