Search starts for new ACB chief
Finally, Ministry of Justice has started the search for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general almost three months after former head Martha Chizuma’s contract expired.
The ministry has put up newspaper advertisements stating that the position requires a person of “high integrity, independence, boldness, professionalism, strategic leadership, and managerial skills” and that it is “very demanding” job.
The advert further said the director general will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and overall management of the ACB while “ensuring effective implementation of the Corrupt Practices Act [CPA]”.
It also said applicants for the job should have a master’s degree in law, finance, accounting, auditing, business administration, social sciences or any other relevant field.
Reads the advertisement: “A minimum of 10 years post-qualification work experience in a reputable organisation, of which at least five must be in a senior management position. Work experience in a law enforcement agency may be an added advantage.
“Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field with 15 years’ work experience will be considered.”
Following Chizuma’s departure, her deputy Hillary Chilomba took over in an acting capacity in line with the CPA provisions. Under the law, he can only act for six months.
Under the amended CPA, the appointment of the ACB chief involves a rigorous process that includes the call for applications, shortlisting of successful candidates and face-to-face interviews with an-all inclusive panel which include representatives from civil society, media, private sector and traditional leaders.
Names of three top candidates are forwarded to the President from which one is appointed to face the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament for another round of interviews before confirmation.
The arrangement is a departure from the past where the President made the appointment without interviews.
When Chizuma was hired in 2021, there were 37 candidates and 10 were shortlisted for interviews.
Reacting to the development, governance analyst Boniface Chibwana called for transparency in the recruitment, warning that political interference would compromise the office bearer.
“The performance of the new ACB director will largely reflect on how the recruitment process has been conducted. If the process will be highly political then the probability of the new ACB director to be compromised is high,” he said in a response to our questionnaire.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace national coordinator further said people with good standing and qualifications should be given a chance to compete for the job regardless of political inclination.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Peter Dimba said they are pleased that the process has started as the acting director is supposed to be in charge for only six months.
In a response to our questionnaire yesterday, he said they expect the next director to be competent and courageous.
Said Dimba: “Considering that one of the pillars of our Government still remains ending corruption, it is our expectation that the in-coming ‘General’ in this difficult fight will be technically competent, mentally mature, courageous and full of wisdom and understanding.”
On his part, Moses Mkandawire, chairperson of the National Alliance Against Corruption, also called for a transparent and rational process whose outcome “must satisfy the common person who has always been the victim of bribe and corruption”.
