Anti Corruption Bureau director, Martha Chizuma, continues to display lack of understanding of legal precepts within her mandate as ACB director. Since she assumed office in April last year Chizuma has been sending half-baked requests to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking consent to proceed with cases.
This exposes her level of incompetence as head at the graft-busting body contrary to how her name was projected at the time of her appointment. For nine months now she has failed to understand and interpret the legal framework within which she must execute her duties.
This publication has seen a request for consent from the ACB to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) which was denied for being incomplete and not following the right procedures.
In a response to Chizuma on January 14, 2022, Director of Public Prosecution Steven Kayuni faulted the ACB director for bringing to his office inconclusive material which cannot proceed for prosecution.
Chizuma had only submitted an Interim Investigation Report in seeking consent to arrest and prosecute Ashok Nair who is Zuneith Sattar’s agent, Director at the Ministry of Energy Cassius Chiwambo and others.
The DPP expressed shock at how incomplete Chizuma’s request was yet she has proceeded to treat it as her final submission.
“It is actually surprising to note that there are findings and recommendations on an interim investigation report. One wonders what will be the findings and recommendations on the completed investigations,” queried Kayuni.
As a remedy to her half-baked efforts, the DPP advised Chizuma to furnish his office with all relevant information if she wanted to be granted consent.
“We thus advise that either your good office furnishes us with a completed investigation report or as an alternative consider advising us with evidence,” wrote Kayuni.
The documents Kayuni was referring to include a complete Investigations Report, Legal Opinion, Proposed Charges and Consent form. According to him, these documents are crucial in independent analysis of the evidence and the law.
The DPP further advised the ACB director not to take granting of consent simply as an academic exercise or expect endorsements from his office on inadequate supplications.
Despite her celebrity status on social media, Chizuma has found the going tough in the courtroom mainly because of her legal unpreparedness.
Just few weeks ago the High Court released Ashok Nair from detention and among the reasons was the cutting corners by Chizuma in using evidence from foreign elements to arrest people without sanction from the Attorney General.