Zambia's anti-graft watchdog records 5 electoral corruption cases

Zambia's anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday revealed that it has so far recorded five cases of suspected corruption in the run up to next month's general elections.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said the cases range from bribery during adoption of candidates in parliamentary local government elections, suspicion of how some candidates obtained their senior secondary school certificates and how some national identification documents were acquired.

Timothy Moono, the anti-graft body's public relations manager said investigations have been instituted in two cases while three other cases have been referred for administrative action by relevant government agencies.

"The Commission wishes to strongly advise political party players to respect the rule of law by desisting from vote buying or bribing electorates to influence them to vote in a certain pattern as well as giving gifts, loans or other material things as inducements or gratification to voters," he told reporters during second quarter media briefing.

The anti-graft watchdog has since urged members of the pubic to report suspected cases of electoral corruption in the run up to the August 11 polls, adding that any person found waning will be dealt with sternly.

The anti-graft watchdog, he said, will endeavor to monitor the campaigns.

The official added that the commission has been hold sensitization activities in collaboration with the Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) on the dangers of electoral corruption. Endit