By Isaac Salima:
The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has not come out clear on whether Prince Kapondamgaga will be reinstated as Chief of State Residences.
Last week, the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) cleared Kapondamgaga of corrupt allegations.
In July last year, President Lazarus Chakwera suspended Kapondamgaga for allegedly receiving bribes from renowned businessperson Zuneth Sattar.
Asked if the clearance means automatic reinstatement for Kapondamgaga, OPC Communications Director Robert Kalindiza only said: “As at now, the processes are not ready for sharing with the media.”
Presidential spokesperson Anthony Kasunda referred us back to OPC.
In the statement, the ACB said it had established that Kapondamgaga received a Mercedez Benz and other gifts from Sattar but that he would not face any criminal charge since he had signed a restitution agreement with the graft busting body and that he had returned the items which he obtained from the Britain-based businessperson.
Governance commentator Victor Chipofya said he sees nothing wrong with Kapondamgaga’s reinstatement.
“He can resume his duties because, by law, he is innocent but there is an issue of social trust,” Chipofya said.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said Kapondamgaga’s reinstatement would send a wrong message on the country’s fight against corruption.
“Any attempts to reinstate him would imply that the President is not fighting corruption but protecting relatives and friends,” Kambwandira said.
Kapondamgaga was suspended alongside the then chairperson for Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority John Suzi Banda in response to an ACB report that also implicated Vice President Saulos Chilima, former police inspector general George Kainja and others.
Chilima and Kainja’s cases are still in court.
