. Chulu

By REBECCA  MUSHOTA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has appointed Esau Chulu as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Mr Justice Chulu is currently serving as a commissioner at ECZ and will replace Irene Mambilima, who held the position until she was appointed Chief Justice and ratified by Parliament earlier this year.
Mr Justice Chulu’s appointment is subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda announced the appointment yesterday.
President Lungu has also appointed Emily Sikazwe and David Matongo as commissioners of ECZ.
Ms Sikazwe will replace the late Minerva Tembo and Mr Matongo would fill the vacancy to be left by Justice Chulu.
“The two nominees are of high professional and personal integrity and I hope they will work towards enhancing the impeccable credentials of the Electoral Commission. Justice Chulu has distinguished himself very well during his current tenure as Commissioner and during his earlier career on the Bench,” the President said.
He said Ms Sikazwe was a distinguished gender and governance activist and a professional of high repute while Mr Matongo was a well-known business executive and former lawmaker.
The President said he was confident that Members of Parliament would support the nominees.
Other serving commissioners of the ECZ are Judge Christopher Mushabati and Dr Fredrick Ng’andu.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has re-appointed Professor Patrick Mvunga, as chairperson of the Judicial Complaints Authority (JCA), with Mr Justice Mushabati and Lusaka lawyer Mwangala Zaloumis to continue as members.
He has appointed the Judge Munyinda Imasiku and former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Nixon Banda as new members of the JCA.
The President has also reappointed members of the ACC board, namely; Timothy Kabalata as chairperson, Steven Moyo (vice-chairperson), Godfrida Sumaili, Mpanzi Sinyangwe, and Rollen Mukanda as commissioners.
The President reminded the commissioners that corruption is not only unacceptable but also a serious crime against development, whose consequences are borne more by the poor and vulnerable people.
He said the ACC should not be selective in how they handle cases.
“Bribes make basic services available only to those who are able to pay while huge corruption frauds are a cost to Government and undermine development,” the President said.
He said the ACC should deal effectively with corruption complaints, ensure greater transparency and accountability and provide services in local languages so as to encourage more people to engage with them.
Government would support the ACC including providing necessary legislation to consolidate the fight against corruption.