Activists have questioned the continued acting leadership of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Gabriel Chembezi arguing that his failure during recent interviews is a vote of no confidence.
Eight candidates—including Chembezi and retired Justice of Appeal Anthony Kamanga—were interviewed after being shortlisted from an initial pool of 50 applicants, they all failed.
The search continues to drag on, extending a leadership vacuum that began after former Director General Martha Chizuma’s contract expired in May 2024.
In an interview, Fryson Chodzi said although there may be nothing legally wrong with allowing the current acting Director General to continue in the position, it was appropriate for Chembezi to continue acting after also taking part in the interviews but failing to secure the substantive position.
He said the interview outcome could be viewed as a vote of no confidence in the acting Director General.
Citizen Alliance chairperson Baxton Nkhoma said, “if the recruitment process found that the current Acting Director General did not meet the threshold for the substantive position, on what basis is he considered suitable to continue leading the same institution in an acting capacity?”
Citizen Alliance stressed that its concern was not a personal attack on Chembezi, but an issue of institutional credibility, governance and public confidence.
The organisation acknowledged that Government has indicated that the continued acting appointment is legally permissible.
But Citizen Alliance said legality should not be the only consideration.
It argued that the ACB requires leadership that commands not only legal authority, but also professional credibility, institutional confidence and public trust.
