DPP drops all charges against ACB Director Chizuma

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Masauko Chamkakala, confirmed the decision in a recent interview.

Chamkakala stated that, as the DPP, he was appointed by the President to advance the Administration’s justice agenda in accordance with the rule of law.

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He added that removing impediments that stand in the way of institutions like the ACB is part of that agenda. After reviewing the case and consulting with the Attorney General, Chamkakala decided to discontinue the criminal case against Chizuma in line with the prescriptions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.

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“As DPP, I was appointed by the President to advance the Administration’s agenda for Justice in accordance with the rule of law, and His Excellency has always made it clear that part of that agenda is removing all impediments that stand in the path of institutions like the ACB.

“So, after reviewing the case and after consulting the Attorney General, I decided to discontinue the criminal case against Ms. Chizuma in line with the prescriptions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.”

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Chizuma was arrested on 6 December 2022 following a complaint by former DPP Steven Kayuni. Kayuni claimed that in a leaked audio, Chizuma described him as compromised and corrupt.

In January this year, Chizuma was summoned to appear in court to answer charges of making a speech that could prejudice a person against a party to judicial proceedings.

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She was also charged with making use of a speech that was calculated to lower the authority of a person before whom a judicial proceeding was being heard.

On 31 January 2023, Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba released a communique on the interdiction of the ACB Czar with immediate effect until all court cases against her are completed, a development which brought mixed reactions from the public including the donor community.