It is very unfortunate to note that, the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) is now a useless institution that is vulnerable to be captured by any sitting Prime Minister to target individuals instead of enforcing the law in the interest of justice.
The past week, we were investigating a plot to arrest Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala and, our interest in this matter as the independent media was the fact that, Acting ACC Maphevu Mkhatjwa was seeking to abuse his powers to investigate and arrest the Chief Justice so that, the King can then remove him on the basic that, his reputation has been tainted.
In all this, the name of Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, one of the most corrupt political thugs in this country, features prominently.
We know that, the CJ is not clean just like the Prime Minister, ACC Acting Commissioner Maphevu Mkhatjwa, ACC Chief Investigator Sipho Mthethwa and others but, we wouldn’t have allowed dangerous and alleged corrupt criminals to plot against the Chief Justice.
An investigation must be objective, fair and in the interest of justice not to push a political agenda against the individual suspected of wrongdoing.
In this regard, we received intelligence information suggesting that, Acting ACC Commissioner Maphevu Mkhatjwa, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini,ACC Chief Investigator Sipho Mthethwa and investigator Assistant Superintendent Sifiso Clement Khumalo were plotting to arrest the Chief Justice so that, he can be removed and thereafter, they will strengthen their corrupt and politically connected syndicate.
Even if we can call for an investigation against the CJ, allowing alleged political thugs to remove the Chief Justice defeats the whole purpose of fighting corruption because, their intention is to strengthen a political syndicate and continue to loot public resources.
In siSwati, there’s an adage “botsotsi abahhulani”, and without disregarding it’s real meaning, we cannot allow other alleged thugs to take the Chief Justice to the salon, claiming to be intending to cut him a nice hairstyle or rehabilitating him through a clear politically motivated investigation.
We have been exposing the Chief Justice on allegations of corruption and we will continue to hold him accountable as the Head of the Judiciary.
But as mentioned, we cannot allow other alleged political thugs to plot against the Chief Justice, the ACC was not established to be abused by individuals but to fight corruption while upholding the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
The investigation against the CJ was not independent,objective and in the interest of justice but, alleged corrupt thugs with a privilege to investigate corruption plotted against the Chief Justice and if we can allow this to happen to Maphalala, the alleged corrupt thugs within the ACC will target others.
Power must be exercised responsibly and be subject to accountability, the ACC Acting Commissioner must not target the Chief Justice just to protect his job because by so doing, he is already undermining the credibility of the investigation and the entire institution.
The CJ is facing serious allegations of corruption but, that does not mean we will allow other alleged corrupt opportunists to target him with a different agenda apart from that of fighting corruption.
This country is dominated by corrupt political thugs who think they will use the ACC against others, that institution is corrupt to the core, worse than what the CJ is accused of.
The CJ must be investigated objectively, he must account amid allegations of corruption just like Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, ACC Acting Commissioner and other investigators.
The basic principles of an investigation are very clear, an investigation must be independent, objective and seeks to gather facts to verify allegations of wrongdoing.
Therefore, a probe approached with a hidden political motive automatically defeats the principles of a fair and independent investigation.
Accusing the Chief Justice of corruption does not mean he is guilty, that’s why it is important for investigators to approach an investigation with an open mind.
But if the investigation has been commissioned by the Prime Minister or the ACC Acting Commissioner with a hidden motive, the whole process will not be fair, instead, it automatically becomes a smear campaign and we might therefore, be deprived answers with regards to the allegations of corruption against the Chief Justice.
But in conclusion, it is important to state that, the ACC is dominated by alleged corrupt thugs disguised as investigators, we need new credible investigators to investigate the rampant corruption in this country, those new investigators must also investigate the CJ and the Prime Minister.
But ACC Acting Commissioner Maphevu Mkhatjwa, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, ACC Chief Investigator Sipho Mthethwa and Assistant Superintendent Clement Sifiso Khumalo cannot investigate the Chief Justice because they have a different motive.
We may call for an investigation into the allegations of corruption against the Chief Justice but, that does not mean we will allow other alleged corrupt and dangerous political thugs to push their agenda, claiming to be investigating.
The ACC offices.