ZYAFAC warns of ‘State Capture’

Governance Activist Maurice Malambo

The Zambia Youths in the Fight against Corruption (ZYAFAC) has warned of an emerging ‘State Capture’ in the country which it says if left unchecked, would lead to the collapse of vital institutions in the country.

The organization notes that the recent engagement between UPND and the Judicial Complaints Authority (JCA) in which a position was held to the effect that the Constitutional Court in regards to the presidential petition case filed by UPND didn’t exhaust the 14 days as prescribed in the Constitution of Zambia in hearing the matter.

ZYAFAC Executive Director Maurice Malambo tells QTV News that the engagement and the subsequent position by the JCA, although this engagement was of no legal consequence, however, was ultra vires the law.

Mr. Malambo says another classical example is the conduct by the Financial Intelligence Center which made the engagement with the public in its respect to captured intelligence information defying the law by which it was created and within which it ought to operate.

He says this reduced itself to operating like a pressure group or whistle blower, contrary to the scope of its legal mandate.

Mr. Malambo says if such matters are not kept in check can lead to the gradual collapse of institutions, the general degree of failure to observe the law and the net effect being what is referred to as a failed state.