Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has fired the entire board of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) following allegations of corruption against them, which they deny.

This dramatic move comes shortly after ACC head Thom Shamakamba resigned, amid similar accusations against him and the country's solicitor-general, Marshal Muchende. Both men vehemently deny the allegations of taking kickbacks.

President Hichilema, who has been in power for three years, has been actively investigating officials from the previous government accused of corruption. The new allegations suggest that ACC officials accepted bribes from politicians under investigation in exchange for amnesty.

The whistleblower, O’Brien Kaaba, a former ACC board member, highlighted these issues, claiming that the ACC made legally dubious settlements that protected corrupt individuals from justice. He asserted that these "immunity deals," initially used under the former Patriotic Front government, are now being employed similarly under the current administration, indicating a lack of genuine commitment to fighting corruption.

Kaaba's revelations prompted President Hichilema to take decisive action. In a statement, the presidency explained that dissolving the board was necessary to "renew the Anti-Corruption Commission's sacred mandate." Kaaba has since been sued by Muchende for defamation, a legal step that other implicated figures may also consider.

The president's bold move has sparked widespread speculation, especially given the State House's involvement in announcing Shamakamba's resignation, raising questions about whether he was forced out.

The unfolding scandal underscores the urgent need for reform within the ACC, as allegations of widespread corruption threaten the credibility and effectiveness of Zambia's anti-corruption efforts.