The Head of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Timothy Moono, has testified before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that President Hakainde Hichilema never instructed the commission to raid the residence of former President Edgar Lungu.
Moono refuted claims made by Patriotic Front (PF) faction Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, who alleged that President Hichilema directed law enforcement agencies, including the ACC, to raid Lungu’s residence as a means to divert public attention from the eligibility case before the Constitutional Court last year.
Nakacinda is currently on trial before Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili, facing charges of seditious practices.
During his testimony, Moono, 52, stated that on the night of September 26, 2024, as part of his duties, he reviewed social media content. He recalled coming across a video posted on the PF Facebook page in which Nakacinda alleged that the President had ordered the ACC, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), and the Zambia Police to raid Lungu’s residence in Chifwema to distract from the Constitutional Court case.
Nakacinda, in the video, called on PF members in Lusaka to gather at Lungu’s residence and confront law enforcement officials should they arrive.
Concerned by these claims, Moono contacted the then-Acting Director General of the ACC, who was out of the country at the time. She confirmed that no such raid had taken place and instructed Moono to issue a press release refuting the allegations. The statement, released the following morning, emphasized that the ACC operates autonomously and does not take directives from any external authority.
Days later, Moono was approached by an officer from the Zambia Police Service, requesting a statement regarding the video and the ACC’s response. He complied, meeting the officer at Force Headquarters, where he confirmed the authenticity of the video and reiterated that the allegations were false.
During cross-examination yesterday, Moono confirmed that he had worked at the ACC for 28 years and was familiar with the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012. Defense lawyer Nkula Botha argued that, under Section 17(2) of the Act, an ACC officer is prohibited from providing testimony in court regarding official functions. He requested the court to strike Moono’s testimony from the record, asserting that it was obtained improperly.
The prosecution requested additional time to respond, and the court directed that submissions be filed before March 21. The ruling on the admissibility of Moono’s testimony is set for March 31.
