Pastor Jonathan Mwanza

FAITH MUSONDA, A SMART CRIMINAL SAYS
MARTIN MUSHUMBA.

I have worked for the Anti-Corruption Commission, I have studied corruption, I have studied criminology, and I have published on corruption in Zambia and my theme in all these papers is that corruption among many ills tends to bend the dispensation of justice. Anyway, this is not about me, but Faith Musonda.

The State in September, 2021 took possession of 65 million kwacha cash and 57 thousand United States Dollars found at the house of Lusaka Journalist Faith Musonda. The State has also seized the property in Lusaka’s new Kasama valued at six million kwacha were the funds suspected to be proceeds of crime were found.

But today, the State through the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has announced that Faith Musonda will not be prosecuted and that she has surrendered all her property to the state. This undertaking not to institute criminal proceedings against Faith is backed by the law. It is provided for in Section 80 of the Anti- Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 that provides for amnesty as one of the avenues for settling corruption matters.

Nonetheless, amnesty is only tenable when the lawyers to the accused apply to the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking that it's granted to the client. Therefore, it is sought for by the accused through their lawyer.

Suffice to state that it comes with admission of all wrong doing and related information in the commission of the offence. One admits everything, gives every information and detail of the events relating to the wrongful act. The ACC based on the full information disclosed will decide to either grant amnesty or not. The ACC will only grant Amnesty to the person involved for the cases involving corruption or rather within the ACC Act. If there are other cases within or connected to that matter say murder, drug trafficking etc. the ACC will let the other appropriate law enforcement agencies to deal with those issues separately.

In this case, the lady Faith Musonda has admitted wrong doing! She has admitted being involved in an illicit activity that earned her K65million plus. Therefore, she is a criminal, a thief by her own admission. But she is a smooth criminal! Smartly, she has outwitted the Zambians that itched to see her jailed. she has paid back what she stole in exchange for her freedom. She has paid for her freedom using her stolen wealth- she is smart! A smooth criminal. But that's law for us.

However, with the amnesty granted to Faith Musonda, we must be discussing the following;
a) is what was recovered all what she stole or possessed?
b) has her account of the commission of the crime implicated others worth pursuing?
c) is the Amnesty a win-win situation to Faith, the State and the people of Zambia? Has just prevailed or it has been bent in her favour?
d) looking at the severity of her disclosure, is amnesty enough a deterrent to her and other would be offenders of the similar offense?

Even with all these questions explored, and expertly answered by many of you, the point to underscore is that Faith Musonda is a smooth criminal. She has admitted stealing that huge fortune that left many Zambians shocked but she will still freely be rubbing shoulders with all of you whilst receiving a heart warming consolation in the comfort of her lover's gentle hands. She is smart! Very smart!
© Zambian Whistleblower

About the Author:
Martin Mushumba
Is currently a PhD candidate in Development Policy and Governance at the University of Zambia. He also holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Development Studies (Specialised in International Public Policy Policy and Human Development). He holds another Masters degree in Public and Economic Policy. Besides, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Governance, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Demography and Economics.
He is Senior Programmes Accreditation Officer at the Higher Education Authority. Before that, he worked for the Anti- Corruption Commission where he served in various capacities.
His areas of interest are corruption, governance, international aid and quality assurance in higher education.