Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) say they expect the candidate that will be hired as director of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), will be independent, and will not shield anyone, by pursuing cases involving people in government and those in opposition.

National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA) Chairperson, Michael Kaiyatsa, has said this as the government is calling for applications on the post, which is vacant.

Apart from calling for transparency in the recruitment process, Kaiyatsa stressed that the alliance wants to see corruption cases against some officials of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are continuing, despite the party being in power.

"There are some many cases  right now in court, some of them involving even current cabinet ministers, government and party officials, it's important that some of those cases be pursued.

"ACB should not only target those in opposition, that's something that will undermine public trust in the institution, but we need ACB that will work independently," he said.

Kaiyatsa further said the alliance expects to see a reformed graft bursting body that will take people to court after concluding investigations, noting that previously the bureau was rushing in dragging people to court but failed to conclude the cases.

Meanwhile, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), Executive Director Willy Kambwandira, says the recruitment of ACB director has been long overdue. 

Kambwandira hinted that the hiring process should be expedited, arguing the current acting director, is limited in executing certain key functions.

"As it stands now, we have an acting director who is limited in decision making, because we know that there are certain decisions that an acting officer cannot make," he stressed.

ACB has faced leadership challenges since the expiry of term of office of it's former director, Martha Chizuma. The recruitment of her initial replacement Hilary Chilomba stalled following objections from the office of the Ombudsman.

The ACB was established by an act of Parliament, the Corrupt Practices Act of 1995, which came into effect in 1997.