LUSAKA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu said on Thursday that he will only fire his minister arrested over corruption if the court finds him guilty.
On Tuesday, the Anti-Cprruption Commission (ACC) arrested Zambian Housing and Infrastructure Develpment Minister Ronald Chitotela, and charged him with two counts of concealing property believed to be proceeds of crime.
Stakeholders have called on Lungu to fire the minister in order to pave the way for smooth investigations and prosecution.
But Lungu said he will not succumb to pressure and fire his minister but will allow him to go through the due process of the law and prove his innocence.
At the City Airport in Lusaka, before his departure for the western part of the country, Lungu told reporters that as far as he was concerned the minister was still innocent until found guilty by the courts.
The Zambian leader, at the airport in the capital city, also said that he will not interfere in the work of investigation and security wings, adding that the agencies were free to arrest whoever they suspect of being corrupt.
Lungu said it was not his mandate to direct investigative wings on who to arrest but promised to provide resources to the agencies so that they conduct their work without any hindrances.
He however expressed concern that some people were politicizing the fight against corruption.
