The Center for Trade Policy and Development has called for political will from government in fighting financial crimes cited in the Financial Intelligence Center report.
Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo said there is need for strong political will if Zambia is to address the growing problem of Corruption, Tax Evasion and Fraud.
Mr. Mwaipopo says in the absence of that, findings from the financial Intelligence Centre and the auditor General’s Report will remain as mere academic exercise gobbling tax payers money with no follow up actions.
He said CTPD remains deeply concerned with the growing trend of illicit financial flows and blatant suspected corruption in the public service as revealed in the latest Financial Trends Report by the Financial Intelligence Centre released on Friday 31st May 2019.
Mr. Mwaipopo said it is increasingly becoming clear that the levels of corruption in the country are going up instead of reducing so are the cases of tax evasion and money laundering and other financial crimes.
He said the latest FIC report revealed that suspicious transactions reported this year have increased to K6.1 Billion from 4.5 Billion reported in 2018.
Mr. Mwaipopo said it is evident that almost all the corruption has taken its toll on the country and must be addressed with the urgency that it deserves.
He noted that the economic implications of these illicit financial crimes are so damaging to countries, it results in many devastating outcomes such tax revenue losses, deprivation of citizen’s access to a decent life as well as underdevelopment.
“What is even more disappointing being that in the two consecutive reports, (2017 and 2018 it is the Politically Exposed Persons (PEPS) that have been cited as the main culprits in these financial related crimes using conduits such as law and audit firms. These are the people that Zambians have trusted with positions of authority to promote and protect public interest but alas they are now stealing from the people they are supposed to protect”, he observed.
Mr. Mwaipopo said this is a betrayal of the people’s trust which should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.
He said at a time when the country is in dire need of resources to resources to finance its developmental programs due to several fiscal challenges, such blatant abuse of resources should not be entertained.
Mr. Mwaipopo has since urged President Edgar Lungu with the support of all Law enforcement agencies not to take lightly the matters raised in the FIC report.
He said the President should prevail over the Law Enforcement Agencies to deal decisively with the suspected individuals perpetrating these crimes.
Its like asking monkeys to review the security of the maize farm as there is too much theft.
Its a noblw call, but ww all know thar the perpetrators are mostly in Mr. Lungu’s cabinet so…..
ACC are investigating teachers who steal chalk to use in their private tutorial weekend classes.
Sorry Isaac, your voice will not make any difference. That’s why you will not hear me comment on FIC issues. People have talked and talked and talked so what difference will my talking make?
Nemwine – PF and lazy one would only comment if British or German ambassadors raised the issue publicly..now they are just laughing at us.
So you think that being an admin at LT is making it in life? Stop blocking my posts. You fail to block use!ess rants from N.E.Z his girl/guy friend Mushota.
Get a life your low!ives at LT!
But why does the FIC wait until the money has been moved outside the country and hidden for them to act? Here in the UK or US any movement of huge money in excess of 20000 by bank transfer is closely monitored and sometimes, blocked until more details are clarified.
I will the FIC today to find out.
FIC reports must be investigated before prosecutions can commence.
Do you know what a Financial Trends Report is? This why this country has gone to the dogs …we have too many morons in high positions like Bowman who think like you …I mean how can you investigate a trend report its like saying my bank statement is not correct.
@Jay, iwe naiwe we do check bank statements for unauthorized cheques. What we don’t investigate are bankers who compile statements. Just to correct you, but agree, why investigate Financial Reports?
Nostra… we dont use cheques only HMRC Tax Office sends govt cheques if I have overpaid or owed.
Sit down and drink!!
Good call but will wait to see what remedial measures are taken
But you are still waiting for remedial measures to be taken for the last report in 2017..really laughable
Iam sure the FIC Report has NO proof since the President always requires evidence before he can ACT.
@Nkurenhuru
Keep on dreaming my friend!
Not a word from lungu…..
Safe to say lungu gets a cut from all those reported financial irregularities
Good call by Mr. Mwaipopo but this will be an exercise in futility I am afraid. For the measures called for by Mr. Mwaipopo to really take effect, the current crop of leadership would have to be completely overhauled and replaced with people of very high integrity. People who live by a very high moral code.
Other than that, not happening any time soon. The PF-led government has successfully managed to entrench a foundation of corruption and other vice in the fabric of our society. It seems it’s a code that they live by and will probably die by. A Faustian bargain, one may add.
Well said ……it looks like corruption is now part of the job discription for GRZ work.
From day one I have been telling people that the fact lungu does not deny that he is a corrupt thief is a recipe for a corrupt civil service, from top to bottom.
Well said Mwaipopo – but when the perpetrators are part of the regime, there will be no meaningful political will for action. This is where Civil Society needs to push robustly. This is where the citizenry have the right to demand answers through protest, especially that this state of affairs has gone on for too long. Who will organise, though? In addition, we have a country where MPs (supposed representatives of the people) are completely impotent.
Lungu has got that one covered, you need a police permit for any protest, for they will not give unless it is for a PF permit protest praising lungu…..if you protest with a permit, you get locked up.
Without a permit
Just attach death sentence to corruption charges if found guilty you will see how politicians will become saints.