By NATION REPORTER
RESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has demonstrated sufficient zeal to fight corruption but it is worrying that he is the only one talking against the vice particularly that the 2022 Financial Intelligence Centre Report has revealed a significant increase in money laundering and other illicit financial transactions, economist Noel Nkoma has said.
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And Mr Nkoma has said that the fight
against corruption did not have instant results and benefits, stating that no
conviction had been secured since the UPND formed government despite many
suspects having been arraigned before the courts of law.
Meanwhile, Mr Nkoma has said money
laundering had become such a big issue in the global financial system because
it had the capacity to erode the integrity and credibility of the financial
sector in jurisidictions where it was being abetted.
Mr Nkoma says the fight against
corruption could be a lone battle if President Hichilema is not receiving the
necessary support from his Cabinet, the government itself and the law
enforcement agencies.
Commenting on the 2022 Financial
Intelligence Centre Report that has revealed a staggering K6.1 billion seepages
through illicit financial transactions, Mr Nkoma said it was generally worrying
that the corruption was not receding even after President Hichilema had
exhibited political will to wage a crusade against the vice.
“We should all be concerned that
corruption, money laundering and other vices are not showing signs of reducing.
They are instead increasing. President Hichilema has demonstrated sufficient
zeal to fight corruption but he is the only one talking and the rest of us are
quiet. As far as I know, the President is committed to fighting corruption but
the question is; is he alone. Is he getting the necessary support from his
Cabinet, the administration or the law enforcement agencies. Mind you, the
fight against corruption can be a lone fight. So, let us be very clear how we
apportion responsibilities,” Mr Nkoma said.
He stated that President Hichilema
had set a tone on the fight against corruption and that it was important that
his Cabinet and the law enforcement agencies should be singing from the same
hymn page.
Mr Nkoma said the 2022 FIC Report
had made worrying revelations because it was the expectation of Zambians crimes
such as money laundering should have started showing signs of reduction.
He stated that despite the new dawn
administration having shown serious resolve to fight corruption, vices such as
money laundering and illicit financial transactions had been on the increase.
Mr Nkoma however said some of the
cases being referred to by the FIC 2022 Report could have been carry-over
crimes from the previous administration.
“It will be interesting to see how
the law enforcement agencies will follow the revelations from the FIC 2022
Report. We will be interested to know what the Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the Police and other
investigative wings will come up with since they have been provided with the
information. But all in all, it is worrying and as a country, we should be
concerned that corruption is evidently not receding,” Mr Nkoma said.
Mr Nkoma however said the fight
against corruption did not have instant results, stating that since the
ascendance of the UPND into power, no conviction had been secured against those
who had been arraigned before the courts of law for graft.
He said the fight against corruption
should not only be an agenda for government but for all citizens because
government was but a small fraction of the country’s population.
And Mr Nkoma said money laundering
and other illicit financial transactions often rewarded wrong doers rather than
those who were engaged on honest and genuine businesses.
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