• Chifungula

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

AUDITOR General (AG) Anna Chifungula has said joint efforts by her office and that of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) have the capacity of saving the country money being lost in the extractive industry.
Ms Chifungula said when signing the Memorandum of Understandings with the FIC and DEC in Lusaka yesterday that collaborative efforts by the three institutions could enhance speedy investigations and action which could save the country money from the extractive industry.
“The timely information exchange that will go on between FIC and us will assist our auditors in the specialised directorate especially those carrying out performance audits and forensic and investigations.
This information will filter through to DEC who have prosecution powers,” she said.
Ms Chifungula said currently, the AG’s office merely reconciles figures given to them by the mining companies and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) without interrogating the sources of the figures.
The FIC, on the other hand, could access the information and would help the auditors in the AG’s office look at the revenues in the extractive industry more.
Ms Chifungula said the MoU would help her office speed up investigations and increase prosecutions and thereby save the country money.
This would enable the country channel the funds to development.
DEC Commissioner Alita Mbahwe said the AG’s office had been instrumental in exposing money launders and the DEC had successfully investigated cases highlighted by the AG.
Ms Mbahwe said the MoU would reinforce the cooperation between the two institutions and expedite their investigations and prosecute individuals more successfully.
It was important that the institutions worked together to ensure that those found wanting did not enjoy proceeds of their criminal activities.
FIC director and Chief Executive Officer Mary Sikazwe said the MoU would help the country clean the economy.
Ms Sikazwe said the AG’s office had vital information that the FIC needed quickly to carry out successful investigations on suspicious transactions.