Be non-partisan, Financial Intelligence centre told

THE Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) must not allow itself to have political intercourse with the opposition by creating a fake impression that Government is out to suffocate it because it is allegedly exposing corrupt elements within its rank and file, the Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) has charged.

ZRP president Wright Musoma yesterday told the Daily Nation that he had observed with dismay, the allegations that had been levelled against Government over the running of the centre.

These ranged from reports that some of its officials were being targeted because they were exposing corrupt activities of some influential people in Government and allegations of suspension of funding.

Mr. Musoma said what was disheartening was that despite being a Government institution which was established by an Act of Parliament to receive, request, analyse and disseminate disclosure of information concerning suspected money laundering, terrorist financing and other serious offences to competent authorities for investigations, the centre was slowly drifting into a political hotbed aimed at ridiculing those in power.

He said if officials at the helm of the centre did not stop meddling in politics and disregarding their role, the Centre risked being a white elephant that will only exist to fight unnecessary political battles at the expense of the duty it was created for.

“We are not talking about a private institution here. We are talking about an institution created and funded by Government but we are disappointed when we see this antagonism with Government because it is not healthy. FIC risks being a useless institution if the people at the helm fail to differentiate between partisan politics and their role. Those who have political ambitions must leave the centre and pursue their interests.

“How many Government institutions have had their funding delayed and how many have rushed to the media? What makes FIC think that Government must make resources available for its running even when such are not there?

“What makes FIC think it is more important than any other institution to an extent that once Government delays in honouring its obligations on time, it must be because it is investigating some officials? This partisan way of dealing with issues must stop,” Mr. Musoma said.

Recently, some sections of the media reported that the centre was under siege from criminals who were trying to influence the shutdown of the institution so that they could freely conduct money-laundering activities.

Last week, some sections of the media again reported that the Ministry of Finance last month cut funding to the FIC leading to unpaid salaries for members of staff at the investigative wing.

Quoting impeccable anonymous sources at the centre, it was reported that the ministry had deliberately left out the FIC from its institutional expenditure for December 2017 but Ministry of Finance spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta rubbished the assertions saying in the 2017 national budget, Parliament had approved a total estimate of K30 million for the FIC of which 96 percent was released by end December, 2017.

Mr Kandeta said in the 2018 national budget, Parliament approved K31.5 million for the FIC, adding that last week alone, the Treasury released K2. 625 million to the centre.