FRAMEWORK TO COMBAT FINANCIAL CRIMES, ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS ESTABLISHED

GOVERNMENT has established an Inter-Agency Coordination Framework tasked to come up with best practices in combating economic and financial crimes, illicit financial flows, and stolen asset recovery.

The Framework is being spearheaded by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, according to Felix Nkulukusa Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Nkulukusa acknowledged the negative impact of corruption on governance and economic development but emphasised the Zambian Government’s ongoing efforts to fight the vice for the benefit of the people.

He said this at the 14th Annual African, African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) Interdisciplinary Conference at James Madison University in Washington DC recently.

“To complement the Anti-Corruption Commission, an Inter-Agency Coordination Framework comprising 21 law enforcement and other competent authorities, was established on January 10, 2023.

“The Framework, spearheaded by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions operates based on existing domestic legal and institutional frameworks, institutional mandates, bilateral and multilateral agreements, recommending best practices in combating economic and financial crimes, illicit financial flows, and stolen asset recovery,” he said.

Mr Nkulukusa also observed that the contemporary global anti-corruption agenda has achieved a lot in terms of drawing attention to the problem.

He stated that Government had made huge strides in fighting corruption as evidenced by the various efforts and the enactment of legislation aimed at promoting transparency.

Mr Nkulukusa expressed confidence that the enactment of the Access to Information Act would help public and private bodies be held accountable by civil society, the media and the public at large hence reducing corruption.

“We enacted the Access to Information Act to provide for the right to access information from public and private bodies. With this law, public and private bodies will be held accountable by civil society, the media and the public at large hence reducing corruption as corrupt officers face higher risks of exposure,” he said.