‘Give FIC teeth to bite,’ Chanda canvasses investigative, prosecutorial powers for whistleblower agency

Kanchibiya Constituency lawmaker, Sunday Chanda, has called for an amendment to Section 5 of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Act of 2010 to grant the agency investigative and prosecutorial powers.

Chanda believes that this change would elevate the FIC from a whistleblower role to a fully-fledged law enforcement agency capable of combating corruption more effectively.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, Chanda argued that empowering institutions like the FIC was crucial for Zambia to win the fight against corruption.

He stated the importance of providing these institutions with a stable and independent source of funding to prevent political interference.

“We must define and redefine clear and specific mandates for these institutions to combat corruption and ensure they have the necessary powers to investigate, prosecute and sanction corrupt activities,” Chanda stated.

He stressed the need to attract qualified and integrity-driven personnel to these institutions, ensuring they remained immune to political pressure.

He also called for granting these bodies autonomy to operate independently, free from political influence.

“We are calling for the enactment and enforcement of effective laws that provide strong legal frameworks for combating corruption. We shall support and bring motions to parliament in this regard,” Chanda said.

He also advocated for the establishment of robust oversight mechanisms to ensure institutions are accountable and transparent in their operations.

Chanda urged Zambians to take an active role in the fight against corruption, rather than leaving it solely to politicians.

By empowering institutions with the necessary “teeth to bite,” such as granting the FIC powers to investigate and prosecute, Chanda expressed believe Zambia can effectively combat corruption and promote a culture of accountability and transparency for the nation’s benefit.

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