Hichilema says international networks activated to track down persons allegedly involved in ‘gold’ scandal

President Hakainde Hichilema has urged political opponents to desist from a political smear campaign aimed at bringing down his regime.

Hichilema also said his government had activated international networks to track down suspects in a ‘gold scam’ that has gripped the country.

He said during a media conference in Lusaka on Friday that while away in Angola he was following a smear political campaign by known politicians who said went to ‘town’ after the airport gold scam.

“I heard a lot of negative stuff when the incident occurred … this crime took part on the Zambian soil, crimes will always take place, the fact that we are fighting does not mean there will be no crime,” President Hichilema said.

He said when arrests were made there should be no reference the person involved hence rumour mongers should stop dragging everybody in the crime.

The President warned those seeking to do business in Zambia to avoid engaging in illegality, adding that the fact that his administration was busy attracting international investment did not mean condoning illegalities.

“Gold traders; no room, that space is not available and the public should stop giving social media credibility, the public are invited to play their part in the fight against corruption,” he said.

President Hichilema urged law enforcement agencies dealing in the fight against graft to come up with genuine and protected hotlines or platforms where the public could report corruption cases.

He noted that in the past the country lost values by accommodating negative vices, but that his administration would continue guarding against that.

Hichilema said the days were numbered for those fleeing the country after participating in the gold scandal, as his government had activated a global network to clamp down on them.

“We have invoked the global network of law enforcers, I was talked to my colleagues while in Angola and presidents are in agreements to invoke those networks, I am not afraid of anybody, if you are compromised, we will remove you,” he said.

Hichilema insisted his government would continue upholding the rule of law.

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