OPERATION Young Vote (OYV) has questioned the investigative wing’s decision to grant an amnesty to faith Musonda after she surrendered the K 65.3 million, US$57,900 cash which was found in her New Kasama house.
OYV executive director Guess Nyirenda wondered why the investigative wings could not pursue the matter to the latter, to enable citizens know the source of money which was found in Ms. Musonda’s possession.
Mr. Nyirenda said OYV was concerned with the decision made by investigative wings to entirely go along with Section 80 (3)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act and forgo other pieces of legislation and laws in the country pertaining to crime that include theft.
“Whereas the ACC has chosen to be restricted by Section 80 (3)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the other investigative wings must jump on the case using the Penal Code and other laws especially that Ms. Musonda has failed to justify ownership of the K65 million, US$57,000.00 and a house in New Kasama,” he said.
Mr. Nyirenda said he suspected that politics were at play in the whole Faith episode adding that from the outset it was clear that she failed to justify the ownership of the money and asserts in question that the State through the investigative wings had already ceased.
He said unless Ms. Musonda voluntarily went to the investigative wings as a result of her conscious, citizens had every right to speculate that there could be more money hidden elsewhere by either herself or her accomplices.
Mr. Nyirenda said while he appreciated the dictates of above cited law, he was of the considered view that this law only binds the ACC and not the other investigative wings such as the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) among others.
He further demanded to know what criteria was used to arrive at the conclusion that what Ms. Musonda was made to surrender was all that she got and has in possession including what she may know as being possessed by others in her circles.
Mr. Nyirenda said he was of the conviction that had the patriotic gallant Zambian not reported the matter, Ms. Musonda would have remained mute with the money at the expense of the suffering majority.
On Friday last week, the state took possession of the K 65.3 million, US$57,900 cash and a K 6 million worth new Kasama house in which the money was found following the conclusion of investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission, Zambia Police Service and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
