UPDATE US ON GOLD SCANDAL, DEC TOLD 

By Arnel Chitundu

FOR the sake of accountability and transparency in corruption-related matters and promotion of freedom of information, it is key for authorities to provide detailed updates to the public on cases under investigations, Community Action Against Corruption (CAAC) has said.

In an interview, CAAC Chief Executive Officer Brighton Tembo said the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC’s) failure to release detailed reports on cases concerning the Gold Scandal was worrying.

He appealed to the DEC to release a detailed report concerning the Gold scandal saying the brief statement presented by its Director Nason Banda, explaining the release of the Aircraft which was embroiled in the Gold scandal, lacked substance.

“We expected the DEC Director to give a comprehensive statement on the release of the Bombardier Global Express Aircraft which was at the Centre of the Gold scandal and also give the details about the other locally registered Airline, King Air B190 plane because two planes were reportedly involved in the scam.

He emphasized the need to disclose which company or individual owned the Aircraft released by Consent Judgement of the Court adding that it was key to reveal who chartered the same plan and why Zambia was the destination.

He stated that according to the information released to the public, the Gold was fake but that the same report was silent on the firearms and ammunition found on the plane.

He demanded that DEC should state if at all any people had been charged for the crime of bringing firearms in the country illegally and further demanded to know whether the locally registered aircraft, the King Air B190, was released to the local owners and under which circumstances.

He said CAAC believed such information could not be considered as classified and had to be given to the Zambians.

He said DEC had more to tell the Zambians, than just directing them to go and get the details about the consent judgement, which facilitated the release of the Gold Scandal Aircraft at the Courts, and maintained that such a directive by DEC lacked respect for Zambians and it was a show of arrogance.