DPP says Investigations of Zambian Airways should spread to other countries

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga has advised investigative wings probing the operations of the defunct Zambian Airways to extend their investigative sphere to other countries to avoid piecemeal conclusions.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the directive to extend the investigation to foreign countries, saying that it would ensure comprehensiveness in the investigation of the matter.

Inspector-General of Police, Francis Kabonde says officers from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning audit department has been called in to strengthen the team and would soon travel outside Zambia for investigations.

The combined investigating team handed to the DPP a preliminary report on the airline’s failure to remit about US$1,793,782 in passenger service charges.

Kabonde said June 15 that in order to avoid inconclusive findings, it was imperative that the investigations were not only restricted to Zambia but spread out to other countries where the airline had offices. The police chief said the investigation was complex but the probe team comprising officers from the police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had made headways.

Sources say the investigating team was pursuing the criminal charge of theft by agent against the airline’s directors, in contravention of Section 272 and 280 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. The team was also investigating how the Zambian Airways in 2007 secured a $5.5 million loan through a consortium of financial lending institutions, which consisted of Investrust Bank, Intermarket Banking Corporation and the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ).

Police have already recorded warn and caution statements from the directors of Zambian Airways in connection with the investigation into the operations of the airline.

TIZ president, Rueben Lifuka said the investigators and prosecutors should commit to doing a thorough job and thus enhance the chances of success of these cases in the courts of law.

Zambian Airways early this year suspended operations citing the high cost of aviation fuel and other operating costs for the decision.