Sun, 17 Sep 2017 09:53:18 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE Police and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) should follow the trail and bring to an end the escalating levels of Kwacha counterfeit notes in circulation, says Movement for National Transformation (MNT)president Daniel Shimunza.
Mr Shimunza said that the national currency has been counterfeited so extensively that it was cardinal for the law enforcement agencies to take preventive measures to suppress counterfeiting.
He urged the Police and DEC to curtail counterfeit money floated in the circulation and protect the unsuspecting public from being victims.
His comment came in wake of the revelation by DEC on Wednesday that five people and a Zambia Army non-commissioned officer were arrested for possessing K500, 000 fake bank notes.
In a statement on Wednesday, DEC public relations officer, Theresa Katongo disclosed that a Zambia Army officer was found in possession of K400, 000, while five others were arrested for being found in possession of K100, 000 counterfeit notes.
Mr. Shimunza charged that it was disappointing to note that the law enforcement agencies have substantially failed to curtail counterfeiting.
He stated that if counterfeiting was not curtailed, it would pose a great danger to the nation’s economy and bring about financial loss to the citizens.
The MNT leader also urged the police and DEC to be pragmatic.
He appealed to businesses and the public to observe bank notes carefully when involved in cash transactions or receive cash from other persons to avoid being arrested for crimes they did not commit.
