Drug trafficking, money laundering

The CIA has labelled Zambia as the centre for money-laundering in the Southern African region, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commissioner Raphael Mungole said on Sunday. Addressing the fourth Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) commanders and senior officers' conference in Siavonga, southern Zambia, Mungole said the stalemate in enacting an anti-money laundering Bill and its withdrawal from parliament played into the hands of criminals, 'The Times of Zambia' reported.

"We need an anti-money-laundering law to help Zambia rebut the label," Mungole said. "While drug trafficking, drug abuse and its related money-laundering activities have emerged as a national problem for transparency and good governance, the challenge is really on the government and civil society to be seen to do something." He added: "The parliamentary and presidential elections coming in late November will pose a challenge because drug dealers and money-launders would be working to sponsor their associates to the political altar. This will undermine democracy and transparency in elections."