Fred M’memnbe
LINDA NYONDO & CAROLINE KALOMBE, Lusaka
POLICE have started investigations into a classified document leaked from the Ministry of Finance to the media. The document is on Zambia’s contraction of a US$192 million loan from China to improve state security.
And police have summoned Post Newspapers owner Fred M’membe and two of his reporters Kombe Mataka and Mukosha Funga for questioning at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police Station.
Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda confirmed this in an interview yesterday.
“We have asked them to come to Woodlands Police Station tomorrow [today],” Mrs Munganga-Chanda said.
She could not, however, disclose the reasons for summoning the trio but that the details would only be availed today.
Earlier in a separate interview, Mrs Munganga-Chanda said: “We have commenced investigations into the matter. All those that will be found wanting will be prosecuted according to the provisions of the law,’’ Mrs Munganga-Chanda said.
She warned that the police would firmly deal with individuals found leaking classified documents because it is against the law.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili recently directed Inspector-General of Police Stella Libongani to investigate and bring to book individuals who leaked the document to the media on a US$192 million loan Government contracted from China.
Mr Kambwili urged police to arrest the culprits because the State is not obliged to disclose security matters to the public.
In 2014, police instituted investigations into the leakage of a classified letter written by Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda to late President Sata seeking guidance on Value Added Tax (VAT) General Administration rule 18.
Daily Mail