By MILDRED KATONGO –
MOPANI Copper Mines (MCM) Chief Executive Officer Chris Vermeulen has said forensic investigation is key to combating financial and economic crimes.
Mr Vermeulen said the world was continuously facing complex challenges and disputes that required the involvement of specialist forensic expertise to investigate financial and economic crime matters.
He said this during the book launch of Gibson Mwewa, who has written a book titled Principles of Forensic Investigations in Ndola.
Mr Vermeulen, who was the guest of honour, said the 21st century  had seen the establishment of forensic services as a key industry with professionals and that forensic investigations and knowledge acquired would help prevent financial crimes.
“Let me congratulate Professor Mwewa for coming up with this book. The world is facing a lot of challenges and indeed knowledge on forensic investigations and expertise on the subject,” Mr Vermeulen said.
“Efforts are being made by various players with regards to the development of forensic literature. It is commendable that Prof Mwewa has come up with a piece of work contributing t sharing of knowledge and skills development in forensic science.”
He said the mining firms in developing countries were constantly seeking expertise to help resolve complex disputes on issues such as tax, land, labour and procurement, among others.
Mr Vermeulen said huge sums of money were being invested to secure specialist expertise such as forensic accountants and engineers.
Prof Mwewa was saddened that financial and economic crimes were now cancerous ravaging every moral fibre of noble society.
He said financial and economic crimes had besieged the country to unprecedented levels where it was perceived to be a normal act.
Prof Mwewa said he did not have anything to give but the knowledge he shared through the production of the book, and called on others who were willing to sharpen their forensic investigation skills in economic and financial matters to rise.
He said his book was there to raise awareness on financial crimes, share knowledge, equip investigators and share the practice to help in the development of the skill.
Prof Mwewa appealed to the Church and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to wake up and help the country from being destroyed by financial criminals.
Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo commended Prof Mwewa for coming up with such a book and being the first in the Southern African region to write about forensic investigation issues.
Mr Lusambo said in a speech read on his behalf by Ndola District Commissioner George Chisulo that the country could only develop if people like Prof Mwewa were there to share the knowledge through writing of the books.
“We thank you for being a person who has realised that you need to share the knowledge on forensic investigations,” he said.