The amount of cash involved is enormous by any measure in any currency. The predicate offences and crimes which generate colossal sums of this money could be very unpleasant. Those who commit these heinous crimes can be uncouth, uncompromising, hard-hearted and very dangerous. Their wealth and connections mean that they are often more powerful and influential. Some crave into Political lime-light in order to insulate themselves, become "Untouchables" and protected by the "System" with "Honourable" worldly titles. Publicized financial crimes committed by "Outsiders", third parties and "Enemies Within" have negatively impacted the reputations, brands and images of many organizations. Given the alluded to shortcomings, the African Continent need to continue on the never-ending path of "Lessons Learnt", have deeper understanding of the concepts, theories, typologies of money laundering, terrorism financing, bribery, corruption and various operations of organised criminals. The fight against all forms of financial crimes is like running a race with no finishing line. All organizations are implored to continuously devise effective and plausible remedial measures resulting in tighter controls being adopted thereby thwarting financial crimes. If managerial accountability and transparency are embodied in all sectors coupled with the right tone at the top, implementation of corporate governance would be easier. There would be reduction of criminal activities which inevitably bring about lack of investor confidence, capital flight, closures of companies and industries which consequently create untold misery for already helpless citizenry who will have little to do apart from engaging in criminal activities. It is time to break that cycle. There is no honour in financial crime. Punishment of offenders and recoveries of stolen funds are so rare that prevention is the only viable course of action. Feasible and plausible preventative measures are much cheaper and far less painful than post-financial crime investigations and litigations. It is better to drain the swamps than to fight the alligators. Let's play our part.
Kunda Kalaba is a Zambian private citizen. A professional with 25 years' experience in managing public and private sector Financial Crime Compliance (FCC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF), Trade and Economic Sanctions, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Know Your Customer (KYC), High Risk Clients such as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Jurisdictions and Industries, Suspicious Activity Report Reports (SARs), Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs), Customer Transaction Surveillance, Monitoring and Periodic Reviews, Crime Intelligence Operations, Fraud Prevention and Examination, Fraud Investigations, Security, Law Enforcement Agency and Regulatory Compliance. Currently serving on the World Advisory Council of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Kunda Kalaba is also a member of the African Task Force Organising Committee, Speaker and Presenter at International Conferences for Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). Member of the Association of Certified Compliance Professionals in Africa (ACCPA). Once served as Chairperson, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Working Group. He is a founder member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Zambian Chapter and St, Clement's Old Boys Association. Highly skilled and versatile Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) professionally qualified with vast and sound experience in Financial Crime Risk Deterrence, Prevention, Detection, Investigations, Security and Prosecutions. He worked in several Countries within Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East with the Law Enforcement Agency, the Developmental Organisation and two International Banks.
