20110217
Xinhua
LUSAKA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The government of Zambia has said it would thoroughly investigate reports that some civil society organizations are planning to carry out clandestine activities to destabilize government operations, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) revealed that it had unearthed a scam in which some civil society organizations had mobilized between 35 million U.S. dollars and 45 million dollars for clandestine political activities to destabilize the government.

The party's chairman Michael Mabenga said the party had minutes of some meetings held by two civil society organizations, Change Life Zambia (CLZ) and Anti-Rigging Zambia, last month with the intention of destabilizing government.

"Anyone soliciting for money to destabilize government will be investigated thoroughly and the law will take its course. As the government, we view this as a security risk," Ronnie Shikapwasha, chief government spokesperson, was quoted as saying by the paper.

The government spokesperson said people planning to carry out political activities and campaigns to destabilize the legitimately elected government are not patriotic Zambians, adding that such activities are threatening national security.

The Zambian minister has directed that all financial transactions for activities related to this year's tripartite elections and any other activities should be declared using normal channels through the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) so that it is accounted for.

As Zambia goes for this year's general elections, the atmosphere is getting tense.