MORE than eight non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are under investigation for alleged money laundering and other illegal activities, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has disclosed.

Mr Mangani said the Government, through the registrar of societies is also scrutinising some NGOs that have drifted from the mandate for which they were established.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mangani said the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) commenced investigations of the NGOs late last year following concerns on how the funds were being managed.

He said it was important that the NGOs maintained high levels of accountability and that once the investigations were concluded, the erring organisations would be prosecuted.

"I can confirm that over eight NGOs are under investigation by the DEC for money laundering and other illegal activities. Once the investigations are concluded the nation will be informed," he said.

NGOs, which divert money from cooperating partners for personal use and other areas outside the mandate, should be answerable and that the Government expected that the resources be accounted for.

"It is only fair that the NGOs explain how the resources are used because the same people demand that the Government be accountable, so when they are visited by the law, they should not complain of harassment," he said.

He said the Government was scrutinising some NGOs after realising that most of them were not adhering to the guidelines of which they were formed.