HOME Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has said the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is a professional body and cannot be selective on prosecuting individuals found abrogating the law as speculated by some opposition parties.

Speaking during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Lungu said DEC would never be selective in its mandate because it was a professional institution.

Responding to questions from journalists on sentiments by Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba in yesterday's edition of the Post Newspaper that DEC should be ashamed after realising it had no case against PF leader Michael Sata, Mr Lungu said the commission would operate according to its mandate and independence.

He said DEC could not be ashamed of its mandate because it was established to probe anybody, either from opposition parties, the ruling MMD or individuals found with cases to answer on issues such as money laundering.

'I think it is unfair because DEC is a professional body which will investigate whoever is found wanting," the minister said.

And Mr Lungu said the Zambia Police Service had since November 2010 dealt with 16 cases involving illegal land allocations, development and administration in Lusaka.

He said the task force on illegal land allocation had managed to probe areas that include Lusaka West, Lusaka South, Kabanana,

Chunga, Chalimbana and Makeni Extension.

He said of the 16 cases, 14 involved land encroachments, one encroachment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one on land grabbing.

Mr Lungu said 13 cases were in the magistrates court, one would soon be concluded in the high court while the other one had been referred the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He thanked members of the community for being helpful to the police in their effort to deal with cases of illegal land allocations in the city.