Police has confirmed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the act of subjecting employees to polygraph tests commonly known as lie detector test by Kagem mine is illegal.
The Gemfields owned Kagem Mine, believed to be the largest gemstone miner in the world has again found itself embroiled with controversial polygraph tests after the deportation of a polygraph consultant that the gemstone mine engaged by the Zambian Immigration department.
The precious stones mine had been a subject of continued accusations of illegally subjecting employees to invasive body searches deemed to reach inhumane and degrading levels for it’s local employees.
Kagem mine employees continue to whistle blow on some of its labour and employee treatment processes by its management which has continued to go unabated.
Records show that even the Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA had in 2018 raided Kagem Mine and the South Africa based Limpopo Polygraphs for conducting periodic testing at the Zambian based mine, but it seems the company does not want to make amends.
Reports of Kagem mine subjecting employees to lie detection examinations have resurfaced with some stakeholders calling on the investigative wings to prosecute the company as it is generally considered demeaning even by the Zambian labour practices and local cultural norms.
Sources with knowledge of happenings at Kagem mine have revealed that Emarald mine management has continued subjecting employees to lie detector examination as they suspect that locals are stealing gemstones whenever they are exiting the company premises.
According to Police sources, Polygraph tests or lie detection procedures border on invasion of privacy and incisive investigations are only mandated to legally commissioned officers and that the conduct by Kagem is illegal.
Only investigative wings such as the Zambia Police and their commissioned officers are allowed to conduct lie detection tests, as a control measure to prevent arbitrary use as well as to safeguard the dignity of the general citizenry.
According to the information obtained from the Zambia police, the use of polygraphs by private entities in employee is illegal and NOT allowed in Zambia.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga told ZBT that polygraph tests can only be used by law enforcement agencies and only in a situation where it’s part of the Company Policy and that the employee willingly submits themselves to the examinations.
Efforts to get an official response from Kagem Mine on why they are using it on employees, as well as the Ministry of Labour on the matter proved futile by press time.
