By Chinoyi Chipulu
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) says it is disappointed with the Ministry of Health response to the United States (US) Ambassador’s Micheal Gonzales announcement on the cutting of $50 million in aid to the health sector.
TIZ chapter president Priscilla Chansa stated that the organisation was concerned that the minister of Health Elijah Muchima attempted to divert blame to the previous administration when the evidence indicated that the corruption was ongoing.
On Thursday, Gonzales announced that the US government was cutting K1.4 billion in annual aid provided to Zambia for medicines and medical supplies due to the government’s failure to respond to country-wide systematic theft of the drugs.
Following that announcement, Muchima said the persistent challenge of drug theft reflected a deep-rooted problem that started before the UPND came into power.
In a statement, Chansa called on the government to launch a nationwide investigation premised on the findings of the forensic report on the theft of drugs in public hospitals.
She agreed with the US Ambassador that the responsiveness of the government had been less than optimal, given the scope of the theft, efforts taken to engage stakeholders by the US Embassy, and the consequences of inaction.
“We are especially concerned that the minister attempted to divert blame to the previous administration when the evidence indicates that the corruption is ongoing. As TI-Z, we are of the view that addressing the systematic corruption in the health sector is a litmus test for the seriousness of the UPND’s fight against corruption,” she stated.
Chansa stated that this was because such systemic corruption required political will to prosecute senior government officials and private business people who may have provided political finance support to the administration.
She stated that this also calls for high-level coordination and technical capacity to conduct credible investigations on the part of law enforcement agencies, and the effective implementation of a favourable legal framework in fighting corruption.
Chansa stated that it was also notable that corruption in the health sector had direct impact on health outcomes and could lead to loss of human life.
She stated that if any government demonstrated sluggishness in addressing corruption in the health sector, there would be no basis to believe that such a government could potentially combat corruption in other sectors, where the impact of corruption was nowhere near direct loss of human life.
“TIZ called on the UPND administration to take stock of their resolve to fighting corruption and launch a nation-wide investigation premised on the findings of the forensic report and to put in place necessary preventive measures to halt any further theft of medicines and health supplies,” she stated
Chansa stated that these preventive measures should include sustainable mechanisms such as declaration of assets and liabilities, regulating political party financing, enhancing transparency in public procurement and ensuring effective whistleblower protection, among others.
