Decision to keep forensic report into ZAMMSA confidential 

By Daily Revelation Editor 

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) a few days ago issued a statement announcing that they had concluded a comprehensive forensic audit into the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), but the report will not be made public.

According to OAG head of public relations Ellen Chikale, the report has been submitted to relevant Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for further investigation and prosecution.

“The report will not be released to the public, as it is intended to aid Law Enforcement Agencies in their investigations and prosecution. LEAs will use the report to guide their investigations and take appropriate action,” stated the OAG.

It is good that the forensic report into ZAMMSA has been finalised and submitted to the relevant law enforcement bodies, and Zambians are hopeful that they will see swift action against all those involved in the theft of medicines.

It is just interesting to also note how fast things have moved from the time the United States of America government announced that they were withdrawing aide to the tune of K1.4 billion, owing to the government’s failure to address the theft of drugs in the country. One wonders if state institutions will only get moving on important national matters, especially those bordering on criminality, only if those holding the money decide to withhold the purse until the right thing is done? In a country that is committed towards fighting corruption, state institutions will have swung into action without seeming to have been prompted into action on account of the aide withdraw.

The American government had complained that there had been inaction from government following repeated urging from the American government on the matter, and that there had been inaction over the same for a very long time.

Zambians are therefore expectant to know if the forensic report has identified the rampant thieving and the people connected to the same, including both the ‘small’ and ‘big’ fishes, and that law enforcement bodies will move swiftly on the matter.

Zambians will have also hoped for the report to be made public so that they could know the real people involved in the thefts. If some people were identified in the interim report that was released, with some already being prosecuted, surely Zambians were expectant that the forensic report will not only reveal detailed accountants of the crimes, but would also extend on the mention of names involved in the criminality.

Otherwise, the decision to keep the report confidential raises more questions about the transparency and accountability in government agencies, especially if the report has mentioned the big fishes, who most often go untouched.

There are several accounts we can point to to justify this point. The best example is the admission which came from a key investigative wing, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), when they announced that they were investigating several ministers and senior government officials. But has there been any update on the said investigations, including arrests since that admission was made? The answer is a big no!