Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) is alarmed by findings from a forensic audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which exposed procurement irregularities at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).
According to the reports, ZAMMSA awarded a K16.1 million contract to Mukushi Business Ventures a supplier that was not registered with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) as required by law.
TIZ Executive Director, Maurice Nyambe, is concerned that the revelations come at a time when Zambia is already facing public scrutiny and donor concerns over governance lapses in the health sector.
“Recently, the U.S. Government announced the withdrawal of millions of dollars in health sector support citing procurement and accountability failures”, said Mr. Nyambe.
Mr. Nyambe states that the findings of this audit, risk further eroding of public confidence, damaging the country’s credibility with cooperating partners, and compromising the delivery of essential medicines to Zambians.
Mr. Nyambe says that TIZ views these incidents as a serious indictment on the effectiveness of Zambia’s procurement systems and institutional oversight mechanisms which he says is unacceptable
TIZ has since demanded for the Immediate publication of the full PwC forensic audit report to allow for broader scrutiny and public accountability, Administrative and criminal investigations into all individuals and entities implicated in the procurement breaches, with appropriate sanctions for misconduct or abuse of authority and Suspension of all officials found to have acted outside the law pending the outcome of investigations among others.
He adds that Zambia cannot afford to treat such serious issues with indifference if the public trust in the health sector is to be restored, and donor support to be retained.
By Christabel Kamunu.
