Friday, March 29, 2024

Donor fund safe as Government says it has sealed all loopholes

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Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya (right) talks to University Teaching Hospital managing director Lakson Kasonka (in dark grey suit,right), as others look on after officiating at the handover of three buses and one utility vehicle worth K1.8 million in Lusaka
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya (right) talks to University Teaching Hospital managing director Lakson Kasonka (in dark grey suit,right), as others look on after officiating at the handover of three buses and one utility vehicle worth K1.8 million in Lusaka

GOVERNMENT says it has sealed all loopholes to ensure that donor fund in the ministry of health is utilised for the intended purpose.

Health deputy minister Chitalu Chilufya said that the ministry has put up stringent measures to ensure funds are not mismanaged but utilised.

“For Sweden to resume funding, it is clear that they have seen that our stringent measures will ensure that the funds are put to proper use otherwise they could have not resumed funding the health sector,” he said.

He added that the unblocking of US$ 47.3 million donor fund to Zambia’s health sector by the Swedish government shows that the donor community has confidence in the governance system of President Edgar Lungu.

He said the move was a clear demonstration that the donors are happy with President Lungu’s governance style and his fight against corruption.

“The resumption of donor aid to our ministry is a clear demonstration that the international community has confidence in President Lungu and his fight against corruption and measures put in place to ensure that there is prudent use of both donor and public funds,” he said.

In May 2009 Zambia’s health sector faced a major challenge after donors froze aid following the embezzlement of K10 billion global funds by some ministry officials.

The Swedish government ended a six-year-long health aid freeze to the Ministry of Health.

He said the aid would go towards saving infants and mothers as intended by the donor country.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya has said the 650 health posts which the government is constructing countrywide will be completed next year.

He said the health posts will be fully equipped with both equipment and human resource.
“Currently, about 200 have had the base completed, we are waiting to start putting the structures together,” he said.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Loopholes will always be there as long as the perpetrators are not punished. It starts from simple issues such as the procurement system, officers generate fake tenders to favour their own personal companies in order to get the bid. Everyone knows this, even the custodians of these funds such as the permanent secretaries, know this fact, bit no one can act because they all benefit in one way.

    So to you poor donors spending your money in Zambia, closely audit and monitor these departments you are providing millions of dollars to even if it means stationing your people in these departments for closer monitoring.

    • Show us the sealed loopholes, then your statement will carry weight. It would better if the statement came from the Swiss, stating that the loopholes are sealed. It could be that the Swiss have realised that the people they are punishing are the people that are meant to be benefiting from the funds, be it that some of the money is misused.

  2. Where is Henry Sata Kapoko, where is DBZ Nchito and Fred Kabimba, Wynter Mmembe, Where are they.

    All the above guys owe us public funds.

    1. It makes me feel sick to see Kapoko acquitted, even with very clear evidence.
    2. It makes me feel sick to see money borrowed from DBZ and the borrowers refuse to pay back. But worse, the thieves are in the forefront calling others names.

    Until we develop financial discipline, we are going nowhere as a country.

  3. El fighting corruption.?
    His GRZ doesn’t even bother denying corruption allegations against them. $25M airport theft? Kambwili stealing council land? And many more. Instead the theives are told to be careful next time.

  4. These same crooks reassuring us that “Loopholes have been sealed”, are the same hyena’s who are licking their lips, rubbing their dirty hands, & getting ready to plunder this cash.
    Corruption plunder, & dishonesty has always payed in Zambia, from Kafupi, Zamtrop Xavier, Attan Shansonga, R.B, Crook who buried Cash on his farm, & many more who are still ENJOYING their ill gotten wealth.
    A Zambian former First Lady was recently exposed attempting to buy a shopping mall worth Millions of U.S. Dollars in Finland. What Loopholes have our Government sealed, by trying to recover that money?
    These useless Politicians should show evidence of deeds theyve done to eradicate corruption, as at the moment they are NOT doing well, & words are cheap!!!

  5. Donor countries should implement projects they fund them selves with out going through GRZ, take it or leave it. The want to do these projects with donor manee so they can steal.

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