Friday, March 29, 2024

Sweden says it is yet to unblock funding to the Ministry of Health

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Sweden says it is yet to unblock the funding to the Ministry of Health though an agreement has been signed between the two countries.

Swedish deputy head of mission to Zambia David Wiking said there is an agreement to unblock the funding but the Swedish government is waiting for certain things to be done before the funding can resume.

Wiking said Sweden is committed to work with the Government to improve the health sector through direct funding to the Ministry of Health.

Recently, the Zambian Embassy in Sweden reported that the Swedish government, one of the country’s closest development allies, had unblocked about US$47.3 million for improving Zambia’s health sector.

According to a statement released in Lusaka by the Zambian embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

“The cooperating partner hopes that under the leadership of President Lungu, the aid will go towards saving babies and mothers, as intended,” the statement reads in part.

Under the agreement, Zambia will receive an initial 69 million Swedish kroners (SEK), for the programme that will run from 2015 to 2019.

The assistance from the Swedish government is in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID), a development arm of the United Kingdom (UK).

“[It comes] as more donor countries resume and or boost assistance to Zambia following President Lungu’s popular poll on January 20, this year,” the statement reads in part.

The aid from Sweden will complement the country’s existing health-funded projects and is expected to significantly reduce mortality rates among mothers and babies in line with President Lungu’s campaign promises.

“Sweden is currently reviewing various assessments to ensure that the aid works well for both Zambia and themselves as a key partner,” the statement reads.

It further stated that a Swedish government team will soon travel to Lusaka to discuss with relevant ministries, how to complete the finance process and ensure procurement and other issues are in place and agreeable to both partners.

Zambia’s health aid from Sweden dipped to an all-time low in 2009 following misapplication of funds worth over half a billion SEK in the middle of a five-year term (2006-2010).This resulted in the halting of funds for two-and-a-half years.

However, with Government’s renewed vigour to fight corruption under the leadership of President Lungu, Zambia’s relations with Sweden have brightened and are rising.

President Lungu recently met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the two discussed further cooperation and possible visits to boost the two countries’ 50-year-old ties.

Sweden is in the top five countries with the highest quality of life globally, especially in the health sector, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-oporation and Development, which measures standards of quality of living scientifically.

10 COMMENTS

    • Yes John, you better even write to all donors… no money PF they will use to ride hericopiters from Chawama to Kanyama. But those PF?

    • Ambassador David Wiking, please do not be so ignorant!!!

      Hear it from us. This money will be misappropriated and end up in people’s pockets including the man you are hoping will prevent this – the so called president Lungu. He will benefit in one way or another through kick backs from suppliers corruptly engaged to supply goods under the contracts that will cover the $47 million.

      If you want to see the intended fruits of your donor funds, place your officers in the ministry or administer the funds yourselves, otherwise if left to the corrupt PF ministry and it’so civil servants most of it will end up in people’s pockets.

    • Folks

      For those who remember my take on anything PF says, know that I have consistently said, what ever PF says the opposite is the truth.

      I knew the truth was going to come out soon and here it is.

      Even the shooting of a UPND supporter in Mulobezi, is slowly turning against Chama and the PF. All the evidence is pointing to Chama and his PF for instigating the violence by raiding the UPND camp like they did in Magongo.

      PF ni ba chimbwi chabe.

  1. Zambia should stop begging! Begging, begging all the time … it’s too much. Zambia should not take pride in being a “recipient” country. Tax the mines more, improve public finances and accountability and please stop begging!

  2. Healthy sector they will steal money again, there are still more Kapokos.
    Give 50% of money to musicians like Pilato and Miko Zulu for bail outs. Other 50% for a soccer coach. Giving money to government especially PF is worst…. they even use to buy guns for campaigns.

  3. Sweden run your own projects from top to bottom with zambian professionals, dont give GRZ anything, they will just steal and not bother what the public thinks… look at the silence over the £25million airport scam, the $113 million oil over charge scam ? silence they dont even bother to clarify and placate the public… dont give them a single ngwee unless your pipo run the show..

  4. Sweden should take her time to resume funding Zambia. The way situation is, the government is mainly concerned with getting enough funds for next year’s elections. Lungu can be a good Man but the people he has allowed to surround him seem to be bent on lining their pockets. RB is ruling the country with LUNGU and as a matter of fact in 2011 he was voted out because of corrupt ion with his minions. What would stophim (RB) influence LUNGU to get enough money for next year’s campaign. I feel very strongly that LUNGU has dissapointed most of us in PF because ot the way he is captaning the BOAT. He can no longer be trusted. He has even told those who do not buy what he is doing , they might as well leave the party (PF). These are very seroious sentiments for us in PF. SWEDEM must stop the…

  5. YANGU TATA!!!
    Zambian’s are witnessing defections to the Ruling party P.F.
    This is because Belly Politicians from the opposition can smell that Money about to be pocketed, so they want in the action.
    Kapita, does this name ring a bell??

  6. I am willing to bet that this whole PILATO FIASCO has the Swedish government reevaluating thier position. Human rights and democratic freedoms are very high in determining how western and Scandinavian governments extend aid. Bba PF do see now how your failures and bad decessions affect the most needy? Better get your act together on this PILATO issue before it becomes an international embarrassment.

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