In response to growing public concern and a recent statement by the U.S. Ambassador to Zambia regarding persistent thefts of medical supplies, the Government of the Republic of Zambia has issued a formal statement through the Ministry of Health. The statement outlines concrete steps being taken to safeguard the country’s healthcare supply chain, improve accountability, and protect essential medicines from systemic theft and diversion.
Below is the full unaltered statement as released by the Minister of Health:
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lusaka, Zambia, 8th May, 2025
Government Action to Combat Medical Drug Theft and Strengthen Zambia’s Healthcare Supply Chain
The Zambian Government acknowledges the concerns raised by the Ambassador of the United States of America to Zambia regarding recurrent thefts of medicines. The Zambian Government wishes to reaffirm its commitment to resolving this unfortunate issue. We express our profound gratitude to the American Government and people for their generous support, which has significantly strengthened Zambia’s healthcare services, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other public health challenges.
The theft of medicines jeopardizes public health, depriving patients of essential treatments, and undermining confidence in Zambia’s healthcare system. This persistent challenge, reflects a deep-rooted problem that took hold long before the current administration assumed office in August 2021, stemming from systemic weaknesses in oversight and supply chain management, under previous governments.
To address this, the Government of Zambia has implemented robust remedial measures to protect medicines, ensuring that they reach the patients who need them most. You may wish to note that the President of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema commissioned a comprehensive independent forensic audit of the entire medicines supply chain immediately the concerns were raised. This audit was commissioned by the Auditor General’s Office and conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). The interim report was shared with stakeholders, including co-operating partners, at State House at the invitation of the President.
Following the preliminary report, the Government of Zambia took the following actions;
a) A number of ZAMMSA officials were suspended and/or removed from their positions, including the Director General, Mr. Victor Nyasulu, the Director Supply Planning, Ms. Nalishebo Siyandi, the Director Procurement, Mr. Nchimunya Habadu, and the Director of Finance, Mr. Milimo Ngululu. You may wish note that other than the Director of Finance these officials are appearing before the courts of law.
The final report has been completed and cleared by the Office of the Auditor General for further action. Note that there will be no sacred cows in this process. However, all the suspects will go through the entire legal process, with the presumption of being innocent until proven guilty by our competent courts of law. The Government of the Republic of Zambia urges the Ambassador of the United States of America to Zambia to share any additional information that may be useful for action and/or prosecution.
Further, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has intensified its operations, leading to the arrest and prosecution of additional individuals involved in the thefts of medicines.
To enhance oversight, the Government has established a Joint National Drug Taskforce to conduct real-time monitoring, early detection, and prevention of theft across the supply chain.
In its quest to improve visibility of the supply chain system, ZAMMSA has implemented an advanced digital stock tracking system. This system enables real-time monitoring of medical inventories, ensuring accurate record-keeping and reducing diversions and/or theft of medicines.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Ministry of Health, ZAMMSA, and key stakeholders are set to convene next week in the Copperbelt for an annual planning exercise to assess Zambia’s medical needs for 2026. This strategic session will focus on optimizing resource allocation, strengthening supply chain security, and guaranteeing the availability of essential medicines for all Zambians.
We want to assure the public that Zambia currently maintains sufficient stocks of essential medicines, including antiretroviral, antimalarial, and other critical drugs, with no immediate risk of shortages. Under this government national essential drug availability has increased from averages under 35% to well over 75% country-wide for primary care.
The government is engaged in constructive dialogue with the U.S. Government to address their concerns, implement robust solutions, and maintain the strong partnership that underpins our healthcare progress. The government is committed to transparency, accountability, and justice in delivering quality healthcare to every Zambian. By working together, we can protect our healthcare system and ensure that medicines reach those in need.
“The Government under President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the public of transparency and accountability, as demonstrated by the suspension of senior management at ZAMMSA and the dissolution of its board. This action was taken without victimizing anyone or rushing to make arrests.”
Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, PhD, MP
MINISTER OF HEALTH
If this government is to be taken seriously then the first person to be investigated and fired should be the minister himself for incompetence. The government should ask the US to provide the evidence of the theft and assist who ever is carrying out the investigations if they mean well. We are sick and tired of these ambassadors treating our leaders as if they are nursery kids learning their abc’s. Just look at reaction. Maybe it’s time we carried out our own investigations on how these so called ambassadors are in complicit with the theft of our natural resources but use aid as a stick to keep our leaders in check.
Why wait for US Ambassador to tell us what
Is going on?Where are our investigative wings?
You did read that the Govt instituted a Forensic Audit and that on the basis of the preliminary report a number of senior officials were suspended with many of them already facing court action? An official Forensic Audit report would probably hold up much better in court than the unofficial investigation carried out by the US Ambassador and his crew. I am not sure of the timelines of the actions the minister outlined with respect to the release Audit report as well as the release of the US investigation report (assuming said investigation report was shared with Govt). Without such its a bit difficult to determine who is playing to the gallery here.
Thank you US for helping us to run (sorry- for running) our country for us. We only respond to your actions never to our citizens. With our always asleep cabinet, citizens can protest all they want we will ignore them but we will listen only to Washington Stockholm London and Berlin. Our police doesnt know how to arrest criminals. It only arrests political rivals
Your “measures” do not exist. Prosecute culprits NOW
The minister has just repeated the usual overworked platitudes about government commitment to honesty, transparency, rule of law etc. No corrective action will be taken
So, “the Government has established a Joint National Drug Taskforce….” and “ZAMMSA has implemented an advanced digital stock tracking system.” do not constitute corrective actions to you? I get an argument that it could be too little, but I would call it and the suspensions and court action on officials corrective action.
Colleagues, the US Givernment is just playing double standards in this issue. If the government went ahead and arrested 2000 people suspected, the same US Government would say it abuse of laws. The Minister statement if correct is good enough to show. Except thieves are smart.
The ambassador should stick to being an ambassador if he have any concerns he goes about it in a diplomatic way with the country government not go announcing as if they own the country and can hold them to ransom if the government had their own independent audit done why is that not good enough for the Americans they just want to control you any way they can please work to get rid of AID because that is what they have over you controlling minerals is not enough all African countries need to step up control of your resources then embassadors will do just their jobs. Which other continent will be treated that way. They get joy to rely on them for control of you wake up Africa.
How long has it taken before arrests and procecutions are effected? Didn’t we witness huge medical supplies’ containers hidden in the Lusaka compound? This was even before we ever shunted ministers between Lands and Health ministries. Time is money.
The public and the donors were waiting for a conlusive call-out and justice. Nothing has happened. The ambassadors has rattled government to see how far the recovery of US taxpayer’s funds has reached.
The legacies we inherited from our erstwhile colonial masters have been perfected to a shine! You see, commissions of inquiry, task forces and such bureaucratic collections are meant to stymie revelation of inner workings of something controversial and impede uncovering of suspected wrongdoing. We are continuing a mid-19th to early 20th century practice in the 21st century! We should be ashamed!!! Be pragmatic or relinquish your positions of responsibility.
Because now that Burkina Faso has Russia and China’s back, these humans have started pocking Zambia. Always looking forward to invaded a sovereignty nation.
Thieving is embedded in our DNA, Lord help us.