The Ministry of Health has denied awarding a US$17 million contract for the supply of health center kits to a company called Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited, which did not exist.

Ministry spokesman Dr Abel Kabalo says the Ministry has noted with deep concern news alleging that Government through the Ministry of Health, last year awarded a USD17 million contract for the supply of health center kits to a company called Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited, which did not exist.

Dr Kabalo says in order to avert a stock out that would follow the cessation of supply by a longstanding supplier, the Ministry of Health, opted to engage other players in the pharmaceutical market for the supply and delivery of Health Centre Kits as a stop gap measure.

He has explained that ten entities participated in the tender which was subject to the requisite stringent legal and administrative processes in line with the Public Procurement Act.

Dr Kabalo said following the requisite administrative process, Honey Bee Pharmacy was duly awarded the contract together with two other entities however, when it came to conveyancing of the contract for Honey Bee Pharmacy in particular, the term “Limited” was erroneously added.

He said as per legal guidance, the appropriate entity awarded the contract remains Honey Bee Pharmacy as all the statutory documents in support of the bid such as certificates of registration, ZRA certificates and ZAMRA registration correctly bore the appellation “Honey Bee Pharmacy” (Without “Limited”).

Dr Kabalo said the contract to Honey Bee Pharmacy and two other entities was given the necessary administrative and legal approvals prior to award.

He said it is critical to note that there has been NO financial or material loss on the part of Government, as the terms of the contract are that Honey Bee Pharmacy and the 2 other entities that have been awarded, use their own funds to source the Health kits before they are paid.

Dr Kabalo said as all the awarded entities are yet to deliver, none have therefore been paid to date.

“Although the slip whereby the word “limited” was erroneously added, is a common phenomenon that from time to time universally occurs in the transcription of documents, the Ministry of Health holding itself to a high standard, deeply regrets the clerical error and will ensure such a slip does not recur”, he added.

Dr Kabalo said the tender was awarded to Honey Bee Pharmacy – an entity that existed at the time the tender process took place.

“However, the public can take comfort and rest in that the Ministry of Health remains committed to applying utmost fiduciary integrity in its stewardship of public resources, to galvanise our nation’s attainment of Universal Health Coverage”, he added.

The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) says it does not support the upward adjustment of nomination fees announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

“As a militant organisation of revolutionary peasants, workers and intellectuals that believes in equitable participation in the affairs of our nation by all citizens regardless of socio-economic status, the Patriotic Front wishes to register its strongest displeasure with the proposed upward revision of nomination fees as recently announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia,” says Secretary General Davies Mwila.

Mr Mwila said the proposed upward revision is not only elitist, but it would also be tantamount to the commercialisation of participation in democratic processes where the destiny of the majority “have nots” is hijacked by a minority “haves”.

“Patriotic Front remains committed to the participation and representation in democratic processes of youth, women and differently abled persons as a matter of right and not privilege. We support their proportional representation in Parliament as proposed under Bill 10, and we further call for lower nomination fees in order to maximize involvement of the youth, women and differently abled persons in running the affairs of the nation.”

He added, “In order to safeguard our country’s democracy, we call for downward adjustment instead. Zambia must not be put up for auction to the highest bidder.”

The Law Association of Zambia says the publication in the Government Gazette of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 10 of 2019 on 12th June 2020 is a breach of procedures for making laws in Zambia.

LAZ President Eddie Mwitwa said in a statement the newly published amendments do not form part of the Bill as introduced at first reading in Parliament by Government.

Mr. Mwitwa said the publication of the bill in the gazette may only serve to sway public opinion on the bill without guaranteeing its enactment and its re-publication is not supported by law.

He said there is no procedure which permits Government to publish in the Govemment Gazette different texts of a Bill to amend the Constitution which is already going through the stages as established by Standing Orders under the Constitution of Zambia.

Mr. Mwitwa said Government cannot cherry pick what it considers desirable proposals of a Committee and reject numerous others and publish the same purporting to form part of the Bill.

The regazzeted Bill contains numerous proposed amendments to the Republican Constitution which are different from the original Bill published in Gazette Notice No. 660 of Friday, 21st June, 2019 preceding its presentation in Parliament for First reading on Friday, 2nd August, 2019.

The Association of Catholic Parliamentarians has said that it is regrettable that some views expressed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the statement on amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 were a product of misinformation and appealed to the Conference of Catholic Bishops to give correct information on Bill 10 and provide the necessary leadership.

Association Chairperson Prof. Luo said that such misinformation, if not properly handled, has the capacity to divide a country celebrated to be peaceful.

Professor Luo said that it was expected that the Catholic Bishops would consult the catholic Parliamentarians as Members of Parliament to explain Bill 10 clearly before they issued any statement.

Professor Luo said that Bill 10 has been misunderstood because most people do not take time to read and understand the bill but base their contributions from what someone wrote or said on the bill.

Professor LUO has encouraged Zambians to take time to read and understand the bill to ensure that they make informed comments on the bill.

Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Prof Luo said issues that the government put in Bill 10 were agreed upon by a large community of eminent persons at the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) shunned by the Catholic Bishops.

Besides the resolution made at the NDF, Prof. Luo recalled, the Siavonga declaration by party Secretary-General was also incorporated in Bill 10.

Prof. Luo said that had the Bishops accepted to attend the dialogue forum, their voice could have been incorporated in Bill 10 which the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda presented to Parliament.

Prof. Luo said after the first reading, Bill 10 was subjected to the parliamentary select committee where further scrutiny was made, adding that people from all walks of life made submissions of various issues which they not only agreed but also agreed with the government.

To prove the people that the government means well on the constitution-making process, Prof. Luo suggested all the recommendations except a few were taken on board and the government had all the proposed amendments gazetted for the people to see.

She said that all the recommendations made in the gazette paper are a true copy of what the parliamentary select committee’s recommendations as obtained from the people whose submissions via their representatives.

She said the Association is consoled that some of the recommendations the government proposed in the gazette paper are acknowledged by Bishops.

She said the statement by the bishop does not represent the correct version of the bill and the recommendation.

She said the Catholic Parliamentarians are at pain to understand why the bishops calling for the withdrawal of Bill 10 whose recommendations they agree with the government.

She not only denied there is one person or a group of individuals that have to take upon themselves to popularise Bill 10 for some hidden motives but also disagreed with the bishops that Bill 10 contains some retrogressive clauses.

She said at no time did the government either by itself or through its representatives manipulate the content of the constitution.

Vice Chairperson Given Lubinda has challenged those stating that the publication of amendments to bill 10 as illegal to present the illegalities. Mr. Lubinda, who is also Justice Minister, said no law has been broken through gazetting the amendments to bill 10.

He said there is no law that prohibits the publication of an amendment that is to be presented.