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Katongo Heads to SA Camp

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Zambia captain Christopher Katongo is expected to join the team in Johannesburg this evening.

Katongo arrived in the country on Tuesday from Germany after wrapping up his club commitments with relegated Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld over the weekend.

Zambia have been holding a private training camp in Johannesburg for the last fortnight ahead of their 2010 World/African Cup qualifier against Rwanda on June 6 in Chililabombwe.

Coach Herve Renard is now expecting four more European-based players to join camp in Zambia when the team returns home on Monday June 1 and fly direct from South Africa to Ndola.

Those expected are Jacob Mulenga and Stophira Sunzu from their base in France, Emmanuel Mayuka of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, Misheck Lungu and Emmanuel Mbola from Hungary and Armenia respectively.

Meanwhile, Rwanda left Kigali today en route to Zambia.

However, they will make a brief stop in Malawi this weekend to play an international friendly match against their hosts on Saturday in Blantyre before traveling to Zambia on June 3.

The Weekend in Pictures

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1.

A ground air traffic controller signaling to pilots who delivered the Boeing 737-500 aircraft to Zambezi Airlines at Lusaka international airport.
A ground air traffic controller signaling to pilots who delivered the Boeing 737-500 aircraft to Zambezi Airlines at Lusaka international airport.

2.
Janifer Chiwele 11 (r) with traditonal instructer Beza Sakala during an initiation ceremony organised by the Kunda people of Mfuwe in eastern province. This was in Ndola's Chifubu township.
Janifer Chiwele 11 (r) with traditonal instructer Beza Sakala during an initiation ceremony organised by the Kunda people of Mfuwe in eastern province. This was in Ndola's Chifubu township.

3.
Mother of Mercy Hospice administrator Anita Duma displays a K35 million cheque received from AutoWorld Zambia proprietor Noble Findlay (r) and board chairperson Cossie Findlay in Chilanga
Mother of Mercy Hospice administrator Anita Duma displays a K35 million cheque received from AutoWorld Zambia proprietor Noble Findlay (r) and board chairperson Cossie Findlay in Chilanga

4.
Mine rescue personnel pulling dead bodies from an accident scene where two illegal miners died after being buried by falling rocks in the Copperbelt
Mine rescue personnel pulling dead bodies from an accident scene where two illegal miners died after being buried by falling rocks in the Copperbelt

5.
A mine rescue team carrying a dead miner who was buried in an illegal mine.
A mine rescue team carrying a dead miner who was buried in an illegal mine.

6.
Body Builders flexing their muscles in Luanshya during the competition
Body Builders flexing their muscles in Luanshya during the competition

7.
A female body builder flexing her muscles during a competition in Luanshya
A female body builder flexing her muscles during a competition in Luanshya

8.
President Rupiah Banda meets his Malawian counterpart Mbingu Wa Mthirika during Mutharika's innauguration in Malawi
President Rupiah Banda meets his Malawian counterpart Mbingu Wa Mthirika during Mutharika's innauguration in Malawi

9.
Malawian President Mbingu Wa Mtharika taking oath of office during his innauguration
Malawian President Mbingu Wa Mtharika taking oath of office during his innauguration

10.
Lusaka district Commissioner Krista Kalulu talking to parliamentarians from Europe outside her office
Lusaka district Commissioner Krista Kalulu talking to parliamentarians from Europe outside her office

11.
A night scene from the heavy traffic situation in Lusaka along great east road near Arcades shopping mall.
A night scene from the heavy traffic situation in Lusaka along great east road near Arcades shopping mall.

Police raid Ministry of Health HQ

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Police officers keep vigil at Ndeke House where 23 officials were arrested for allegedly stealing K10 billion
Police officers keep vigil at Ndeke House where 23 officials were arrested for allegedly stealing K10 billion

Law enforcement officers have raided the Ministry of Health headquaters in Lusaka to forcefully remove 20 employees who have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the K10 billion scam.

Officers from the Zambia Police, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission carried out the operation on Wednesday morning.

The officers ordered the suspended employees to leave their offices searched all vehicles leaving the premises.

Commissioner of Police, Raphael Musamba, told journalists at a press briefing that the operation is part of investigations into the misappropriation of huge sums of money at the Ministry of Health.

President Rupiah Banda has instructed law enforcement agencies to quickly bring to book those involved in the 10 billion Kwacha Scam.

A former employee of the Ministry of Health has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of funds amounting to K10 billion.

However President Banda has said the amount of money involved in the scam at the Ministry of health may be higher than initially reported.

An interim report by the Auditor General’s Office submitted to President Rupiah Banda, Tuesday shows that the funds involved could be more going by the number of people and companies implicated.

The report says funds were stolen in recent years leading up to December 2008 through various payments to companies for goods and services, never supplied.

[ZNBC]

Government’s buying hearses

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By Wesley Ngwenya

The thinking and actions of Rupiah Banda and his buddies never seem to amaze me. It is reported that they have purchased one hundred hearses from China at a cost of about thirty thousand dollars each. Wow! Now, that is a lot of money to be spent on trying to bury us.

It is interesting that government will spend enormous amounts of money to send people to the grave instead of spending the money to save the lives of many Zambians. It is after all our culture to spend a lot of money on funerals. Even though the deceased’s life could have been saved by providing food or money, we go ahead and spend lots of money at his or her funeral. We buy expensive food for the mourners. We buy expensive clothing for the deceased. Why spend so much money on the dead instead of spending it on the living? That is exactly what our current government is doing.

This government has, unfortunately, turned out to be “briefcase businessmen”. Men and women who move around doing business in their briefcases buying and selling whatever they can make money on. Even briefcase businessmen have morals. They will not deal in businesses that will compromise their integrity. They will choose their business partners carefully so that they can have repeat business.

It is quite disheartening that Banda and his buddies will go ahead and spend such amounts of money on these moving tombs. What is the rationale behind all this? Could it be that the government has foresight that the economic meltdown is too much for us Zambians and expect many of us to head to the grave much sooner than later? Or is it that Banda and his buddies will give a tender to any company that comes up with an “ingenious idea” for them to make some personal money? As always, they have been able to secretly do this without parliament approval.

Now, it is very sad when you have a government that disregards its legislature. There is need to have a system in government to procuring such purchases. If there is an existing system, then this system needs to be respected and followed. Government needs parliament’s support to effectively implement its policies. However, Rupiah’s government is determined to do things their way whether it’s legal or not. Not too long ago they wanted to purchase costly mobile hospitals and before that it was RP Capital. And all they could say was that they were approached by the companies to provide the services. Really! Just because someone walks in your office to sell you something does not entail you purchasing their product or service. Why not be proactive for once and look at what our country needs and then go about acquiring those services that we need?

Zambian hospitals are filled with old and outdated equipment and yet the government goes ahead and buys one hundred hearses. I am not even sure we have one hundred government ambulances here in Zambia. I have personally seen someone die simply because there was no transport to take that person to the hospital. If this government is serious about saving our lives why not improve the well being of our existing clinics and hospitals. Just like you guys, we are also interested in living. We know how to get to the graveyard and do not need your help going there. Just because you have given up on managing the country does not mean we should also give up on living.

As long as the Banda buddies are going to hang out and wait for the Chinese to do the thinking for them we are bound to see the worst yet to come. The Chinese are eager to make quick money out of our sleeping government. I wonder what they will sell us next—snow mobiles, skiing equipment, or expensive mortuary equipment? They will sell us anything because our government will buy. Just wait and see.

UNICEF to continue supporting the health sector

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unicefThe United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF, has pledged continued logistical and technical support towards the implementation of UN supported programmes in the ministry of health.

The UN agency has, however, advised government to strengthen the financial systems in the ministry of health to avoid a recurrence of the K10 billion scam.

Speaking in an interview in Choma today, UNICEF country representative, Lotta Sylwander, said the UN agency will continue with its programme of cash transfers in which it directly pays for specific activities and programmes.

Ms Sylwander said some of the activities that will receive support include training of midwives, procurement of drugs, child health week and nutritional programmes.

She disclosed that UNICEF has this year staked US$22 million for various programmes in the country.

She said government needs to strengthen financial systems to ensure donor funds are utilised to meet the intended objectives.

She said Zambia like other countries should be cognizant of the fact that donor funds are tax payers’ money, which should be properly accounted for.

Ms Sylwander, who led a team of Swedish UNICEF volunteers on a visit to Siamambo and Masopo basic schools where UNICEF has been promoting the integrated latrines and other sanitation facilities, said the UN agency is committed to implementing various programmes aimed at improving learning in schools.

And authorities at the two rural schools located in Chief Singani’s area told Ms Sylwander that they have recorded tremendous improvements in school enrolments due to the provision of improved latrines and other sanitation facilities at the institutions.

Acting headteacher for Siamambo basic school, Catherine Hamasowe, said the school population which was previously at 350 pupils had now risen to 629 pupils.

”The dropout rate has even gone down as all children want to be in school. The good latrines are attracting the children to come back to school,” she said.

Ms Hamasowe said most parents are now encouraging their children to go to school.

She, however, said the institution is still facing the challenge of poor accommodation for teachers as all the 22 teachers have to share the only three staff houses available.

And a teacher at Masopo basic school, Alvin Macha, said the institution appreciates the support from UNICERF which had seen a reduction in disease such as diarrhea due to good sanitation facilities.

Ms Sylwander is today expected to visit Chief Macha’s area, where UNICEF has been implementing the Community Led Total Sanitation Programme.

ZANIS

Govt to rehabilitate roads leading to Umutomboko arena, shrines-Kawimbe

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Government is to rehabilitate roads leading to shrines and the main arena of the Umutomboko traditional ceremony to help encourage more people attend this year’s ceremony.

Luapula Province Minister, Bornface Kawimbe, disclosed that government, through the provincial administration, has set aside funds from the Tourism Development Fund in this year’s budget, to facilitate the road rehabilitation works ahead of this year’s ceremony slated for July 25.

President Rupiah Banda, is expected to be among several people to attend the ceremony.

The roads to be worked on are those leading to the two shrines along the Ng’ona River where Mwatakazembe, the traditional ruler of the Lunda people, performs rituals and pays homage to Chiefdom gods during the annual traditional ceremony.

Dr Kawimbe disclosed the plan when he inspected the road network and main arena for the Umutomboko ceremony in Mwansabombwe yesterday.

The minister said the umutomboko ceremony is a major tourist attraction in the province, hence government would render necessary support in efforts of marketing the vast tourism endowment of the province.

He said government through the Buildings Department would reconstruct the main arena by putting up a permanent structure.

The minister also said the department would also put up VIP toilets and a borehole to improve hygiene standards during for ceremony.

Dr. Kawimbe said the Rural Roads Unit, RRU, would soon move on site to work on the roads adding that the scope of works would include grading and gravelling of the roads.

“Government has realized that it cannot promote tourism in Luapula without highlighting the most important package which is the Umutomboko Traditional Ceremony.. so we are just doing the right thing that this year’s ceremony is supported as such so that we open up other attractions,” Dr. Kawimbe said.

He emphasised the need to intensify efforts of promoting the tourism industry in the province as it has the potential to help reduce poverty in the area.

Dr. Kawimbe said the province is endowed with an array of tourist attractions, which still remain unexploited due to lack of both domestic and foreign investment.

The minister also said plans are underway to improve access to all tourist sites.

“We realize that provision of access roads to these sites is important before we embark on advertising them to tourists and investors… our splendid tourist attractions are inaccessible by road even by air… so the approach is we need to provide access and then market,” Dr. Kawimbe said.

Luapula Province hosts seven waterfalls and is home to a rare black Letchwe species and the shoe bill stock bird which are only endemic to the Bangweulu plains.

ZANIS

Workers union welcomes move to compel civil servants declare their assets

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The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) has welcomed calls that civil servants should declare their assets and liabilities.

Union Vice president Beatrice Nyirongo says such a move is welcome as it will assist government in its quest to fight corruption and protect public funds from being misapplied at all levels.

Mrs. Nyirongo told ZANIS in an interview that in light of the rampant corrupt case in government institutions, there is need for government to put in place stringent measures aimed at protecting public funds.

She explained that by declaring assets, most workers in public offices will be scared to engage themselves in corrupt practices because any unexplainable rise in their assets would attract the attention of law enforcement agents.

Mrs. Nyirongo added that by declaring of assets and liabilities government would have the power to question any suspicious or excessive earnings thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the way public funds are spent.

She pointed out that despite public workers having certain privileges such as getting money from tours and other allowances, there is need for government to continue ensuring that people get exactly what rightfully belongs to them.

Mrs. Nyirongo further disclosed that by having such a mechanism in place, pubic resources will be administered accordingly and therefore benefiting all workers and a country as whole through developmental projects.

She also cited the recent K10 billion scam involving public funds at the Ministry of Health as one of the cases which would have been avoided if the people involved had there assets and liabilities declared.

The National Constitution Conference has adopted a clause that states that all government workers holding public offices should be declaring their assets and liabilities.

ZANIS

Strike affects Kitwe Central Hospital’s smooth operations

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Kitwe Central Hospital Acting Nursing Manager Gray Chishimba says operations at the institution were limping due to the continuous strike by unionized health staff.

Mr. Chishimba told ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday that currently only a skeleton staff of students were working.

He said the admission rate has also dropped from 300 per day to 200 patients.

He added that there was need for the health workers to resume work and allow their union leaders to conclude negotiations with government.

Mr. Chishimba said health workers formed a critical wing of government in terms of service delivery hence the need for them to resume work.

The health workers were demanding for a salary increament of K1.5m across the board.

The Health workers were also demanding that assets recovered from the K10 billion that was allegedly stolen from the Ministry of Health be sold and money channeled to clear out standing salary ares for health workers.

Among other grievances, the Staff were also calling on government to increase housing allowance to K1million.

Mr. Chishimba said the striking staff also want an enquiry into giving loans, like household and car loans.

The strike which started with a sit in protest on Friday has culminated in what management was considering an illegal strike.

The situation in government schools were teachers are striking was bad as operations have been crippled and schools deserted.

Public workers whose unions were currently negotiating with government have decided to go on strike to protest the 11% increment being offered by government.

ZANIS

Zambia National marketeers Association refutes Lubinda’s allegations

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Zambia National marketeers Association (ZANAMA) in Kitwe has refuted claims by PF spokesperson Given Lubinda that the association had been abusing marketeers and collecting money from them illegally.

ZANAMA Chairman Elvis Nkandu told ZANIS today in an interview that the objective of the association was to meet the interests and concerns of the marketers in order to improve their living standards.

“What Mr. Lubinda said is very untrue and embarrassing because we aim at protecting the interests of he marketeers to better their living standard Mr. Nkandu said.

Mr. Nkandu explained that every member of the association as well as the marketeers had an obligation to review their membership to snow their commitment to the association.

He added that the marketeers had the mandate to renew their membership under the societies Act.

Mr. Nkandu advised Mr. Lubinda not to comment on issues that he did not fully understand.

He urged Mr. Lubinda to devote time talking about developmental issues in the nation and not attacking ZANAMA.

“He needs to devote his time challenging the MMD government on issues that could bring development on issues that could bring development to the nation and not spend time attacking ZANAMA he said.

Mr. Nkandu noted that Mr. Lubinda should verify the statements that he makes by substantiating them with what is on the ground.

Earlier, Mr. Lubinda challenged the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership in the Copperbelt province to ensure that it sorted out the hooliganism at Chisokone market where ZANAMA was allegedly said to be terrorizing marketeers by collecting money from them illegally.

ZANIS

Clergyman vows not to listen to Anti-Government media

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A Masaiti based clergyman has vowed not to listen to a named community radio station and a daily tabloid due to what he says bad news content.

Kafulafuta Baptist Mission Rev. Kenox Luwawa speaking after the graduation ceremony of over 45 pastors said he had stopped to listen to the radio station because it was always anti-government.

He said had also stopped buying and reading the daily tabloid because its content was always anti government.

He said he had instructed his family members also not to listen to the radio station and not to read the tabloid for the same reasons.

He added that he had taken such a stance because information was important and causes certain impressions which would upset one in many ways.

He said he has considered it prudent to choose what to hear and what to read especially on issues that cast doubt on government programmes.

He said he was in full support of the government of the day and did not want his mind to be spoiled with information which was not encouraging.

He said it was important to hear building messages and reading encouraging words on what efforts government was putting in place to help people.

Rev. Luwawa added that it was important for people to choose what to hear and what to read because if they heard and read wrong information, their judgments could be wrong even on issues that were straightforward.

ZANIS

Ndola resident calls for immediate arrest of rich Civil Servant.

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A Ndola senior citizen has called for a quick arrest of a public officer who had been cited by the Anti-corruption Commission as being responsible for the K10 billion financial scam at ministry of health before other donors also follow suit in withholding their support to the ministry of health.

Mr. Isaac Chileshe told ZANIS in Ndola that it was a scandal of immense magnitude which must not be treated with kids gloves but decisively even for others to learn and desist from stealing public funds.

He said the public officer must be arrested so that he could start revealing others who were involved in the systematic embezzle because it must have been a well calculated criminal syndicate which must be handled with firmness.

He said it was time that the culture of financial discipline was not just talked about in public offices and seen to be promoted by punishing officers who were in office for personal gain.

He said his heart was bleeding when he heard that some donors have started withholding their financial support to the ministry of health because the mentioned suspects in the scam will not suffer the lack of services but the poor villagers in the rural Zambia.

He said the withholding of such donor support could leave some rural health centres without the required drugs for the provision of primary health care and subsequently the required necessary equipment in major hospitals to attend to serious cases.

Mr. Chileshe called for quick on the part of law enforces so that those who have abused public office for personal comfort where not being seen as heroes in the community because through their illegal acts have disadvantaged the innocent Zambians countrywide.

He said government should also with a strong resolve follow up the K120 million abuse by the Road development Agency (RDA) regional Office in Eastern Province which must be recovered in full regardless of who was involved because it was such acts which retarded development in Africa.

He said the RDA should not employee people with crooked and questionable character and put them in sensitive positions because it was a greater cost to national development.

He said if the K120 million goes for a song, government would need to procure other funds to do the same job parts of the country where waiting to have their turn of development consideration from the government.

He said the people of Zambia were not willing to see developmental funds going into individuals pockets at the expense of national development.

ZANIS

Itezh-itezhi Councillor and four others jailed for unlawful assembly

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Itezhi-tezhi district’s Lubanda ward councilor Harry Namaluba has been jailed for three years for participating in an unlawful assembly with intent to dethrone chief Shimbizhi of Itezhi-tezhi district.

This is a case in which the six, Harry Namaluba, 46, Harrison Shimbizhi, 70, Ford Kamano 40, Dyna Pilili, 78, Abraham Chella, 62 and Evans Kamano, 42, were jointly charged with the offence of participating in an unlawful assembly contrary to section 75 cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offense were that the six while acting together on 28 May 2008 in the district of Itezhi-tezhi took part in ununlawful assembly in Buunga area of Itezhi-tezhi district at which councilor Harry Namaluba being the master minder of the unlawful assembly incited chief Shimbizhi’ subjects to dethrone him on account that he was not respecting himself in manner befitting a chief in the Shimbizhi chiefdom.

The court also heard that Councilor Namaluba did not take the advice given to him by the headman of Shimbuwambombo village not to convene the assembly without the blessings of the chief but he went ahead and bragged that he was the area councilor and could hold meeting without a permit.

After considering evidence from six witnesses ,Magistrates Munalula convicted four of the accused, Harry Namaluba, 46, Harrison Shilupizhi, 70, Dyna Pilili, 78 and acquitted Ford Kamano, 40, Evans Kamano,42 on account that evidence has proved beyond reasonable doubt that they did not participate in the unlawful assembly.

In mitigation Harry Namaluba pleaded for the court’s leniency in deciding his punishment that he was married and had children.

And passing sentence Magistrates Munalula Mubita of the Namwala Mobile Court said that it is a serious crime to try to dethrone a chief without a court order and in order to deter other people with intent to dethrone chiefs he was going to punish them.

“I want to emphasize that no subject has power to overthrow a chief once he/she has been installed, the chief can only be removed by a court order. It is also a very serious offence to try to dethrone a chief for this, I am sending you to jail” he said.

Mr. Munalula also said that one is allowed to conduct a meeting without obtaining police permit except the President, Vice President, Ministers and Speaker of the National Assembly.

Magistrates Munalula Mubita sentenced Namaluba to three years imprisonment for being the master minder of the crime with effect from May 26, 2009, while Dyna Pilili,78 and Harrison Shilupizhi,70 were sentenced to 18 months simple imprisonment while Abraham Chella was slapped with an 18 month imprisonment with hard labour.

ZANIS

Two coal miners injured in mine accident in Sinazongwe

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Two miners at the Chinese Collume coal mine in Sinazongwe district have been injured in a mine accident underground.

Both Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Mungoni Simulilika and the Chinese Shift General Manager Lewis Chiyumba confirmed the development to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS).

Mr Chiyumba explained that the accident occurred yesterday at 18:00 hours at shaft two b and they were rushed to Maamba Hospital.

He said a rock fell down as the two miners Anold Siamutuku 21 and Akeshi Siambede 21 were drilling underground.

The shift boss said they were 12 miners working underground at the time of the accident and the 10 of them escaped unhurt.

And Mr Simulilika said the condition of the two injured men who have been admitted at Maamba Hospital is stable.

Mr Simulilika appealed to mine safety department to have regular checks at the Nkandabbawe Collume coal mine to ensure that the safety standards were maintained.

A check at the Collume Coal mine by ZANIS found that the qualified personnel in the safety department have resigned citing poor conditions of service.

On 4th January this year the Chief Inspector for the Mine Billy Chewe handed a letter to the CCCM management instructing them that operations at the mines have been suspended with immediate effect.

Mr Chewe said it was clear that the mine was no longer safe following the two fatal accidents which included a Chinese national recorded in less than one month.

ZANIS

Have sufficient funds for medication in SA or else – Mbula

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Morningside Medi-Clinic Hospital in South Africa
Morningside Medi-Clinic Hospital in South Africa

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula has urged Zambians wishing to undergo specialist medical treatment in South Africa to ensure that they have adequate funds before traveling to avoid being prematurely discharged.

Mr. Mbula has observed that they have been increasing cases of self-sponsored Zambians who travel to South Africa for specialist treatment but run out of funds before completing their treatment.

“Medical treatment in South Africa is very expensive, people planning to come here for treatment as self sponsored patients must first find out what the costs involved before traveling,” he said.[quote]

He explained that when a patient was no longer able to pay for his or her medicals, the private doctors could even switch off or remove any life-saving equipment the patients were using hence causing loss of life.

The High Commissioner further added that it is pointless to spend much money on travel and medical costs when at the end one would not be able to complete the treatment due to having insufficient funds.

This is contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka this evening and signed by second secretary for press at the Zambian missission, Philip Chirwa.

ZANIS

President Banda receives financial scam report

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President Rupiah Banda
President Rupiah Banda

President Rupiah Banda has received an interim report on the alleged financial scam at the Ministry of Health where billions of funds are alleged to have been misapplied by civil servants.

President Banda says the interim report shows that the amounts involved in the scam could be higher than what was initially reported going by the number of people and companies implicated in the scam.

He however, said he will wait for the final report from the Auditor-General who is currently conducting a forensic audit at the Ministry of Health.

This is contained in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka this evening and signed by special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere

Mr Banda noted that it is clear that the corruption and theft of public funds at the Ministry of Health started a long time ago going by the interim findings by the Office of Auditor- General although the last part of the payment were made in 2008.

The report showed that most of the alleged funds were stolen in recent years up to December 2008 through various payments to a number of identified companies which were paid for goods and services which where never delivered.

It reads that some payments seemed to have been made during the illness and the consequent death of the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

And the President has since submitted that all civil servants or their agents mentioned in the scam and who are currently under investigation should not be allowed to enter the Ministry’s premises until further notice.

He explained that the decision is aimed at protecting and securing evidence as wells as to prevent any interference with the on going investigations, adding that law enforcement agencies should arrest and charge all the people involved where sufficient evidence has been established.

Meanwhile, President Banda has directed Finance and National Planning Minster Situmbeko Musokotwane and Secretary to the Treasury Likolo Ndalamei to immediately provide additional funds to the Office of the Auditor- General and the Anti Corruption Commission to help them expedite the investigations in the scam.

He said the Office of Auditor- General which has been carrying out audits in the scam should take a lead in the going investigations and submit their relevant evidence to the law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution.

And the President his morning held closed-door meeting with various aid donors and cooperative partners where he briefed them on the findings of the ongoing investigations and the decisions which he has taken so far.

President Banda also urged the donor community to take keen interest in the ongoing investigations and asked those willing to provide technical assistance to the Office of the Auditor-General in order to speed up the investigation process.

He further reiterated his position on the need to enhance the fight against corruption and theft of public funds, and he also assured the nation that all those involved in the theft of public funds will be brought to book.

ZANIS

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