Zambia’s overseas minister has warned diplomats in opposition to interfering within the nation’s affairs, days after the US ambassador raised issues in regards to the “systematic theft” of medication donated to the southern African state.
Mulambo Haimbe stated there was an “rising tendency” by envoys to disregard diplomatic channels, and this might undermine the “spirit of mutual respect”.
He didn’t title anybody, however his feedback have been seen as being directed on the US ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales.
Final week, Gonzales called a press conference to announce that the US was cutting $50m (£37m) of health aid to Zambia due to the theft of life-saving drugs that the US had supplied for sufferers.
He added that he had determined to go public after holding greater than 30 fruitless conferences with senior Zambian officers.
In his response, Haimbe stated that addressing the federal government via the media amounted to interference and was in breach of diplomatic conventions.
“We stay open to addressing any issues of concern via applicable diplomatic channels,” the minister added.
Final week, the US embassy stated it had offered its findings of the alleged corruption to Zambian officers in April final 12 months, and had provided assist to cease additional theft and to deliver the culprits to justice.
Nonetheless, no motion was taken by the Zambian authorities, it added.
On Monday, Zambia’s Dwelling Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu stated {that a} forensic audit on the alleged theft had been accomplished and handed over to safety businesses for additional motion.
About 75 individuals have been arrested in a national crackdown that noticed greater than 400 well being services raided over the alleged rip-off, he stated.
“There will probably be no sacred cows on this pursuit,” Mwiimbu added.
Gonzales stated that an inspection carried out by US officers at greater than 2,000 pharmacies final 12 months had discovered that almost all have been promoting medicine and medical provides donated by the US.
Zambia’s Well being Minister Elijah Muchima earlier said the problem of theft predated the current government, which took workplace in 2021.
Muchima additionally stated a number of Zambian officers had been sacked following the thefts recognized by the US, and that “a sophisticated digital inventory monitoring system” had been set as much as monitor the provision of medicines.
The reduce in US help, anticipated to take impact subsequent 12 months, would have an effect on medicine to deal with malaria, HIV and TB.
However the well being minister has reassured Zambians that there have been enough shares of all medicine so there was “no rapid threat of shortages”.
Gonzales stated the current US measure was separate to the overseas help freeze introduced by President Donald Trump in January.
The freeze has affected well being programmes throughout Africa, together with shipments of vital medical provides, amongst them HIV medicine.
In March, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema stated Trump had “slapped us on each cheeks”, saying it was time for his nation to strengthen its treasury to obtain its personal medicines.
The US accounts for a few third of public well being spending in Zambia, in keeping with the US embassy.
