ZAMBIA has lambasted foreign diplomats accredited to Zambia for allegedly undermining and interfering in her sovereignty by breaching diplomatic protocols and using the country’s media to red-flag government on its internal matters.
At a joint press briefing yesterday, Mulambo Haimbe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has sternly warned diplomats to immediately stop and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Zambia as the country was a sovereign state.
Mr Haimbe has told the foreign envoys to use established diplomatic channels in engaging the Zambian government over their concerns instead of rushing to the media.
The scolding of diplomats accredited comes at the heels of the United States government exposing grand theft and looting of donated life-saving medicines and the failure by leadership to take action despite having had 33 meetings in which complaints about rampant pilfering of drugs were raised.
Michael Gonzales, the US to Zambia recently made depressing revelations about how life-saving drugs were being rampantly stolen and being sold in more than 2000 private pharmacies across the the country and yet the UPND government has ignored to take action and curb the theft of drugs.
“We are concerned with the growing trend of some ambassadors and high commissioners using the media to express grievances that can be resolved through proper diplomatic channels. We urge the ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Zambia to refrain from interfering in the internal matters of the country but should use established diplomatic channels and protocols to rause their concerns,” Mr Haimbe said.
And speaking on behalf of the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwiimbu announced that a forensic audit into the theft of government medicines had been concluded and submitted to security agencies for further action.
He said the audit, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), was commissioned following concerns raised by cooperating partners and the public about rampant pilferage of medicines in public health institutions.
Mr Mwiimbu said the audit, covering the period from January 2023 to July 2024, focused on medicines funded by USAID and other international donors, and managed through the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).
He revealed that the forensic audit has already resulted in sweeping enforcement actions. “So far, 75 individuals have been arrested, including five linked to the Ministry of Health, pointing to a coordinated syndicate involved in the theft,” he said.
Mr Mwiimbu said out of those arrested, 27 have been convicted and fined, while three former ZAMMSA directors have been charged for procurement violations that led to wastage and the acquisition of expired medicines. Their cases are now with the National Prosecution Authority.
He added that a total of 401 facilities were raided nationwide in the crackdown, in what government described as a sign of its zero-tolerance stance on public resource theft.
“There are no sacred cows in this pursuit, we are committed to transparency and cooperating partners had been engaged prior to the start of the audit.” Mr Mwiimbu said.
The joint briefing came days after the U.S. Embassy publicly announced a suspension of certain health aid programs following findings of stolen U.S.-funded drugs being sold in unauthorized outlets.
The embassy said the theft undermined donor trust and called for accountability.
The joint statement was signed by Mwiimbu, Haimbe, and Minister of Health Dr. Elijah Muchima.
