Reshuffling of ministers is a start but suspension is better – OCIDA
Reshuffling of ministers is a start but suspension is better – OCIDA
OUR Civic Duty Association (OCIDA) has expressed cautious optimism regarding recent government reshuffles but emphasised the need for more decisive actions to address systemic issues.
Ambassador Leslie Mbula, a founding trustee of OCIDA, stated that while reshuffles within the Ministry of Health are a start, more substantial measures are required to achieve meaningful reform.
“We must do a bit more than mere transfers because you transfer a problem from one place to another. The best approach would be to suspend, investigate, and, if cleared, reinstate,” Mbula said during a media briefing yesterday.
This statement comes in the wake of the ZAMMSA drug supply scandal, where drugs were found stored in a private warehouse, causing significant financial losses for the government.
Since the scandal, President Hakainde Hichilema reshuffled the Minister of Heath, Silvia Masebo and Minister of Lands Elijah Muchima who swapped ministries.
Others who where reshuffled include Collins Nzovu from Green Economy who swapped with Mike Mposha from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
The country also saw the Minister of Energy Peter Kapala transfer to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, exchanged with Makozo Chikote.
OCIDA expressed deep concern over the recent Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) scandal, where drugs were diverted to a private warehouse, incurring significant demurrage costs for the government.
Mbula described the conduct of ZAMMSA management as negligent, especially given their critical role in ensuring the supply of essential drugs to the Zambian people.
“It is disheartening that management at ZAMMSA would allow such a situation to happen,” Mbula stated.
“The challenges at ZAMMSA were also necessitated by the inefficiencies at the Ministry of Health.”
He called for a thorough investigation of both the Ministry of Health officials and ZAMMSA management involved in the matter.
“We demand that all those who are subject to these investigations should be sent on leave during the period of such investigations,” Mbula urged.
He also commended President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive for a forensic audit to ascertain the extent of wrongdoing.
“We commend this policy position taken by the President and hope it will yield results where culprits are punished appropriately so that confidence in our health sector is restored among the citizens,” he said.
The association highlighted the need for an overhaul of government systems to root out inefficiencies, not only within the Ministry of Health but across all sectors.
“The medicines supply fiasco has revealed some administrative weaknesses in our systems. This requires an overhaul of government systems to root out this prevalent vice,” Mbula said.
OCIDA also addressed the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) practice of withholding the names of ministers under investigation.
“It is okay to facilitate effective investigations rather than going public immediately,” Mbula commented. “You might tarnish the image of that person when you find they are innocent. But when you investigate and find that they have a case to answer, then you can go public.”
However, Mbula acknowledged the public’s right to know about suspected corrupt officials, especially when investigations are ongoing.
He urged the media to play a crucial role in restoring the reputations of individuals acquitted of corruption allegations.
“If someone has been acquitted, let’s come out just as we did when they were accused,” he said. “This helps realign public perception and ensures that justice is fairly administered.”
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba July 27, 2024