By 
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested former Acting Permanent Secretary for Administration at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sivah Kachimba, together with senior officials from the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supply Agency (ZAMMSA) and directors of private companies.
DEC Director-General, Nason Banda, said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday that the arrests form part of ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in the health sector, bringing the total number of individuals charged in the matter to 10, including four who were picked up earlier this year.
Dr. Kachimba was arrested for wilful failure to comply with laid-down procurement procedures.
Others arrested included Japhet Phiri, a Procurement Specialist at ZAMMSA, for forgery and uttering false documents; Sipho Banda, a Senior Procurement Officer at ZAMMSA, for conspiracy to commit a felony; and Chanda Napanje, also a Senior Procurement Officer at ZAMMSA, for conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery and uttering false documents.
Godfrey Kabengele, Director at Mukushi Business Venture, was charged with dealing in allied substances without a pharmaceutical license and money laundering, while Kankomba Kakompe, Director at Lumumba Pharmaceuticals, was arrested for obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences and money laundering.
His co-accused, Nchimunya Collins Habadu, is still at large but faces charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences, forgery and uttering false documents.
Those who were earlier arrested in connection with the same investigations included former ZAMMSA Director-General Victor Nyasulu, former Director of Supply Planning Nalishebo Siyandi, former Ministry of Health Finance Manager Benjamin Nsenje, and former ZAMMSA Director Procurement Collins Nchimunya Habadu.
Banda said the law enforcement agencies intend to conclude the investigations soon so that policy directions can be revisited to guide the medical supply chain and prevent a recurrence of the irregularities that have long plagued the sector.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter, DEC has successfully forfeited to the state several properties in Chirundu District believed to be proceeds of crime.
Read More : Drug Enforcement Commission arrests Zambians, Zimbabweans in cross-border drug bursts
These included 9.5 hectares of land along the Zambezi River, 70 hectares near Chiwena School with structures, 10 hectares along the Siavonga Road, 43.1 hectares in Mwiingi Village along the Kafue River, and 170 hectares of farmland near Zamtel Farm.
Banda further disclosed that investigators had established that the property owner also obtained 2,000 hectares of land in Siavonga, which he subdivided into 250-hectare plots and registered under various names, including those of his companies.
He said this property is also likely to be forfeited to the state.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR
Comments