PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated that there shall be no sacred cows, anyone found wanting in the corruption allegations and mismanagement of resources at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) will face the full force of the law.
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This follows a comprehensive forensic audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an audit, commissioned by President Hichilema last year.
It reportedly uncovered long-standing systemic issues, including significant price inflation of medicine, procedural irregularities, and the diversion of essential medical supplies.
A situation which also reportedly led to the US government cutting US$50 million in medical aid to this country.
The President in a press release issued today, by State House chief communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka, confirmed that preliminary findings of the PwC audit were shared with cooperating partners at State House.
“While the President’s decision to engage an external auditor initially met hostility from opposition quarters, who are ironically now citing its findings, he stood firm in prioritising integrity over partisanship,” read the press release.
While specific details of the findings were not immediately released, the government stated that the matters identified are now under investigation by relevant law enforcement agencies.
“There shall be no sacred cows, anyone found wanting will face the full force of the law,” the President Hakainde Hichilema’s statement read, reiterating a firm stance against corruption.
The Office of the President also noted that everyone remains innocent until proven guilty, and findings will be made public once investigations and due process have concluded.
The audit was initiated amidst growing concerns over the integrity of Zambia’s medical supply chain, including suspected large-scale pilferage and the procurement of drugs at massively inflated prices.
Previous reports highlighted issues such as contract worth millions of Kwachas awarded to companies not registered with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), and the alleged diversion of 61 containers of medical supplies from Egypt to a private warehouse.
In response to the preliminary audit findings, State House highlighted several actions that the government has already undertaken such as the dissolution of the ZAMMSA Management Board to overhaul the agency’s leadership structure.
They have advertised for a new ZAMMSA Director General, seeking strong leadership to drive institutional renewal.
Furthermore, Intensified Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) operations have already led to arrests and prosecutions of individuals involved in diverting government medicines.
State House shared that Government has also established a National Drug Taskforce designed for real-time monitoring and prevention of theft within the supply chain.
In addition, Implementation of an advanced digital stock-tracking system at ZAMMSA was part of the resolutions aimed to enhance transparency and reduce opportunities for diversion.
State House indicated that additional reforms are currently underway as relevant departments continue to review the audit’s recommendations.
“The President remains unwavering in his commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and service delivery in the medical sector, ensuring that every
Zambian has access to the medicines and care they deserve,” shared the President’s Office.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba July 15, 2025
