By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested and charged former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Kennedy Malama, with two counts of Willful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law.
In the first count, Dr Malama 53, of Ibex Hill, Lusaka on dates unknown but August 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 , being the Permanent Secretary in charge of Administration, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, willfully fail to comply with applicable procedure by terminating contract number MoH/ORD/004/15 between the Ministry of Health and Savenda Management Services for supply and delivery of 50 basic life support ambulances, supply and delivery of major spare parts for the ambulances and training of personnel.
And in count two Dr Malama on dates unknown but between August 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 being a Director of Health Promotion, Environment and Social Determinants at the Ministry of Health and member of the Ministerial Procurement Committee, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, willfully fail to comply with applicable procedure by approving the Ministerial Procurement Committee paper no. 131 of 2017, which paper recommended the use of limited bidding international as the appropriate method of procurement of 50 ambulances without providing the justifications or reasons in the said Ministerial Procurement Committee paper no. 131 of 2017 for the use or choice of this method of procurement.
ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe said the Commission has arrested and charged the former Head of Procurement and Supplies Unit at the Ministry of Health, Wilson Lungu 37, with one count of Willful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure.
Ms Chibwe said Mr Lungu of Chalala Waterworks, Lusaka on dates unknown but between August 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 being the Head of the Procurement and Supplies Unit at the Ministry of Health and member of the Ministerial Procurement Committee, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, willfully Fail to Comply with Applicable Procedure by approving Ministerial Procurement Committee paper no. 131 of 2017.
Which paper recommended the use of limited bidding international as the appropriate method of procurement of 50 ambulances without providing the justifications or reasons in the said Ministerial Procurement Committee paper no. 131 of 2017 for the use or choice of this method of procurement.
She said the duo has been released on ACC Bond and will appear in Court soon.
Meanwhile, ACC in Mansa has arrested and charged a Court Messenger for corrupt practices involving K1,000.
Albert Kashimbaya, a Court Messenger58, of Sumbu Village in Mansa District has been charged with one count of corrupt practices.
Details are that on unknown dates but between November 15, 2021 and November29, 2021 Kashimbaya as a Court Messenger at Mansa Local Court jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown did corruptly solicit for K1,500 and actually received K1,000 cash gratification from Lawrence Chilindi, a retiree of the Judiciary of Zambia as an inducement or reward for purporting to facilitate for the quick processing of his retirement benefits, a matter or transaction involving the Judiciary of Zambia, a public body.
The arrest follows a surveillance operation that was conducted. The suspect has been released on bond and will appear in court soon. Anti-Corruption
