The Zambian Government has repaid the K13 billion donor funds that were allegedly misappropriated last year by some Ministry of Health officials.
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said the Zambian Government was committed to paying back the donor funds, and assured that the balance of K16 billion from the K29 billion would also be paid back.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a media breakfast on the update of the recent Zambian delegation’s visit to Geneva Switzerland, Mr Simbao said the alleged misappropriation of funds at the ministry last year was embarrassing for the Zambian Government.
Mr Simbao pledged Government’s commitment to the proper utilisation of donor funds in the country’s health sector.
“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.
“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said.
Mr Simbao said the ministry would not spend any funds on workshops and seminars in 2011.
[pullquote]“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.
“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said. [/pullquote]
All workshops and seminars would instead be funded by donors and other partners.
“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.
While in Geneva, Mr Simbao held discussions with officials from the United Nations HIV/Aids agency (UNAIDS) who assured him that the UN was interested in seeing Zambia’s image restored, and being able to access funding normally.
He reassured the donors that all money spent by his ministry would from now on be with the approval of only the permanent secretary.
The funds would now be subjected to both internal and external audits.
The Swedish government had insisted on all its funds to the government, being approved only by the permanent secretary (PS), and that no one acting in that position should approve spending of these funds.
Because of the stringent demands by the donors, the Health permanent secretary had been unable to travel outside the country.
As a result, the PS was not even able to attend the recently held World health Assembly meeting.
This measure had been taken to ensure the PS was always available to approve spending of donor funds.
Mr Simbao said all wrong doers in the Ministry of Health would be subjected to the due process of the law.
The ministry was anxious about the outcome of the courts ruling on the alleged misappropriation of donor funds by the Ministry of Health last year.
The ministry had also suffered the loss of manpower through the suspension of 35 officers, allegedly connected to the scam.
“Whatever the courts decide will be good for us, we will be able to know whether to restore our suspended officers, or make replacements, so we are waiting for the courts to decide, as the absence of 35 members of staff has stressed our operations,” he said.
World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Olusegun Babaniyi said the UN had appreciated that the Zambian Government had shown it was not supporting the misuse of donor funds.
Dr Babaniyi pledged the continued support by the UN to help Zambia get back to its previous position with regard to donor funding.
And Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund chairperson Mwingache Siamwiza said the CCM had decided to appoint the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the principle recipient of global funds meant for the health sector.
The CCM had suspended the Ministry of Health from being the principle recipient of the funds and the UNDP would now receive and disburse all global funds to the ministry.
“Global Fund had made the decision not to disburse the funds for round four, because the Ministry of Health had not met the required conditionality at the time, but following the minister’s visit to Geneva, the ministry would have access to US$8 million,” he said.
Times of Zambia ]
This is confusing to me. Whilst it’s good to pay back what was misappriopriated, I think the MMD Govt., is trying to woodwink the Donors. After paying back, they want to then share the loot with Kapoko the man at the centre of the scam or theft. It is strongly believed in the Ministry of Health that senior Govt., officials were involved. kapoko was a soft target. DR. Miti is also involved but not arrested up to now. Why? remember the plea letter he wrote to the President. Zambians let’s also demand a refund of the tax payers money used to pay back to the Donors. We should demand it from the people that stole and also jail sentences to the thieves. Ala we cant waste tax payers money like this. This shows Zambia is rich but priorities wrong and thieves are helped to steal. Ala.
Is this an admission that donor funds have been mismanaged?
We said it that this is government of thieves. U see now the minister has acknowledged misappropriation of Donor funds!! To hell with this mmd/unip government full of dogs.
“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.
Mr Simbao,is this when it has come to your attention? People are building them houses in Chalala(Plunderersdale) cos of seminars and workshops.I have beef for donor funds cos they dont reach intended people and instaed breed corruption.Dead Aid for real!!
I stand to be corrected; did the looted fundz have to be paid back to the donerz or just transparently used for its intended purpoze? In the minister’z own statement, there waz care-free spending az there were no audits.
I am totally confused about this. Someone explain to me please! Is this K13 billion the money ‘recovered’ from Plunderers in the Ministry of Health? Have they (Kapoko and others) been found guilty already in courts? Have they received sentences? Where has Govt sourced this K13 billion from?????? or part of this money is money meant for salaries of civil servants, who are still having problems receiving their Pay??? Where has this money come from???????????????
Yes, it is very confusing. The amount of money alleged to have been stolen is K29 billion and yet the amount before the courts of law is much less. The fact that the government has started paying back the money means that it is no longer an allegation but a fact. Won’t this influence the magistrate’s judgement?
GRZ has no balls to pay back that monies. Their balls were squeezed by the donors. GRZ is full of it – malabo
It is good we have an admission that donor money was stolen and accourding to the minister some 13 million was paid back. Which country received this refund we would like to know. How can RB say, zambia does not need donor money when his mmd people are stealing this money. Donor countries should not be blackmailed by RB and Chiluba. Chiluba is fighting his own battle with the London Judgement that found him quilt of stealing. RB is blindly following Chiluba and putting himself in a mess. Why now are you appealing for donor money when you said you do not need it. Is RB ok or has he got health problems. Maybe it is time for RB to retire and let other rule.
Govt thru MoH paying back when the same guy is on his knees seeking donor support 4 measles treatment?
quite embarrassing. pay it back to the last cent:-w
Is this 13 million coming from kapoka, Miti and group? Have they paid back what they store or its tax payers money the MMD thieves have used to pay the donors? This is again day light theft by the MMD thieves, why should they take money from Zambians to pay for Kapoka, Miti and group’s theft? Miti and Kapoka still are enjoying their loot…this is madness.
I think this 13 billion is the money which has been deducted from the civil servants salaries. Civil servant in Zambia are complainig about unknown deductions from their salaries. This is really sad that the MMD can do this to the innocent workers. Very sad indeed. Thats why we have to chase the MMD thieves come 2011..:o:o:o
”He reassured the donors that all money spent by his ministry would from now on be with the approval of only the permanent secretary. The funds would now be subjected to both internal and external audits.” interesting! So, there were no internal or external audits before??
I think our ministers are full of a lot of crap! They simply cannot do things the correct way. I really wonder, if one is asked to walk from town to manda hill, why pass through Garden compound, emmasdale, lilanda and then go to Manda Hill. Just do things correctly the first time and you can avoid this rubbish. why payback, just tel them how you plan to appropriate the funds! Did the donors ask for the money back.?i find this childish, do we have educated people in govt?? I really wonder…
This is the accountability donors have been talking about. If the government doesnt have enough security measures to prevent such thefts it means theres no accountability. Thats why its so shameful to have the entire president even trying to defend his government that its not corrupt
“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said.
It is highly placed people in the ministry who stole the money they were suppose to safeguard therefore it is government who stole the money. what is worse is that it is common knowledge that those who still do so to assist fund MMD campaigns for by-elections.
If zambia can pay back the stolen money, it means that it an survive without wothout the same dono
r funds
#16 It is not ‘our people’ it was the government that it accountable. The government manages the country on behalf of Zambians. The government requested the money from donors, but did not account for it. Yes individuals stole, but they were allowed to steal by the government. The government did NOT even know that the stealing was taking place until donors blew the whistle and started witholding aid. Someone in government, a political appointee is culpable. An alternative view is that the government is incompetent at managing national and donor resources. Which option do you subscribe to?
This is interesting. Can the Minister tell the nation where this K13 Billion came from? Where have they recovered the money? Has anyone been convicted and paid back that loot? It is to no use for this Government to pretend that they are fighting corruption by just so called paying back what was looted without convicting the Miti’s of this world Kapoko and other big fish in the government. Just looting somewhere else to payback is criminal. Hope the Donor community will question where this money came from. Just yesterday Simbao was crying for help from Donors to fight measles. Today he is paying back K13 Billion from where? Where is the opposition to ask where this money has been sourced? Seems we have loads of it hiding somewhere.
“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.
IS DR. RUPIAH BANDA AMONG THESE
MMD Chief Bootlicker, what do you have to say about your boss’s outburst on donors? Dont remain ziiii. If that was said by opposite you would have been the first person to errupt like a vocano. You are living proof that manure can grow legs and walk.
MMD Chief Bootlicker, what do you have to say about your boss’s outburst on donors? Dont remain ziiii. If that was said by opposition you would have been the first person to errupt like a vocano. You are living proof that manure can grow legs and walk.
This totally embarrassing on the part of Govt, one wonders how these chaps work and use the money. It is just recently when he the minister of health was appealing to the donors to sponsor the measles immunization in the country claiming that they do have enough money or should I say resources. Then he comes up to say they have paid 13 Billion back, bullshit where did they get that money from? Why didn’t they use the same money for immunization instead of paying it back when in fact the cases are still in court? This govt is full of S.H.I.T, they have not paid the police officers’ salaries and really where did that money come from. Simbao is bullshitting us and maybe they are simply using those junior officers as scapegoats and he knows very well about the K29billion scandal! :-w
lol #20 Deja vu you cracked me up=))
govt ha paid back the money kapoko stole to banked up PF 2008 elections. who were camped at kapoko lodge in 2008 if not pf.
GRZ INSTITUTED THE INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCOVERED MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM DONORS.DONORS WANTED THEIR MONEY TO BE USED IN CERTAIN AREAS WHICH THEY HAD PLANNED.GRZ TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT SUPERVISING THE FUNDS. SO GIVE THE DONORS THEIR MONEY AND START THE PROCESS AGAIN. WE HAVE LEARNT LEOSONS JUST AS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DID WHEN ITS MPS WERE PAYING THEMSELVES FOR THEIR PERSONAL SERVICES FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDS
Money being paid back? Confusing indeed. I agree with #6. Where did the money come from? Which project is on stand still because of the same? Am very sure the poor civil servant will have to suffer the consiquencies of the so-called money pay back.
Surprise us and tell us Kapoko is paying back in installments!
Yes this is not confusing at all—— a government wing ACC discovered anomalies at the Ministry of Health . subsequently investigations led to the suspension of a number of officials some of who are appearing in court. The donors demand the money they have contributed to Ministry of health back . the government repays .part of that money as it is them who were responible for administering it.
So jackal, #23 the money is from state coffers they are repaying because of the failure by goverment to properly manage the funds. the alleged theft is a result. the failure to pay police officers is also unrelated , this ia an administrative problem created by fact that government has implemented a new accounting system
# 27 Kapoka is accused to missapropriating part of that money so on the court can order him to pay back.Certainly some other projects are on stand by . Not only the por civil servant but all of us will have to pay the consequences of paying back
Good Afternoon,
I do not see anything confusing about paying back what has been misappropriated. To me, it is a self-explanatory act of accountability and taking responsibilty of the wrongs that certain selfish Zambian individuals have committed in order to save the collective reputation of the entire country.
It takes a mature government to come out like this in the open and face the allegations instead of playing the never-ending game of denial.
After all, let us bear in mind that the donor countries of today are the very same ones that once ostensibly colluded with their imperialist forces to scramble for and loot our continent’s treasury of natural resources. So at the bottom line the question is who should be paying back who?:-?
# 18 Charlee Harper, probably both apply. One thing for sure is governmneet did not mange the resouces competently so from that view they were incompetent. As for politicall appointee’s I really dont know if ant appointee has been charged though the former health PS is on suspension ( since all PS’s are appointed by the President and therefore political appointee’s )
What is it implying, paying and begging? these are jokes guyz.
#30, Herr Chale, Guten Tag!!
The question about this confusion is the fact that all those (Henry Kapoka and others) who were accused of misappropriation have not yet been found guilty (atleast according to my knowledge) by the courts. So for Govt to pay back K13bn, it means some other sources of money have suffered in the process. This payback would make sense if the Kapoko team was found guilty and ordered by the courts to return the money. This has not happened yet, and Henry team is still innocent. On who should pay back? The one who misapplied the funds should be made to bring back the money( ‘misappropriation’ here means using public money for personal purposes).
embarrassment for all off us.
# 33 napapa sana, it is the pipo resposible for managing the funds i.e Goverment who should be held responsible. the government are the ones with a contracy with donors. If i give you 1 million Kwacha and ask you to use it to buy a house for me, you are responsible for that money. So even if your employee / agent etc misuses the money. I would be perfectly right to demand a refund even in the event that your employee is in court for charges relating to the money.
They are throwing dirt in our eyes.
Its a mockery. They steal from the Zambian people in the first place and they are going to use tax payers money to pay back? How stupi-d do these people think we are? Government is not some kind of entity that generates money on its own. Its oversees the people’s money – tax payers money. The people’s money. Its makes no sense for this two-faced bootlicker Simbao to say government will make this right by taking from the people again. Find and convict the thieves. Recover the money from them.
You are out there overseas and don’t understand the implication of GRZ TO DONORS. What we should wait and see ,is what the SO CALLED DONORS will do with that money. please read DEADAID by moyo. this is a test and case study for both African politics and African-donor case study.
Postitivist pa ZEd, I suppose my point is that if they are incompetent, the next question is; why should they continue in or form the next government? It is brave of this young man to contradict his political boss and seek help from donors to help mitigate the loss of life. It is very frustrating to know that Zambia has very capable people, but the quality of political leadership, regardless of education remains very poor, and for this, the Zambian electorate should share in the blame. If you leave a monkey in a forest, you should not be surprised if you next find him swinging from one tree to the next.
does zambia have enough funds now to waste…?why pay back?they shud account for the cash..and where are u getting that cash as a govt..?tel us
Just like I said, the truth is coming out slowly but surely! MMD thru RB have stolen more than what Chiluba himself stole…these guys have used the ACC and former Task Force tactics and have learnt how to steal without being obvious. Its now donor funds that are at stake. RB frequent travels is just one scheme to hide the money with the help of other leaders in other countries! Do you know what happened in Mfuwe where the president and his entire family like visiting? Do you know what is underground in Mfuwe? RB is not as slow as he looks… Chiluba was hiding his money and clothes in trunks in Lusaka and Ndola but this is too risky! MMD has become masters of the underground tunnels in Mfuwe.
SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!SHAME!!!!**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-(**==[-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-(
MMD (make money & disappear) unfortunately the hard working and honest Zambians are left to suffer. God help us. :(/:)
Aaha! chinalila bena Kapoko pa Zambia mamamama, I know a girl who used to mess with Kapoko and he bought her a house, some cars and start up money for a ka business in Kitwe. Dr Miti and his goons bena Kapoko need to pay for every person that lost their life to a curable disease due to lack of medication in hospitals.
The one responsible for all this mess is the govt not Kapoko; given chance any one can steal including anyone who is alive
#41… Do tell. Were you one of the architects building the mfuwe tunnels? Tunnels or no tunnels, Banda, his family, and co-horts will give back the state money. No-one gets away with stealing people’s money. They may hide it, but they wont be able to spend it. Things are gonna change, the new govt will make sure cases of theft of public money will not drag but swiftly executed and robbers put away. We need to continue rebuilding our beautiful country with clean hands.
If government has money to pay misappropriated money back to the donors, it shows that it does not need donor assistance. Secondly, why did the courts give Kapoko access to his money because by the time he is convicted, if ever, all the accounts will have been swept clean. Government needs to enact a proceeds of crime law so that all assets procured through crime are forfeited to the state. It happens in other countries whose laws we are told Zambia follows.
shootist says:
07/04/2010 at 10:39
we appeal to the government to investigate the fraudulent activities of the ZANACO bank . The bank has swindled unsuspecting client million of kwacha especially those with savings.if one leaves a k1,000,000 the next time you want to withdraw you are told you have no money meanwhile you want to withdraw only K500,000 and the book balance is K250,000.who takes the other amount.when you complain you are accused of having forgotten that you withdrew the money.very useless excuse.who are they saving?
#48 such thefts should be reported to the nearest Police Station so that investigations can be started. Let us be free to fight for what belongs to us, there could be more people in the same boat.We should not allow thieves to build houses out of our had earned money.
What does he mean when he says it’s “our people” who stole the money? atase
“Collateral damage control” :)>-
This is very confusing indeed. It just raises a lot of questions than answers.
How was this money sourced?
Where did they get this money from?
Is it not teachers’ salaries or civil servants salaries or both?
Why should we pay back when we need the same money to fund the suffering and the hungry poor families?
Have the thieves been caught and money has been recovered?
Is Bwezani really taking back what is due to the donors?
Is this admission of guilty by the MMDs?
Is Bwezani now able to answer the donors question that requires a simple Yes or No answer; now that he has paid back the money?
The list is endless???????
#48 you are the only person who has spoken my language. The People in Government have distroyed banking. instead of money growing it goes down and finishes. the Government which depends on donors when are you yourselves going to donate. that is why God can not bless you because you can not donate. BANK SAVINGS SHOULD START TO BE MEANINGFUL LIKE OLD TIMES… AS LONG AS THE BANKS ARE STEALING DO NOT LEAVE YOU MONEY IN THE BANK, WHAT FOR, DEPOSIT ONLY WHEN YOU WANT TO ISSUE A CHEQUE.