By: Anthony Bwalya
Other than having conveyed my sincere condolences to the Mulenga family through my friend Choolwe Mulenga, I have also sort permission through him, to make reference to his beloved late sister Dr. Abigail Mulenga in my discussion.
Let me mention for the record, that this is not a politicization of Dr. Abigail Mulenga’s death, nor is it an attempt to interfere with the family’s grieving process. Dr. Mulenga gave her life for all of us. She died serving the country and the people she loved very much.
The best way to honour her life is to speak freely about the system she served. The same system that failed her.
Even when the system failed to pay her salary for Two (2) months, she continued to work diligently and with dedication. She is not the only one.
Yet in her final moments of need, the system failed her. We all failed her.
Because what Dr. Mulenga went through in her final moments of life, is precisely what thousands of ordinary people go through on an everyday basis – crying out to a system that has no regard for the suffering of ordinary people.
When Dr. Mulenga needed painkillers the most, the hospital could not provide her with painkillers. When Dr. Mulenga needed a physician the most, when she was unable to help herself, the family had to beg for a physician to see her.
As we continue to have this difficult but necessary discussion, there are millions of Zambians who need life-saving medical assistance but the system just cannot help them.
Abigail died begging for her life.
My own father, even after his life had deteriorated, the system could not give him critical pain management drugs to make him comfortable in his final moments. He too, like many ordinary people, died begging for his life.
But when all of this is going on, we have the system acquitting a health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya of corruption charges, a man who has always insisted that the public healthcare system works.
According to indictment records by the Anti Corruption Commission, Dr. Chilufya earned a whooping close to $700,000 (taking into account forex flactuations) on public sector payroll between 2013 and 2020. This is $100,000 per year ( or nearly $9,000 per month) on public sector payroll, the same payroll that was unable to pay Abigail her SMALL monthly salary for TWO months.
As we speak, Vice President Inonge Wina has been allowed to divert critical personnel from our public health institutions so that she can have her COVID19 situation monitored from home 24/7. This is when the country has seen a surge of COVID19 related BIDs of up to 500 per week! This is not a coincidence. It means our public healthcare system is failing and has no capacity to help ordinary people.
It is barely a month when Dr. Chilufya and the Ministry of Health came under scrutiny for having awarded a NON EXISTENT company a $17m tender to supply of kits, and today we hear that Cipla Uganda, biggest pharma in Uganda has suspended the export of life saving drugs to Zambia, among them ARVs, ACTs and Hepatitis medicines due to $12m of outstanding invoices.
Do not even mention the rats roaming the corridors of Kitwe Teaching Hospital because the real rats are walking the corridors of power undisturbed and protected.
Dr. Chilufya needs to resign from his position as health Minister because this is the man who has become incredibly wealthy at the expense of all of us, while presiding over a public health system that only works for people like Madam Inonge Wina, while failing hard working servants of the people like Dr. Abigail Mulenga.
I don’t see any sense of linking the acquital of Dr Chilufya to the death of that lady. If that is the permission u got from the family to make this link, it’s unfortunate the family would go this path. If Dr. Chilufya earned his money legitimately, which you acknowledge, why should that be a problem. All civil servants who start work don’t earn the salaries immediately they are employed. Not even that Chilufya earned his first two to three salaries moment he was employed. It accumulate. UPND must stop this no sense of using death for political mileage
I don’t see any sense of linking the acquital of Dr Chilufya to the death of that lady. If that is the permission u got from the family to make this link, it’s unfortunate the family would go this path. If Dr. Chilufya earned his money legitimately, which you acknowledge, why should that be a problem. All civil servants who start work don’t earn the salaries immediately they are employed. Not even that Chilufya earned his first two to three salaries moment he was employed. It accumulate. UPND must stop this behavior of using death for political mileage. Sad
Indeed it’s an insult to the rest of the masses. God could have took Lusambo, Chitotela or even KZ but instead he took a young Doctor who could have helped her fellow suffering citizens.
Surely, this is what the family to the deceased doctor gave my UPND colleague permission to write about? I think ite disrespectful in her death. No matter how much we hate dr Chilufya, his allegers failed to make a case against him
Dr. Chilufyas acquittal has nothing to do with the death of that doctor. If that is what the family is telling UPND, that is totally wrong and not being fair to the deceased doctor and her memories. The failure by Prosecution to prove the allegations was seen from beginning
Personally disappointed with the family for agreeing to have their daughter used by the UPND for such politics against opponents
Choolwe Mulenga is that how you wanted your sisters death to he used for political battles UPND has with the PF? hell no, that’s very inappropriate. Your sister may not have gotten her salary for two months but what could be the reason? Was Dr. Chilufya also in that hospital where her fellow doctor’s failed to attend to her? What was the relation of your sister with her fellow doctors and nurses that they failed to attend to her quickly? Too many questions to ask.
if Dr Chilufya was not corrupt there could have been medicines at the hospital and Dr Mulenga perhaps would have lived. Painkillers were missing in a hospital!!! What kind of corruption is ruling our public service institutions? Ala!
I agree. The attitude of the late Doctor to her friends at the hospital is what could have betrayed her and not the Minister’s acquittal.
Imwe bantu if Dr Chilufya was not corrupt there could have been medicines at the hospital and Dr Mulenga perhaps would have lived. Painkillers were missing in a hospital!!! What kind of corruption is ruling our public service institutions? Ala!
I may not agree with everything the author has written, but the culture of not paying when GRZ stuff are employed has just come and for your own information, it does not accumulate, you dont get it. The author’s thought is this Zambian selfishness not only in the public but the in Private sector where there is little or no regard for those serving under you as long as your plate is full…It is Evil and MUST STOP. Everyone should get what is due to them when it is due period!
Look at this f00l linking two unrelated things. What is worrying is that this dog hanthony has HHs blessings. They then wonder why they keep losing all elections even in their strongholds.
It is evil and disgusting to politicise the unfortunate death of a person. All you are doing is bringing curses of death to yourself and your sponsor HH. They say f00ls die earlier. You two maybe next
Iwe Anthony leka ukusabaila ******we. Leka imipashi yabakaele itushe muchibote. Death is a mystery so don’t politicize it.
Upnd s.t.u.p!dity at its highest!!!! How can people vote for such rubbish???? That’s why PF is making inroads in Western province!!!
my sincere condolences to the mulenga family, on the untimely death of their daughter. if the smear campaign of linking the acquittal of the minister to death is certainly coming from the family, it is unfortunate, but we should not be too quick to judge them but understand the unexpected situation they are going through right now. a lot will be said but with time the truth will certainly come out. let us remember that in our culture and traditional upbringing for every death there is a witch,a murderer and must be identified before burial.even in days of covid19, we associate certain individuals to be so craft that we assume they take advantage of the pandemic and kill our relatives by sending these (tuyobela, tudoyo, kaliloze gun, kalumba) .
it suddens me to notice the author of this…
Lack of electoral accountability perhaps explains why, despite the proliferation of democratic institutions, corruption and poor governance remain persistent problems, especially in the developing nations. Poor governance caused by unnecessary red tape and corruption has been found to significantly inhibit economic progress through their negative effects like discouraging investment.
Please don’t be in a hurry when you write. Its not ‘I have also “sort” permission’, but I have also “sought” permission.
Besides, the legal system is arranged in such a way that you are allowed to appeal the acquittal of the Doc. You don’t have to be a PF or UPND to understand that. It is open to all of us non-partisans too.
Was he supposed to be found guilty because he was accused??? Where is the sense in linking the 2?
The system does not forget. Abigail knew that she would get a lot of money once everything is finalised. Those of us working in governmnet know that you dont get your salary in first two or three months but when it comes, it is paid with arias.
It should be paid with interest!
That is how standards drop to the drainage system. People shouldn’t think things are normal just because they have happened to you. We cant say because people have been urinating and defecating in the bush for a long time then all of us should accept that as normal. A person must be paid at the end of every month she works.
This case a very rare incident. It is difficult to over-generalize based on one incident. For many doctors, access to medical care is good. Certainly, the tragic death raised a question of cooperation and solidarity among the medical practitioners. There is dire need for medical practitioners to build bridges. This involves senior doctors to mentor junior doctors. This involves junior doctors to exercise maximum restraint in openly attacking and criticizing senior doctors. It is possible to explore whether criminal negligent was evident. If the colleagues chose to ignore a patient and colleague, then disciplinary proceedings could be considered.
His Master’s Voice Haantony Bwalya is catching Trumpitis. This disease will leave you ngweeless as UPND Ltd files for bankruptcy inn 2021.
Death is hard to understand. The unfortunate thing is that everyone has a set ending, we just don’t know when and how. You cannot relate the acquittal to this death, yes Hospitals need more drugs, more Doctors, nurses etc but please let’s respect the late Doctor and remember her as a legend. Acquittal is a totally different topic for another day. Let the family grieve in peace without politicising the death. Rest in perfect peace young, intelligent and beautiful legend.
Of course, it is linked. How can he let a fellow doctor die (or any Zambian for that matter) because there are no drugs in hospitals? Whose job is it? He should resign if he has any morals. Everybody has an opinion and they should be allowed to express in the so called Christian nation of Zambia. I have no affiliations with both the PF and the UPND because, in my opinion, they are both in politics for personal gain. Dear God please, flood the world and start over. We are all just too self centered and evil.
ARE WE SURE THIS DOCTOR NEEDED PAIN KILLERS? WAS SHE LATE TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION? WHAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS? HOW DID SHE RELATE WITH OTHER DOCTORS AND PATIENTS? PLEASE DO NOT LET US TO START INVESTIGATING OUR LATE COMRADE. WAS SHE AN ANGEL.? DOESNT SHE HAVE SKELETONS IN HER CUPBOARD? I WORKED FOR OVER 8 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING PUT ON PAY ROLL 15 YEARS AGO. AND THIS LADY ONLY WORKED FOR A MERE 2 MONTHS AND YOU WANT TO MAKE NOISE ABOUT IT. CHILUFYA WAS FACING TRUMPED UP CHARGES RELATED TO HIS WEALTH AND NOT RELATED TO THE DEATH OF A DOCTOR. YES WE MAY FIND FAULT WITH THE WAY OUR SISTER WAS ATTENDED TO, BUT LETS NOT START BLOWING POLITICAL VUVUZELAS FOR NOTHING EVEN BEFORE THE SOUL OF OUR SISTER RESTS.
What is so special about this Dr Abi. I bought my own pain killers while waiting to be attended to. If her relative did not provide first aid should the whole country suffer?
Respect the dead. Do not compare guavas and oranges.
No wonder people say UPND takes pride in calamities because if thess thoughtless write ups by our members
In the end we lost a young vibrant educated Zambian Doctor and we still have to live with characters like Bowman Lusambo.
That is the sad reality of life on earth.
Fuc1ku. Just because she carried a Tonga name (Mutinta) then hell should break loose. Is there any Tonga who is not UPND in this country? These Banyamulenge should never be near plot 1
Stup0——d article.UPND is full of people who have no clue .I can’t waste my vote on tribal party
Dr.Chitalu would best serve as a minister of water and sewerage or Education .Dr. Jonas Chanda should be Minister of Health -he is more vigilant and really serves the people he works for. Chitalu may have worked for his money but it doesn’t look good when the minister of health is swimming in cash whilst the Ministry is failing to deliver health services to its people.The guy is more interested in business than health.
ALL of us have horror stories to tell about the Zambian healthcare system. We have lost loved ones going from one health institution to another seeking care. Sometimes we have had to fork out lots of money to just get a decent bed in a private hospital run by the same doctors from the UTH or LMH. Meanwhile, these politicians are going around talking about the development they have borrowed huge sums of money for. Out of every $100 they borrow, they share 60$ and give $40 to the people.
Kuya bebele come 2021. Let them enjoy now. Let them steal as much as they can. Zambians are watching. We are retiring the whole bunch in August 2021.
Just look at cost of overpriced inflated contracts at MOH going to briefcase companies then look at the shortage of essential in hospitals….there is the link and to top it off medical staff are not paid on time whilst the Minister has expanded subsidiaries companies.
I stayed for six (6) before being introduced on the Government payroll. Really, there is no relationship between the death of our lovely Doctor and the acquittal of Dr. Chilufya. Let’s not criticize for the sake of it. The two events are mutually exclusive if I’m to show my abilities in statistics which are did many years ago..
Some times there’s no need to deny the obvious. Like saying “telubuli nkonkele kuno ine..” then you follow this up with ‘mwalitumpa bonse ba pompwe imwe’
Mr Bwalya this is politicizing whether you deny it or not. Let me mention for the record, that this is not a politicization of Dr. Abigail Mulenga’s death??
What in the tit balls is this? There is no logical link here! Ba Bwalya needs to chill, not everything is related to politics, this was a very terrible write up!
2 months no pay? Can’t never! In the UNIP days, I was paid an advance of half of my monthly packet on the very first day I turned up as an intern at the hospital. At the month end, I got my packet and they started deducting the advance in instalments about 6 months later.
In an age of computerised systems, how can things be worse off?
To the discussants here I don’t see where either HH or UPND appears in this article. Neither do I see where the late doctors (MHSRIP) family expressly allow their loved one’s name to be politically referenced nor Dr. Chitalu Chilufya’s guilt in the public court come into play in this matter as it does not relate to competence in managing the health sector but the loss of a promising physician! Let the matter rest if condolences have been passed and turn to praying in the quiet of your retreats for the family’s strength during this trying time. I am sure a platform will avail to discuss the administration of the health sector and rats infesting health facilities! So lets not bundle our feelings over the loss with matters aside mourning! However those relatives noting suspect…
Dr. Makasa, a lot has been said about this article. Sorry for the death of our beloved young Doctor. If we all believe in God death should not confuse us. In the midst of good health care in South Africa people have come back in caskets. Remember God said, because you have sinned, you shall surely be dying. NO DYING MODE WAS TOLD. Scriptures being fulfilled
FACT CHECK
I joined the civit service 21 years ago in the Ministry of Finance and National Development as it was called back then.
MMD was the party in Government under FTJ
I did not receive my salary until AFTER 9 months of working. All the senior economists I found and worked under told me it was normal for that and that included the current Secretary the Treasury, Mr Fredson Yamba.
Secondly, those pain killers being complained about, would they have saved the life of the young doctor? What exactly was the cause of her death?