..in US$288,000 Ambulance scandal
By OLIVER SAMBOKO
FORMER Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama has been arrested by the Anti Corruption Commission over irregularities in the procurement of 50 basic lifesaving ambulances.
Dr Malama has been slapped with two counts of willful failure to comply with applicable law and procedure contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
Also arrested on similar grounds is former Head of Procurement and Supplies Unit at the Ministry of Health, Wilson Lungu, who has been charged with one count of Willful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 sub section (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
According to the Anti Corruption Commission, Mr Lungu 37, of Chalala Waterworks, 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, failed to comply with the law by recommending the use of limited bidding for the procurement of 50 ambulances.
This is according to ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe.
In the first count, its alleged that Dr Malama, 53, of Ibex Hill in Lusaka, on unknown dates but between August, 1, 2017 and December, 31, 2018, being an employee of the Ministry, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, did willfully fail to comply with applicable procedure.
It’s alleged that Dr Malama terminated contract number MoH/ORD/004/15 between the Ministry of Health and Savenda Management Services Limited for supply and delivery of 50 basic life support ambulances, supply and delivery of major spare parts for the ambulances and training of personnel.
In count two, Dr Malama is on dates unknown but between August, 1, 2017 and December, 31, 2018, alleged to have approved 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.
The two have since been released on bond and will appear in Court soon.
The Ministry of Health through the Ministry of Finance is reported to have procured 50 ambulances at a cost of US$288, 000 each. The ambulances are said to have been procured through a contract awarded to Savenda Limited.
It is believed that the whole package cost the ministry of Health US$11.5 million because the ambulances had advanced equipment as they are purpose-built ambulances.
Meanwhile, Young Leaders Initiative Africa (YALI) has said it was shocking that a permanent secretary in charge for technical services could be arrested over procurement issues handled by the permanent secretary for administration.
YALI president, Andrew Ntewewe , said Dr Malama’s arrest was a clear case of witch- hunt.
He said in an interview that ACC had become a moribund institution in which most people had lost confidence in.
“What has changed now? It’s evident that it is a clear witch-hunt meant to dent Dr Malama’s image because these are not new cases, so why didn’t they move in and arrest him back in 2017,” Mr Ntewewe said.
