Dr. Anna Chifungula, Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) Board chairperson was remorseful. She admitted the drug crisis in our hospitals.
Although it is a little too late it makes a difference and so does the admission by the Acting Minister of Health, Mr Mulambo Haimbe who admitted a stock level of about 42 percent, well below the required standard.
For nearly two years, there has been a combative narrative from the Ministry of Health which has cost many lives.
This started with an equally flawed narrative that sent the entire ZAMMSA management on forced leave. There were even suggestions that defective medicines were supplied. Nothing of the sort has been proved.
Surely lying to Parliament and misleading the nation must have consequences, especially where it involves matters of life and death. People have died due to lack of medicine, others due to lack of diagnostic equipment and others to damaged machinery that has not been repaired.
Lies have very short legs, but very dangerous in their currency, as can be proved by the loss of lives.
Integrity in public office is absolutely critical. Office holders must be honest, ethical, and morally upright in the execution of their duties and responsibilities.
They must always be seen to act in the best interest of the public rather than their personal gain
They are entrusted with power and authority by the people they serve. Therefore, the trust between the government and the public must be maintained.
This is only possible when officials act with integrity, demonstrating accountability and commitment to transparency.
There should be no hint of conflicts of interest, favouritism, or corruption. It means that fairness and justice must prevail in all decisions.
Sadly, everything that has been done at the Ministry of Health has eroded public confidence, a very vital ingredient in the smooth functioning of democracy and promotion of civic participation.
The track record of lies, arrogance and deception which has led to loss of lives is unacceptable.
The ministry has to be rebuilt inside out. The internal and external damage can be seen from the demoralised employees and general public.
A culture of honesty, transparency, and accountability must be inculcated. All accusations of corruption, abuse of power and incompetence must be investigated and dealt with in a transparent manner.
Institutional memory must be rekindled so that regulations and systems are put in place to ensure continuity than the ad hoc firefighting measures currently being implemented. There must be clear ethical standards, which obviate conflicts of interest.
This ministry is too important to be left to wiles of individual caprice. Transparency and accountability in decision-making processes must be paramount in any reform of the mnistry.
More importantly, public officials should be accountable for their actions, and mechanisms for oversight and investigations should be in place to address any misconduct, which is not the case now when even the Anti-Corruption Commission has failed to provide any significant information about alleged misconduct and corruption.
