Corruption crushes ZAMMSA computers

By BARNABAS ZULU

THE Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Authority (ZAMMSA) is facing another major crisis as its critical server, which hosts vital data on medical supplies, has crashed, following the launch of investigations into an array of corruption activities at the agency.

This comes amid ongoing investigations into the authority’s handling of medical supplies, particularly regarding a controversial shipment of medicines from Egypt worth over US$65 million.ZAMMSA has been under intense scrutiny after reports emerged about a consignment of 61 trucks carrying medical supplies from Egypt, which was diverted and left stranded for months at a warehouse in Makeni. According to insiders, the delay in payment for the supplies has caused tensions with the Egyptian suppliers, who are demanding payment for the goods.The ZAMMSA Director General, Victor Nyasulu, has been suspended by the board as part of the investigations.

However, sources within the agency have questioned the fairness of the suspension, suggesting that Mr. Nyasulu may have been made a scapegoat for the actions of higher-ranking officials.The controversy surrounding the medical supplies came to light when the then-Minister of Health, Ms. Sylvia Masebo, now serving as Minister of Lands, reported the matter to the police.The public reaction to her reshuffling by President Hakainde Hichilema was mixed, with many calling for her dismissal.

The Zambia Medical Association, a body representing healthcare professionals, was one of the vocal organisations that called for the dismissal of Ms Masebo from the Ministry of Health.In the midst of the investigations, ZAMMSA’s server crash has raised additional concerns as the crashed server contained sensitive information, including payroll records and financial data for the past four years. Preliminary reports from ZAMMSA’s ICT department suggest that some of the data, including accounting records, may have been tampered with. The Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been called in to investigate the incident.“We are taking this matter very seriously,” said Mr Bradley Chingobe, Senior Manager for Corporate Communications at ZAMMSA. “While the payroll system was restored in time to ensure that October 2024 salaries were paid, we are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

The server had been in the process of migration before the crash, and we are working with relevant authorities to recover lost data and determine the cause of the breach,” Mr Chingobe said.The agency confirmed that the crash had caused significant disruptions but assured the public that steps were being taken to resolve the issue.“We will only fully understand the cause and consequences of the crash once the ongoing investigations are completed,” ZAMMSA’s statement said. The server malfunction comes at a time when ZAMMSA is already embroiled in a major scandal. The Egyptian shipment, which had been stuck in Lusaka and Beira for over nine months, is under investigation, and many questions remain about the agency’s handling of the consignment.

ZAMMSA is working closely with the Auditor General and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who are conducting a forensic audit of the agency’s operations. The audit, which is expected to provide more clarity on the allegations of mismanagement and corruption, is still ongoing.