We are not corrupt, says ACE Pharmaceuticals

By MUKWIMA CHILALA and GIDEON NYENDWA

ACE Pharmaceutical Limited says it remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in all its operations while upholding government’s procurement policy of competitive pricing, quality and timely delivery.
And ACE Pharmaceuticals, the company involved in the procurement of 156 ambulances scandal using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has described as malicious media reports that it runs a retail pharmacy outlet in Lusaka’s Garden Compound.
Meanwhile, Panetta Masala, the firm’s managing director has said the company’s Chief Financial Officer Surjit Sahani, left Zambia on November 12, 2024 to attend a private function and other business matters in India, way before the ambulance project gained media attention contrary to reports that he sneaked out of the country.
Ms Masala said what was portrayed in the media is a warehouse facility for storing and wholesaling pharmaceuticals on a larger scale.
“For the record, ACE Pharmaceuticals has adequate financial capacity to deliver on this project. As a matter of fact, the company has paid more than what has been received as advance payment from government on this project to our suppliers,” Ms Masala said.
Ace Pharmaceutical is one of the two companies, which were awarded a contract for the supply of ambulances to 156 constituencies.
However there has been controversy following revelations from the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) of delay to deliver the ambulances, raising concerns of corruption.
Ms Masala said it had already provided government with shipping documents for the ambulances currently en route to Zambia and that the company had not breached its contractual obligations.
The company said additionally, 18 ambulances were shipped prior to the project gaining media attention and were expected to arrive before the end of the year.
Ms Masala said the company was actively coordinating with partners to ensure timely delivery of ambulances despite the logistical challenges the company was faced with.