By OLIVER SAMBOKO and SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has remained mute over the challenge by Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited to disclose exactly how the tests on condoms and gloves it supplied to the Ministry of Health were conducted.
Meanwhile, deputy chief whip, Tutwa Ngulube said the so called Honey Bee scandal is a serious propaganda in which the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and some private media houses have allegedly been compromised to scandalise the PF Government.
Recently, when appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, Medical Stories Limited Managing Director Chikuta Mbewe disclosed that the condoms and gloves which were procured from Honey Bee were not safe for use after failing to meet the required standards set by ZABS.
However, the Indian manufacturers of the controversial gloves and condoms which Honey Bee Pharmacy supplied to the Ministry of Health have disputed the laboratory tests conducted by Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS).
The manufacturers said ZABS’ results were faulty because the institution did not follow required test procedures as specified by the World Health Organisation.
Universal Prophylactic PVT Limited of India, the manufacturer of the condoms and Adeshwar Meditex Limited which manufactured the gloves have all discredited the results from ZABS.
Both firms indicated that they had state of the art in-house laboratory that conduct pre-delivery quality control while other samples were sent to independent tests from other reputable laboratories to ascertain ZABS’ claims.
They have now demanded for an independent evaluation of the ZABS test.
But when contacted, ZAMRA who initiated the tests opted to remain mute when queried to state why the manufacture and supplier of the condoms and gloves were not invited to witness the tests of the two medical products.
ZAMRA public relations manager, Ludovic Mwape said he was not in a position to comment as that could only be done by his superiors who he said were out of office.
And when further asked why the ZAMRA decided to take the same samples to Zimbabwe for analysis and test when ZABS had carried similar exercise on the same, Mr Mwape said it was an acceptable practice to get second opinion when carrying out quality assurance test.
And in an interview, Mr Ngulube accused ZABS and ZAMBRA of being compromised by those advocating for regime change.
He said foreigners supporting an opposition party had compromised some leaders in Government institutions and media organisations to spearhead propaganda aimed at maligning the PF government and President Edgar Lungu.
Mr Ngulube, who is PF Kabwe Central Member of Parliament, told the Daily Nation that some State institutions had teamed up with the opposition to malign Government using the Honey Bee scandal.
