Health Minister Criticized For Dismissing Ag’s Report Over Misused COVID-19 Funds
By Michael Kaluba
Transparency International Zambia –TIZ- is concerned with what it has termed as political arrogance by Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya who has dismissed the auditor general’s report suggesting that the ministry of health has mismanaged over k1.3 billion Covid 19 funds.
TIZ President Reuben Lifuka says the continued arrogance displayed by Dr. Chilufya who earlier this year also publicly humiliated journalists during a Covid 19 update for merely asking questions surrounding accountability from the ministry of health over Covid funds, is a source of concern for stakeholders.
Mr. Lifuka says the auditor general’s office has technical expertise to conduct the audit process which must not be dismissed without clarifications and erring officer being held accountable after Health Minister Dr. Chilufya this week said his ministry is not working outside procurement guidelines and has all the documentation.
He has since challenged Dr. Chilufya to interface directly with the auditor general’s office and clear all the red flagged transactions as opposed to publicly humiliating Zambians by issuing arrogant statements that suggest the report is incorrect without due diligence.
The recent interim audit report on the utilization of covid-19 resources for the period February 1 to July 31, 2020, revealed that a total of over K1.3 billion was mismanaged in various transactions including dubious transfers from government accounts amounting to k60 million and up to K3 million in cash withdrawals.
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