DEC Arrests Former Health Official in Procurement Corruption Probe

Ten people now face charges as anti-drug agency widens investigation into health sector irregularities

Authorities have arrested a former senior health ministry official as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into the country's medical procurement system.

Dr Sivah Kachimba, who served as Acting Permanent Secretary for Administration at the Ministry of Health, was detained alongside several officials from the state medicines agency ZAMMSA and two private company directors.

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) says Dr Kachimba is charged with "wilful failure to comply with laid down procedures in procuring contracts."

The arrests bring the total number of people charged in the health sector investigation to ten, including four individuals arrested earlier this year.

Among those detained are ZAMMSA procurement officers facing charges including forgery, conspiracy to commit felony, and money laundering. Two private company directors are accused of operating without proper pharmaceutical licenses and obtaining advantages through false pretences.

DEC Director General Nason Banda said the investigation was nearing completion and would lead to policy recommendations to prevent future irregularities.

"Our intention is to close the big investigation and let institutions start operating," Mr Banda told reporters on Wednesday. "We'll make recommendations to avoid this kind of thing happening in future."

The probe has exposed systemic problems in the country’s medical supply chain, which has faced chronic shortages of essential medicines in public hospitals.

In a separate case, the DEC announced it had successfully forfeited several properties in Chirundu District to the state, including hundreds of hectares of land believed to be proceeds of crime.