Health Minister Questioned On Corruption

Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya has been summoned for questioning by the Anti-Corruption Commissioning (ACC), according to the ACC’s acting public relations manager Dorothy Mwanza.

The questioning, which took place on Thursday February 20, related to allegations that the Minister is in possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Mwanza noted that the investigation are on going. No charges or arrests have been made and Chilufya remains in position.

The Mansa MP was appointed Minister of Health back in 2016. His time at the Ministry has been controversial, most notably for the alleged procurement of 50 ambulances at a cost of US$288,000 each.

In the recently concluded parliamentary by-election in Chilubi the National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused Dr Chilufya of bribing voters, following the delivery of ambulances to the newly constructed hospital in Chilubi Island. The move attracted controversy for its timing, coming just before elections.

While the Government has stated its commitment to tackling corruption, Zambia continues to score poorly in international rankings. Last month saw the latest release of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in which Zambia recorded a drop from 35 to 34 points out of 100. According to Transparency International Zambia chapter president Rueben Lifuka it was the worst performance the country has ever performed and showed that the situation is getting worse.