US Embassy: More Senior Arrests Expected in Zambia Following ZAMMSA Audit

The US Embassy in Zambia has warned that further arrests of senior public officials are likely, following revelations of corruption and procurement irregularities in the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) forensic audit.

In response to a media query, Acting Public Affairs Officer Julien Kreuze underscored that Zambia cannot afford to tolerate public corruption. He stated that those involved should be held accountable, facing not only dismissal but also the possibility of imprisonment and public disgrace.

While noting that the Embassy has not seen the full forensic audit and cannot assess the adequacy of the actions taken so far, Kreuze stressed that meaningful change in Zambia depends on rigorous enforcement of public accountability.

“It is clear that Zambia should expect many more arrests and convictions of fairly senior public officials, numerous civil servants involved in medicine procurement, and multiple business leaders,” Kreuze warned.

However, he also cautioned against releasing the full audit to the public, arguing that doing so could jeopardise ongoing investigations and prosecutions of individuals named in the report.

Kreuze concluded by commending the Zambian government's firm stance against the theft of medical supplies and drugs, and welcomed the assurances and commitments made to tackle corruption in the health sector.