Latest news with #Zambians
DW
20-05-2025
- Health
- DW
How USAID cuts is impacting Zambia's health services – DW – 05/20/2025
05/20/2025 May 20, 2025 Theft of medicines has been blamed for the US stopping funds for Zambia's fragile healthcare system. But as the southern African country now grapples with $50 million less, ordinary Zambians are bearing the brunt. Josey Mahachi talks to DW correspondent in Lusaka, Kathy Short, and Oliver Kaoma, Secretary General of the Zambia Medical Association.
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Zambia rebukes envoys after US goes public with medical aid cut
Zambia's foreign minister has criticised a lack of diplomacy from envoys after the US ambassador used a press conference to announce that Washington was cutting medical aid to the southern African country due to the "systemic theft" of donated medication. The US ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, last week told a media briefing that Washington would cut $50 million (€45 million) in annual aid to the nation's health sector because the state had failed to stop the theft of life-saving drugs provided by the US. An investigation of some 2,000 pharmacies in Zambia from 2021 to 2023 found nearly half of them were selling medicines and products paid for by US aid funds, Gonzales said. Zambia had failed to do enough to address the alleged corruption after the US informed the government of the theft scandal in April last year, according to Gonzales, who said he decided to speak to the press after several unproductive meetings with local officials. In a thinly-veiled rebuke that did not mention anyone by name, Mulambo Haimbe — the Zambian foreign minister — bemoaned an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and said this risked jeopardising the "spirit of mutual respect". Communicating with the government through the press constituted interference and violated diplomatic conventions, Haimbe said. "We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," he added. Following Gonzales' press conference last week, Zambian Health Minister Elijah Muchima said the government acknowledged the concerns of the US and was committed to resolving the "unfortunate issue". Muchima reassured the public last week that there was "no immediate risk of shortages" due to the US funding cut because the nation had sufficient stocks of all medications. On Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said about 75 people have been arrested following raids on at least 400 health facilities over the alleged corruption. The US gives Zambia $128 million (€115 million) a year for drugs, medical supplies and other support for its health sector. Gonzales said the cuts would affect medications for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, which are three critical diseases affecting Zambians. Gonzales said he had recommended to Washington that the US continue to procure and deliver life-saving medicines and supplies to Zambia until January 2026 to provide time for the government to develop a transition plan. The US ambassador said the reduction in funding was "wholly separate" from the foreign aid freeze announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump in January.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Zambia warns diplomats after US reveals 'systematic' aid theft
Zambia's foreign minister has warned diplomats against interfering in the country's affairs, days after the US ambassador raised concerns about the "systematic theft" of drugs donated to the southern African state. Mulambo Haimbe said there was an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and this could undermine the "spirit of mutual respect". He did not name anyone, but his comments were seen as being directed at the US ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales. Last week, Gonzales called a press conference to announce that the US was cutting $50m (£37m) of health aid to Zambia because of the theft of life-saving medications that the US had provided for patients. He added that he had decided to go public after holding more than 30 fruitless meetings with senior Zambian officials. In his response, Haimbe said that addressing the government through the media amounted to interference and was in breach of diplomatic conventions. "We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," the minister added. Last week, the US embassy said it had presented its findings of the alleged corruption to Zambian officials in April last year, and had offered help to stop further theft and to bring the culprits to justice. However, no action was taken by the Zambian authorities, it added. On Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said that a forensic audit on the alleged theft had been completed and handed over to security agencies for further action. About 75 people have been arrested in a countrywide crackdown that saw more than 400 health facilities raided over the alleged scam, he said. "There will be no sacred cows in this pursuit," Mwiimbu added. Gonzales said that an inspection carried out by US officials at more than 2,000 pharmacies last year had found that most were selling drugs and medical supplies donated by the US. Zambia's Health Minister Elijah Muchima earlier said the problem of theft predated the current government, which took office in 2021. Muchima also said several Zambian officials had been sacked following the thefts identified by the US, and that "an advanced digital stock tracking system" had been set up to monitor the supply of medicines. The cut in US assistance, expected to take effect next year, would affect drugs to treat malaria, HIV and TB. But the health minister has reassured Zambians that there were sufficient stocks of all drugs so there was "no immediate risk of shortages". Gonzales said the recent US measure was separate to the foreign aid freeze announced by President Donald Trump in January. The freeze has affected health programmes across Africa, including shipments of critical medical supplies, among them HIV drugs. In March, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema said Trump had "slapped us on both cheeks", saying it was time for his country to strengthen its treasury to procure its own medicines. The US accounts for about a third of public health spending in Zambia, according to the US embassy. Bitcoin in the bush - the crypto mine in remote Zambia 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo 'My wife fears sex, I fear death' - impacts of the USAID freeze Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Zambia warns diplomats after US reveals 'systematic' aid theft
Zambia's foreign minister has warned diplomats against interfering in the country's affairs, days after the US ambassador raised concerns about the "systematic theft" of drugs donated to the southern African state. Mulambo Haimbe said there was an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and this could undermine the "spirit of mutual respect". He did not name anyone, but his comments were seen as being directed at the US ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales. Last week, Gonzales called a press conference to announce that the US was cutting $50m (£37m) of health aid to Zambia because of the theft of life-saving medications that the US had provided for patients. He added that he had decided to go public after holding more than 30 fruitless meetings with senior Zambian officials. In his response, Haimbe said that addressing the government through the media amounted to interference and was in breach of diplomatic conventions. "We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," the minister added. Last week, the US embassy said it had presented its findings of the alleged corruption to Zambian officials in April last year, and had offered help to stop further theft and to bring the culprits to justice. However, no action was taken by the Zambian authorities, it added. On Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said that a forensic audit on the alleged theft had been completed and handed over to security agencies for further action. About 75 people have been arrested in a countrywide crackdown that saw more than 400 health facilities raided over the alleged scam, he said. "There will be no sacred cows in this pursuit," Mwiimbu added. Gonzales said that an inspection carried out by US officials at more than 2,000 pharmacies last year had found that most were selling drugs and medical supplies donated by the US. Zambia's Health Minister Elijah Muchima earlier said the problem of theft predated the current government, which took office in 2021. Muchima also said several Zambian officials had been sacked following the thefts identified by the US, and that "an advanced digital stock tracking system" had been set up to monitor the supply of medicines. The cut in US assistance, expected to take effect next year, would affect drugs to treat malaria, HIV and TB. But the health minister has reassured Zambians that there were sufficient stocks of all drugs so there was "no immediate risk of shortages". Gonzales said the recent US measure was separate to the foreign aid freeze announced by President Donald Trump in January. The freeze has affected health programmes across Africa, including shipments of critical medical supplies, among them HIV drugs. In March, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema said Trump had "slapped us on both cheeks", saying it was time for his country to strengthen its treasury to procure its own medicines. The US accounts for about a third of public health spending in Zambia, according to the US embassy. Bitcoin in the bush - the crypto mine in remote Zambia 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo 'My wife fears sex, I fear death' - impacts of the USAID freeze Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
US says it will reduce health aid to Zambia because medicines were stolen and sold
Lusaka: The United States will cut USD 50 million worth of medical aid a year to Zambia because of "systematic" theft of the aid in past years and the government's failure to crack down on that, the US ambassador has said. The US had discovered in 2021 that medicines and medical supplies that were meant to be provided free to Zambians had been taken and were being sold by pharmacies across the southern African country, US Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales said at a press briefing on Thursday. He said that a US investigation of around 2,000 pharmacies in Zambia between 2021 and 2023 found that nearly half of them were selling medicines and products paid for by US aid funds. The Zambian government had failed to do enough to address the corruption after the US informed it of the theft scandal in April 2024, Gonzales said. "For more than a year, the United States has requested tangible action by the government of Zambia to respond to the countrywide, systematic theft of these products," he said. "In the face of minimal responsive action by the government, the United States is taking necessary steps to safeguard and ensure the accountability of American taxpayer funds." Zambian Health Minister Elijah Muchima said the government acknowledged the concerns of the US and was committed to "resolving this unfortunate issue". The government had fired, suspended or arrested officials implicated and was finalising a report on the theft of medicines, but had to respect the legal process, Muchima said. The USD 50 million is part of USD 128 million the US gives to Zambia a year for medicines, medical supplies and other support for its health sector. Gonzales said the cuts would affect medications for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, three critical diseases affecting Zambians. The action was separate to US President Donald Trump's decision to cut US foreign aid across the world, Gonzales said. He said that the US investigation into the theft also found that medications and supplies paid for by the Zambia government, the Global Fund and other international donors were being sold in pharmacies. Zambia is burdened by heavy debts to China and other nations and relies on aid. The US had been giving it a total of USD 600 million a year in health and development aid and funded approximately a third of the Zambian public health system, Gonzales said. The ambassador said he had recommended to officials in Washington that the US start cutting the aid from January next year to give Zambia time to plan new procurements of the life-saving drugs.
