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Kanchibiya Constituency lawmaker, Sunday Chanda, has urged the Ministry of Health to address systemic corruption and accelerate health infrastructure development following revelations surrounding the procurement of ambulances.
Health Minister Dr. Elijah Muchima recently raised concerns over the tender process for procuring 60 ambulances, questioning the potential awarding of the contract to Ace Pharmaceuticals despite allegations of inadequate financial and technical capacity.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Chanda commended Muchima for his bold stance against corruption within the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZMMSA).
He described the scandal as a reflection of long-standing inefficiencies undermining Zambia’s health sector.
“This malpractice has not only compromised service delivery but has also adversely affected communities. In Kanchibiya, we are still waiting for the ambulance we were promised. To date, nothing has been delivered,” Chanda stated.
He highlighted that constituencies like Kanchibiya were forced to rely on Constituency Development Fund (CDF) monitoring vehicles for critical medical referrals, a situation he described as untenable.
Chanda called for urgent reforms to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in procurement processes, emphasizing the dire consequences of delays in health projects.
“While we welcome the Minister’s efforts to clean up ZMMSA, we urge him to focus on accelerating the construction of health infrastructure across the country,” Chanda said.
He lamented that rural communities in his constituency walk long distances to access basic health services due to incomplete or uninitiated health posts and clinics.
“Access to quality healthcare is not a privilege; it is a basic human right. We challenge the Ministry of Health to prioritize health infrastructure development, ensuring that rural constituencies are not left behind,” he added.
Chanda also called on the government to expedite the construction of five Level One hospitals and 120 health centers across the country, warning that delays in critical projects were severely affecting healthcare access in rural areas.
“The health sector must rise above the corruption that has plagued it for years. The time for rhetoric has passed,” he stated.
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