Zambia: Sacked Health Minister supplied $17m worth of faulty condoms, gloves

 

Zambia: Sacked Minister supplied $17m worth of faulty condoms, gloves

On Sunday, Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu, announced the dismissal of his Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya, who was arrested in June for corruption but was later cleared.

Zambia’s health ministry under Chilufya has been rocked by a string of corruption allegations, the latest being the supply of $17m (£12m) worth of faulty condoms and surgical gloves.

Mr Chilufya was charged with four counts of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. He was cleared for lack of evidence and resumed his duties.

President Lungu on Sunday gave no reason for the minister’s dismissal, but said the decision took effect immediately.

Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema said “the sacking of Dr Chitalu Chilufya does not go far enough and comes in too little too late”.