Zambia refunds stolen money to Global fund

Zambia has refunded to the Global Fund part of the money embezzled by officials in the Ministry of Health, a government official confirmed.
Health minister Kapembwa Simbao said Zambia transferred about $ 1.9 million into the account of Global Fund following the highly publicised misappropriation of donor funds in the Ministry of Health.
The Global Fund, Governments of Swedish and the Netherlands froze aid to said ministry after revelations of theft of millions of dollars, including donor funds, from the docket in 2009.
Several ministry officials are facing prosecution over the theft of $5 million.
According to Mr Simbao, the government had agreed to refund the Global Fund its stolen money and the payment would be made in three instalments, the $ 1.9 million being the first bunch.
“We are looking at the indentified weaknesses as pillars for rebuilding our managerial capabilities and accountabilities for effective and efficient implementation of Global Fund programmes,”
said Mr Simbao.
According to the Global Fund, it had ordered Zambia to repay $13 million.
The Global Fund last year suspended $300million aid to the ministry, opting to finance the health sector through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Corruption is rampant in most public institutions in Zambia, according to anti-corruption watchdog – Transparency International’s annual corruption index.