The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has moved 25 out of the 61 medical containers that were diverted and marooned at the private J&J warehouse in Lusaka.
ZAMMSA’s Senior Manager – Corporate Communications, Bradley Chingobe, said in a statement released today that 25 containers had so far been successfully transported and offloaded at the agency’s central warehouse in Lusaka.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo, disclosed that unbeknownst to the Ministry, 61 containers carrying intravenous fluids, syringes, and assorted essential drugs, which had arrived in the country in different consignments between January and June 2024, were discovered to not have been offloaded at ZAMMSA.
Upon MoH noticing the anomaly, the containers were found marooned at a private warehouse in Makeni. The government has additionally incurred millions of Kwacha in demurrage (detention) charges arising from this.
And Chingobe stated that no wastage had so far been recorded as the earliest expiry of all the affected medicines and supplies was July 2026.
“ZAMMSA, working closely with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, has initiated steps to ensure the safety and efficacy of all commodities. All products will undergo thorough quality assurance tests before distribution to health facilities to guarantee the safety of the Zambian people,” stated Chingobe.
Arising from the scandal, Victor Nyasulu, the ZAMMSA Director General, has been suspended while the whole matter has been reported to the police for criminal negligence.
Chingobe said the transportation exercise began on July 14 and is expected to conclude by July 26. The consignment is part of the government-to-government bulk procurement of medicines and medical supplies from Egypt, valued at US$24 million.
