Maravi

‘Imprudent use of donor funds will affect Zambia’s MDG on health’

‘Imprudent use of donor funds will affect Zambia’s MDG on health’
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 05 Nov. 2010, 08:50 CAT

THE imprudent use of donor funds meant for fighting malaria and HIV and AIDS will lead to Zambia not reaching the MDG on health, Parliamentary committee on health chairperson Jean Kapata yesterday warned.

Concurring with the UN Secretary General’s special envoy for malaria Ray Chambers’ call for prudent use of donor funds meant to combat malaria which is the leading cause of mortality in Zambia, Kapata, who is Mandevu parliamentarian, said the government should wake up and use the money properly.

“If the donors stop giving us money, it’s not the people in government who are going to suffer, it’s people on the grassroots who are going to suffer, our people, our voters. It’s people like those in my constituency in Mandevu who are going to be affected who do not have malaria drugs,” Kapata said.

“Malaria is one of the diseases that have been cited under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number six and if we have such a situation it means that the achievement of that MDG is a non-starter.”

Kapata said donors had the right to question the Zambian government’s use of their money.

“The donors would like to see their money being used for the right cause. Currently, the government is not using donors’ money correctly,” said Kapata.

Chambers said the irregularities in the use of donor funds at the Ministry of Health were unfortunate.

“These are special funds generously donated to the Global Fund and World Bank by nations throughout the world. Public servants have an obligation, not just to donor nations, but to Zambians that funds are properly used. It’s an integrity duty of the highest moral requirement to ensure that those funds are taken care of and not abused,” said Chambers on Tuesday ahead of his two-day visit to Zambia, scheduled for yesterday, to meet government officials.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DONORS, JEAN KAPATA, MDGs

posted by MrK @ 1:07 AM