MoH intensifies financial management systems
By Florence Bupe
Fri 26 Mar. 2010, 10:10 CAT
HEALTH permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga has assured that her ministry has intensified financial management systems to prevent scams in future.
In her submission to the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, Dr Mtonga said the ministry had drawn its lessons from the financial scams that rocked the institution and said necessary measures were being put in place to avoid similar recurrences.
“We realise that we need to take financial regulations seriously and execute them accordingly. We have already started taking disciplinary measures against officers who have failed to meet the financial stipulations and we are hopeful that there will be a change in people’s attitude towards public funds,” she said.
Dr Mtonga disclosed that a committee had been established to strengthen financial systems in the ministry as a way of enhancing fiscal and procurement accountability.
She further told the committee that the ministry would recover about K350 million unretired imprest from the terminal benefits of an officer who was implicated in the Ministry of Health scam, but had since committed suicide.
“The Auditor General’s report captured a total of K137 million as unretired imprest from the Eastern Province office (Chipata) but this figure is actually higher, it is supposed to be K350 million,” Dr Mtonga explained.
“We have since instituted measures to recover this amount from the late officer’s terminal benefits through deductions.”
And Dr Mtonga revealed that some health district offices in Eastern Province were forced to get supplies on credit in 2008 due to erratic funding following the death of president Levy Mwanawasa.
She said this had partly led to the increase in the number of queries raised in the Auditor General’s report, but assured that payments had since been made and vouchers were ready for the Auditor General’s verification.
Dr Mtonga said her ministry was aiming at achieving a zero- audit query in the next report.
“We will endeavour to minimise on unretired imprest and missing vouchers as we strive to achieve a zero- audit status in the Auditor General’s Report,” said Dr Mtonga.
Labels: MINISTRY OF HEALTH, PAC, VELEPI MTONGA
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Zambia: Katele to Undergo Operation
MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba who was last week evacuated to India for specialist treatment is expected to undergo an operation, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Velepi Mtonga has said.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday Dr Mtonga said that Dr Kalumba was yesterday expected to undergo an operation and that the nation would be informed on his progress.
Dr Mtonga explained that Dr Kalumba was evacuated after previously been admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka for a heart problem.
On the condition of Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga who is also in India and underwent an operation, Dr Mtonga said the operation was successful.
Dr Mtonga said Mr Konga is expected to arrive back home today.
"I can confirm that the operation on Mr Konga was successful and he is expected back home today, "she said.
Labels: HEALTHCARE, KATELE KALUMBA, VELEPI MTONGA
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The pictures didn’t corrupt my morals, Dr Mtonga tells court
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Saturday, August 29, 2009 7:32:26 PM
MINISTRY of Health permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga yesterday said a picture that appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail of a simulated sexual act was capable of corrupting morals and not the 'labour' pictures sent to the ministry by Chansa Kabwela during the strike by health workers.
And Dr Mtonga testified that she did not think of having sex after she saw the pictures in question but that she was angry and shed tears.
During the continued hearing of the case where Post news editor Kabwela has been charged with one count of circulating obscene materials or things tending to corrupt public morals, Kabwela's lawyer George Chisanga, showed Dr Mtonga a copy of the Weekend Mail, a supplement of Zambia Daily Mail published on August 1, 2009, and asked her to describe one of the pictures.
Dr Mtonga, 51, said there was a man and a woman and that the man was on top of the woman.
"She is in a centre position," Dr Mtonga said. "The woman is on the floor and one leg is actually on the side and the man is on a middle position."
Dr Mtonga agreed that the two people were trying to simulate a sexual act.
"This one is likely to corrupt public morals than the picture [of the woman in labour]," Dr Mtonga said.
However, in reexamination Dr Mtonga said the people in the picture in the Weekend Mail were fully clothed and that there was no private part showing.
Earlier, during evidence in chief led by Lusaka division prosecution officer Frank Mumbuna, Dr Mtonga said the Ministry of Health had been holding a series of consultations on how to end the strike when the pictures were sent to her office.
She said health minister Kapembwa Simbao, who was in Namibia at the time, instructed her to deal with the pictures and the letter from The Post.
Dr Mtonga said she got the pictures and the letter from the secretary to the deputy minister of health.
Dr Mtonga said after reading the letter where The Post stated that the pictures could not be published, she went on to look at the said photos.
Dr Mtonga said she had no problem with two of the photos but that the other photo angered her.
"When I saw the second, I was actually so angry and I shed a tear. I hope the court will pardon me. I will not describe that picture," she said.
But Mumbuna said she had to describe the photos.
"That picture was showing a woman giving birth but showing all the private parts," said Dr Mtonga who has been a gynaecologist and obstetrics specialist for 26 years. "In the medical profession we are taught to actually keep the confidentiality and privacy of the patient."
Dr Mtonga said she shed a tear because she felt that women were so exposed and not protected, because the best one could do in such a situation was to cover the woman in labour.
She said even within the African culture, the best was to be humane enough and cover the woman.
"The natural reaction would be to cover the woman," she said. "It really disturbed me...I put myself in that woman's shoes."
Dr Mtonga said after recovering from the shock of seeing the photographs, certain ethical issues came to her mind and she instructed Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Kamoto Mbewe to liaise with the Medical Council of Zambia on the matter.
Dr Mtonga said having dealt with women for many years, she was aware that childbirth was something they kept very private.
However, Dr Mtonga said during cross-examination by Remmy Mainza that her reaction was couched within the cultural context but that she did not become a bad person after seeing the photographs.
Mainza then asked Dr Mtonga whether or not she thought of having sex immediately after seeing the photograph but Dr Mtonga said she could not answer the question.
Mainza told Dr Mtonga that as a witness it was not within her ambit to raise objections and that if the question was not appropriate her competent prosecutors could make an objection.
"I am not in the position to answer the question," Dr Mtonga insisted.
Mainza then referred Dr Mtonga to section 116 of the Penal Code, which outlined the punitive measures that a witness who opts not to answer questions could suffer.
But Mumbuna objected, saying Mainza's citation of section 116 was misplaced because his question to Dr Mtonga was optional.
Mainza responded that the prosecution as well as the lawyers were all officers of the court and that no one was in the court to play games.
Magistrate Kafunda said the question was within the charge before the court and it would be proper for Dr Mtonga to respond.
Dr Mtonga then said the picture did not make her think of having sex.
Dr Mtonga said during further cross-examination by Chisanga that the pictures were sent to the Ministry of Health several days before the strike by the health workers was ended.
She said the countless meetings they had over the strike was aimed at addressing the desperate situation.
Dr Mtonga said ordinarily doctors in a country should not go on an illegal strike and that when such a thing happens the situation could be described as desperate.
Dr Mtonga said these consultations bore fruit because the illegal strike was finally brought to an end.
"That was several days after the letter arrived at the Ministry," she said. "The letter arrived at the Ministry within the period of the strike."
Dr Mtonga said it was difficult to tell where the woman was delivering from but that the first photograph showed that it was outside.
"It depends, which maternity ward you would be looking at," she said. "It does not show any midwife, unless they are putting on their own clothes."
Dr Mtonga said she instructed Dr Mbewe to liaise with the MCZ on the matter in order to establish whether the woman in the picture gave consent to have the photograph taken.
When Chisanga asked her if she would deal with the woman's husband should it be established that he was the one who took the photographs, Dr Mtonga said they would have a chat with him.
Meanwhile, Barclays Bank Southern Sun branch manager, Esther Mwanza told the court that there was no connection between the documents she had produced before the court and the charge slapped on Kabwela.
Mwanza, 41, a resident of Lusaka's Kaunda Square Stage Two, told the court during evidence in chief by the state that she was asked to give a statement on July 10, 2009 at Lusaka Central Police Station on matters relating to Kabwela's opening of an account with Barclays Bank.
"I did provide a statement. When I went to the police, I was shown a document. The document was the account opening mandate, which we used to open the account for Chansa Kabwela," she explained.
Mumbuna asked Mwanza if she mentioned a personal business application, as being among the documents, but Mwanza answered in the negative.
Mwanza said during cross-examination by Chisanga that she was not told the charge that Kabwela was facing when she gave the statement to the police.
"I became aware of the charge when I was asked to come as a witness," she said. "I was told I was going to know about it [charge] when I went to the police."
Chisanga then asked Mwanza if she was familiar with the duty of confidentiality in relation to the banking and financial services Act, which she owed her customers and she said she was aware.
"I consulted the legal counsel," Mwanza said. "I was acting on the basis of instructions from my employer."
Asked if Barclays Bank had instructed her to go to court and breach the duty of confidentiality and privacy she owed to her customers, Mwanza said she was instructed to give a statement to the police.
Mwanza said the documents that she was shown at the court were not different from the ones she had authorised and that she identified the signature because the documents were in the name of Chansa Kabwela.
When Mainza asked her to explain the relevance of the documents she had brought before the court and the case before it, Mwanza said there was no relationship.
"I can only say that the document is confirmation that the person is an employee of The Post," she said. "These documents are not connected. What I know is that these documents are connected to us opening an account for the customer at Barclays Bank."
The state then called their eighth witness, a handwriting expert, but before he could take the stand they applied for an adjournment because he was unwell.
The matter was adjourned to September 8, 2009 for continued trial.
Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, THE POST, VELEPI MTONGA
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‘Mobile hospitals deal is as good as done’
Written by Patson Chilemba and George Chellah
Monday, May 04, 2009 2:53:19 PM
HIGHLY placed sources in the donor community have revealed that the deal to procure mobile hospitals from China is as good as done. And former works and supply minister Ludwig Sondashi charged that President Rupiah Banda is a very big liar.
Meanwhile, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said President Banda took the corrupt decision on the procurement of mobile hospitals. According to sources, the deal to procure mobile hospitals was discussed at State House and it was almost sealed.
"It was discussed at State House, where there was [health permanent secretary Dr] Velepi Mtonga and the minister and some officials from the Chinese embassy and representatives from CATIC. And it's not a secret that Velepi Mtonga is related to the first lady, Thandiwe and so they are using family connections to do business with the Ministry of Health," the source said. "One of Rupiah Banda's sons has been visiting Velepi Mtonga at the ministry in connection with this deal."
The sources said it was an open secret that Dr Mtonga disregarded advice from Ministry of Health management when she wrote to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) asking for authority to single source the procurement of mobile hospitals.
"That authority has already been granted, and so if he [President Banda] is saying that they have not done anything, why have they proceeded to commit themselves to single sourcing? What they are waiting for now is the Attorney General to approve that so that they can start securing money from China," the source disclosed.
"The contract was not signed because Dr Mtonga was away in DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo] and this thing was exposed when she was away and that is why the contract has not been signed. Whilst Dr Mtonga was in DRC, that's when you The Post exposed this thing and that is why there was a lot of panic because now the lid has been blown and that is why they have difficulties with this transaction."
However, the sources disclosed that President Banda and his Chinese friends were determined to go ahead with the deal and that money had already exchanged hands.
"They are trying to hoodwink the public that the donors have accepted their explanation and therefore all is well. This is far from the truth. At the meeting with the Minister of Health [Kapembwa Simbao] we agreed in principle that we will continue our usual support, but this thing of mobile hospitals must be concluded to our satisfaction otherwise, we will pull out," the source said.
"In the meeting it was only UNICEF and World Health Organisation [WHO] that wanted to proceed to sign the MoU with the government but the rest of us refused, we said the issue has to be reviewed to our satisfaction. That is why the MoU which should have been signed last Thursday has not been signed."
The sources said the MoU for support was not signed and yet there were officials who flew in from London specifically to witness the signing ceremony.
They said as the situation stands, donors had not committed themselves on paper to sign the MoU.
"We are now looking around for a day when this signing ceremony will take place, pending satisfaction that all is well in this transaction," the source said.
And Sondashi said President Banda was a very big liar who said things, which he later refuted.
"He is a very big liar. If he said in Parliament and was confirmed by the permanent secretary, how can he now turn around and say that he didn't approve it? As a head of state, he must be steady. He looks like he's not steady. He forgets what he says, that is not befitting that big responsibility of head of state. He must not be taking Zambians for a ride," Sondashi said.
"From the way things have moved, it's quite clear that he discussed this with the Chinese and approved it and now he was implementing it. Someone is getting a cut out of this."
Sondashi said it was surprising that almost all the major deals in the government were now being single sourced and President Banda's children were heavily involved in them. He asked President Banda to put his house in order by disciplining his children, saying he would soon announce his downfall from office should he fail to do so.
"He should be truthful and honest. It is only in his government that single sourcing has become prominent. These are matters of grave concern to us as Zambians. If he is allowed to stay as President for a long time, this country is going to be rendered poor because all the money will be siphoned," Sondashi said.
He called on the Zambian people to oppose President Banda's project of procuring hospitals because it would only benefit the President, his family and a few greedy individuals in government.
Sondashi charged that President Banda was the one who directed that the procuring of mobile hospitals be single sourced.
He said it would be difficult for technocrats in the Ministry of Health to act objectively because President Banda had selfishly entered the country into a contract with the Chinese.
Sondashi said presidential powers in the Constitution should be reduced because President Banda was engaging in all sorts of scandals due to the huge powers at his disposal.
Meanwhile, Hichilema wondered how the government technocrats would analyse the proposal on mobile hospitals since the President had already endorsed the idea.
"Are you surprised with this? What did the President say when the Dora Siliya issue came up? He told us that Dora was smarter than all of us, but what happened?" Hichilema asked.
"Typical, they take a corrupt decision first and then they want to put it on the technocrats. We are going back to one-party state. RB is borrowing dictatorship and corruption. This is a lethal combination."
He said the MMD was inherently corrupt right from the top down to the bottom.
"We told the people of Zambia during the last campaigns that the corruption from the top was evident. Remember the sugar, relief maize and the money they were giving?" Hichilema said.
He said the recent events were a wake-up call for the people of Zambia.
"We need a leadership that is focused. Are you surprised that the President is reacting like this on mobile hospitals? Are you telling me that the right pocket doesn't know what the left pocket is doing or holding? If what he is saying is true, why should the Chinese decide for us?" Hichilema asked.
"Then that clearly shows that he is not in charge of this country. We as Zambians have said no to mobile hospitals. I don't think the President is serious. Let's take the running of this country serious. You can see even the way he jokes around on serious matters affecting the country. I don't think he is serious."
Hichilema said it was typical of the MMD not to have priorities.
"The mobile hospitals are inappropriate, they (government) need to refurbish the existing hospitals in rural areas. Let them pay the doctors and nurses...improve the roads first, which roads are the same mobile hospitals going to drive on?" Hichilema asked. "Rupiah Banda wants to use mobile hospitals as a campaign tool for 2011. He must listen to the people. When you are in office, you are a servant of the people. Rupiah must know that he is a servant so what people want must prevail."
He said there was need to act on the dictatorial tendencies that were cropping up.
"See how they treated Post journalists yesterday at the airport. We really need to act as Zambians. This person will start going to homes to arrest people. I am really sorry for what happened to you guys," Hichilema said.
On Saturday, President Banda said the concept of mobile hospitals was a "damn good idea."
Answering questions from journalists upon arrival from Zimbabwe, President Banda said the proposal on mobile hospitals came from the Chinese.
"It was the Chinese who offered. We haven't even discussed it, we have not even approved it. So I don't know where they got the idea that... I didn't say we are against it because I think they are a damn good idea but the proposal came from them, from the Chinese, yes," said President Banda.
But according to a letter dated April 28, 2009 and addressed to Department for International Development (DFID) head Joy Hutcheon, Dr Mtonga stated that President Banda indicated during the official opening of the National Assembly that the government would procure mobile clinics from a friendly country to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that did not currently have any.
However, according to sources within the donor community, the Zambian government is in the process of acquiring a US$53 million loan from EX-IM Bank of China to facilitate the acquisition of the mobile hospitals from a Chinese firm called China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).
The source disclosed that donors held meetings last week in Lusaka to discuss this pending transaction between the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Zambian government, and CATIC concerning the mobile hospitals. The donors later cancelled the signing of an MoU for support to the health ministry pending a satisfactory explanation on the matter.
Labels: CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, HEALTHCARE, THANDIWE BANDA, UPND, VELEPI MTONGA
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$53m Mobile hospitals is Rupiah’s concept – PS
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, May 01, 2009 2:56:08 PM
HEALTH permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga has said the concept to procure mobile hospitals from a friendly country was highlighted by President Rupiah Banda during this year's official opening of the third session of the tenth National Assembly.
And the international donors to the health sector yesterday stated that they were grateful to the Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao for his assurance that no contract had been agreed on the mobile hospitals.
In a letter dated April 28, 2009 and addressed to Department for International Development (DFID) head Joy Hutcheon, Dr Mtonga stated that President Banda indicated during the official opening of the National Assembly that the government would procure mobile clinics from a friendly country to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that did not currently have any.
"With regards to whether the Mobile Hospital concept is a priority in our National Health Strategic Plan, I wish to indicate that based on our health vision as articulated in our National Health Policies and Strategies of 1991 which is further restated in our National Health Strategic Plan 2006-10, it is the intention of the Zambian Government to bring cost effective health services as close to the family as possible," Dr Mtonga stated.
"One avenue that would contribute to the Ministry's attainment of our health vision is the strengthening of outreach services through mobile health services. The concept was also highlighted by His Excellency the Republican President Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda in his speech during the official opening of the third session of the tenth National Assembly in 2009 in which he indicated that to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that do not currently have any, Government will procure mobile clinics from a friendly country."
However, Dr Mtonga stated that in the case of the mobile hospitals, the Ministry of Health had not yet firmed up its decision to acquire the facilities as stated in the proposal from China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).
She stated that the ministry was still looking at whether it was feasible and cost effective to undertake such an investment in the health sector or a modified version that would suit Zambia's needs.
Dr Mtonga stated that the ministry was to send a team to visit other countries including China where a similar concept had been implemented.
"It would therefore have been premature for the Ministry of Health to present to our Cooperating Partners the Mobile Hospital concept without the Ministry of Health having first arrived at a conclusive decision on moving forward with the Mobile Hospital Concept," she stated.
Dr Mtonga stated that the concept of providing mobile health hospitals/integrated out-reach services was not new to the Ministry of Health.
She stated that the ministry had been providing out-reach services but were limited in scope due to lack of adequate logistical support.
"In this regard, the Ministry of Health has faced many challenges in providing a systematic integrated out-reach health services which should include surgical interventions. Such mobile platforms may operate as a stand alone unit or as a support unit to an existing Health Facility thereby enabling the Ministry to provide mobile health services to the rural communities," she stated.
However, Dr Mtonga stated that as things stood now, the Zambian government had not signed any contract, agreement or loan towards implementing the Mobile Hospital concept.
She stated that government was still consulting with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning on the feasibility to set up mobile hospitals.
"In concluding, allow me as part of our consultative process within the SWAP framework to extend an invitation to our Cooperating Partners to jointly undertake a feasibility and cost effective analysis of the Mobile Hospital concept through the Procurement Technical Working Group once the Ministry of Health has arrived at a conclusive decision on the way forward," Dr Mtonga stated.
"I also wish to take this opportunity to thank all our Cooperating Partners for the support you have rendered to the Ministry of Health in improving the delivery of health services in Zambia."
Dr Mtonga thanked the donors for raising concerns on the mobile hospital project, which the Ministry of Health was currently looking at.
She stated that following the presentation by CATIC to the senior management in the Ministry of Health boardroom on the mobile hospital concept, a committee was set up to scrutinize the document on the proposed hospitals and make recommendations to the permanent secretary.
Dr Mtonga stated that the committee met on March 11 and 13, 2009.
"It was the view of the Committee that in principle, the concept of the Mobile Hospital be supported, but to continue seeking guidance from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority," stated Dr Mtonga.
And according to a statement from donors to the health sector signed by Hutcheon and British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter, the donors were consulting on a suitable date for the signing of the addendum to the 2006 health memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The donors stated they had discussed the proposal to procure mobile hospitals with the health ministry and they were grateful with the Minister of Health's assurance that no contract had been agreed.
The donors stated that the Ministry of Health, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders would jointly assess the proposal and any other major health policy decisions through the normal mechanism.
"The Cooperating Partners remain committed to supporting the Ministry of Health to achieve goals of the National Health Strategic Plan 2006-2010 and accelerate progress towards the health Millennium Development Goals. Cooperating Partners have not withdrawn their support from the sector and signed agreements - such as the EC's Euro 36 million sector budget support to health - remain unchanged," stated the donors.
"We look forward to the continuing partnership with the Ministry of Health and are consulting on a suitable date for the signing of the addendum to the 2006 health MoU."
On Wednesday, highly-placed sources within the donor community revealed that they [donors] had called off the signing ceremony of the MoU [for support] at the high level forum which was scheduled for yesterday with the government because they needed a satisfactory explanation from the health ministry on the matter.
And DFID health and HIV/AIDS advisor Angela Spilsbury said pressure for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to procure mobile hospital units from a Chinese company is coming from outside the health sector.
On Tuesday, the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) opposed the government's intention to purchase mobile hospitals, describing it as misplaced priority.
According to sources within the donor community, the Zambian government is in the process of acquiring a US$53 million loan from EX-IM Bank of China to facilitate the acquisition of the mobile hospitals from a Chinese firm called CATIC.
The sources disclosed that donors held meetings last week in Lusaka to discuss this pending transaction between the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Zambian government, and CATIC concerning the mobile hospitals.
According to sources, the Zambian government was not being honest and sincere on the procurement of mobile hospitals from China.
"It's surprising because government officials are saying, 'there is no deal which has been sealed concerning mobile hospitals'. They are saying, 'what is going on at the moment is consultation over the same matter?' They say that this issue is in its infancy," one of the donors said.
"But we know that this is not correct because we are aware that the PS [permanent secretary] of the Ministry of Health Dr Velepi Mtonga had some time back written a letter to the tender board [now Zambia Public Procurement Authority] asking for a waiver for them to single source these mobile hospitals. We are also aware that the tender board granted them the authority to single source and as we speaking these documents are on their way to the Attorney General's office for approval as per procedure.
"We don't know if it's a coincidence that the President is reorganising the Attorney General's chambers. From what we hear even the tender board was reluctant to give them [Ministry of Health] authority for single sourcing."
Labels: CORRUPTION, DFID, HEALTHCARE, JOY HUTCHEON, RUPIAH BANDA, VELEPI MTONGA
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