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Zambian advocacy group decries alleged theft of donor funds at health ministry

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A Zambian civil society group, the Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC), has decried what it described as the persistent allegations of corruption and misuse of public and donor funds at the country’s Ministry of Health.

AIPAC Executive Director, Solomon Ngoma, who expressed the group’s concern about the allegations, said they had led to a crisis of confidence among donors, with some already suspending their aid to the country.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Ngoma emphasized the urgent need for the Zambian government under President Hakainde Hichilema to take decisive action to address the scandal and restore trust.

Ngoma described the alleged embezzlement of donor funds as a stark reminder of the endemic corruption plaguing the public sector.

“This corruption undermines the delivery of essential public services and perpetuates poverty and inequality in Zambia,” Ngoma said.

He urged the government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in order to regain donor confidence, which he said would involve strengthening institutional frameworks, improving transparency, and enhancing donor engagement.

“We urge the government to take immediate action to address the allegations at the Ministry of Health, including a thorough investigation and holding those responsible accountable,” he added.

The AIPAC Director further called for the implementation of robust measures to prevent future corruption and ensure that public and donor funds are used appropriately.

“We can’t continue witnessing the abuse of donor funds year after year. We must work together to create a culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity in Zambia,” Ngoma stated.

He added that the fight against corruption is a collective effort that requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the private sector.

“By taking decisive action to combat corruption and ensure the responsible use of funds, we could restore donor confidence, promote economic growth, and improve the lives of its citizens,” Ngoma concluded.

Metro

10 persons on FBI wanted list arrested in Nigeria– FG

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The Nigerian government has confirmed that at least 10 persons who were on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and on the watchlist of the Interpol have been arrested while attempting to sneak into Nigeria.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who revealed this during the unveiling of the Technology Innovation Complex at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu, said the wanted persons were arrested after intense intelligence.

The minister said the newly-installed facility at the centre would ascertain the risk level of persons entering the country, detect irregular migration patterns, and monitor unmanned borders in hard-to-reach areas nationwide.

“In the last couple of days, there were 10 people who were on the interpol and immigration wanted list who were apprehended in one week,” Tunji-Ojo told the President.

“Before now, those people would have entered Nigeria, caused terror. But we have now told them that under the new leadership, Nigeria is a no-go area for any criminal element,” he explained.

Tunji-Ojo further stated that aside from an installed solar power plant of 0.5KWs, 250 trained officers maintain eight-hour shifts to monitor the borders round the clock.

“We decided to do an end-to-end solution. One that has an energy solution to power this facility. The 0.5KW solar power plant is 100 per cent ready here and it has been connected to the facility to power it.

“Also, the human factor is fundamental because you can build a structure, but how about the human element?

“What we’ve been able to do is to train 250 officers. As I speak, we run shifts of eight hours three times a day which is 24/7 surveillance,” he said.

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Metro

Zambia: Ex-President Lungu alleges political manipulation after barring from 2026 poll

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Former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has described his ban from participating in the 2026 presidential election by the Constitutional Court as political manipulation rather than constitutional principles.

Lungu who reacted to the decision of the court to bar him from future elections, described the verdict as anticipated but reflective of political interference but vowed to focus on a ‘Plan B’ strategy following the Constitutional Court judgment.

Lungu who bared his mind in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lusaka, said the verdict was anticipated but reflective of political interference.

“We find ourselves at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, a moment marked by deep reflection and, I dare say, a profound sense of our common identity and destiny. The verdict rendered today was expected,” Lungu stated.

“For months, the hands of political manipulation have, with undeniable force, steered us toward a conclusion foreseen not by the merits of reasoned argument or constitutional fidelity but by the weight of orchestrated design and political machinations.”

Lungu however, urged Zambians to revisit the sequence of events leading up to the judgment, claiming his exclusion from politics was driven by calculated political interventions.

“It began with a petition that sought to exclude me from the political arena—not through the natural verdict of the people on the ballot paper, but by the calculated intervention of political forces sponsored by political players,” he explained.

The former president also accused unnamed actors of restructuring the judiciary to achieve their objectives.

“Yes, specific judges were expelled in order to retain specific judges specifically for today’s judgment! We saw decisions cloaked in procedural justifications concocted by that same unmistakable hand of expediency.

“Of course, we all witnessed calculated judicial reshuffles by politicians for their plan to land here today.

“Democracy, my fellow citizens, is not merely a system of governance but the lifeblood of our national identity.”

Lungu also announced that a “Plan B” had been initiated and would focus on upholding the power of the people.

“Plan B will prove that no machination can extinguish the power of the Zambian people and that institutions must serve the public, not the ambitions of a few,” he emphasized.

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