Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) has called on the ACB and Parliament to investigate the matter in which the Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda authorised treasury to pay Victoria Pharmaceutical Limited over K16.3 billion in claims.

This is the issue where the company had supplied pharmaceutical products to the Central Medical Stores (CMS) worth over U$5.3 million in claims dating back to 2016, but the government only paid K205 million.

In a letter dated August 23 2024, the AG  Nyirenda wrote both the Ministry of Finance and the Medical Stores which admitted liability on the matter stating that he certified the unpaid claim of U$5.3 million and requested the institutions to facilitate the payment to the pharmaceutical supplier.

Nyirenda said the amount jumped to about K16.5 billion due to the indemnity discount interest rates and collection costs at 12 percent and 18 percent per annum starting from April 2023.

But, CSAT executive director, Willy Kambwandira has raised eyebrows on the deal and asked the ACB and parliament to investigate the matter.

"We know there are a lot of cases others date back to 2010, but they are yet to be paid. So we wonder why the AG has been quick on this particular company. We think something fishy happened considering the speed taken by the AG to certify the payment. This is corruption therefore we want the graft busting body and Parliament to investigate the matter," he said.

But, ACB spokesperson, Egrita Ndala says she could not comment since there is no official position on the issue while Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) chairperson, Mark Botoman says they have yet to receive the request.

Ministry of Justice spokesperson, Frank Namangale, says they will provide a clarification on the same shortly.