Theft of medicines to become non-bailable economic crime – President HichilemaPresident Hakainde Hichilema has issued a strong warning against the theft and misuse of medical supplies, announcing that government is in the process of amending the law to reclassify such offences as non-bailable economic crimes.
He says individuals found guilty of stealing medicines will not only face prosecution without the option of bail, but also risk having properties such as houses seized if they are suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of stolen medical resources.
Speaking at the 47th General Council of the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), held under the theme “Church Health Institutions Responding to Health Needs in the Midst of Global Financial Challenges,” President Hichilema emphasized that this legislative shift is part of a broader national effort to safeguard public health resources and hold wrongdoers accountable, regardless of their background.
He has cautioned against politicizing or ethnicizing crime, stressing that theft is a criminal act not a tribal identity.
The President has praised CHAZ as a trusted and valuable partner in healthcare delivery, noting that 162 church-run facilities are actively serving communities across the country.
-Diamond TV