This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
July 13, 2020
Albert M'peti Biyombo, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Deputy Health Minister, has accused Cabinet members of receiving kickbacks on contracts for the coronavirus response, while health workers went unpaid for months.
According to a leaked letter to the prime minister, Biyombo alleged that a 'mafia network' was embezzling Covid-19 funds, taking kickbacks of up to 35 percent off contracts for virus supplies.
His allegations come as no surprise, given the recent history of corruption in the DRC. In May, Judge Raphael Yanyi, who was presiding over the corruption trial of President Felix Tshisekedi's chief of staff Vital Kamerhe, died suddenly of a 'heart attack'. However, it was later revealed that he died of stab wounds to the head.
Corruption in the response to the pandemic is not unique to the DRC. In Zambia, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya was arrested last month on suspicion of corruption after he suddenly came into a lot of money and went on a property buying spree.
In Zimbabwe, Health Minister Obadiah Moyo was fired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his involvement in a $60 million Covid-19 contract scandal.
South Africa has announced a probe into allegations of corruption involving 500 billion rands ($26.3 billion) relief fund to ease the impact of Covid-19.
In Uganda, several officials were jailed over coronavirus supplies theft, while in Kenya, a parliamentary committee sniffed high corruption in the use of KSh1.3 billion ($12.2 million) donated by the World Bank for the fight against the pandemic.
The Covid-19 bounty has attracted crooks, and the corrupt have no fear, not even of God. The pandemic has exposed the deep rot in governing structures and the broken public morality.
