MEDICAL Stores Limited managing director Chikuta Mbewe has been fired by the board and replaced with Chipopa Kazuma in an acting capacity.
Kazuma was serving as director of programmes at the institution before the new appointment.
In a farewell message to staff, Mbewe stated that he contract was terminated following a decision by the board.
“Dear Team. I write to inform you that today is my last day at MSL following a Board decision to terminate my contract. I feel very privileged and humbled to have worked with you the last 4 years. Let’s continue with our selfless commitment to our country by building a supply chain that will improve the quality of life our people. Let’s also remain strong on our values of being accountable to our people. Words alone are not enough to just thank you for all the love and kindness during my stay at MSL. For those that could have been harmed by my decisions be lest assured it was not intentional but all in an effort to improve the quality of our service. God bless you always,” stated Mbewe.
According to sources, Mbewe is said to have been attending a union negotiations meeting when the news reached him.
Medical Stores is one of the institutions that has been at the centre of the defective medical supplies scandal that has rocked the Ministry of Health in the past months.
Recently, parliament heard that Medical Stores distributed defectives condoms and surgical gloves, among other products to government hospitals despite them failing quality assurance tests.
