Zambia aid: UK suspends funding over corruption fears Published duration 18 September 2018

image copyright Getty Images image caption The UK government is worried that money meant for poor Zambians is being stolen by corrupt officials

The UK has frozen aid funding to Zambia, after its government admitted that $4.3m (£3.3m) meant for poor families had gone missing.

The move follows allegations of corruption within President Edgar Lungu's administration.

The UK takes a "zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption", the UK's Department for International Development (DfID) said in a statement.

Ireland, Finland and Sweden have also suspended aid.

The aid freeze by the UK is believed to affect the education, health and nutrition sectors, as well as social cash transfers for the poorest Zambians.

An inquiry ordered by Zambia's president had uncovered the "misappropriation" of $4.3m, his spokesman Amos Chanda told BBC Focus on Africa.

The money had gone missing from the Social Cash Transfer programme, which allocates money that is paid directly to the poorest, Mr Chanda confirmed.

The government was committed to taking action but was still awaiting the final results of its four-month audit, Mr Chanda said.

"The president wants answers within a week," he added.

'Expensive vehicles bought with diverted money'

DfID said it had put direct financial support to the Zambian government on hold while investigations continued.

"There is no evidence that confirms any loss of UK taxpayers' money," it added.

image copyright Getty Images image caption President Edgar Lungu has been in power since 2015

It says that a report by Zambia's auditor general highlighted that people in the ministry of education established shell companies to divert funds.

Money from the Social Cash Transfer programme was used to buy expensive vehicles, Africa Confidential adds.

The UK government has not confirmed the amount of aid that has been affected.

The aid suspension comes as Zambia's debt levels face increasing scrutiny.

The International Monetary Fund said it has suspended lending to the country as it is worried that its debt is unsustainable.

Related Topics Zambia

Corruption