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| UK freezes aid to Zambia over corruption concerns | UK freezes aid to Zambia over corruption concerns |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The UK government has frozen direct financial aid to the Zambian government over concerns about corruption. | The UK government has frozen direct financial aid to the Zambian government over concerns about corruption. |
| The alleged multi-million dollar fraud involves the creation of shell companies and the diversion of money meant for poorer families, the journal Africa Confidential reports. | |
| Ireland, Finland and Sweden have also suspended aid. | Ireland, Finland and Sweden have also suspended aid. |
| The freeze comes at a time when President Edgar Lungu's government is under increasing financial pressure. | The freeze comes at a time when President Edgar Lungu's government is under increasing financial pressure. |
| The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, confirmed the aid freeze in a tweet. saying that the UK government has a "zero-tolerance approach to fraud & corruption". | The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, confirmed the aid freeze in a tweet. saying that the UK government has a "zero-tolerance approach to fraud & corruption". |
| He also indicated that there is an investigation into the alleged corruption and the government will decide on its next move once this has been completed. | He also indicated that there is an investigation into the alleged corruption and the government will decide on its next move once this has been completed. |
| A statement from the Swedish government's aid agency, Sida, said that there had been "strong suspicions of irregularities". | A statement from the Swedish government's aid agency, Sida, said that there had been "strong suspicions of irregularities". |
| It also said that Finland and Ireland had joined Sweden and the UK in the aid freeze. | It also said that Finland and Ireland had joined Sweden and the UK in the aid freeze. |
| More than 50% of Zambia's 17 million people live below the poverty line, the World Bank says. | More than 50% of Zambia's 17 million people live below the poverty line, the World Bank says. |
| Funds diverted | Funds diverted |
| The alleged corruption has affected Zambia's health, education and local government ministries, African Confidential reports. | The alleged corruption has affected Zambia's health, education and local government ministries, African Confidential reports. |
| It says that a report by Zambia's auditor general highlighted that people in the ministry of education established shell companies to divert funds. | It says that a report by Zambia's auditor general highlighted that people in the ministry of education established shell companies to divert funds. |
| A scheme to provide poorer families with direct grants has also been affected, as the money was used to buy expensive vehicles, Africa Confidential adds. | A scheme to provide poorer families with direct grants has also been affected, as the money was used to buy expensive vehicles, Africa Confidential adds. |
| The UK government has not confirmed the amount of aid that has been affected. | The UK government has not confirmed the amount of aid that has been affected. |
| The aid suspension comes as Zambia's debt levels are coming under increasing scrutiny. | The aid suspension comes as Zambia's debt levels are coming under increasing scrutiny. |
| The International Monetary Fund has said that it has suspended lending to the country as it is worried that its debt is unsustainable. | The International Monetary Fund has said that it has suspended lending to the country as it is worried that its debt is unsustainable. |