AUDITOR GENERAL threatens to stop auditing MoH

AUDITOR GENERAL threatens to stop auditing MoH
By Amos Malupenga
Tuesday April 17, 2007 [04:00]

Auditor General Anna Chifu-ngula has threatened to stop auditing the Ministry of Health (MoH) if Permanent Secretary Dr Simon Miti continues to be un-cooperative. And documentation obtained yesterday revealed that Dr Miti's letter to Chifungula dated April 12, 2007 was not copied to first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, contrary to what we reported in yesterday's edition.

Chifungula, in her letter to Dr Miti dated April 13, 2007 copied to Secretary to Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti, stated that Dr Miti did not seem to understand what audit was all about. She was reacting to Dr Miti's letter who had invited her to meet so they could reconcile audit queries following their differences when they both appeared before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

"Following my appearance before the PAC on 4th April 2007 to make responses to the Auditor General's Report for the financial year ended 31st December 2005, it was clear from the members of the committee that we needed to reconcile and harmonise the audit findings and responses that the Ministry of Health provided," read Dr Miti's letter. "In the spirit of resolving some of the issues raised, my ministry is ready to meet with you at the earliest convenience to reconcile the records. It is our hope and wish that the misunderstanding should be resolved amicably. My ministry is more than ready to provide all necessary documentation and look forward to co-operate with your office as you verify the audit responses."

But in her response, Chifungula stated that Dr Miti was not co-operative and if he did not change is attitude, she would be left with no option but to exercise her constitutional rights. She stated that as she wrote to Dr Miti, his ministry officials have failed to provide information on the K24 billion worth of expired drugs.

"I feel that you do not understand what audit is all about," Chifungula stated. "The auditor is supposed to help you to account for the funds that the treasury has entrusted in you to manage. You may wish to know that when the auditors come to visit you, you are supposed to avail them with all the information and documentation necessary for them to conduct their audit as this is clearly stipulated in the Zambian Constitution and the Public Audit Act.

"You tend to regard auditors who come to your office as people trying to find faults in you as a person when what they expect from you as controlling officer is information as to how public resources have been utilised. You know that for the audits for the year 2005, the officers have been in your ministry since the late part of 2005 to 2006. As I write, your officers have failed to provide information on the K24 billion worth of expired drugs being kept at great storage costs."

Chifungula stated that it was regrettable that Dr Miti felt that when auditors asked for information from him, they were bringing misunderstandings.

"This is just a figment of your imagination," Chifungula stated. "My officers and I are too busy to concentrate only on one ministry when we have other ministries to audit. If you continue with your un-cooperative attitude, I will have no option but to exercise my constitutional rights not to audit your institution so that all funding to your office will be treated as being at risk.

"Please note that your institution does not fall within, or classified as secret funds. Therefore, the issue of you washing dirty linen in public does not arise as all funding to your office is transparent. Note that the duty of my office is to clean up institutions and cleaning these institutions in every corner, including the darkest parts."

Chifungula stated that it was entirely up to Dr Miti to reconcile and harmonise the audit findings with her office because it was his duty as controlling officer. She stated that her office was not only open to Dr Miti but anybody else requiring her assistance.

"I have no personal feelings for any of my auditees other than to help them discharge their fiduciary duty," stated Chifungula.