Maravi

Auditor General's report reveals more fund abuse in foreign missions

Auditor General's report reveals more fund abuse in foreign missions
By Kabanda Chulu
Fri 20 Jan. 2012, 13:50 CAT

ZAMBIAN foreign missions under the MMD government grossly abused and mismanaged public funds and contributed over 80 per cent to the K814 billion excess expenditure cited by the latest report of the Auditor General.

The report stated that there were weaknesses in internal control, wastage in the use of resources, poor management of contracts, failure to follow tender procedures, abuse of imprests, delays in project completion, poor workmanship and non adherence to contract terms, among other irregularities.

The Auditor General's office has, however, not received any response from the foreign missions over the audit queries regarding their over-expenditure.

The excess expenditure for 2010 was too high compared to K87.2 billion in 2009 and K249.9 billion recorded in 2008, states the report.

According to the report of the Auditor General for financial year ended December 31, 2010, excess expenditure amounting to K814.2 billion was unconstitutional and would require approval from Parliament.

It stated that Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters was authorized to spend K10.9 billion but actual expenditure amounted to K13.9 billion while the Lubumbashi mission was provided K5 billion but spent K5.6 billion.

The Washington mission was provided K10.6 billion but spent K13 billion while the Lilongwe mission was provided K4.6 billion but spent K5.6 billion, with the Cairo mission getting K5.1 billion but spent K6.1 billion.

The Dar es Salaam mission was authorized to spend K7.4 billion but spent K7.5 billion while the Kinshasa mission got K6.5 billion but spent K7.1 billion. The Moscow mission was authorised to spend K8.4 billion but spent K9.9 billion.

The mission in Addis Ababa was authorized to spend K8.503 billion but spent K8.507 billion while the Gaborone mission spent K6.2 billion instead of K4.9 billion, with the Beijing mission spending K12.9 billion instead of K11.4 billion.

The mission in Stockholm spent K12.7 billion instead of K10.8 billion while in New Delhi K8.5 billion was spent instead of K6.2billion and in Maputo K4.3 billion was authorised but K5.1 billion was spent.

In Brussels, K12.3 billion was spent instead of the authorised K11.2 billion while the Luanda mission spent K6.9 billion instead of K6.4 billion with the Harare mission spending K7.3 billion instead of K5.8 billion.

The mission in Berlin spent K13.9 billion instead of K10.1billion with the Geneva mission spending K12.6 billion instead of the authorised K11.7 billion while the Pretoria mission spent K9.8 billion instead of K8.1 billion.

The Paris mission spent K8.8 billion instead of K8.4 billion while the Rome mission spent K11.1billion instead of K9.8 billion. The Tripoli mission spent K8.8 billion instead of K6.3 billion.

The Brasilia mission was authorised to spend K6.3billion but spent K9.2billion with the Accra mission spending K9.2 billion instead of the authorised K6 billion.

Other government departments that contributed to the excess expenditure include National Assembly which spent K185.5 billion instead of K185.3 billion while Ministry of Finance headquarters was authorised to spend K1.2 trillion but spent K1.5 trillion.

The Teaching Service Commission spent K2.7 billion instead of K2.5 billion.

Labels: AUDITOR GENERAL, CORRUPTION, MMD

posted by MrK @ 3:27 PM