PAC SLAMS GENERAL EDUCATION MINISTRY 

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 12:12:02 +0000

By Mukosela Kasalwe

THE Public Accounts Committee has roundly condemned the Ministry of General Education for having too many irregularities in the Auditor General’s report including a K2 million questionable retirement of accountable impress and a K3 million paid irregularly to officers who have since been suspended.

The  Committee yesterday took to task Ministry Permanent Secretary Henry Tukombe and three senior accountants, over an astonishing more than K 3 million paid to three officers who have since been suspended to pave way for investigations.

According to the Auditor General’s report during the period under review amounts totaling 3,888,327 involving transactions were paid to three officers at the Ministry of General Education. However, there were no explanations and documentations such as payment vouchers, backing authorities among availed for audit to support the payments as of July, 2017.

The Committee summoned two chief accountants a Mr Mwanza who was at the ministry but is now with Ministry of Finance, a Mr Kanyama who is currently at the ministry and a senior accountant Chizaso Thole who labored to provide information.

The money trail on the cheques indicated that the funds were paid to a Bwalya Phiri who would from time change his names to L. B Phiri,  L. Bwalya. P, and B. Phiri,  Bwalya Phiri and Lawrence Phiri on 12 different occasions.

Mr Tukombe told the committee that three officers at the ministry were suspended and that the Public Service Management Division had been informed to pave way for investigations in the matter. “The ministry has suspended three officers pending further investigations in order to establish the allegations about the twelve payments,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said it was unfortunate that ZANACO Bank had honored the cheques to allow payments for such colossal sums of money without prior authority and that the ministry had engaged the bank on the matter.

Milenge Patriotic Front Member of Parliament, Mwansa Mbulakulima described the ministry of General Education submission as a total failure.