Govt to Address AGs Concerns – Mwansa

24 June 2011

Acting Finance and National Planning Minister Kalombo Mwansa has told Parliament that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure that concerns raised in the 2009 Auditor General’s report are addressed.

And according to the report of the Auditor General on accounts for the financial year ending in 2009, irregularities accounted for K318.1 billion, representing 2.29 per cent of the actual expenditure.

Winding up debate on Thursday evening on the motion to adopt the report of the public accounts committee on the Auditor General’s report on accounts for the financial year ending in 2009, Dr Mwansa told the House that the Government had taken note of the concerns raised.

He said the Government was happy that outstanding matters on unretired imprest and unauthorised expenditure had been closed.

The Government had noted the concerns such as the entry into contracts without the advice of the Attorney General.

Dr Mwansa urged the committee to work closely with controlling officers to curb irregularities in the audit reports.

And presenting the report to the House, public accounts committee chairperson, Emmanuel Hachipuka said during the period under review, irregularities accounted for a total of K318.1 billion.

“Sir, this is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue. Your committee urges the secretary to the treasury not to relent in putting in place measures that will reduce cases of failure to adhere to regulations,” he said.

Mr Hachipuka, who is Mbabala (UPND) MP, said the committe had also observed constitutional breaches in the execution of contracts.

He said according to article 54 (3) of the Constitution of Zambia, an agreement, contract, treaty, convention or document by whatever name called, to which the Government is a party or in respect of which the Government has an interest, would not be concluded without legal advice of the Attorney General.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs for example entered into a contract with a German company at a contract sum of K7.9 billion on the passport issuing system without following this provision.

“The Ministry of Finance failed to follow this provision when it signed a contract worth K1.2 billion for the preparation of disaster recovery sites in five integrated systems pilot sites,” Mr Hachipuka said.

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