The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has welcomed President Banda’s commitment to fighting corruption and other related vices in the country.
Commission Chairperson Valentine Chileshe said ACC was encouraged when President Banda reiterated government measures on fighting corruption during his press conference at State House last week.
Justice Chileshe has since commended Mr. Banda for reaffirming government’s commitment to fight corruption at all levels.
He said it was essential to match political will to fight corruption the willingness to act against the vice through adequate funding to the institutions.
He said the commission has also welcomed the establishment of the Frauds Investigations Unit (FIU) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
Justice Chileshe said this in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He said although the commission was faced with numerous challenges in the execution of its mandate, it would endeavour to perform to expectations of the public.
He said the enactment of the legislation on whistle blowers and their protection will greatly enhance the expected performance of the unit.
Justice Chileshe added that the commission was geared in meeting the nation’s expectations regarding various cases of rampant corruption including at the Ministry of Health.
He said the Anti Corruption Policy to be launched soon will bring about prudent public service delivery systems and guard against the abuse of resources in the public and private sector.
During last weeks press conference President Banda pledged to provide adequate funding, increasing staffing levels and proving logistical facilities such as transport to the Anti Corruption Commission in order to speed up investigations.
ZANIS
Good example for what Brits call kiss ass!
There is no commitment,he was just talking. Let him show us that he is committed.
In over 17 years of MMD since UNIP left, ACC was stripped to a toothless symbolic institution.Chiluba literally suffocated them to an extent they had no voice, ability or logistics to pursue any report.They had no cars, ever begging gas from the OOP and other GRZ institutions.Mwanawasa in his anti Chiluba fixing politics, came up with the Task force against Chiluba denying ACC life and operational space until his death.While busy with his fix Chiluba strategy, ZK 3 trillion was being plunders only to be announced by him without action to family tree members involved.For the first time ACC has found operational space and mandate.Bravo RB! Dive in all regime eras to real time today.
But the problem with this old man is he lives on the street and feeds on its rumours and lies and tries to use that to run the country.
Blah Blah Blah………………………………….!
ACC what did you find out about Dora Siliya for you to be elated.Mr Moono, Mr Chibabula please restore decency in these public office holders.You did a good job with ministry of health but there is more
Commitment to fighting corruption, are they insane. What has Banda done to Miti after receiving the letter which speaks for itself that Miti is involved in corrupt acts. Banda will keep quiet on this one and yet he’s supposed to act, somehow. Does anyone know anything about Banda’s reaction to the letter. Fact is, this is not how one who is committed to fighting corruption should behave. Second, why are the documents gone missing at the ministry and the president has not shown any concern at having the doc missing. It must be a joke. Losing important docs? If he does not take any action on this, it means he knows what has happened. And that he’s not commited to fighting corruption. I wonder what the donor would say if they heard the Zambian government loses important docs.
Who is Auditing the Auditor????
The fight against corruption is not going to be fought with kid-gloves. It requires systems which are focused, impersonal and generally looking to what is in the best interests of the country, our country, Zambia.
First and foremost, it is gratifying to see the efforts being put in by the politicians to fight the vice of corruption. It ought to be remembered that it is not the politicians who are going to spearhead the fight against graft. The fight against graft is only going to be won if we take a holistic approach in looking at the causes of graft and how all the stakeholders ought to be involved in finding a lasting solution to this problem. Politicians will make pronouncements. It is the duty of the civil servants to ensure that the politician’s pronouncements are carried out.
It is in this spirit that I would like to suggest that the next institution to be subjected to detailed investigations of the day to day financial and other transactions should be the office of the Auditor General… The reason (why) I say so is because of the number of irregularities that have observed as being perpetuated in the office (of the Auditor General). The pertinent question one is tempted to ask is, who is auditing the auditor?
Payment of illegal allowances
The Auditor General is appointed to audit books of accounts of all government Ministries, provinces and spending agencies (MPSAs) and to submit a report to the President; and is paid a salary and allowances for this work as per contract of service. However, in addition to the normal allowances, the Auditor General has been paying herself what are termed as “editing allowances” in amounts ranging from K30million to K50million annually outside the scope of her terms of conditions of employment. This is not only contrary to her conditions of service, but also contrary to custom since, the previous Auditor Generals (S. Nundwe and F.M. Siame) never used to receive such payments.
Since the aforementioned “editing allowances” are not budgeted for, the Auditor General’s office routinely “borrow” monies from the Revolving Account intended for staff loans, advances, restructuring and institutional development projects. The account in question is financed by the Royal Governments of Norway and the Netherlands respectively. It ought to be mentioned here that although this revolving account is supposed to be replenished every year through repayments, this is seldom done.
Failure to retire Imprest
The office of the Auditor General receives substantial amounts of money each year in the ranges of K300million to K1billion for the Audits of Sector Pool institutions such as Ministry of Education, Health and so on. The Auditor General’s office has failed to provide a return on the utilization of the funds in the Ministries aforementioned. In fact the bulk of the monies mentioned have been misapplied to administrative expenses not related to the audits in question.
Special Assignments
While the establishment of the budget – line was well intended to cater for the adhoc assignments as requested by the office of the President in accordance with the provisions of the Public Audit Act of 1980, the funds allocated under this budget item have been used and abused by the Auditor General as she misapplies the same funds to visit her ‘boyfriend’ in the UK every year. It ought to be mentioned that although the Auditor General will always state that she is on these trips to audit the ZISS accounts, she spends at least a week with her boyfriend who is looking after her properties in the U.K. This is all done at FULL GOVERNMENT EXPENSE.
Procurement of good and services
Generally, the procurement of goods and services in the Office of the Auditor General do not comply with the tender procedures and regulations. It is common practice in the auditor General’s office to single-source goods and services. In fact, the AG herself dictates from where and how the goods are procured. Notable in this regard is the booking of venues for annual planning meetings, editing sessions, sensitization of stakeholders and so on. It ought to be mentioned here that the AG’s office purchased five (5) old motor vehicles from the Watch Tower Bible Society, the vehicles in question being non-runners to the amazement of most members of the team.
Workshops and Seminars
In the AG’s office, organizers of the workshops or seminars must include the AG as the facilitator of any given workshop. Failure to include the AG as facilitator of the workshop means that the workshop will not take place. It is common practice in the AG’s office that she gets paid even for the days that she does not attend the meetings.
Press Statements
Contrary to the provisions of the State Security Act, Code of Ethics of Public Service workers and auditing standards, the AG has been rushing to the cooperating partners and the press on unsubstantiated claims before conclusive reports with facts is available. This has brought about embarrassment on the government and untold misery to those who are accused. In the recent past, the AG’s office has produced some sensational accusations of anomalies in the Ministries only to find out later that they missed the mark. When this has happened, the AG’s office has not gone public to acknowledge the mistakes made so that government is seen in the true light. This has lead to government being seen as corrupt when in fact the actual reality is different.
Conclusions
The AG’s office is a sacred office in that it should be viewed by the general public as a check on the excesses that may naturally arise in government. It is imperative that people have faith and trust in the sanctity of this office. What has become the norm of the AG’s office is worrying. From the observations made, the AG’s office is running the danger of loosing the morality which is vital in ensuring that this office is truly a check on the excesses of government. Before the AG goes to press, it is imperative that all facts are established, a report presented to the appointing authority and if necessary to the prosecuting agents of government. Running to the press with sensational claims is really not helping the otherwise noble intentions of government to fight…
By the way, #7 John Doe, there are no documents missing at the MOH. The Auditor General likes to play to the galleries and to be seen to be doing something when in fact she is not doing anything at all. If documents are missing, then how did she come to press that there was K27BILLION missing at MOH? The issue is that all the Ministries should be checked and AG’s office should be the top of the lot.
Thr proliferation of Nigerians doesnt help matters for God’s sake.The Nigerian bank that is being courted into the country is a danger to young Zambians.Zambia should be careful.Why is there no other country in the region accepting these 419s?
Shit!!!!!! Our country is in a mess. If the AG’s office is as messed up as “Concerned Auditor” puts it, then we are in serious problems. But I still think that Miti has everything to do with the rot at the MOH. Why is he still walking the streets. In the fight against graft, there should be no sacred cows. We need Miti in Chimbokaila. Thats the only way the fight against corruption will be seen to be genuine. The info by “Concerned Auditor” should be forwarded to investigative wings.
If what Concerned Auditor is saying has some truth, then we are in serious shit!! How can the AG be involved in such scams? I hope its not true. The Police, ACC and DEC should follow up on such information. How come a civil servant can afford to buy houses in UK when business men in Zambian cannot? If the AG has houses in England, then this must be investigated. Am sure her salary will not explain her buying the house in UK.
Concerned Auditor # 19 thanks for the detailed explanation. It was written in the News Paper tho that some docs pertaining to the scam at the MoH where missing and that the auditing will hence take long. So, it means it’s not true. The docs are not missing, but as usual the people incharge are trying to play some tricks, just to let sleeping dogs lie.
I agree with “Concerned Auditor” and “John Doe” on this one. It is not normal for the AG to go public saying that there is K27BILLION of tax payers money missing, and then later on say documents are missing. Even a fool will ask the question of how then the AG knew that there was K27BILLION missing. The AG along with the whole government must be removed!! The level of stupidity is just astounding!! Mamma Chifunguka has a boyfriend in the UK?? Zambia never cease to amaze!!!
There were no documents missing because the investigations have been going on for a long time. The AG’s office is trying to create an impression that during the time it was announced there was a K27billion scam, officers at the MOH started destroying evidence. That is far from the truth. The AG’s office has access to all the documents needed especially after Simon Miti left the MOH. Out of ignorance, the AG woke up and said, since Miti has left the Ministry, we are going to uncover a scam. She immediately, without evidence to back up her claims stated that there was a scam which may go over K27billion. This is why I am saying that she ought to be removed from her office because she does not have a cool head required for such an an important office.
Initially, the ACC/Auditor General annonced that the on-going investigations at the MoH would take up to the end of June 2009, “because there are many files being shared by various agents”!!! Now, we are told documents are missing! LIEEEEEEEEEEEEs!!!
We dont expect any other comment from RB appointed ACC. Can they bite the finger that feeds them? NEVER
The selective fight against corruption is consuming our money. Zambians have now lost trust and faith in this political persecution of polltical opponents. To hell with it. REVOLUTION 2011
It’s possible to know how much has been misappropriated even if docs are missing. Iwe chi auditor, you are giving wrong data. If govt disburses K30bn to MoH and they provide documentation to support only K3bn and the bank accountt is empty, clearly the docs ton- support the rest of the funds are missing and/or the money has been embezzled.
But I agree on rushing to the media prematurely. Our investgative wings must learn to be patient until they have a cast iron case