Malawi Vice President Chilima’s office denies reports of MK200 million fuel allowance abuse

By Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The office of Malawi Vice President, Saulos Chilima on Wednesday strongly disputed the 2016/2017 National Audit Office (NAO) report that disclosed Chilima abused MK200 million for fuel allowance.

The office has categorically denied the NAO findings, arguing that Chilima’s accounts department delayed in submitting documents to auditors.

The Vice President’s Director of Administration Eric Yesaya, disclosed that some departments under the office delayed in submitting the fuel documentation.

Yesaya insisted that the money was accounted for although the auditors were not given documentation for fuel; this is a development that led the auditors to conclude that the money was misappropriated.

“Some officers had delayed in submitting documents relating to fuel. There is no abuse of any public funds on fuel allowances,” disputes Yesaya.

The VP’s office clarification comes amid reports of corruption that MK83.5 million out of MK200 meant for fuel, was alleged to have been misappropriated.

NAO’s examination of payment vouchers and their supporting documents, revealed that management processed and passed for payment vouchers totaling MK4 billion, has been abused in Government ministries and departments.

The findings defeat the purpose of the much touted Public Sector Reforms agenda on the fiscal management.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.