By Hendriner Kagwira
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says is monitoring funds disbursed to district councils for procurement of facemasks.
The facemasks are supposed to be distributed to communities as one way of preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Malawi.
In its letter to all the councils, ACB has pledged to remain vigilant on funds that were released by treasury to councils pledging to ensure that there is no misappropriation of funds.
“Following the circular reference number LG/34 from the Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development on the funds for face masks, the Anti- Corruption Bureau wishes to inform all the district commissioners and chief executive officers of city councils and municipalities that it will undertake necessary measures for the prevention of corruption in making sure that the funds are used for the intended purposes,” says the letter signed by ACB Deputy Director General, Elia Bodole.
It also urges district and municipal councils to comply with ACB’s monitoring teams, which include Institutional Integrity Committees (IICs) present at the councils.
“Failure which ACB will invoke section 49A of the Corrupt Practices Act. For the avoidance of doubt, section 49A stipulates that ; any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any order, direction, notice, requirement, demand of the bureau issues or made under this act, shall be guilty of an offence” further warns the letter
Two weeks ago, treasury released MK1 billion which was disbursed into district council’s to fund procurement of cloth facemasks to be distributed to in the communities.
This followed the spike in the number of people arrested for not wearing a mask in public, some of whom could not afford to buy the protective wear.
