Karonga district council top authorities on Friday suspended Director of finance, Sanderson Nyirenda, on suspicion that he has been stealing millions of kwacha, Maravi Post has learnt.
The officials made the decision during the full council meeting which was attended by Councilors, District Commissioner, traditional leaders and senior officers among others.
Presenting the report to the house, Chairperson for the district finance committee who is also the councilor for Khwawa ward, Katambika Msiska said Nyirenda stole K 3.750 million in the month of April.
“This has made our financial department to fail to pay for utility and wage bills within the period. But when we asked Nyirenda to explain to us, he gave us five days to come up with a right report but up to now, it is nowhere to be seen,” said Msiska.
Msiska also disclosed that Nyirenda was producing fake revenue tickets to steal the council money.
He said among the said money “K1.8 million was for the collected revenue while K2.650 million was meant for water and electricity bills.
However, one of the interest group representing people of disability in the district Noah Simwaka asked the council to start giving tough punishment to such perpetrators in order to end the malpractice saying “the malpractice increase because of lenient punishment given to offenders.”
Officials then agreed to take the office keys of the suspect and suspend him while they continue with their investigation as well as establishing temporary financial caretaker with the period.
Maravi Post failed to get hold of the suspended to hear his side of the story. It is also surprising to note that the council did not refer the matter to police since this is a criminal offence and chose simply to suspend him. Maravi Post is closely following the issue and will give you more updates as events unfold on the same.
