Nkhotakota concerned citizens are demanding the sacking of four top district council officials for misuse MK46 million in a year. The funds were marked for developmental projects.
The demand for the firing of the four officials including Felix Mkandawire (District Commissioner), Gliffin Mhango (Director of Planning and Development), Lester Nyambosi (Lands Officer) and a Mr.Chavinda (Intelligence officer) comes amid loss of public trust over their direct involvement in the misappropriation of funds upon the release of the internal audit report dated June 8, 2015.
The audit report for Nkhotakota district on Development Fund (DF) and Local Development Fund (LDF) which The Maravi Post has sourced revealed that MK46 million was un accounted for in the 2014/2015 financial year with numerous fraud, claiming of allowance for un done work, workshops or conferences, fake procurement transactions among others.
“The report generated from the system shows that the General Resource Funds is over expenditure is MK 9,976, 846.07 but the excel maintained control ledger, shows the over expenditure is MK13, 133, 847.70 as at 2nd June, 2015. The difference is that some payments were not posted to general ledger in the system as of June 2, 2015.
“For instance, the council conducted the training of project management committee for only on day instead of a minimum of five days as per LDF guidelines and also dubiously used MK1, 159,863.00 for activities which were not done. The council should justify why the training was done for a day instead of five days and also prove out that the queried activities were really conducted and should be justified”, read part of the report signed by Peterkings Mtawali, Internal Auditor.
In a letter reference NCC/03/07/15 dated July 12, 2015 which The Maravi Post is in possession has been copied to The Chief Secretary to Governments, Secretaries for Local Government and Rural Development, Lands, Director of National Intelligence Service, the four Nkhotakota district council officials, Members of Parliament (MPs), councilors, chiefs for the district and among others.
“Reference is made to the discussion we had during extraordinary council meeting that taken place in Nkhotakota RDP hall on Saturday, 30th May 2015, where issues regarding to unprocedural plot allocation, conduct and actions of some council secretariat staff were tabled in accordance with petitions submitted to your Ministry.
“Kindly be reminded that the council meeting agreed or resolved the posting away of the these officers Felix Mkandawire (District Commissioner), Gliffin Mhango (Director of Planning and Development), Lester Nyambosi (Lands Officer) and a Mr.Chavinda (Intelligence officer) as are marred with fraud, corruption, nepotism, lack of transparency and accountability. Therefore, because of their misconduct and loss of public trust hence the deadline for the posting was agreed to be 30th June, 2015.
“Owing to the above facts, our observation up to date, nothing has been implemented, we are therefore writing to remind you once more to effect our agreements and resolutions before the situation here go out of hand. However, if this appeal isn’t met again within ten days from the date of this letter, we shall call for another action and these actions includes sealing or closing all council offices belonging to the named council staff”, demands the letter signed by 37 Nkhotakota concerned citizens.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post on July 3, 2015, Reverend Father Dennis Kayamba who is leading the Nkhotakota concerned citizens on the matter expressed sadness over the delay on part government to execute its duty saying the coming of the new financial year funding is feared to misused again if the four were not removed from the council.
‘Our fears lies in the new financial year funds which have already given to the council that might be misused again hence calling the authority to swiftly come to our rescue from these crooks”, appeals Reverand Kayamba.
Echoing on the same, Peter Mazizi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkhotakota Central Constituency challenged the current regime to demonstrate financial prudence over the matter in saving tax-payers money from detractors.
“People of Nkhotakota want immediate action on matter not dally daring while handling the matter with gloves when the general public are denied of developmental justice due to abusers.”, demand Mazizi.
Efforts to get feed their side of the story from the four district council officials proved futile as they could not pick up their mobile numbers for several attempt.
Ministry of Local Government Spokesperson Musawachi Mughogho told the Maravi Post that would come with the ministry’s position on the matter as soon as she gets into her office.
But last month, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Trasizio Thom Gowelo warned district council officials for corrupt practices that the ministry would deal with them decisively for swindling huge sums of money meant for developmental project
“Therefore, let me warn all district council officials who misappropriated developmental funds that my ministry will deal with them decisively by bringing to book. This is why I have ordered the ministry’s audit department to fast track in releasing the forensic audit report of all district councils for the past three years that those who stole public money should face the law.
‘There is this tendency of transferring district council officials from where they messed up to another council. I have also ordered this practice to stop immediately as from now onwards all corrupt district council officials will be dealt with right at the district to discourage the repetition or flourishing of the same bad practice to other councils”, warns Gowelo.