Final Cashgate audit report set for Parliament

During its meeting that starts on Monday, the National Assembly may finally lay its hands on a final and consolidated forensic audit report into the Cashgate with names and particulars as it is almost ready, theWeekend Nation has learnt.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said on Thursday this week the institution is, together with the British forensic auditors, Baker Tilly, concluding the report to present to Parliament, in line with the law, for its attention and action.

“The Auditor General is currently concluding the report on fraud and mismanagement of government funds commonly christened as Cashgate,” said NAO corporate communications officer, Thomas Chafunya, in response to our questionnaire.

Chafunya said this report will have names and particulars of all business transactions.

“The earlier one was just a preliminary report. The one that is being concluded is the final one. That is why it will have the features which the preliminary report did not have,” he explained. “This one will have names and particulars.”

Without naming the actual day when the report will be in Parliament, Chafunya said it will be up to the Minister of Finance to decide.

“What will happen is that the report is done, the Auditor General will present it to the Minister of Finance and, in turn, he will schedule the time to table it in the House,” he said.

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe confirmed on Thursday in an interview being aware that the report is being concluded.

“I have been informed that it will take them two or three weeks. After that process is concluded, the Auditor General will decide what to do with it as per laid down procedure,” said Gondwe.

He said once the report is with him, he will consult on how to proceed.

“This is a very important matter. Therefore, when the report is with me, I will make consultations. But as you know, the public is anxiously waiting to know the truth about this matter. Therefore, the public must know,” said Gondwe.

According to Section 184(2), the Auditor General shall submit reports at least once a year to the National Assembly through the Minister responsible for Finance, not later than the first meeting of the National Assembly after the completion of the report.

And Section 14(1) of the Public Audit Act says the Auditor General shall separately report to the Controlling Officer, head of an agency, statutory body or other affected person in respect of any matters that may relate to an audit, review, investigation or inquiry, and may require that person to respond to the Auditor General within fourteen days of receiving the report.

Meanwhile, Chafunya said the NAO was still in preparatory stage to conduct fresh audits at the Malawi Defence Force, the Malawi Police Service and the State Residences.

Minister Gondwe indicated during a press conference in June that he had earlier recommended fresh audits at the three institutions.

He said at the time that the Auditor General plus auditors from the private sector would conduct the audits there.

The Business Committee of the National Assembly was yet to meet at the time of going to press to set the agenda of the House.