Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News National News

Govt faulted on council allocation

by Nation Online
14/10/2019
in National News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) has faulted government for allocating more resources to local councils despite their glaring evidence of mismanagement.

In response to Parliament’s approval of the K1.7 trillion National Budget, where K294 billion was allocated to city and district councils, Mejn executive director Grace Kumchulesi said the increased allocation to councils is not prudent when there is an audit report of mismanagement that has not been acted upon.

RelatedHeadlines

Covid-19 disrupts security programmes

SA returnees in forced quarantine

AG disowns K750m compensation signature

Kumchulesi | The Nation Online
Kumchulesi: It does not make sense

She said: “The recent audit report exposed gross misallocation of funds in local councils, and yet our honourable members approved the increase in allocations to local councils without first demanding efficient systems that promote transparency and accountability. It does not make sense that CDF [Constituency Development Fund] has been increased amid all its challenges in implementation.”

But in the current budget, CDF which is controlled by members of Parliament (MPs), has remained at K30 million, with an increase in allocation for water projects from K12 million per constituency last year to K20 million this year, thereby raising CDF from K42 million to K50 million.

About K5.9 billion is feared missing or stolen in the local councils in the fiscal year ending June 30 2018, calculations from a National Audit Office (NAO) Compliance Audit of Local Councils report shows.

According to the NAO Compliance Audit of Local Councils report for city and district councils released in March this year and sent to Parliament for tabling on December 31 2018, it found 13 major loopholes through which taxpayers’ money may have been wasted.

For instance, of the K5.9 billion, payments vouchers not submitted for audit amounted to K2.1 billion, while payment without supporting documents were worth K760 million, unaccounted for fuel, totalled K740 million, unaccounted for cash withdraws amounted to K686 million, procurement irregularities totalled K629 million, payments charged to wrong budget line items amounted to K510 million and stores not recorded in stores ledger totalled K424 million.

The report has since been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts for scrutiny.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri, in his ministerial updates on achievements of his ministry last week, said his ministry will deal with officers who mismanaged government resources.

Kumchulesi, who described the national budget as a disappointment, questioned the oversight role of Parliament when they cannot influence change in the way the Executive runs the nation’s business.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwananvekha expressed gratitude for Parliament’s approval of his maiden K1.7 trillion budget which represents 27.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The budget was initially pegged at K1 730 987 000 000 but has since been revised to K1 737 203 889 804, representing an increment of about K6.2 billion.

Previous Post

‘House will track resources’

Next Post

Ministry urges farmers to enhance ICT usage

Related Posts

Chiphwanya: Cadet training is in progress
National News

Covid-19 disrupts security programmes

January 24, 2021
covid 2 | The Nation Online
National News

SA returnees in forced quarantine

January 24, 2021
Silungwe: Embrace lifestyle audit
National News

AG disowns K750m compensation signature

January 24, 2021
Next Post
Bosscher | The Nation Online

Ministry urges farmers to enhance ICT usage

Trending Stories

  • Not yet given retirement benefits: Mutharika

    Tonse faulted on former presidents’ benefits

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wasteful Chakwera

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SA returnees in forced quarantine

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • court rebuffs apm on frozen account

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AG disowns K750m compensation signature

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Opinions and Columns

Emily Mkamanga

Citizens power brings change

January 24, 2021
Search Within

The rural farmer needs to take centre stage

January 24, 2021
My Thought

Spread hope not fear

January 24, 2021
Big Man Wamkulu

Hot babe wants to trap me, should I ran?

January 24, 2021
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.