Malawi cashgate forensic audit report delays again
A report of the preliminary forensic audit into the loss of billions of taxpayers’ money at Capital Hill – the cashgate – which was scheduled for release and publication on Tuesday February 18 has again be delayed, the Office of the Auditor General has said.
The delay has been attributed to the need to ensure that the Forensic Audit Report meets International Standards on Auditing as promulgated in the International Standards on Supreme Auditing Institutions (ISSAIs) enforced by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) of which Malawi National Audit Office is a member.
“Among the requirements is that the Audit Report should provide adequate clarity to any reader without requiring extra explanation,” said Thoms Chafunya spokesman of the National Audit Officce(NAO).
Said he: “The Auditor General received the draft Forensic Audit Report fromthe International Forensic Auditors in the evening of 14th February 2014 for his review and comments. The Auditor General’s observations and comments have since been referred to the Forensic Auditors who arrived in Malawi on Monday, 17th February 2014 to finalize the Report for quality improvements.
“Once the Forensic Audit Report has been finalized by the Forensic Auditors, it will be re-submitted to the Auditor General for necessary action, including onward transmission to the Minister of Finance who will publish the Report through submission to Parliament, among others.”
Chafunya in a statement made available to Nyasa Times said the relevant Malawi Government authorities have been informed of the delay in the finalization and publication of the Forensic Audit Report and “appreciate the efforts being made by the International Forensic Auditors and the Auditor General who are working tirelessly to finalize the Report in its highest standards required.”
He said the Auditor General’s Office seeks the public’s understanding and undertakes to ensure timely publication of the Report as soon as it is finalized by the International Forensic Auditors.
The Auditor General Stephenson Kamphasa said his office will “have to follow the legal procedures” to release the report.
This preliminary forensic audit covers five months and has been funded by Britain while the comprehensive audit covering 2005 to March 2013 would be done with funding from Germany.
Background
Cashgate scandal has affected the country’s relations with donors and caused outrage among Malawians.
Allegations of the massive looting of government money became public following the shooting of the finance ministry’s then budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013.
Just days before, a junior civil servant was allegedly found with bales of cash totalling more than $300,000 in the boot of his car.
Former justice minister Raphael Kasambara is facing conspiracy charges in the shooting of Mphwiyo and about 98 people are facing charges related to cashgate.
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