ACB puts six institutions under fraud, corruption watch

The Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) has put under microscope about six government institutions perceived vulnerable to fraud and corruption.

ACB which, currently is on pilot-phase, enlisted the institutions under its project aimed at detecting fraud and corrupt practices in the State agencies.

The screened institutions are Central Medical Stores, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom), Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of Health, Roads Authority and Safety Council and Smallholders Fertilizer Revolving Fund.

ACB Director General, Lucas Kondowe disclosed the institutions were selected due to their perceived vulnerability to fraud and corruption.

“The activities of these institutions are critical and of importance to the social wellbeing of Malawian society. It is therefore imperative to ensure that such institutions prescribe to prudent financial and resource management,” said Kondowe.

He further said that the anti-graft body’s main focus would be on the institutions’ procurement process.

“We are very much interested in the procurement activities these institutions undertake. Any procurement of K5 million or greater will have to be scrutinized by the bureau. We will assess if all procurement procedures are followed; and they will file the bureau with summary of their decision.

“The bureau will be able to respond to them within 72 hours,” he added.

ACB is expected, according to Kondowe, to enlist more government institutions under the project to detect fraud and corruption.

Kondowe said the initiation of the project would deter potential fraudsters and close down all corruption and fraud loopholes.

Meanwhile, only six out of about 60 parastatal institutions subscribed to Tip-Off anonymous, a procedure used to detect fraud and corruption within institutions.

In 2012/13 year the ACB received 1,637 tips/ complaints related to corruption and fraud, between 2013 and 2014 the bureau received 1,152 tips/complaints.