DPP fears Dodma could be ‘microcosm’ of larger rot on Covid-19 funds in Malawi
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has expressed serious reservations on the conduct of Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) in the way it has used or abused K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds from Treasury, fearing this could just be a “microcosm” of a much larger rot happening in President Lazarus Chakwera administration regarding the use of funds meant for the fight against the pandemic.
DPP’s said in a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson on finance Joseph Mwanamvekha amid a public outcry that the funds have been abused by some public officers.
In a statement titled ‘Public Statement on the failure by Dodma to account for the K6.2 billion Covid-19’, DPP has released it in reaction to President Chakwera’s confession that some controlling officers have defied his earlier order to submit periodic expenditure reports on which they are using the Covid-19 funds.
In his statement, Mwanamvekha, who was minister of Finance until the court-sanction June 23 2020 Fresh Presidential Election, said: “It is reported that the officials only submitted an expenditure report of K595 million instead of K6.2 billion as demanded by the task-force. Out of this amount, it was also revealed that K15 million was unaccounted for.
“We are further informed that Dodma appealed for more time and was sent back by the committee to come back on February 9 with the full expenditure report on the K6.2 billion.”
Mwanamvekha added that what is equally unsettling are reports that despite the K580 million allocation for border patrols, some borders like Chitipa, Songwe and others are not being patrolled.
He says this is particularly sad now when the new variant of the virus is infecting more people in this country and taking lives of fellow Malawians at an unprecedented rate.
“Government through Dodma must realize that the money that it is playing poker with is taxpayer’s money and the least it can do is to be accountable down to every penny. Our small economy is already suffering under the weight of negative after-effects of the pandemic, and cannot afford such huge slippages.”
Mwanamvekha reminded government that that prudence, transparency and accountability in the way public finances are handled “is not only a critical ingredient for good governance, but it also enhances public trust and confidence not only on the part of the taxpayers but the development partners as well.”
DPP has since demanded an immediate audit on how Dodma used the K6.2 billion by the National Audit Office (NAO) and that once the audit report is finalised, it should be submitted within seven days to Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Committee on Health.
He said the two committees of Parliament should also explore other ways of channelling Covid-19 funds towards the fight against the pandemic other than through the presidential decrees.
“If it is found that these funds have been stolen or misappropriated, the responsible officers must immediately be arrested and prosecuted under the laws of the country,” Mwanamvekha demands.
President Chakwera on Sunday warned that he will fire any controlling officer or cluster heads who fail to account for the K6.2 billion. He gave the respective ministries and clusters 48 hours to account for the funds to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
Minister of Information, Gospel Kazako, has since said Chakwera’s 48-hour ultimatum on errant controlling officers demonstrates the government’s resolve to root out corruption and abuse of resources in the national battle against the pandemic.
“We appeal to all the citizens and stakeholders to exercise patience as their government works hard to establish what happened to the alleged abused funds.
“This is a very transparent and accountable government and I wish to assure every Malawian that we are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served on those found to have abused the funds. It is pleasing to note that DPP is demanding that the law should take its course, something which His Excellency President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera already assured the nation in his address last evening,” said the minister.
Treasury released K6.2 billionin August last year for the Covid-19 fight and last month pumped K17 billion.
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Let’s audit the staffing at DODMA which was in existence long before Chakwera and Chilima too over the reigns of power. We may find the allegiance for many, from top to bottom, is not to Tonse Alliance, hence the thieving just to discredit the new administration.
Komatu wobaba, try Yoga mwina nkhope nkumasuka. Vindalama dzonsezija koma kubwetuka ayi? Kumasekelela dala.
Anyamata ama allowance aja
I am already on the K17 billion. Eating and drinking. Continue wasting your time on rumours and noise. There’s plenty in there.
Mk6.2b gone in six months eish…….wokazinga nsawa sadikira mbuluwuli dzinyekera …..
We need transparency leader who can wake up and assume the missing fund.
Vuto lolowa ndi ma rubble m’boma
Lero aliyese AKWANTELE
Malawians! What you must know is that Dodma seriously misused the Covid 19 funds. Audit Dodma, the way it used to conduct its business starting from the costs made through their travels, hotel accommodations, purchases, untold allowances, you will be shocked. Can you see how our testing centres are? It is so pathetic when the Covid funds went into the pockets of few individuals. This happened during the last period of DPP Government, but not necessarily that DPP gurus were involved but public officers in Dodma.
Aaa! do I have a clone here? there is one and only Ginimbi and that is Ginimbi, the illuninate, the likes of Bushiri
DPP should not be talking about this. We still have a lot of cadets in the government and they are still stealing money. The only thing the new government should do is to quarantine these people. Remember that 90% of the top positions in government were filled by DPP sympathizers. They are still there because most of them employed genuinely in the late 80s and early 90s and became cadets. They are the ones in control of the government. Chikhosi aluweta njoka. Chakwera issued a directive to remove Buluma from NOCMA because she is a well known cadet. Alas! Buluma… Read more »
DPP keep it up, Tonse gvt isatengere mwai kuti inu munachita sololization. Afinyeni asapeze mwai Ana osakhwima panchombowa. Any move yobera muziwagwira dzanja. Kusonyeza kuti luso lonse abwere kuti atibere Ife Malawi inu mukuidziwa. In this case adzatuluka osaba ngakhale kubako amakufuna. Ngakhale pakhomo Pali Galu wakuba kwambiri ndiwo mumphika. Kuthana ndi vuto limeneli kuti agalu ena asabepo mumangotenga wakubayo kummanga pafupi ndimphikawo coz iyeyo ndamene akudziwa all the tricks kuti agalu ophunzira kuba ndiwo asayandikire mphikawu. Chomcho awa a Tonse sakupeza mpata wobera.
Nanunso inu Mwanamvekha is already over 60 years. Gogo wakalekale ameneyu.
Maturity, experience, wisdom…..he has it all.
Assanje!!!It shows how idiocrite you are.
DPP has no moral ground to condemn Chakwera or the government. We are in this mess partly, if not largely, because of their executive arrogance, plunder and mismanagement. Akulu awa aChakwera akuluphela to steer the boat because DPP stole the engine. The only thing we want to hear from DPP is an apology and when and how they will return the money they stole from us.
I partly agree. However for the benefit of Malawians it’s important that someone talks about it at that level. Moral ground or not. These politicians are useless. Why is the Tonse administration failing to arrest those who stole during the DPP regime?. It’s not always politics. It’s the fact that clearly they are all thieves and robbing the ordinary Malawian
You have said it better. DPP doesnt have the moral ground to say about corruption, however, we still need someone to be keep this government in check.
He is failing to turn things around because he can’t figure out. A country is so complex than a church.