K520m spent on buses at Tourism Ministry: Malawi cashgate
A joint audit in the Cash-gate scandal currently underway by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Forensic Auditors has revealed that over K520 million was spent at the Ministry of Tourism in payment of about six 65-seater Marcopollo buses which are yet to be delivered.
According to published reports on Thursday, November 7, 2013 the ministry paid the said K520 million through a cheque which was co-signed by Principal Accountant in the Accountants General Office Roosevelt Ndovi who is in the hands of the police.
Police also arrested Tourism Officer Leonard Kalonga two weeks ago for facilitating an illegal payment.
According to documents The Nation newspaper claim to have seen, the cheque was prepared on September 4, 2013 and was deposited into the account of Automotive products Bank account on September 6, 2013.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Elsie Tembo has expressed ignorance on the matter.
“That’s news to me. I reported (for work) yesterday and I am busy looking at different documentation, but I haven’t been told of that,” Tembo is quoted by the newspaper.
Meanwhile, ACB has ordered that the single bus that is parked at APL offices should not be moved in any way without notifying the graft bursting body.
Reports indicate that APL is expected to send drivers to South Africa to ferry in the other buses.
Police arrested Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Toursism and Tourism Officer Kalonga suspected to have been the master minders of the looting at the ministry.
In the current fiscal year, government allocated K3.7 Billion to the Ministry of Tourism.
