K92bn DPP-era cashgate forensic audit to be tabled in Malawi Parliament

A comprehensive forensic audit of ministries and departments covering the period between 2009 and 2012 under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule in what is being christened as ‘DPP K92billion US$206.7 million) cashgate’ scandal is ready for release.

The National Audit Office (NAO) will next week release the investigation conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), according to published reports on Saturday.

Germany funded Malawi EUR18 240 000.00 (K 9.76 billion) to conduct an audit into the fraud in the first DPP administration which pushed donors to suspend   direct aid to government, which traditionally accounts for 40 percent of Capital Hill’s annual expenditure.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe said the report—which he said is preliminary—is still with the Auditor General.

“I am yet to see the preliminary report, which is in the hands of the Auditor General. He has asked for 10 more months for the comprehensive report to be released,” Gondwe is quoted in the press.

NAO spokesperson Lawrence Chinkhunda confirmed the report is expected to be formally submitted to the Minister of Finance next week in accordance with the Public Audit Act, for onward tabling in Parliament.

An interim investigative audit report of the government payment system known as Integrated Financial Management and information System (Ifmis) that the National Audit Office carried out between November 2011 and first half of 2012, which was kept under wraps, showed that government lost over K90 billion through abuse and irregularities.

The K92 billion audit report will reveal some names which have already been implicated in the current Baker Tilly audit report.

The civil society demands that the two cashgate matters should be brought to their finality without favour.

“In pursuit of justice, government is urged to desist from shielding some alleged senior officers on the matter as doing so would negate government’s obligations to protect its citizens,” they appealed.

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Timothy Mtambo, said it their expectations to see to it that justice is not only seen to be done but is manifestly seen to be done on both issues.

Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Lazarus Chakwera has been accusing President Peter Mutharika of not inspiring hope for his claims of a crackdown on cash gate style corruption “when he remains silent about the 92 billion kwacha scandal previously perpetrated under the watch of his own party.”

Said Chakwera: “If this Democratic Progressive Party led government does not push for urgent conclusion of all the cashgate cases and does not ensure the full recovery of the resources stolen thereby, Malawians will forever hold them responsible for the misery they are suffering.”

He said MCP is not interested in “selective justice that confines its inquiry to political opponents.”

Chakwera said his party demand that” justice be done for Malawians, and it should be done swiftly.”

People’s Party (PP) parliamentary leader Uladi Mussa also accused Mutharika’s “silence” on why donors are still withholding aid.

Mussa said “the issue that will unlock aid is a probe in the K92 billion. Why is this government failing to do the needful?”

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