Malawi looting spree: K100m misses at Nsanje council as K26m vanishes in Karonga: Minister Nankhumwa admits plunder in councils

Atleast K100 million has gone missing at Nsanje district council while K32 million  has vanished in Karonga just days after an expert called on the suspension of the funds following their continued abuse.

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Nankhumwa: We will address the challenges

Nsanje District Commissioner Rena Chavula said the missing money was for projects under the constituency development fund and the district development fund.

“We have already informed the ministry of Local government and the Local government finance committee on the missing money. I hope they will send us external auditors because the internal auditors have not helped us,” she said.

She said she will inform a full council meeting on June 18 of the missing money.

In Karonga, the chairman of the finance and audit committee Patrick Kishombe has blamed the council officials of delaying tactics to present a report of the missing K26m development funds.

“The failure to give us the report is raising suspicion, more questions than answers,” he said.

But the director of finance at the council Patrick Kumvenji said he would be presenting the report in the next council meeting, saying the delay was because he was on leave.

This comes barely days after a Chancellor College law expert Gaston Kamchezera asked the government to suspend the disbursement of the constituency develnpment fund, the local development fund and the district development fund until proper measures have been put in place to protect the development funds from abuse.

Government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi dismissed this call as unrealistic.

Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa has admitted that there is indeed high levels of corruption and abuse of funds in local councils.

Nankhumwa has attributed the challenge to lack of capacity, disclosing that Finance Ministry is deploying 10 internal auditors to his ministry to enhance public finance management in councils in order to address challenges.

He also said said Local Government Ministy plans to fill all critical vacancies in councils, including those of directors, procurement officers, internal auditors and finance officers in the 2018/19 financial year.

“This will go a long way in improving the capacity situation in councils,” said Nankhumwa.

He said government has allocated K1 billion in the proposed national budget towards the exercise.

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HALARE
HALARE
5 years ago

This is media politics no money has been stollen

innocent
5 years ago

do we have a centre holding in Malawi?does our custodians really care about us or they are self serving?
Is my vote a vessel for politicians dipping their dirty fingers into government coffers?
Honestly am feeling bad right now,I don’t see anyone to trust ,I feel like we r manipulated for the advancement of personal goals,our politicians have a hidden agenda behind their manifesto n that is to loot once into power

innocent
5 years ago

this isn’t good at all,those stealing funds meant for public developments must face the mighty arm of the law otherwise if lawlessness escalates in our country it won’t be easy attracting donor aid.Pple how do you feel kuona anthu akuyenda barefooted,kugona osadya, kuvala nsanza ,kids dropping school coz of distances?plz pple try wearing a human face if u cnt be human.It’s a lie to believe that riches are made from dubious means none among the richest pple of the world has a sour record,they do have a very humble background worth a model to the young generation.Learn to work hard,… Read more »

HALARE
HALARE
5 years ago

NO , There is no stolen moneys .These councillors are not accountants and they think
they could dictate,. government civil servants. Moneys are there but the can not read

Central
Central
5 years ago

Government has a big hand in this and this is why they are ignoring all complaints against giving the K4.5 billion to the same councils. This is being engineered by the Minister himself, no question about it.

Awa ali moweluka ndipo atenga zambiri and this is why they have started saying chaka cha mawa kuli campaign yomwe a Malawi sanaonenso!! Reason is because they have collected all they wanted!! However, a Malawi lets not worry not for the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s……………………. in Jesus’ Name, Amen

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
5 years ago

PLEASE ENGAGE / PRACTISE MOB
JUSTICE BECAUSE IT’S AN INSULT /MOCKERY TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE !!

concerned citizen
concerned citizen
5 years ago

Cry my beloved country. Politicians and civil servants are busy stealing from the ordinary people of Malawi . If you happen to go to Nsanje , Go and look at the road from the boma to Marka . You will be shocked and will ask your self if there is a District council there in Nsanje . The road is in a pathetic state. The road has not been graded for years . in some sections the road is impassable with a non 4×4 vehicle due to rivers that have washed away the road. I wonder who is responsible for… Read more »

Chiswa B
Chiswa B
5 years ago

MBOMA KUBA SIKUZATHA. PEOPLE STAY MBOMA KUTI AZIBA. SALARY 100,000, NYUMBA AKUKHALA YA 200,000 MATI ZIKUCHOKELA KUTI

Henry
5 years ago

Why are they not arresting the culprits?

Yahya Yahya Jammeh
5 years ago

We just need to close down MRA offices. Payment of tax has become irrelevant and yet the people that are stealing our tax money do not pay tax.

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