Ombudsman starts councils probe over missing K5.9bn

Ombudsman Martha Chizuma says her office has now started investigations into the missing K5.9 billion in local government councils.

Ombudsman Martha Chizuma: Probing councils

The money is said to have been stolen from the councils in 2018 alone.

She said the probe extends to improper use of development funds which include the constituency development fund and the district development fund.

“We will also look into procurement failures,” she said, adding that some procurements were done without following the law and laid down procedures.

In earlier interviews, she described the exercise as complex, Chizuma said money which was meant for social services in critical areas such as health and education ended up in few greedy pockets of council officials.

“The abuse of office led to the people being deprived of essential services. In some cases, construction of classrooms stopped because there was no money, the money had been stolen,” she said.

She said the probe will date back from 2014 up to 2019 and she could not give a time frame as to when it will end, saying this is the first time her office has embarked on such a complex mission.

This comes at a time when minister of Local government and Rural Development Ben Phiri said the government wants to audit all councils following rampant reports of corruption and theft of public money.

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Dolo
Dolo
4 years ago

Mmm..koma mMalawi dolla zaboma zimabedwa. Such monies are what other countries use to develop…mmm so sad.
When u travel abroad and see other places, then read about how money is stolen in malawi, chisoni chimakugwila kwambiri..chisoni chabasi

Kanyimbi
Kanyimbi
4 years ago

Who is this woman? What a cheap question u mean u dont know Chizuma the Ombusman really?

Whiteboard Marker
4 years ago

Who is this woman?

fred
fred
4 years ago

ROTTEN ATTEMPTS YOU CANNOT PROBE A CASE OF HIGHER MAGNITUDE LIKE THIS AND BRING CAPRITS TO JUSTICE.LOOK AT THE MONEY ITSELF IT WAS NOT FISHED BY SMALL HEADED OFFICERS,THERE WAS A LINK SENIOR PUMBWAS.

Wilson Nkwanda
Wilson Nkwanda
4 years ago
Reply to  fred

Martha Chizuma is a patriotic Malawian woman who loves this country. We need to support this woman, because she is fighting a national battle.
I believe with this approach, one day Malawi will be corruption-free nation where everybody will be earning according to hardworking and effort. Panopa zaonjedza kwambiri, public money zikubedwa kwambiri, ena akumanga ma chalichi, nyumba mphepete mwa State House, etc.

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