Treasury new control measures on financial abuse: Malawi govt urged to ‘walk the talk’

An announcement by Treasury that it has introduced  a new system to control spending of public funds among government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) against a background of widespread cases of fraud, abuse and over expenditure has dominated the leading daily newspaper on Wednesday.

Botolo: Did not turn up

‘Treasury moves to control spending’ reads the headline in The Nation on front page and also an editorial comment which said ‘walk the talk on expenditure control’.

According to Secretary to Treasury Ben Botolo, government wants monthly commitment to reflect approved budgets as well as cash-flow.

Under the fresh system of controls, controlling officers in MDAs face suspension or dismissal if they spend beyond what is committed to on monthly basis.

And Treasury spokesman Davis Sado also disclosed that they have introduced Financial Compliance Unit which will be scrutinising documentation before effecting any payment and contracts so that they “pass the litmus test of complying to required government procedures and validation of the documentation before payment is processed.”

The Office of the Accountant General has also introduced a pre-auditing section to check all vouchers before a payment is processed.

Commenting about the development, the paper in the editorial said the new control measures is a welcome initiative.

But the paper pointed out that Treasury is not reinventing the wheel per se with regard to controlling expenditure, citing the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 2003 which expressly lays down sanctions for controlling officers who overspend or abuse public funds.

“In fact, we have been here before. We have seen how government has tended to pay lip-service to commitments to cut expenditure by cutting down on travel among senior officers, including the President,” the editorial reads.

The paper stated that it is “sceptical” to pat Treasury on the back for the new measurers with memories of Cashgate – he plunder of public resources at Capital Hill.

The audit by British firm RSM (formerly Baker Tilly) in 2013 established that about K24 billion was siphoned from public coffers through dubious payments, inflated invoices and goods or services never rendered.

In May 2015, a financial analysis report by audit and business advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) also established that about K577 billion in public funds could not be reconciliated between 2009 and December 31 2014. The K577 billion figure was later revised downwards to K236 billion in another forensic audit released in 2016.

The paper said there has been much about strengthening the public finance management systems to seal the loopholes but the process has farther been slow and frustrating to patriotic Malawians and development partners alike.

“The new measures will only bear the desired fruits if Treasury and the Executive leadership in general walk the talk on implementing the control,” reads a editorial comment.

The leading daily stated that curbing abuse of public resources, including over-expenditure, demands strong political-will from the Executive leadership, saying “it requires more action and less talk.”

Malawi is going through a serious financial squeeze, as cooperating partners have not resumed budgetary support following the Cashgate scandal.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
8 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Waku Gauteng
Waku Gauteng
5 years ago

We have leaders that keep introducing new shrines but never ever worship in them. Why worship under a tree when you have built a structure. It buffles the mind doesn’t it. Thieving in Malawi government is a past time. Sorry that’s what it looks like

Lilian Kaunda
Lilian Kaunda
5 years ago

This is nosense because the first people to to err are the ones who issue these stupid directive. Imagine Electoral Commission have taken cars from different departments for their operation and yet when they break down they want the department to foot the repair expenditure which is most of the time outside prepared budgets > another things is auditors from the auditor general office who will demand allowances from treasury funded departments yet their own department has money to cover for their allowances. this type of theft has been going on for years.

Kadzakumanja
Kadzakumanja
5 years ago

Mavoti sitipeza usiku inu anthu a DPP. Kupha anthu ndiye mupeza ma vote?

Ndendeuli
Ndendeuli
5 years ago

Hahaha! That’s just a diversion. All the said measures are already in place but nobody follows them.

Bob
Bob
5 years ago

Statehouse is the biggest abuser lets see how you will control them

Telon
Telon
5 years ago

Haven’t we heard this before? What is it that we have not heard about these expenditure control measures?

nkonsimphile gumede
5 years ago

control from who??? pakuti apumbwa ndinu amene pumbwa wankulu being matchona!!!!!!!

President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
5 years ago

Botolo the problem is not with the civil servants but with the politicians.

Read previous post:
Immigration chief dismiss ‘torture’ on trainees as three deaths recorded

Chief immigration officer Masauko Medi has said the deaths of three trainees at the department were due to physical stress associated with interview and training. Reports indicate that...

Close