The Public Accounts Committee (Pac) of Parliament has expressed worry over perceived chaos at Malawi’s embassy in Maputo, Mozambique.
Pac members expressed concern when officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeared before committee members to answer queries raised in the Auditor General (AG)’s report for the year ended June 2021.
During the engagement, it was revealed that payments worth over K424 million were made without raising payment vouchers between November 2019 and June 2020.
Committee members were also told that funds amounting to K11,324, 625 paid by an insurance company as compensation for a damaged vehicle used by a defence attaché were used for some other use other than replacing the damaged vehicle.
Responding to the issue of money spent without raising vouchers, Principal Secretary (Legal) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mary Kachale, who led the delegation, admitted that the observation made by the AG on the matter was accurate.
“As you are aware, the payment process is an accounting function that requires a competent accountant. Unfortunately, there was no accountant who could undertake such functions
“I am pleased to inform the honourable committee, honourable chairperson and honourable committee members, that the ministry has filled the vacant post and all accounting functions are being discharged accordingly,” Kachale said.
However, Pac Vice Chairperson Ned Poya said it looks like the Mozambique Embassy is a playground for most people.
“It’s kind of free for all. Imagine an embassy which doesn’t even know the date on which they purchased their assets… It’s free for all. And even the language in the letters shows that there is something wrong,” Poya said.
