The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered government through the Ministry of Finance and National Audit Office to commission a forensic audit of the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) to be carried out within the next two financial years.
The order follows an investigation done by the Ombudsman’s office of the implementation for the 2022-23 AIP.
The Ombudsman makes the order in an investigation report dated March 8, 2024 and titled ‘A Report on Systemic Investigations on the Affordable Inputs Programme Implementation for the 2022/23 and 2023/2024 Growing Seasons: the Successes, the Irregularities and the Failures – A call for Re-thinking and Reprogramming following its investigation.’
It says there were incidences of fraud and financial mismanagement in the programme.
“Considering the incidences of fraud, financial mismanagement, unethical conduct and other malpractices that have continued to characterize the implementation of the AIP, the Government, through the Ministry of Finance and National Audit Office should commission a forensic audit of the AIP. The forensic audit should be carried out within the next two financial years,” reads part of the report.
- Advertisement -
The report has also tasked the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out a comprehensive programme research of efficiency and cost benefit and devise an exit strategy or remodel the programme before the next growing season.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said he was aware of the recommendations from the Office of Ombudsman and that government will put measures in place to implement the recommendations.
Kawale said his ministry had a meeting with the Ombudsman, who reported on the findings of AIP from the past couple of years.
“During the meeting, the Ombudsman provided over 10 recommendations to the Ministry. We took note of all of them, and we will talk internally about how to implement them.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“We will also engage other stakeholders because some of the recommendations, including the three you have cited, must be implemented in collaboration with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. We will not treat one recommendation as more important than the other because all recommendations are important for us to serve Malawians better,” he said.
Agriculture expert Leonard Chimwaza commended the Office of the Ombudsman and concurred with the recommendation of conducting a sober analysis of the programme since it started.
“If you are to conduct an analysis of the recent four years, you will agree with me that a lot of resources have been channeled to this programme. But when you look at the impact the programme has had it does not match the resources spent.
“I am in agreement with the proposal that it must be remodeled. The essence of the AIP is that we must be food secure but we cannot be food secure if we target smallholder farmers. We must come up with a tangible programme,” he said.
Chimwaza further said a forensic audit would help expose and deal with issues of corruption that have been associated with the programme.
“Looking at the corruption that has marred the programme it certainly compromises the programme and authorities like the chiefs, suppliers and even government officials have been taking advantage. This programme indeed needs to be audited,” he said.
