The Government, through the Civil Service Commission, has dismissed twelve accounting and one operations staff who were involved in various offences involving public funds.
The dismissed officials, mostly from the accounting cadre, are from Ministry of General Education, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Provincial Administration – Lusaka Province.
Under the Ministry of Education, Mr. Chizaso Thole, a Senior Accountant, Mr. Eliya Mwale, Accountant, Mr. Lazarous Chanda, Assistant Accountant and Ms. Ivy Sibajene, Accounts Assistant, have been dismissed in accordance with section 21 (a)(v) of the disciplinary code and procedures for handling offences in the public service.
Mr. Moses Thole, Accounts Assistant, under Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry, has been dismissed, while Mr. Rodgers Mwanza, a Senior Accountant, and Mr. Lukanda Matambo, an Accounts Assistant, were both dismissed from the civil service in December, 2017, for similar offences under the same Ministry.
Two officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been dismissed these are, Mr. Noel Mulopa, an Assistant Director – Operations, and Mr. Lawrence Phiri an Accountant.
Under the Provincial Administration – Lusaka Province, four officials have been dismissed.
These are, Ms. Grace Zimba, a Principal Accountant, Mr. Psela Banda, an Accountant, Ms. Nzewa Chumbu, an Accounts Assistant, and Mr. Gideon Zulu, an Accounts Assistant.
Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta tells Money FM News that the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public resources through implementation of Public Financial Management Reforms is bearing substantial fruit – especially after the enactment of the Public Financial Management Act, 2018.
Mr. Kandeta has also assured that the funds misappropriated by the dismissed officials will be recovered from their terminal and pension benefits.
“In addition, the due process of the law will also be followed to the latter in reaching conclusive positions in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2018. The Public Financial Management Act, 2018, is now the principal act on public financial management matters. Since its coming into force, the Act has helped to facilitate easy enforcement of regulations; offered clear guidance on management of financial reforms; and, stipulated offences and penalties related to public resources in both local and central government,” he said.
“Upon the instruction of the Republican President Mr. Edgar Lungu, and on the guidance of the Minister of Finance, an Internal Audit Oversight Committee has been constituted whose mandate is to make decisions on internal audit reports from Ministries, Provinces and Other Controlling Bodies, and to analyse and give guidance on management reports assigned to respective government institutions by the Auditor General in order to forestall adverse reports in future audits.”