The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has singled out recruitment of politically connected individuals as some of the factors that are leading to maladministration and abuse of resources at foreign missions.  

Presenting the Committee’s report, Chairperson Shadreck Namalomba said most individuals who are appointed on foreign missions are not professionals and they tend to compromise operations at the foreign missions.

“The 2018 report, which is one of the reports I presented, exposed the extensive and unprecedented abuse of funds at the Malawi missions abroad,” he said.

“The Committee was shocked to learn abuse that accompanied by any form of sanctions. For instance, in the United Kingdom, GBP58, 000 (equivalent to K58 million) was withdrawn for state residences but never accounted for.”

Namalomba has also decried continued shortcuts and overspending in government`s Departments and Agencies where financial statements and reconciliation have not been produced over the years.

“The Secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet should seriously caution all the controlling officers of the MDAs where irregular procurements were reported but did not report the culprits,” he said.

“Controlling officers should report all their officers involved in the irregular procurements to the relevant bodies for disciplinary proceedings on the acts of misconduct arising from irregular procurements and report progress to the Committee.”

The Committee`s report focused on, and scrutinised three report that were produced by the Auditor General.