Mongu Trades in K1.2bn scam

es of Zambia by andrew Miti on 5/29/13

By JULIUS PHIRI

WESTERN Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba has given Mongu

Trades Training Institute management a seven-day ultimatum to account for more than K1.2 billion (KR1.2m) that has allegedly been misappropriated at the learning institution.

In a letter addressed to Mongu Trades Training Institute principal Elvis Mooto dated May 24, 2013, Mr Mwamba expressed concern that management was allegedly abusing resources.

He said an internal audit he commissioned had revealed glaring financial

irregularities.

Mr Mwamba said in a statement yesterday that he had instituted the audit to verify numerous reports of alleged abuse of resources by management and was saddened that the report had established that.

He said the internal audit report revealed that Mongu Trades Training Institute management made payments amounting to K833,197,692.00 (about KR833,197) which were not supported by any relevant documents such as local purchase orders, invoices, cash receipts or authority contrary to Financial Regulations numbers 45 and 52.

“Management made payments amounting to K112,452,558.00 (about KR112,452) without any disposal details such as vouchers, stores ledger and goods received vouchers.

The audit report also revealed that management regularly flouted tender procedures, made numerous irregular payments and failed to account for imprest,” he said.

Mr Mwamba said the institution received more than K3 billion (KR3 million) in 2012-2013.

“Its sources of income came from Government grants, fees from students, hiring of the college hall and bursaries from Government.

“The institute provides technical, vocational and entrepreneurship education,” Mr Mwamba said.

He also stated that the institute was vital to Government policies and programmes of preparing and providing life and entrepreneurial skills to young people.

He said he was, therefore, saddened that management was abusing the meagre resources intended for that purpose.

Mr Mwamba warned that that if management’s audit responses were not

satisfactory, he would hand over the m