Accounts mayhem again at Education
Isaiah Morewagae | Tuesday May 27, 2014 18:00
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development yesterday drew the Public Accounts Committee’s wrath as its poor record-keeping and widespread accounting failures, mean taxpayers will have to wait a little longer to know how their funds have been used.
The ministry, which traditionally receives the bulk of the recurrent budget, was allocated P7.73 billion in the 2012/13 financial year, which the PAC now requires senior officials to account for and demonstrate statutory compliance.
However, despite having four ministers and four deputy permanent secretaries, the ministry was yesterday at sea as to its accounts, forcing the PAC to send permanent secretary, Richard Matlhare back to redo his entire report.
Matlhare, who joined the ministry in April as a result of the Cabinet reshuffle, received a baptism of fire at the hands of Committee members who pointed out that the ministry habitually fails to properly report its expenditure.
At one point the Member of Parliament for Tati East, Samson Moyo Guma fell short of outrightly calling Matlhare a liar.
“I have a problem with this accounting officer Mr Chairman,” said Guma, while interrogating Matlhare.
“I am of the view that honesty is lacking. It is not a problem for one to just say ‘I do not know,’ rather than to defend where it is not defensible.”
However, Matlhare retorted by saying he was speaking to the facts as they were availed to him. The large contingent Matlhare brought, comprising the four deputy permanent secretaries and several other officers, did not escape the Committee’s attention either.
PAC member and Kanye North legislator, Kentse Rammidi, wondered whether the large delegation added value or was just to make up numbers.
“I wonder why you brought such a large contingent but yet your report is a pain to read and understand,” Rammidi said.
Another PAC member, Prince Maele, who is also Tswapong South MP, said he was concerned that year after year, the Education Ministry brought the same weak reports to the PAC. “For the past four years we have been dealing with this issue of poor record keeping and nothing seems to be getting better. It’s high time we stop this and maybe evoke parliamentary powers and privileges to take action against the accounting officer,” Maele said.
PAC chair, Nehemiah Modubule also weighed in on the barrage, questioning whether Matlhare had indeed authored the report.
Modubule cited poor referencing, evidence not collaborating with what is written and in some instances lack of proof, saying the report could not be the production of someone of Matlhare’s caliber.
Modubule then ordered Matlhare to go back and redo the whole process. “We will re-call you at any time but we do not have time on our hands and we might be forced to do it at night. “Hence we expect your cooperation,” Modubule said.