Ministries� missing records concern PAC

Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday June 17, 2014 06:59

 

PAC chairman Nehemiah Modubule said there is a growing trend where some ministries fail to keep their accounting records safe. 

“It is with great concern that some ministries approach PAC to account when some of their records are missing and it has become a trend that should not be tolerated,” the Lobatse MP said when addressing the media on Friday on the just ended 52nd PAC sitting. He said missing records result in speculation, which gives a false impression of a ministry’s books of accounts.  He explained that the committee’s mandate is  not to persecute anyone like many believe. 

He said PAC makes recommendations to Parliament and the concerned ministry with an expectation for improvement.  “Some ministries however still disregard our recommendations and do not show any improvement while others do try and improve on a yearly basis,” he said. 

Modubule raised concern about accounting officers who rely heavily on their juniors to do their job of monitoring ministries expenditure. Where this happens, the concerned ministries’ accounting books are usually in a mess.  “Accounting officers in certain ministries often fail to carry their duties by relying on officers with less knowledge which weighs heavily on the ministry’s records’ keeping,” he said. 

He said PAC discovered that some ministries fail to pay tax on time. Some even take a year to remit their tax, which he stressed was unlawful. Modubule raised concern about ministries with a tendency to divert funds without permission from Parliament. 

He saw no reason why ministries cannot approach Parliament for additional funds. The Lobatse legislator complained of overspending and under-spending by some ministries. He noted that under-spending sometimes occurs from delays in tendering by departments like the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal (PPADB).  He said some of the shortfalls observed in some ministries calls for legal action. He said PAC in Botswana is different from other countries where its findings can land accounting officers in jail.