MP'S widow secretly gets P1 million from govt
Staff Writer | Thursday February 12, 2015 18:00
In his 2013-2014 annual report, the Auditor General complained that no explanation was given to justify the amount, nor was there any law that prescribed such compensation.
“In this particular case, despite persistent inquiries with senior officers of the Ministry, I have not been able to obtain a clear explanation of the circumstances of the death of the Assistant Minister, which justified the payment of compensation, save a statement that clarification had been sought from the Office of the President and the National Assembly and that they had both agreed,” said the AG report.
The P993,408 was in addition to the late Assistant Minister payment of gratuity in the amount of P278,005 accrued up to the date of death, in line with the provisions of Ministers and National Assembly Gratuities and Pensions Act.
The close to a million pula payment was made under the terms set out under Ministries, the Speaker, Assistant Ministers, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition (Functions, Pay and Privileges).
Motowane died in December 2012 after a ºshort illness suspected to be Asthma.
The Auditor General stated that the relevant section relating to the payment of compensation under those conditions provided that death or injury should have resulted from causes related to the duty or position of the member or individual concerned.
“In other words, it is not sufficient to show that death of the member or individual occurred while he or she was still in his/her position, but there must be duty connection,” the report said.
In the absence of a clear explanation, the accounting officer presumed that as the accounting officer, he or she would ultimately assume full responsibility for all aspects of the payment, including justifications, authorisations and the final accountability.
“I was therefore unable to appreciate his apparent reluctance to own up responsibility for his payment, which was from his Ministry funds.
“In the circumstances of absence of clear explanation of the cause of death as aforesaid. I am not able to certify that the payment of compensation was proper charge to public funds,” said the Auditor General.