MoESD fails to explain P1.7 million overpay
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 31, 2016 15:24
This brought displeasure to members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with suspicions that it could have been a result of corruption. The details of the said contract were however not revealed. One of the officers accompanying Mooko could not provide an explanation, and only that they will adjust when making the next payment to the contractor. “This was an interim certification, the overpayment will be adjusted during the next certification stage, that is when we will pay them with the deficit,” the officer stated. He said it was a mistake, but would not explain what led to the mistake.
Contacted for advice by the PAC chairperson Abram Kesupile, the Account General distanced themselves form the procedure stating that contractors are only to be paid what is due to them. “This has never happened before. Contractors are paid based on the progress made as measured, there is no explanation for this,” the Accountant General stated.
Kesupile and his committee slammed the ministry for the action stating that it seemed the payment was just made because they could make it, giving the contractor an interest free loan. “What if the contractor doesn’t finish the work? Yes, you might have your explanations, but this is undesirable, we have to stick to the proper ways of doing things lest we leave room for corruption,” Kesupile said.
Meanwhile the PAC learnt that the ministry’s account used for paying student allowances has not been reconciled since 2005. The ministry however announced that they have finally started the process. “We have started the reconciliation process in the 2015/ 2016 financial year and hope to be done in a month’s time with the help of the Accountant General,” Mooko told the PAC.