HARARE THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts has unearthed massive corruption, abuse of authority and maladministration in
Government ministries and departments in scams that could have prejudiced the cash-strapped Treasury of millions of dollars.

Presenting the committee’s second report on the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s 2009 first quarter special report, chairperson Mr Tapiwa Mashakada (MDC) told the House of Assembly yesterday that they had unearthed massive irregularities.

These include payment of ghost workers, irregular employment of 10 000 youth officers, mishandling of fuel coupons, abuse of the payroll system, misuse of cash and State assets, and violation of Public Service Commission standing rules.

The ministries and departments found to be paying people no longer employed
by Government were: Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture (three
officers at its head office); the Registrar-General’s Office
(22 officers); and the Ministry of Public Service (five officers).

It was also noted that the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and
Empowerment employed over 10 000 youth officers in violation of standing
rules of the Public Service Commission that vacancies be advertised and
relevant budgetary provisions made.

The youth officers were employed without any medical examinations being
conducted while others appeared on other ministries’ databases but had no
appointment letters.

Some of the names appeared more than three times on the databases. The
report noted that many of the youths had their salaries deposited in one
account (imprest account).

“There were reported cases where signatories to imprest accounts withdrew
salaries for youth officers and converted them to personal use.

“It was therefore difficult with the evidence presented before the committee
to rule out fraud in the way youth officers were employed by the ministry,”
read part of the report.

When quizzed, the ministry’s secretary, Mr Prince Mupazviriho, told the
committee they faced many challenges posed by the state of the economy and
could therefore not follow proper procedures.

“The committee finds it ironic that the ministry could not meet expenses for
medical examination forms, appointment forms, and method of pay advice forms
as well as action pack costs, but went ahead and recruited more than 10 000
officers who would need monthly salaries,” Mr Mashakada said.

The committee asked why the ministry recorded a uniform date of birth for
the youth officers when it could
have simply asked them to provide correct information.

The committee recommended the secretary’s dismissal.

On cash and assets management, the committee said former Industry and
Commerce Minister Obert Mpofu took two vehicles with him when he changed
portfolios.

The report added that his permanent secretary, Retired Colonel Christian
Katsande, walked away with four cars when he left the ministry.

This, said the committee, was in violation of standing rules that required
Treasury approval on movement of assets.

It was noted that Beitbridge Rural Police Station failed to open a safe
purportedly containing more than R7 million and other valuable exhibits
during an audit.

The police officers there claimed the keys had been misplaced.

At least 129 cartons of cigarettes could not be accounted for at Beitbridge
Urban Police Station although the case in which the exhibits were being used
had not been concluded in the courts.

The committee also cited the Ministry of Public Service for requesting US$6
000 for rentals, but diverted US$2 000 to buy office furniture for the
minister.

The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture could not account for 300
litres in fuel coupons from the 475 litres it had been allocated, while the
Finance Ministry could not account for 150 litres.

In its recommendations, the committee proposed that ministries submit
monthly employee staff returns to the Salary Service Bureau to prevent
payment of ghost workers.

The committee ordered the Public Service Commission and the Public Service
and Youth ministries to correct anomalies regarding employment of youth
officers and report back to Parliament in the next three months.