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| National |
| HRCC wants Education account probed |
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by
Joseph Langa, 24 May 2005
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14:21:12
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Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has called on the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate the Special Client Account at the Ministry of Education where former Minister Yusuf Mwawa is alleged to have drawn funds for his wedding.
Newa was speaking to over 50 member NGOs of his grouping during a function where some of the organisations received grants.
Newa also asked the Auditor General to ease the work of the ACB by carrying a special audit on the account.
There has been allegation that Mwawa got about $1400 for his wedding from the Special Client Account and there are also questions on K1.4million paid to his personal assistant Ken Ntonga who was irregularly made a signatory to the account.
“As HRCC we feel there could be more issues and people involved than what has been revealed so far,” said Newa. “That’s why we are calling on the bureau to investigate what has been happening to the account since July last year when a new allocation was made to its budget.”
Newa alleged that there are some very senior politicians who benefited from the same account to finance political activities.
ACB director Gustav Kaliwo said in an interview his office would be happy to conduct an investigation on the Special Client Account but he said there will be need for someone to complain.
Kaliwo advised HRCC to write a formal complaint to the bureau highlighting the information they have on the account.
“I will be happy to look at that account. We could even look at the accounts for the whole ministry,” he said.
Auditor General Henry Kalongonda said his office has already started auditing the Special Client Account, saying they have so far completed the first part on the allegations.
“We have already finished the first part to confirm the allegations,” he said. “We have an interest in that account”.
But Kalongonda could not be drawn to mention the findings of their first part of the audit, saying the report has just been sent to relevant authorities.
He however, said the audit will continue saying his officers will now look at the entire account and other accounts in the ministry to see how they have been operating their finances.
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