AG Report Finds Financial Irregularities Reduced

The Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2023 revealed improvements in tax arrears collection and a reduction in other financial irregularities. 

The report for the financial year ending December 31, 2023, has revealed a reduction in irregularities in Ministries, Provinces and Agencies from K103,519,546,579 in 2022 to K81,460,265,276 in 2023. 

The report states that the irregularity in the failure to collect tax arrears was reduced by slightly over K30 billion during the period under review. 

In addition, overpayments were reduced from over 110 billion Kwacha in 2022 to 71 billion Kwacha in 2023, and unaccounted-for revenue was reduced from 53 billion Kwacha in 2022 to 638,000 Kwacha in 2023. 

However, the report has cited some areas where irregularities have increased. For example, irregular payments increased from over 152 million Kwacha in 2022 to 745 million Kwacha in 2023. 

This has been attributed to the payments of salaries to staff on salary scales that were non-existent, as well as allowances paid to ineligible staff, excess recruitments, and payments to staff who were on the payroll but not listed in the staff return in various Ministries, Provinces and Agencies.