Concerns Raised Over Accountability of Covid-19 Funds

Concerns have been raised over the accountability of funding earmarked for Covid-19 relief efforts, as the Ministry of Finance orders all government departments to submit income and expenditure returns on money received from the treasury.

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has instructed those receiving government funding to submit their accounts to the office of the accountant general by the 5th of each month.

He also advised all companies and individuals wishing to donate to funds related to Covid-19 to deposit the cash into a GRZ bank account. 

“These funds will in turn be transferred to a designated account held at Bank of Zambia to be managed by the National Treasury to deposit such funds to any of the GRZ COVID-19 Commercial Bank Accounts,” the secretary explained.

Mr Yamba also emphasised that all Covid-19 related funds should be properly managed and accounted for.

“The need to ensure accountability of resources can never be over emphasised, especially in the prevailing situation of this deadly pandemic,” he said. 

Reports indicate that this follows a clash between Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu and Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya over the accountability of pandemic funds at a meeting on Wednesday. 

A source has revealed that Dr Ng’andu expressed his dissatisfaction with the accountability measures put in place by the ministry of health, leading to an argument between the two cabinet ministers.