Financial Irregularities reduce -AG

By Effie Mphande

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

The report, which was released by Acting Auditor General, RON MWAMBWA shows a reduction in irregularities from over 103 billion Kwacha in 2022 to 81 billion Kwacha in 2023.

Dr. MWAMBWA attributes this to the reduction in audit findings related to the Failure to Collect Tax Arrears, which represents a cumulative tax amount accrued from previous financial years.

The report states that the irregularity on Failure to Collect Tax Arrears reduced by slightly over 30 billion Kwacha during the period under review.

In addition, overpayments reduced from Over 110 billion Kwacha in 2022 to 71 billion Kwacha in 2023, and unaccounted for Revenue reduced from 53 billion Kwacha in 2022 to 638,000 Kwacha in 2023.

However, the report has cited increments in irregularities such as irregular payments which increased from over 152 million Kwacha in 2022 to 745,000 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.

This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC news by the Auditor General’s Office Head of Public Relations ELLEN CHIKALE.