Cables can reveal what appear to be serious irregularities in the management of public funds linked to an official foreign trip undertaken by the Director of Health and Sanitation at Blantyre District Council.
According to information obtained by Cables, approximately MK20 million was released from council funds ostensibly to support cholera prevention activities during an overseas trip, despite the visit being fully sponsored by Georgetown University.
Sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to cables that the funds were withdrawn in cash and subsequently misappropriated.
“The documents submitted to account for the expenditure may have contained fabricated receipts and forged or unauthorised signatures.” Revealed the source .
The District Commissioner is understood to have authorised the release of the funds without being aware that the request may have been based on false representations.
The allegations have also raised questions about previous fully sponsored international trips undertaken by the same official, including visits to the United States and South Africa.
Sources revealed that travel allowances may have been claimed from public funds even though the costs of those trips were reportedly covered by the sponsoring organisations.
A move is against the procedure in the public service and points to significant weaknesses in financial controls and oversight at the council and may warrant a comprehensive investigation by the relevant oversight and law enforcement authorities.
At the time of publication, the officials involved in the matter had not publicly responded to our questionnaire.
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