PAC SLAMS AUDITOR GENERAL

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday took to task Auditor General Stephenson Kamphasa  after he stood his grounds that he will not disclose the names of suspects mentioned in the forensic audit report on the plundering of resources dubbed cash gate at Capitol Hill, saying it is not his mandate.

The statement sparked fire among PAC members who jointly attacked Auditor General from all angles demanding justification as to why he is failing to disclose the names.

The meeting started Yesterday amid revelations that Baker Tilly will not appear before PAC.

In his first appearance to PAC members, Kamphasa referred the members to Maxwell Mkwezalamba who happened to be Finance Minister but he also referred them to Baker Tilly.

In the letter written by Baker Tilly adressed to the members of PAC read by a committee member McSteyn Mkomba stated:

 “It is our experience and opinion that releasing the names might jeopardize these investigations and hinder the purpose [of the audit.] Request to release the information should be made to the relevant authorities not Baker Tilly”.

Out of anger, one of the PAC member  Lifred Nawena  could not hide his words saying:

“The Auditor General is a liar. He said he would bring the list of names involved that Friday, then came back to say it would be the Minister of Finance. We know these names have not been released because they include sons and daughters of this administration; they include ministers of this administration. We aren’t children. Why not just say I have failed in my duty?”.

In his response, Kamphasa said:

“You can call me a liar and I don’t want to make any more promises lest I be called a liar again. But the truth will come out at the end of the day,” Kamphasa said.

The Auditor General further told PAC members that out of 20 companies and individuals mentioned in the report only 5 case files were completed.