AUDIT REPORT REVEALS MK1.6 BILLION PLUNDERED AT MEC: OFFICIALS SHOOT DOWN THE REPORT

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has rebuffed the recent report conducted by Central Internal Audit Unit exposing dubious deals at the electoral body that left money amounting to MK1.6 billion an accounted for.

The reports which covers a period of July 2012/14 indicates that MEC paid K5 million duty on two vehicles sold to its chairman, Justice Maxon Mbendera and chief elections officer Willie Kalonga, a move auditors described as an act of management fraud.

In a statement made available to FaceofMalawi signed by MEC Public Relations Officer and Media Director Sangwani Mwafulirwa, the body has accused the media for rushing in publishing the report, saying issues being raised in the article are subject of a preliminary audit report conducted by the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance.

Mwafulirwa said the preliminary report has not taken into consideration responses by MEC management.

“MEC did submit its responses to the auditors in good time but due to communication breakdown in the Ministry of Information, the responses did not reach the auditors in time.

Although there is high temptation to reveal the responses now in view of the damage the leaked preliminary report might cause, the Commission will restrain itself as doing so will be flouting audit procedures and ethics,” reads in part the statement.

He added: At the moment the Commission is awaiting for a final version of the report which will incorporate its views, responses and explanations.

“The Commission is optimistic that with the information and evidence availed to the auditors, most of the issues that have been thrown into the public array will be dropped.”

Meanwhile MEC has urged all stakeholders to disregard the information published by the media until the final report is issued by the auditors.