• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Govt to audit Covid-19 spending

Govt to audit Covid-19 spending

February 18, 2021
Letshwiti for CAF post

Letshwiti for CAF post

March 2, 2021
‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

March 2, 2021

VACANCY: F Ismail Group (Pty) Ltd

March 2, 2021
Alosa wins Business Den top prize

Alosa wins Business Den top prize

March 2, 2021

TENDER NOTICE: Minerals Development Company Botswana (Pty) Ltd (MDCB)

March 2, 2021

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) NOTICE: BR Properties (Pty) Limited

March 2, 2021

PUBLIC TENDER NOTICE: BOTSWANA COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY

March 2, 2021

TENDER NOTICE: SECHABA BREWERY HOLDINGS LIMITED

March 2, 2021
Pan-African womanhood celebrated

Pan-African womanhood celebrated

March 2, 2021
Wakeup call to NGOs: Covid-19 and our Collective Vision

Wakeup call to NGOs: Covid-19 and our Collective Vision

March 2, 2021
Help men relate well with their empowered women

Help men relate well with their empowered women

March 2, 2021
Civil servants’ business interests impede Public Policy implementation

Civil servants’ business interests impede Public Policy implementation

March 2, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
17 °c
Gaborone
23 ° Wed
25 ° Thu
25 ° Fri
24 ° Sat
  • Login
  • Register
The Patriot On Sunday
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result

Govt to audit Covid-19 spending

February 18, 2021
in News
305 16
0
Govt to audit Covid-19 spending
624
SHARES
1.8k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare
  • Auditor General is finalizing the audit – Dr Matsheka
  • Opposition MPs anticipate corruption, wasteful spending

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development Dr Thapelo Matsheka has promised to submit to Parliament the financial audit of the controversial Covid-19 national relief fund.

Dr Matsheka who has been going through baptism of fire from the opposition colleagues after delivering a budget speech last week over alleged misappropriation of funds says the audit is coming. During the budget speech, Matsheka announced that the government’s foreign reserves lost P12 billion in year with his pronouncement drawing mixed emotions with some faulting loss to corruption. But Matsheka said such funds have been not misappropriated, indicating that they have been used to finance imports and other government obligations at period characterized by Covid-19.

Answering question in parliament regarding the funds from Palapye MP Onneetse Ramogapi, Matsheka said the office Auditor General has taken a performance audit of the Covid-19 fund. “An amount of one hundred and thirty nine million, six hundred and twenty thousand, nine hundred and thirteen Pula (P139, 620,913) has been donated to the COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund as at 8th February 2021 and it forms part of the overall credit to the Fund,” said Matsheka.

The funds, are used to finance the medical supplies, food hampers, contract tracing expenses, and wage subsidy costs. Donations to the fight against COVID-19 were mostly in-kind, he averred. He said following the pronouncement of state of emergency in April 2020, government has contributed total of four billion, three hundred million Pula (P4, 300,000,000) for mitigation measures.

Specifically, the funds are distributed as follows, an initial amount of two billion Pula (P2, 000,000,000) was earmarked for health supplies, wage subsidy, psycho-social support, and relocation of the diaspora.  “A further sum of two billion, three hundred and forty million Pula (P2, 300,000,000) was approved through supplementary budget (Financial Paper No.1 of 2020/2021) for furtherance of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Out of this amount P1,300,000,000 was provided under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for stabilisation of businesses;  P1,000,000,000 under the Ministry of Health for procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline staff, laboratory commodities (test kits and their reagents) and other equipment to be used at the ports of entry and isolation centers,” he added.

The outspoken Palapye MP Ramogapi had asked the minister to disclose the amount, equipment and any other assistance donated to the COVID–19 Fund and indicate how it has been utilised. He also asked the minister when parliament will be availed with audit of financials of the fund which is a public fund, and it is supposed to be audited for the purposes of accountability and good governance.

Due to rampant allegations of funds misappropriation since  start of state of public emergency, opposition MPs fear that the audit would be very unclean with lot of money not accounted for.The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development which was responsible for the food basket relief programme has been fingered as the epicenter of funds embezzlement amid Covid-19.

So, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi last year July through the Presidential Directive Cab (19 (A) 2020 at time ordered that there should be no Phase II of Covid-19 Food Relief Response Programme.

Masisi directed for a probe regarding the accountability of funds of a controversial food basket funds utilisation is expected to be a hot topic for debate in the upcoming financial audit report. The controversial food aid was allocated P114 million to distribute food for three months during time of state of emergency but shock rose when the funds were said to be depleted in a month.

Local Government Minister Eric Molale and the food coordinator Gabriel Seeletso at the time found themselves in a very hot soup having to explain the rationale behind quick exhaustion of funds.

Facebook Comments
Tags: AuditCOVID-19Govt
Share250Tweet156Share44

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe

Related Posts

‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

March 2, 2021
0

BY SURAYA DADOO* A recent report detected several government agencies using Circles’ platforms to snoop on texts, calls and locate...

Curfew relaxed, Booze is back!

Curfew relaxed, Booze is back!

March 2, 2021
0

Covid19 vaccines arrive in March, movement eased  Community based care takes centre stage Alcohol sold on take-away during week days...

SA sends condolences to Archibald Mogwe’s family

SA sends condolences to Archibald Mogwe’s family

March 2, 2021
0

… Mogwe was a ‘colossal giant’ – Pandor Devdiscourse News Desk  International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has conveyed...

What business has President Masisi got in Namibia?

What business has President Masisi got in Namibia?

February 25, 2021
0

It does not rain but it just pours for the Masisi government. The country has a President that has not...

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Alcohol ban divides Cabinet

Alcohol ban divides Cabinet

February 24, 2021
The DIS f$%&@d up my life

The DIS f$%&@d up my life

February 24, 2021
BCL revival brings hope

BCL revival brings hope

February 24, 2021
Letshwiti for CAF post

Letshwiti for CAF post

0
2019 battle of the Manifestos

2019 battle of the Manifestos

0
BOFEPUSU on 10% salary hike

BOFEPUSU on 10% salary hike

0
Letshwiti for CAF post

Letshwiti for CAF post

March 2, 2021
‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

‘Botswana uses Israeli cyberespionage tools’

March 2, 2021

VACANCY: F Ismail Group (Pty) Ltd

March 2, 2021
The Patriot On sunday

© 2021 The Patriot on sunday- Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2021 The Patriot on sunday- Inspired by Search Mart.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?