The Public Accounts committee of Parliament (PAC) has ordered the arrest of Alick Mitawa Chief Forestry Officer and Tarrif Movete Senior Accounts Assistant for the ministry of Forestry and Natural resources who are being suspected of stealing money realized from sale of pine trees.
This follows a 2019 – 2020 audit report that exposed that money amounting to 36.7 million kwacha was not accounted for at the Ministry.
Speaking to MIJ Online Yanira Ntupanyama Principal Secretary in the ministry of Forestry and Natural resources said after noting the abuse of the money, the ministry reported the matter to the civil service commission for further investigations.
She said now the officers are on interdiction pending conclusion of the investigations.
But Shadric Namalomba PAC Chairperson has wondered why the issue was never reported to the Police despite being evidence showing funds were abused.
He has since ordered Parliament secretariat to write the Police Inspector General immediately so that the two should be arrested. The committee has also given the ministry of Natural resources 14 days to take an action on the matter.