3 PROJECTS SUFFER AS E209M FUNDS NOT UTILISED

MBABANE – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy did not utilise released budget funds amounting to E209 080 554 on three projects in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. The Attorney General, Timothy Matsebula, noted that the ministry continued to have 100 per cent non-utilisation of the funds (budget) released on Project W37099-Feasibility Study–Nondvo Dam amounting to E2 950 000.

He said that under expenditure of 10 per cent or more in a year is considered not conducive to the development of the country and should not be regarded as savings for government.
Matsebula mentioned that this indicates that public funds were tied up to the projects and deprived of funding to other essential public programmes during the fiscal year. “Had the funds been accessible and/or used to finance essential programmes, they would have contributed towards the development and economic growth of the country.

The planned programmes may have not been accomplished, leading to limited service delivery and thereby delaying improvements in the ministry. This may ultimately have a negative impact on the lives of citizens,” he said. The AG stated that he advised the controlling officer to ensure that released funds are utilised for intended purposes and not to seek budget release when not ready to implement.

“I further requested the controlling officer to provide reasons for non-utilisation of budget released and explain if its intended purposes were met and achieved, despite the non-utilisation of appropriated budget,” he said. The controlling officer stated that savings were reported to the Ministry of Economic Planing and Development, which  then advised that should be budgeted for so as to be accountable. “Therefore, the anomaly happened when the payments were made as the funds held with Central Bank, were used and the funds budgeted were not utilised.

The controlling officer further explained that there was a mutual agreement between the Central Agency (MEPD), the bank and the ministry to utilise the savings for the feasibility study to raise the Hawane Dam,” responded the controlling officer. She further stated that project activities continued under that reporting period, but the payment envelope used was the Nondvo Dam Project Account. She said the ministry and the central agency have noted and corrected the accounting anomaly for the current year.

Controlling

Furthermore, the controlling officer stated that the use of project account has been put on hold and the ongoing work on the Hawane ESIA is paid from the capital project funds that were allocated to the project. The AG noted that the funds from the Central Bank account were used without being budgeted for and appropriated by Parliament. “This is also a diversion of funds as the funds were meant for feasibility study of Nondvo Dam, not raising Hawane Dam. This reflects poor planning and project management by the ministry,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: