MBABANE – More than E24 431 010.03 worth of government-purchased equipment, uniforms and building materials has been found lying idle across several ministries.
This is according to the Report of the Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula on the Consolidated Government Accounts of the Kingdom of Eswatini for the Financial Year ended March 31, 2025.
The report was tabled during the Budget Speech last Friday and is yet to be debated and adopted.
Therefore, the findings contained in it are yet to be verified.
The report paints a troubling picture of excessive procurement, poor planning, weak internal controls and delayed distribution of assets, with some items gathering dust for months while public service delivery suffers.
Under the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development the AG uncovered that uniform and protective clothing worth E149 494.35 had been sitting in storerooms for over eight months.
An additional E744 250.68 worth of equipment and building materials also remained idle at tinkhundla centres despite management’s assurance that officers had been cautioned against excessive buying.
In response, the controlling officer is said to have stated that they have cautioned all relevant officers to desist from excessive buying. The equipment and building materials remained idle.
In Ezulwini, materials and equipment valued at E1.19 million were found lying idle at the Women in Development (WID) storeroom, some for more than five years.
In the report, the AG cited Section 80(1) of the Public Finance Management Act (2017), which states that controlling officers are responsible for the management of public entity assets and should manage the assets to ensure that government achieves value for money when acquiring, using and disposing of government assets.
Section 11(2)(f) further requires principal secretaries to put in place arrangements to prevent unauthorised or wasteful expenditure, or loss of public resources.
“This may lead to financial loss to government. The resources spent on the idle material and equipment could have been allocated to other deserving associations or tinkhundla centres for effective service delivery,” the AG said.
He mentioned that he advised the controlling officer to explain the reasons for the idle material and equipment of the items, and further avoid excessive buying, and ensure that acquisitions align with actual needs for that particular time.
Matsebula said further advised the controlling officer to ensure that the idle materials are used.
In response, according to the AG, the controlling officer stated that investigations to determine reasons for idle materials were underway.
Also, the controlling officer is said to have stated that potential tinkhundla in need of the idle material and equipment will be identified.
“The idle material and equipment remained unused and deteriorating,” the AG said in his report.
The analysis of the report reflects that the Ministry of Agriculture recorded one of the largest cases of unused uniforms.
At the Manzini Veterinary Department alone, uniforms worth E4 million were found idle and initially not recorded in official registers.
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