By Hannock Kasama
Vice President MUTALE NALUMANGO has dismissed insinuations that government is interfering with operations of The Auditor General’s Office following the transfer of some officials from the Auditor General’s office.
Ms NALUMANGO says the transfer of some officials at the Auditor General’s Office accused of being embroiled in financial irregularities is aimed at facilitating smooth investigations.
Ms. NALUMANGO also says the move will ensure that the officers cited for the scandal do not tamper with possible evidence.
Meanwhile, Ms. NALUMANGO has clarified that there is no law in ZAMBIA that deters the transfer of any government worker from certain institutions to the others.
She says this means that any possible transfer of government workers is not irregular .
Ms. NALUMANGO was responding to Leader of the Opposition BRIAN MUNDUBILE .
Mr. MUNDUBILE sought the Vice President’s clarification on whether or not government has adhered to the Constitution pertaining to the transfer of officials from the Auditor General’s Office cited for financial irregularities.
She was responding to parliamentarians STEPHEN KAMPYONGO of SHIWANG’ANDU Constituency and MUTOTWE KAFWAYA of LUNTE Constituency.
And Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, JACK MWIMBU says the Constitution empowers the President to make administrative changes to the Auditor General’s Office when there are lapses at the institution.
Mr. MWIMBU has cited article 251 of the Constitution .
He was reacting to allegations by SHIWANGANDU Member of Parliament STEPHEN KAMPYONGO after the Vice President’s Question Time in the National Assembly.
Mr. MWIMBU rose on the point of order citing that Mr. KAMPYONGO was singularly relying on article 250 of the Constitution contending that the office of the Auditor General is shielded from government’s interference, without addressing his mind to article
51.
He wondered whether it was in order for Members of Parliament to mislead the nations on the functions and regulation of the Auditor General’s Office.
