Audit on hockey trip reveals financial irreguralities

Findings of an internal audit investigation on Malawi national hockey teams’ trip to Zimbabwe in August last year for All Africa Games qualifiers has exposed gross  financial irreguralities by the Hockey  Association of Malawi (HAM).

The audit was instituted by the Malawi National Council of Sports in October last year following a  complaint from some members of the delegation regarding “the unfavourable conditions” which the players were subjected to during the trip and also to seek transparency and accountability of the funding amounting to about K21.5 million of which K18 million was provided by council.

Among others, the audit, conducted between October 4 and 14 2022, established that there was no proper management of finances as most of the supporting documents presented to support expenditure were not original and lacked relevant information for verification and validation.

Reads the report in part: “It was not possible to verify quotations and receipts for accommodation, bus hire [and] meals because they lacked detailed information,”

The report cites an invoice amounting to $784 (about K812 224) for transport, $150 (about  K155 400) for water, a proforma invoice for Area 18 Market in Lilongwe amounting to K72 500 for branding, all amounting to K1 million, as not being valid.

“Tournament levy receipt number CSA no. 8 dated 14th September 2022 for $300 [about K310 800], of whose payment was said to have been made on 31st August 2022, its authenticity could not be ascertained because of inconsistency of dates,” reads the report.

It also stated that an online transfer of $2 442.25 (about K2.5 million), which went through a personal account of an agent (name withheld), was not accounted for.

It further states that there was no transparency on how the budgeted transactions were expensed.

Reads the report: “This investigation has revealed that there was poor planning, preparation and organisation of the hockey national teams in the qualifiers for All-Africa Games.

“The participants were subjected to  unfavourable conditions which had a high possibility of affecting their performance during the games. The worst scenarios were the situations that could easily be picked by other countries and put the Malawi nation into disrespect.

“The national teams for both men and women underperformed during the games due to unpreparedness and it is clear that HAM led national teams that embarrassed the nation.”

The report further says during interviews, it was established that one of the HAM officials (name withheld) made a false presentation of information to one Mohammed Bhana on the procurement of uniforms from Into Sports.

“There was no proper transparency and proper communication to players on the issue of external allowances by the president and the general secretary. Contradicting statements and giving of false assurance on allowances aroused the anger of the players,” reads the report.

It also says some players were forced to sleep on bed basements in Harare as the guest house owner was not aware of the size of the delegation.

Reads the report: “The players were subjected to health risks by sleeping in congested rooms with water shortage. The caterer [also] provided substandard food which was not ideal for the players.”

In the wake of the findings, Sports Council recommended that the HAM executive committee should account for the receipts which were not valid.

It further  recommended that HAM should reimburse camping expenditures on transport and daily allowances as well as external travel allowances which were due to players and officials.

HAM was also ordered to write a report  and explain why they gave a false assurance to council that they had made all necessary and adequate preparations  for the teams’ travel and participation in the tournament.

“HAM executive should arrange for a meeting and apologise for the unfavourable conditions they subjected the players,” reads the report.

It was further recommended that based on the results for both the men’s and women’s teams, regardless of the unbearable conditions they were subjected to, it was apparent that the teams are not ready for international games.

 “There is need for the association to put in place a comprehensive training programme and conduct several tournaments for proper assessment and selection of national team players,” reads the report.

On the progress on the issue, Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said in an interview on Thursday that  HAM has submitted an audit report for council’s perusal.

He said: “The audit is still under scrutiny. We further  expect them to abide by whatever they were asked to do. The report which they have submitted was crucial and there are also issues about reimbursement of funds and apologising to the national teams which will be done at their Annual General Meeting [AGM].

“We will be keenly following up on the outcome and then make a determination on the way forward.”

In an interview, HAM GS  Geoffrey Biya said as a board, they have agreed to apologise to the national team players.

“At the end of the day, sport should win. So, that will be done during our AGM scheduled for 15th of May,” he said.

On the order to reimburse allowances to the players, Biya said they informed council that they will not be able to raise the money.

“We asked Sports Council as our only financiers to help us with the funding,” he said.

The GS also said the trip to Zimbabwe was a success in that after 78 years of not being ranked, the Malawi national team is now ranked following its participation in the tournament.

“The proportion of those that are not happy is just about 40 out of 500 people,” said Biya.

On the audit findings about gross irreguralities, Biya said: “No comment.”