National Audit Office clears 6 years audit backlog

The National Audit Office (NAO) has finalised auditing government departments which were unaudited for six years.

The development comes in the wake of reports of abuse of funds, especially at district council level.

NAO corporate communications officer Thomas Chafunya said in an interview on Friday all departments, city, township and district councils have been audited from 2005 to 2010, but only audit reports for 2005 to 2008 have been released.

“We have cleared the entire audit backlog that we had from 2005. The reports for 2005 to 2008 are already out, but the report for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 are being printed now and they will be out soon. This will help us at least reduce the massive embezzlement that has been taking place,” he said.

Chafunya said many government departments, especially city, town and district councils, had not been audited for years due to lack of funds.

He said the office has also finalised the Auditor General’s Annual Report on government accounts, which has already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance. The document is supposed to be presented yearly.

“In the past, there used to be a gap of up to two years before it was reported, but now every year the Auditor General submits the report,” said Chafunya.

Reports that have been finalised and are at printing stage include performance audit of drug distribution by the Central Medical Stores, the Road Traffic Directorate audit and deceased estates audit.

Chafunya said all reports will be ready for the public by June 31 2012.