Troubled IFMIS back online Monday
The government payment system IFMIS is expected to resume operations tomorrow, four weeks after it was shut down to seal loopholes which led to pilferage of billions of kwacha belonging to government.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya told Nation on Sunday that a new version of IFMIS recommended by software makers Softech was undergoing testing on Friday, the day the system was expected to resume operations.
“Cleaning up of the system is an ongoing process, so we cannot say it is fully ready. But a newer version of IFMIS is in the process of being installed,” said Msowoya.
Softech has also put in place a resident adviser, but the recruitment process is underway for a full-time security officer.
Currently, government financial transactions are being processed manually and this has resulted in delays of payments for goods and services as well as salaries for civil servants.
Health workers and teachers have threatened to down tools due to the delays.
Accountant General David Kandoje told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently that IFMIS was shut down to enable computer experts to extract information.
Once extracted, the information is expected to be compiled and submitted to consultants who will conduct an independent review of what went wrong.
