FDD ticks off Public Service Commission Chief
THE Forum for Democracy (FDD) says it is shocked by sentiments by Public Service Commission Chairman Dickson Chasaya that Government will not arrest and prosecute civil servants cited in the 2016 Auditor General’s report but instead recover all misappropriated funds through salary deductions.
Forum for Democracy (FDD) deputy Secretary National Secretary and party spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said FFD was deeply disappointed that a man who has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring accountability, transparency and integrity in the civil service is actually the one in the fore front of tolerating and encouraging abuse of public resources.
Mr Mwanza wondered how erring officers can be allowed to continue working in offices even when they have been found wanting.
He was reacting to Mr Chasaya’s suggestions that misappropriation of funds revealed in the 2016 Auditor general's report will be recovered through deductions from personal emoluments of erring officers.
He said FDD had since demanded for the suspension, arrest and prosecution of erring officers, so that they can serve as a deterrent to others who were in the habit of embezzling public funds. And Mr Mwanza said it is this laissez-faire attitude towards corruption and abuse of public resources by those that have been charged with the responsibility of safeguarding national coffers that is encouraging corruption and wanton abuse of public resources.
“Mr Chasaya ought to know that Article 250 of the republican constitution as well as the public finance Act and other written laws clearly stipulate that thieves must be arrested and prosecuted for theft and abuse of public funds.
“As FDD, we demand for the immediate suspension, arrest and prosecution of all public officers that have been cited in the Auditor General’s report. We cannot allow the wanton abuse and theft of public resources to continue unabated when our country is under serious fiscal stress.
“The money that is being misappropriated by those criminals could go a long way in ensuring improved service delivery and alleviation of poverty,” said Mr Mwanza.
Earlier Mr Chasaya explained that the funds would be recovered through deductions from personal emoluments of erring officers and that it was the workable solution due to legal challenges.
Mr Chasaya disclosed that government was keen to amend the law and regulations to ensure that culprits were made to pay back and were also immediately prosecuted.
He however said the majority of cases highlighted in the report were as a result of negligence and procedural impropriety and were not cases of theft as was perceived.
He said government would deal with matters administratively by deducting funds from cited officers to recover such public funds.
Mr Chasaya also said certain political commentators had taken advantage of the Auditor General's report to embarrass government.