Over $1m looted from ministry of mines coffers

Some officials in the Mines and Mining Development Ministry are alleged to have siphoned over US$1 million from Government coffers through a tight-knit syndicate that took advantage of lax accounting systems.

The revelation was made by comptroller auditor-general Ms Midred Chisi in her latest 2013 audit report.

According to the document, several fraudulent activities were uncovered during the balancing of the ministry's books that had been submitted for audit. In one incident a receipting officer in the ministry destroyed several receipt books and understated receipts and deposits with the banks.

"In the same office, the ministry lost 27 official receipt books that could not be produced for audit examination. It is estimated that, based on the average revenue collections, the Ministry could have lost approximately an amount of $853 428 misappropriated by the same officer," reads part of the audit.

"Due to weaknesses in the internal control system for collection and recording of revenue receipts, the ministry lost an amount of at least $128 795 through fraudulent activities at Bulawayo Regional Mining engineer's office.

During the same audit, Mrs Chisi noted that the ministry's development fund was defrauded over $50 000 within a period of seven months in 2011.

"The fund was defrauded of $51 400 by former staff members through fraudulent transactions made with Printflow private limited between January 2011 and July 2011. In most instances, false receipts from Printflow private limited were attached to the payment vouchers but without goods being received," she said in the report.

Ms Chisi discovered that officials in the ministry had fictitious claims for repair of motor vehicles, false purchases of stationary and consumer consumables while goods purported to have been ordered were never delivered.