News / Health
Mpilo bosses 'stole' millions
08 Aug 2016 at 10:27hrs | Views
MPILO Central Hospital executives acted as a syndicate to fraudulently bleed millions of dollars from the institution's coffers, a recently concluded internal audit has revealed.
The audit, covering the period between January 2012 and May 2015, shows that the accounting system at one of the country's biggest referral hospitals was virtually non-existent
Auditors said officials abused resources and funds without accountability.
They have recommended that implicated officials should be charged separately and jointly where appropriate under the first schedule of the Health Services Regulations of2006 and Treasury Instruction 0435 and 2404.
They also recommended that they be tried in a criminal court as well. The audit concluded that the system at Mpilo Central Hospital was very porous and accountability almost non-existent, leaving it open to abuse by officials.
The financial investigation showed there was no record of statutory treasury allocations in the last three years, although the government released millions to the hospital over the period.
The disappearance of GOZ files for 2012, 2013, and 2014 and renal register under unclear circumstances, hindered audit inspection, reads the report in The Chronicle's possession.
The hospital, according to the records, was run without a purchase plan with unapproved suppliers sometimes given double payment for relatively expensive goods.
The executives would allegedly use money from the Health Services Fund, meant to equip the hospital, to host lavish meetings at hotels for the tender and buying committees.
Sources from the Ministry of Health and Child Care yesterday said the Health Service Board (HSB), on lliesday formally charged four executives who were suspended in April to pave way for the audit
More officials, the sources said, will be charged during the course of this month.
"An official from the central buying unit, Hebron Mutema, has been added to the list of officials accused of fraudulent behaviour and abuse of office," said a source, who cannot be named for professional reasons.
Mutema allegedly connived with other officials to facilitate double payment to suppliers.
He, it is alleged, would send cash and an RTGS to pay the same supplier for the same goods, said the source.
The four suspended executives, the source said, have been formally charged with a total of 20 counts of misconduct and abuse of office.
Operations director, Regina Duduza Moyo, is facing 11 counts. Mxolisi Sibanda, the chairperson of the central buying unit, is facig five, finance director, Charles Govo, has one count and Dr Lawrence Mantiziba three, said the source without giving further details.
The hospital's board chairperson, Chelesile Moyo Ncube, said the internal audit had unearthed a hotbed of corruption.
"We've been advised more people will be charged. The audit has revealed more serious fraud than the initial investigation done by PNA Accountants," said Moyo-Ncube.
The audit, covering the period between January 2012 and May 2015, shows that the accounting system at one of the country's biggest referral hospitals was virtually non-existent
Auditors said officials abused resources and funds without accountability.
They have recommended that implicated officials should be charged separately and jointly where appropriate under the first schedule of the Health Services Regulations of2006 and Treasury Instruction 0435 and 2404.
They also recommended that they be tried in a criminal court as well. The audit concluded that the system at Mpilo Central Hospital was very porous and accountability almost non-existent, leaving it open to abuse by officials.
The financial investigation showed there was no record of statutory treasury allocations in the last three years, although the government released millions to the hospital over the period.
The disappearance of GOZ files for 2012, 2013, and 2014 and renal register under unclear circumstances, hindered audit inspection, reads the report in The Chronicle's possession.
The hospital, according to the records, was run without a purchase plan with unapproved suppliers sometimes given double payment for relatively expensive goods.
The executives would allegedly use money from the Health Services Fund, meant to equip the hospital, to host lavish meetings at hotels for the tender and buying committees.
Sources from the Ministry of Health and Child Care yesterday said the Health Service Board (HSB), on lliesday formally charged four executives who were suspended in April to pave way for the audit
More officials, the sources said, will be charged during the course of this month.
"An official from the central buying unit, Hebron Mutema, has been added to the list of officials accused of fraudulent behaviour and abuse of office," said a source, who cannot be named for professional reasons.
Mutema allegedly connived with other officials to facilitate double payment to suppliers.
He, it is alleged, would send cash and an RTGS to pay the same supplier for the same goods, said the source.
The four suspended executives, the source said, have been formally charged with a total of 20 counts of misconduct and abuse of office.
Operations director, Regina Duduza Moyo, is facing 11 counts. Mxolisi Sibanda, the chairperson of the central buying unit, is facig five, finance director, Charles Govo, has one count and Dr Lawrence Mantiziba three, said the source without giving further details.
The hospital's board chairperson, Chelesile Moyo Ncube, said the internal audit had unearthed a hotbed of corruption.
"We've been advised more people will be charged. The audit has revealed more serious fraud than the initial investigation done by PNA Accountants," said Moyo-Ncube.
Source - chronicle
