IIC’s Absence Aggravate Financial Crimes

Treasury has conceded that absence of Institution Integrity Committee (ICC) is negatively contributing to a sharp rise in number of corruption and financial mismanagement within the Ministry of Finance.

The Director of Administration in the Ministry of Finance, Fumbani Sichinga admitted this during an interface with the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee in Lilongwe.

According to Sichinga, despite that the Integrity Committee was established in 2019 within the Ministry, it has been non-functional due to coronavirus pandemic and transfers of some staff members in the Ministry.

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Martha Chizuma regretted that some of the vices could have been prevented had it been that the instituted Integrity Committee was functioning within Treasury including all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Chairperson for Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament Peter Dimba said his Committee will summon officials from Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) for action on MDAs that are not implementing the Anti-Corruption Policy.