2)—Kaputa Council misapplies K23,000 UNICEF funds

Kaputa Council misapplies K23,000 UNICEF funds

Kaputa, July 2, 2014—-Kaputa district Council has misapplied K23,000 meant for the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programme under UNICEF.

The council instead used the money to pay allowances to councilors and meet other  administrative costs.

This came to light during a council meeting held in the council chamber over the weekend.

Council Secretary Patson Kapoba who disclosed the development said UNICEF has since written to the council demanding for a refund .

Mr. Kapoba said the money was for CLTC programmes under the rural water and sanitation project but the council diverted the funds  to pay councilors and was never returned for its intended purpose.

He said the council is now seeking ways in which to pay back the money to UNICEF.

But Council Chairman Dickson Musonda has questioned how the council used all the money to pay allowances stating that he is only aware of the K17, 000 and not K23, 000 which is alleged to have been spent.

Mr. Musonda told ZANIS in an interview today that there was no transparency in the use of the money and has since ordered for investigations into the matter.

He said he has directed the auditing and finance committee of the council to investigate how the  K23,000 was used to pay councilors and avail him with a report before the next council meeting.

Meanwhile, the Council Chairman said councilors in Kaputa are complaining that they had not been paid there outstanding allowances and salaries.

Mr. Musonda said the councilors have not been paid their monthly allowances since January while other allowances are also accruing dating back to 2012.

He said the council now wants to find means of paying the councilors and other division five employees who are also owed arrears.