The money trail behind President Peter Mutharika’s private trips is now under scrutiny, with questions emerging over whether public funds are being used to pay the bill.
UTM Party leader Dalitso Kabambe has called for scrutiny of how President Mutharika’s private trips are funded.
Kabambe made the remarks on Sunday in an interview with a local media outlet. He said using public money for private purposes is an offence under the budget law.
Kabambe said he believes it is the job of the Public Accounts Committee to examine the budget the government approved for state residences and check whether it provides for private trips.
He said that if it is found that private trips were not provided for, there should be an investigation into whether other funds are being drawn on to finance them.
“kodi ndalamazi akumatha kutengapo ndalama zina, mma private trip amenewa? kaya zolipilira ndege, kaya zoyendera anthu ena amene akuperekeza kaya zolipila chilichonse chokhuzana ndi komwe kukupitidwako?” he said.
Kabambe said it is important for auditors to audit the state residences budget and submit a report to the Public Accounts Committee, so that it can compare what was approved with what is actually happening.
He said he once served as budget director and that this is the law used when allocating public funds.
He said it should also be established whether Members of Parliament approved, in this year’s budget, that some money be channelled to state residences for use on private trips.