Zambia’s Auditor General has flagged outstanding health sector obligations of K3.56 billion, unaccounted-for confiscated Mukula logs and revenue collection weaknesses in government institutions, warning that persistent financial management gaps are depriving the state of resources needed for public services.
The Auditor General’s report for the 2025 financial year identified weaknesses in revenue collection, financial management, programme implementation and asset management across ministries, provinces and spending agencies.
Acting Auditor General, Patricia Malaila, said unresolved audit findings had declined to 27 in 2025 from 33 in 2024, attributing the reduction to continued engagement with controlling officers and recommendations to address identified weaknesses.
However, she warned that significant gaps remained and continued to affect service delivery.
The Ministry of Health had accumulated outstanding obligations of K3.56 billion, comprising employee-related liabilities and unpaid suppliers’ bills, some dating back to 2014.
“The continued growth of these obligations places considerable pressure on public finances, threatens the uninterrupted provision of health services and may result in additional costs arising from penalties, interest and litigation,” Malaila stated.
The audit also identified weaknesses in revenue collection at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, which had failed to collect K626.64 million in penalties from mining licence holders. A further K30.48 million in annual area charges remained outstanding.
“Collectively, these revenue weaknesses deprive Government of the much-needed resources required to finance essential public services and national development programmes,” the report said.
Revenue of US$433,820 collected on behalf of the Department of Immigration had not been remitted to the Treasury, while the Zambia Revenue Authority could not account for customs duties of K41.97 million and temporary imports valued at K9.03 million because of missing documentation.
The report also found that “the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was unable to assess ground rent on 74,840 properties because of incomplete land records.”
In the agriculture sector, irregularities exceeding K72 million were identified under the Farmer Input Support Programme, involving inactive beneficiaries, unapproved beneficiaries and individuals who benefited from multiple government support programmes.
“These weaknesses undermine the effectiveness of agricultural support initiatives and may prevent intended beneficiaries from accessing assistance,” Malaila said.
The audit further raised concerns over payroll management at the Ministry of Education, where 125 officers who received salaries totalling K1.23 million could not be accounted for because they were neither reflected on staff returns nor recognised by management at their reported stations.
“The irregularity raises concerns regarding the integrity of payroll controls and the risk of irregular payments,” she said.
The report also highlighted weaknesses in safeguarding public assets. Of 5,595 confiscated Mukula logs under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, only 27 were physically verified, leaving 5,568 unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation had not secured title deeds for 663 government properties.
Malaila called on controlling officers to urgently implement audit recommendations, strengthen internal controls, improve revenue collection systems and enhance procurement and payroll management.
She also urged government institutions to safeguard public assets and ensure timely corrective action and recovery of public funds where applicable, saying resources should be managed efficiently, effectively and in accordance with the law.
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