© Wikimedia/CC
An aerial view of Kinshasa, DRC.
The Congolese Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), is shaken by a scandal of financial embezzlement. He is accused by the IGF of having embezzled nearly 400,000 dollars of funds allocated to the organization of the first school football championship in Africa, on February 19 and 20 in Kinshasa.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
The facts were revealed on Saturday by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF). Nearly 400,000 dollars, made available to the ministry by the Public Treasury, have been embezzled according to the IGF, which denounces the persistence of mismanagement.
For this school competition initiated by FIFA, the Congolese State provided funding of nearly one million dollars, of which 462,009 dollars were made available to the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education. According to Jules Alingete, regarding 380,000 dollars were siphoned off, in particular by overcharging for services.
« Inspectors have discovered that there are funds that have been justified under the pretext of having rented the Transco buses [société publique des transports]. The justification gives 120 000 dollars paid to Transco. This invoice was sent to the company for certification. This company rejects the authenticity of the invoice and states that it was paid for 16 000 dollars, so there was tampering with the invoice submitted by Transco », Estime M. Alingete.
“Of the $466,000, only $87,000 was used for the tournament”
The case does not stop there, according to Jules Alingete. “ The same is true of a supplier from whom they went to print t-shirts that the students had to wear to attend the stadium as supporters for the final. Here too, the supplier decried the behavior of the agents of the EPST ministry, who multiplied the bill by ten “, he adds.
« The financial advisor to the Minister of EPST produced a printing invoice for a total of $86,000. Verification, made with the printer who sold, indicates that the invoice was falsified. The actual amount paid was $18,000. The inspectors interviewed these officers. The facts were blatant. They decided to transfer the files for the judicial authorities to deal with them », Explains the director of the IGF.
Other cases of embezzlement have been noted, says Mr. Alingete. ” In total, of the 466 000 dollars, only 87 000 dollars were actually used for the tournament, and the rest was embezzled by members of the EPST minister’s cabinet “, he assures.
These remarks of the gendarme of public finances are judged ” reckless ” and ” incomprehensible “, in a letter from Eddy Mwanzo, the chief of staff of the Minister of EPST. According to him, these accusations clearly manifest ” the relentlessness and lack of objectivity that characterize ” investigation. He accuses the head of the IGF of having a ” hidden agenda once morest the Minister of EPST, while announcing his intention to bring the matter to justice.
