Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has thwarted attempts by officials in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to block an audit of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) program.
BEAM was established by the government to ensure that children from underprivileged families have access to primary and secondary education.
However, following reports that some beneficiaries enrolled under the program may not be deserving, the Ministry of Finance tasked the Office of the Auditor-General with conducting an audit. The exercise was reportedly blocked by officials in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
The development did not go down well with Ncube, who said he would personally write to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare demanding that the Auditor-General be allowed to carry out the audit as initially planned.
Addressing Parliament, Ncube said the government remained committed to auditing BEAM beneficiaries, particularly following concerns raised by legislators over outstanding payments under the program.
‘’…But we take note also of the concerns of members of Parliament, particularly Honourable Chuma, who was the first to raise the issue of BEAM arrears. I did respond already, and I respond now that we still want to subject these beneficiaries to an audit.
‘’But I’m concerned, Mr. Speaker. I’m concerned. When I checked with the Auditor-General, Madam Chikwenhere, she tells me that they got some other instruction, or some information, that the Auditor-General’s office will no longer be involved in that audit. It will be done through an internal audit department.
‘’I don’t know what that is. So, again, I want to say that I’m going to write a letter to the Ministry, rather than to say the Auditor-General will audit BEAM. That’s what we promised. Why is it being done by an internal audit department?
‘’I must hasten to say, while we acknowledge the areas for which we want an audit, we have moved swiftly, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, to prioritise payment for the special needs schools and other vulnerable schools,’’ he said.
BEAM is also at the centre of a jurisdictional dispute between the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education believes the program should fall under its jurisdiction, while the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare maintains that BEAM is part of its mandate.
Commenting on the dispute, Ncube said the government would continue engaging relevant stakeholders to explore the possibility of reaching a compromise.
‘’We take note of the presentation by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education that this perhaps should be moved to his ministry directly, and then take it. So we’ll continue to work through the workshop within the rest of government to see if this could be done.
‘’But we know that welfare issues are under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and the Social Welfare Registry sits with the Ministry of Social Welfare, so maybe there’s a way in which we could find a compromised position,’’ he said.
