Government has announced the dissolution of the National Youth Development Council Board with immediate effect.
Youth and Sports
Minister Vincent Mwale announced the development at a news briefing
today.
Mr Mwale said the move is aimed at paving way for investigations into
corruption allegations at NYDC involving Chairman Dr Savior Chishimba.
“The Council’s reputation and image has been questioned. Both
electronic and print media have published and broadcasted a story
questioning the integrity of the Council based on the allegations by TIZ
that the NYDC Board have misused public resources,” Mr Mwale said.
He added, “Following public outcry over these allegations against
NYDC, an institution regarded as principal advisor to Government on
youth matters, I find it appropriate to dissolve the NYDC Board with
immediate effect in order to pave way for investigations to be
conducted by various security wings.”
Mr Mwale said a management team will continue with the day-to-day
operations of the council.
Last month Transparency International Zambia gave Youth and Sport
Permanent Secretary Agness Musunga a 72 hours notice to take
appropriate action on well documented evidence of public funds
wastage taking place at the National Youth Development Council
(NYDC) which she has been fully aware of from 18th August 2014
when TIZ officially notified her in writing.
TIZ informed the PS that among the Auditor Generals findings and
TIZ’s earlier reports are that the NYDC was involved in double
payments to its Chairperson Saviour Chishimba amounting to K153,
134.41 which the Auditor General’s Office report have clearly stated
that this was wasteful expenditure.
The report clearly showed that the total budget for the financial year
ending December 31st 2014 for Board meetings was K154, 710. The
report noted that the whole budget was applied towards the payment of
the council Chairman’s allowances totaling K153, 134.41 (K95, 384.41
daily subsistence allowances and K57, 750 sitting allowances). That a
total of K294, 596.37 representing 30% of the funds released to NYDC
were applied on Dr Chishimba’s expenses against a Board Meetings
budget of K154, 710.LT
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