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The Movement for Restoration of Education and Teachers Affairs in Zambia (MORETA Zambia) has criticized the M-SAT project, calling it a “smart scapegoat” for looting funds from schools under the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry had directed all public and private schools to deposit K800 each into M-SAT’s account for the procurement of software, with contributions from government schools alone expected to exceed K8.5 million.
According to the latest Auditor General’s report, M-SAT was contracted to provide a comprehensive digitalized annual census software to assist the Ministry in collecting educational statistics.
However, Ministry officers involved in the transaction reportedly failed to comply with the Public Procurement Act.
The Auditor General’s report revealed that M-SAT was engaged and paid without any formal procurement process, a serious breach of procedure.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, MORETA Executive Director, Dr. Sam Mbumba, thanked the Office of the Auditor General for continuing to expose scams within the Ministry of Education.
“We refer to the letters dated 7th March 2023 and 11th April 2023 respectively under file number MOE 10/13/6, in which schools in Zambia were directed to deposit K800 each into Account No. 0385825689012 at Atlas Mara, Chongwe Branch for E-census software from M-SAT, a private company,” Mbumba said.
He noted that the Auditor General’s revelations confirmed MORETA Zambia’s warnings to the New Dawn Government that many officials within the Ministry were frustrating the government’s efforts and vision.
Mbumba alleged that many officers were only interested in extorting money through such programmes, pretending to be pro-government while acting in self-interest.
“Does the government know that no single school which paid those monies was issued with a receipt to date? Does the government know that the fake E-census software only worked for two weekends?” he questioned.
Mbumba challenged the government to inform the nation whether it was aware that the software project was a scam, adding that schools had not only paid K800 to M-SAT but also paid DSAs (Daily Subsistence Allowances) to attendees.
He condemned such programmes designed to loot funds from innocent schools, pointing out that this behavior was why Presidential directives often went unheeded.
Mbumba blamed certain officers within the Ministry for undermining government efforts.
“One wonders why the government keeps tolerating such wrongdoers who continue to occupy key positions,” Mbumba remarked.
He called for a thorough cleanup of officers who were not helping the government implement progressive programs and warned that their actions were tarnishing the government’s image.
Mbumba demanded that the law be strictly enforced against anyone involved in corrupt activities, particularly those connected to this case.
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