The Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development faces a potential deduction from its 2025/26 financial year allocation if it fails to account for M600,000 that remains untraced. The revelation was made by the Portfolio Committee on Social Cluster member and Public Accounts Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Machabana Lemphane Letsie, during an interview with the Agency.
As the committee reviews the 2025/2026 annual budget estimates before presenting its report to the National Assembly, concerns have been raised over the ministry’s failure to reconcile the missing funds. Mrs. Lemphane Letsie disclosed that during a meeting held last Friday, the Ministry’s Internal Auditor confirmed that M600,000 remained unaccounted for after paying old-age pensions from January to September 2023. However, there were no records to track the money’s whereabouts.
She further criticized the ministry for its inability to provide bank receipts or transaction records as proof of where the funds were transferred. This lack of transparency has heightened concerns that the unaccounted amount could be more than M600,000, considering the time frame from 2023 to the present.
With the deadline for reconciliation looming, the Ministry risks having the amount deducted from its next budget allocation unless it can provide a clear financial account of the missing funds. The committee is expected to take a firm stance to ensure accountability and prevent further financial mismanagement.
