The National Local Government Finance Committee-NLGFC said 15 out of 23 councils have refunded a fraction of the World Bank abused K1.3 billion funds, which they allegedly mismanaged between 2021 and 2023 financial years.

NLGFC executive director Dr. Kondwani Santhe told Zodiak Online that the remaining councils have until the first week of July this month to refund the money or risk deduction from any source of funding.

"The councils have started administrative inquiries and disciplinary actions to staff members found wanting," said Dr. Santhe added that the committee has put in place measures to ensure prudent use of financial resources going forward.

Meanwhile, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director, Willy Kambwandira, said the development raises some accountability questions.

"We questioned where the councils are getting the money to refund the same since we all know they are struggling financially. 

However, CSAT believes that necessary actions will be taken to all the errant officers involved in the malpractice."

The K1.3 billion in question is under the World Bank funded Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project-SSRLP, locally known as Tidzidalire.

The audit expenditure queries are for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 financial years.